Improvements in Saddle Girths.
Year: 1892

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Saddle Girths.
I, RUFUS ALLEN LANE, Gentleman, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at No. 10 East 28th Street, in the City of New York, in the County and
State of New York, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:
:-
My present invention relates to saddle girths and it consists of certain novel
parts and combinations of parts.
I will now describe the structure shown in the accompanying drawings which
illustrate my invention applied in the form which is at present preferred by me.
It will be understood that my invention is not limited to the precise form or com-
bination of parts herein described or illustrated, as various modifications in the
structure may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. The
following statement will, therefore, be read as a description of the preferred form
of my improved saddle girths.
In the drawings-
Fig. 1 is a side view of a saddle showing the girth in position and
.
Fig. 2 shows an improved buckle in detail which may be used in connection
therewith.
Referring to Fig. 1, A is a saddle of ordinary form. B is one of the side-
flaps raised so as to disclose to view the parts underneath. CCC are the
ordinary straps on the saddle to which the girth is buckled. D is a girth. E is
a link attached to the girth D. F is a supplemental girth piece provided with
buckles G G at the upper end for attachment to the straps C. This supple-
mental girth piece F is provided with a link H, sewn or otherwise attached to
it. I is a strap attached to the link H, passing thence through the link E,
back to the link H, thence again to the link E and terminating at its opposite
end in a buckle J. Any convenient device through which the strap can pass
(such as perforations through the hook of the girth-pieces) could be used in
place of these links. K is a strap attached to the saddle to buckle with the
buckle J. The girth D and the supplemental girth-piece F are not directly
attached to each other, but the supplemental girth-piece at its lower end is
preferably provided with a guide strap L. They are, however, connected together
by the strap I and the links H and E.
The link H attached to the supplemental girth-piece, is preferably provided
with rollers P where the strap I bends around it. The link E attached to the
girth D is likewise preferably provided with rollers M M. These rollers, how-
ever, might be omitted and the strap I after passing once through the link E
might be carried directly to the strap K; but I prefer the form shown.
The link E is shaped so that the bearing part, for the strap I where it leaves in
the direction of the strap K shall be substantially at right angles to the direction
of the strap. The other bearing surface of the link may also be similarly inclined
if preferred. In the drawings this link E is shown as provided with a buckle N
the tongue of which takes in holes in the strap I. While this feature may be

page_text: omitted, it is deemed advantageous since under ordinary circumstances, it relieves
the strap K of strain, because the flap B, pressing against the tongue of the
buckle N, will keep it in a position to engage with the holes in a strap when they
are opposite. Besides it facilitates the adjustment of the strap. When such buckle
is employed I prefer to make it as shown in detail in Fig. 2.
Referring to Fig. 2, Q is a tongue rather shorter than ordinary buckle tongues.
R is a front stop for the tongue and S a back stop for the same. The tongue being
between the stops R and S is held always in position to engage with the holes in
the strap I when pressed slightly, as by the flap B of the saddle. This buckle also
acts to prevent the accidental slipping back of the strap I and loosening the girth
when it is being tightened by the rider. Of course will be understood that
throughout the structure instead of buckles and straps, rings and cords, or other
suitable devices may be employed.
Among the advantages secured by the use of my improved girth is the ability of
readily tightening the girth to any desired degree without dismounting. The girth
on the opposite side (not shown) is preferably buckled or otherwise attached to the
saddle in the ordinary manner.
In the foregoing Specification I have incidently referred to a few modifications
which may be adopted in practising my invention; but I have not endeavoured to
specify all the modifications which might be employed, the object of this Specifica-
tion being to instruct persons skilled in the art to practise my invention in its
preferred form and to enable them to understand its nature; and I desire it to be
distinctly understood that mention by me of a few modifications is not in any way
intended to exclude others not referred to but which are within the spirit and
scope of my invention. All of these parts illustrated and above described are
not essential to the several features of my invention separately and broadly
considered.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1892.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Saddle Girths.
I, RUFUS ALLEN LANE, Gentleman, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at No. 10 East 28th Street, in the City of New York, in the County and
State of New York, United States of America 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 :—
My present invention relates to saddle girths and it consists of certain novel
parts and combinations of parts particularly designated in the claims concluding
this Specification.
I will first describe the structure shown in the drawings, which illustrate my
invention applied in the form which is at present preferred by me, and I will in
conclusion point out in the claims the specific features of novelty therein, thereby
differentiating my invention from what is old in the art. It will be understood
that my invention is not limited to the precise form or combination of parts herein
described or illustrated, as various modifications in the structure may be made
without departing from the spirit of my invention and without exceeding the scope
of the claims. The following statement will, therefore, be read as a description of
the preferred form of my improved saddle girths.
In the drawings-being those left with my Provisional Specification―
Fig. 1 is a side view of a saddle showing the girth in position and
Fig. 2 shows an improved buckle in detail which may be used in connection
therewith

page_text: B is one of the side flaps
C C C are the ordinary
Referring to Fig. 1, A is a saddle of ordinary form.
raised so as to disclose to view the parts underneath.
straps on the saddle to which the girth is buckled. The saddle girth is made
of two sections. One section is provided at its upper end with buckles G and
at its lower end with loops H. The section D is suitably attached at one end
to the saddle on the other side, preferably by buckles and straps in the ordinary
way but it may be attached in any other suitable manner. At the opposite end
(that is the end shown in the drawings) it is provided with a loop E and a
buckle N. I is a reflexed strap connecting the loops H and E and provided at one
end with a buckle J. K is a strap taking with buckles J attached to the saddle in
a position conveniently reached by the rider while mounting. In Fig. 1 it is
shown attached to the hinder part of the saddle and when so attached it
functions as a balance strap, that is a strap which keeps the hinder part of the
saddle from shifting. Such a balance strap is of great utility in a side saddle (to
which, of course my invention is also applicable) where the weight is principally on
one side, and the tendency of the hinder part of the saddle to shift is great. The
loops H and E and strap 1 form a take-up device by means of which the sections
of the girth are drawn together and the girth adjusted in length, without drawing
it up by means of the buckles G and the strap C as is ordinarily done.
Any convenient device through which the strap or cord can pass (as, for
instance, perforations through the body of the girth pieces) could be used in place
of the loops H and E. F is a flap extension of the shorter section of the girth.
L is a guide strap for keeping the sections of the girth parallel. It will be observed
that this girth is adjustably attached to the saddle in the ordinary manner by
means of buckles G and strap C. Its ends are attached to the saddle, not to each
other as in the well-known surcingle. Of course, there need not be such a device
for adjustably attaching it to the saddle at both ends, as a device at one end
is sufficient. If the girth is to be permanently attached to the saddle at one
end, it is preferred that it be permanently attached at the end seen in the
drawings and adjustably attached at the opposite side, although this is not
necessary.
The loop H attached to the shorter girth section, is preferably provided with
rollers P where the strap I bends around it. The loop E attached to the girth
section D is likewise preferably provided with rollers M M. These rollers,
however, might be omitted and the strap I after passing once through the loop E
might be carried directly to the strap K; but I prefer the form shown.
The loop E is shaped so that the bearing part for the strap I where it leaves in
the direction of the strap K shall be substantially at right angles to the direction
of the strap. The other bearing surface of the loop may also be similarly inclined
if preferred.
In the drawings this loop E is shown as provided with a buckle N the tongue
of which takes in holes in the strap I. While this feature may be omitted, it is
deemned advantageous since under ordinary circumstances, it relieves the strap K of
strain, because the flap, B, pressing against the tongue of the buckle N, will
keep it in a position to engage with the holes in a strap when they are opposite and
therefore functions as an automatic device for holding the slack taken up. Besides
it facilitates the adjustment of the strap.
When such buckle is employed I prefer
to make it as shown in detail in Fig. 2.
Referring to Fig. 2, Q is a tongue rather shorter than ordinary buckle tongues.
R is a front stop for the tongue and S a back stop for the same. The tongue being
between the stops R and S is held always in position to engage with the holes in
the strap I when pressed slightly, as by the flap B of the saddle. This buckle as
above pointed out also acts to prevent the accidental slipping back of the strap I
and loosening the girth when it is being tightened by the rider. Of course it will
be understood that throughout the structure instead of buckles and straps, rings
and cords, cinches or other suitable devices may be employed.

page_text: Among the advantages secured by the use of my improved girth is the ability of
readily tightening the girth to any desired degree without dismounting.
In the foregoing Specification I have incidently referred to a few of the modifica-
tions which may be adopted in practising my invention, but I have not endeavoured
to specify all the modifications which might be employed, the object of this Specifi-
cation being to instruct persons skilled in the art to practise my invention in its
preferred form and to enable them to understand its nature; and I desire it to be
distinctly understood that mention by me of a few modifications is in no way
intended to exclude others not referred to, but which are within the spirit and
scope of my invention. All the parts illustrated and above described are not
essential to the several features of my invention separately and broadly considered.
In the claims the omission of an element or the omission of reference to the detail
features of the elements mentioned is intended to be a formal declaration of the
fact that the omitted clements or features are not essential to the invention therein
covered.
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 I
claim is:
1. A saddle with means for attaching a girth thereto combined with a girth, one
end being provided with buckles or other suitable adjustable attaching means, said
girth being comprised of two parts and provided with a take-up device between
them consisting of loops and a strap or cord passing through the loops leaving them
at an angle with the girth, and attached to the saddle within easy reach of the
rider for adjustment when mounted.
2. A saddle with means for attaching a girth combined with a girth attached
thereto, one end being provided with buckles or other suitable adjustable attaching
means, said girth being comprised of two parts and provided with a take-up device
between them, consisting of a loop on one section and a loop and buckle on the
other and a strap or cord passing through the loops and buckle, leaving them at an
angle with the girth and attached to the saddle within easy reach of the rider for
adjustment when mounted.
3. A saddle girth comprising two sections provided with a device for adjustably
attaching it to the saddle and a take-up device between said sections consisting of
a strap or cord connecting them, said strap or cord being adjustably attached to
the saddle and an automatic device for holding the slack taken up.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1892.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON, Fels. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
15, Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.