IMPROVE- MENTS IN SADDLERY OR HARNESS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Latchford, of Saint Martin's Lane (Upper),
in the County of Middlesex, Lorimer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN SADDLERY OR HARNESS."
Sealed the 17th August 1854, and dated the 13th March 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Latchford at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th March 1854.
I, BENJAMIN LATCHFORD, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLERY OR HARNESS" to be as follows:-
The object of the Invention is to secure a perfect means of feeding a horse
when actually employed, rendering such means consistent with the safety of
the rider; also further to prevent the serious consequences to life or limb con-
sequent upon the stirrup iron catching and retaining the foot of a rider when
from any cause he may be thrown off or fall from his horse. Foreign cavalry,
especially Russian and South American, practice a mode of throwing the bit
out of a horse's mouth in order that it may feed during or in anticipation of
action; this is clumsily done. I propose merely to attach to the end or bottom
of that portion of the bridle supporting the bit a metal double loop, the
upper portion of the loop to be sewn on to the strap aforesaid and at a right
angle, the lower portion of the loop hollowed or fashioned to an oval or egg
shape; into this lower part of the loop the top of the cheek piece of the bit
is hooked, the hook being so formed or barbed as to be perfectly secure in

page_text: all but one position of the relative parts, such position as will unloose the
parts only to be given by the hand of the cavalier. Thus a soldier throws
the bit out of the horse's mouth, and, when required, can instantly replace it
by stooping forward and hooking the above-mentioned parts together. To
obviate the dragging of the foot in the stirrup iron I form at each side of
the stirrup iron plates, into which I cut a curvilinear groove; I then make
what may be termed a secondary stirrup iron; I pierce two or more holes or
slots in the foot part of the first iron, and make corresponding points or
projections on the bottom of the secondary iron plate. I also make the front
part of the secondary iron thicker than the remainder, so as to overlap the
front of the primary iron foot plate. A lug or pin projects on each side of
the secondary iron foot plate; and at the centres of the sides or part of a circle
of iron (similar to the primary stirrup iron but of smaller dimensions) is fixed.
The action is as follows:-The secondary stirrup iron is passed into or on to
the primary iron, the lugs or pins at each side thereof passing into or along
the curved or semicircular groove in the sides of the primary iron; the foot
piece is then pressed down, the pins give into the holes or slots, the overlap
impinges upon the front of the primary foot iron, and the whole is complete.
No motion will derange the parts, and it is only when the stirrup is brought
into the angle which would be formed by the dragging of the fallen cavalier
by his horse that the parts will become detached from each other, and when so
detached the secondary iron would be most likely left on the foot of the fallen
rider.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Benjamin Latchford in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 13th September 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, BENJAMIN
LATCHFORD, of Saint Martin's Lane (Upper), in the County of Middlesex,
Loriner, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Benjamin Latchford, Her special licence that I, the said Benjamin
Latchford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Benjamin Latchford, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-

page_text: after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SADDLERY OR HARNESS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Benjamin Latchford, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent..
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Benjamin Latchford, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed,
and forming part of my Specification, to the diagrams drawn thereon, and to
the letters of reference placed on the said diagrams, denoting similar parts
where such parts can be seen, respectively.
The object of my Invention is twofold: firstly, to secure a more perfect
means of feeding a horse when such horse is actually employed or otherwise,
(as, for example, a soldier's horse while the rider is on his back and waiting for
the word to advance or charge), rendering such means consistant with the
convenience and safety of the rider; secondly, to prevent the serious conse-
quences to life or limb consequent upon the stirrup iron catching or retaining
the foot of a fallen rider when from any cause he may be thrown off or fall
from his horse.
As regards the first part of my Invention, there are several modes practised by
foreign cavalry (say the Russian) of throwing the bit out of a horse's mouth in
order that it may feed during the pauses of action, but all that I am acquainted
with are effected in a very clumsy and inefficient manner. To effect this object
I make the upper part of the bit into the form of a flanged hook, shewn at
a, a, a, Figures 1, 2, 3, of the Drawing. I now attach to the end or bottom
of the cheek strap of the bridle (on either or both sides of the horse's head as
the alteration in the bit is made) a metal double loop denoted by b, b, b, in the
Drawing, Figures 1, 2, 3. At Figure 1 this loop is shewn as it would appear
in use; at Figure 2, in the act of being drawn off the flanged hook; at Figure 3
seperate and reversed, to shew the oval or egg form into which that part is
shaped .that goes over the barbed hook. It will be seen that the hook and
loop being formed as aforesaid can only be seperated or detached by bringing.
the opening of the loop and the front or flange of the hook into one position, .
and such position will not be attained accidentally, but must be given by

page_text: the hand of the cavalier, rider, or driver. Thus a soldier or others puts his
hand to the loop at the end of the strap (c, Figure 1), presses it outwards,
forwards, and downwards, and the bit is detached from its supporting loop b
and falls out of the horse's mouth, being, however, supported on the other
side, where there is a similar hook and loop for similar detachment, in the
usual manner. When the word is given to move or charge, the rider pushes
the bit into the horse's mouth, and by an exactly. reverse motion to that above
described secures the flanged. hook and loop together.
I now come to the second part of my Invention, having the lessening of
danger to a rider who shall have fallen from his horse. An immediate refe-
rence to the Drawing will best denote the mode in which I attain this object;
and at Figure 4 is shewn part of the inside of a stirrup iron in which a curvi-
lineal
groove a is cut or formed. Figure 5 shews also the front of the stirrup
iron with the groove, and red dotted lines shewing the traverse or working
denoted by the arrow of the pin 6, which is to be seen at Figure 7. At
Figure 6 will be seen part of a stirrup iron c, c, made according to my Inven-
tion; and at Figure 7 a piece d to be fixed thereon and therein, as herein-after
described. This piece d is made with a flange e (the under side of the plate or
piece is shewn here) when fixed into the grooves a, and on to the bar f; this
piece forms the tread of the stirrup iron, and offers a solid flat piece to the
view. When the rider falls from his horse (the stirrup being the usual height
from the ground), the rider being prostrate, and..the foot of the rider falling
being retained in the stirrup iron causes the latter to be pressed backwards in
a certain angle; the tread piece gives the pins 6 working in the curves cause,
and on arriving at the angle said tread piece falls out and relieves the foot, and
consequently the cavalier or rider is free. On rising he replaces the tread piece
by passing the flange over the edge of the bar f, and remounts. As the
tread piece can only fall out at the angle made by the foot of a fallen rider,
there is no danger of its doing so under ordinary circumstances.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the means of
carrying the same into effect, I desire it to be distinctly understood that I do
not confine myself to any particular size of stirrup iron or to the relative pro-
portions of hooks, loops, pins, grooves, or other parts herein shewn, as such
may be varied without departing from the principle of my Invention, which I
declare to be, and I claim,-
Firstly, the combination or arrangement of parts called by me a flanged
hook and oval or egg shaped loop for the purpose of detaching from and
refixing a bit into the mouth of a horse or other animal, as herein-before
described.

page_text: -Secondly, the combination or arrangement of parts herein-before described
for the purpose of obviating the dragging of the foot of a fallen rider in the
stirrup iron, as herein-before described.
In witness, whereof, I, the said Benjamin Latchford, have hereunto
affixed my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
BENJAMIN LATCHFORD. (L.S.)
EDWARD WATSON GEDGE,
Charles Street,
Seymour Street,
Somers Town.