An Improved Stirrup Leather Safety Attachment.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 24th Oct., 1889-Accepted, 7th Dec.,
1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Stirrup Leather Safety Attachment.
I, ELIZABETH ALDERSON of 2 Belle Vue Lawn Cheltenham, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
1-
The object of this invention is that a Horse rider may disengage his foot from the
saddle if thrown from his horse.
My invention consists in fixing a short projection to the frame of the saddle and
upon this I place a small grooved wheel so that the said wheel may turn upon the
projection as upon an axle. One or more projections are formed upon the perophery
of this wheel and a short spring is placed on each side of the wheel.
The stirrup leather is hooked on to one of these projections that are between the
two springs and these springs prevent the knob or projection upon which the stirrup
leather is hooked from passing by them unless an unusual strain is put upon them
(such as the dragging of the rider along the ground) when the knob will be forced
past one of the springs and the wheel turned round when the continued strain upon
the stirrup leather would detach it from the knob upon the wheel and the rider
would be quite free from the saddle. I propose to turn over the end of the stirrup
leather into the Grove of the wheel as well as hook it on to the knob upon the
perophery of the wheel and over this knob I afterwards fix a small leather cap.
The top ends of the aforementioned springs are firmly attached to the frame of the
saddle and a covering of leather placed over the whole contrivance. As a variation
of my improvements I may fix to the framework of the saddle a strong plate of metal
having a curved groove in elevation after the manner of a quadrant.
This grove being so formed in section as to contain a metal ball capable of moving
in the direction of the length of the groove but unable to escape from the same
except at the ends.
Over against these ends I place stout springs after the manner before described to
the first method of my improvements and by the means of these springs the ball is
kept in the quadrant grove until an unusual strain is placed upon it, when the spring
is overcome and the ball escapes. The stirrup leather is attached to the ball by any
ordinary means.
As my Improvements are capable of some modifications without departing from
the principle thereof, I do not restrict myself to material, dimensions, or to the
precise form or placement of the several parts thereof.
Dated this 21st day of August 1889.
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Stirrup Leather Safety Attachment.
I ELIZABETH ALDERSON of 2, Belle Vue Lawn Cheltenham do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement, and
accompanying drawings:-
:-
The object of this Invention is that a Horse rider may instantly disengage his foot
from the saddle if thrown from his Horse.
My invention consists in fixing by preference a metal or other plate secured to the
frame of the saddle having a stud or pivotted projection thereon and upon this I.
place and fix a small wheel or segment so that it may freely turn upon the projection
as upon an axle.

page_text: Two projections are formed upon the periphery of this wheel or segment and a
suitable spring is placed on each side of the wheel.
The stirrup leather is by preference connected by means of a pivot to a wedge
shaped piece of metal which takes and fits into the upper portion of the said wheel or
segment when in position ;-the springs on either side prevent the knob or projections
upon the wheel from passing by them unless an unusual amount of angular strain
is given and put upon them (such as the dragging of the rider along the ground)
when the knob or projection will overcome the resistance of the springs and be forced
past the same and the wheel or segment turned round, when the continued strain
upon the stirrup leather would from the then inverted position of the wheel or
segment instantly cause the stirrup leather and its swivel or other connection together
with the wedge shaped piece of metal to which it is secured to become instantly
detached from the wheel in its then altered position and the rider would be quite
free from the saddle.
The before mentioned springs are firmly attached to the frame of the saddle and a
covering of Leather then placed over the entire contrivance and secured at the upper
portion forming the saddle flap.
In order that the nature of my said improvements may be the more fully under-
stood I will proceed to describe the various Figures on the sheet of drawings
hereunto annexed all of which figures are marked with the like letters of reference
throughout.
Figure 1. is a front view of my Improved Safety Stirrup leather attachment and
contrivance in position as fitted to the side of the saddle in the manner jnst
referred to.
Figure 2. is a vertical section of same taken through the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3. is a detached view showing the wheel or segment which is fitted upon a
pivot to a plate so as to enable it to turn round on its centre.
Figure 4, shews the small wedge shaped portion of metal which fits into the slotted
portion of the wheel or segment formed to receive it.
Figure 5, exhibits the safety attachment and connection shewing the action that
takes place when an unusual amount of strain, in an angular direction occurs by
the rider being thrown from his horse, when his foot would become instantly released
from the saddle.
In the several views the same letters of reference indicate like or corresponding
parts in which A is a plate of metal or other material suitably fixed to each side of
the saddle frame having a stud or projecting pivot B, upon which a wheel or segment C,
is mounted and capable of being freely turned round thereon as upon an axle, upon
the periphery of this wheel, two projections D, D are formed which should have a
clearance of say one eighth of an inch from the face of the springs at either side or
in all giving about one quarter of an inch clearance when in the normal state,
E, E, are elastic springs or buffers fixed on the plate A, at each side and just clear of
the wheel C.
The wheel or segment C is formed with a slot or recess therein at one part to
receive the wedge shaped piece of metal F. G is the stirrup leather to which the
stirrup or foot iron is attached at its lower part and having at its upper part a metal
or other form of swivel connection H, connected as a swivel at its end by means
of a stud or pin J, the small wedge shaped metal piece F, which is provided with two
or more pins or lugs K, K, projecting therefrom and taking when in position into
openings formed in the recessed portion of the wheel or segment C, a hinged joint L
is formed and provided in and between the swivel connection H, and the upper swivel
part or connection as at J, to the wedge shaped piece of metal F. The object of this
is to provide for such a contingency as the rider being thrown over the head of the
animal or pitched upwards the hinged joint referred to would then enable the swivel
connections to bring or turn the wheel round and force one of the projections past
the spring or buffer.
Although I have referred herein to the adaptibity of my method of attachment as
intended to be applied to both sides of the saddle, it is evident that the same is equally

page_text: applicable for being used singly on one side of the saddle only in the case of Ladies
using the side saddle.
It will therefore be seen from the simplicity of action as illustrated and described
that when undue angular strain is given through the stirrup leather to the swivel
connection the wedge shaped piece F will be pulled in a downward direction and if
the strain be sufficient to force the projection D, past the springs E, then the wheel C
makes a half revolution and the part F easily falls out of the wheel C, thus all
connection between the stirrup and the saddle is at once broken.
In some cases and for the purpose of my Invention I may propose to form a curved
groove in a plate of metal after the manner of a quadrant and having a metal Ball
kept in the quadrant groove by means of springs which when overcome will permit
of the escape of the Ball together with the stirrup leather attached by any ordinary
means.
As my improvements are capable of some modifications without departing from the
principle thereof I do not restrict myself to materials, dimensions, or to the precise
form or placement of the several parts thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what [
claim is
Firstly. The method or principle of application of my Improved Stirrup safety
attachment so that the rider may be instantly disengaged from the saddle if thrown
from a horse or other quadruped substantially in the manner herein illustrated and
set forth.
בז
L
1
1
1000
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.