A NEW OR IMPROVED DOUBLE-ACTING SAFETY STIRRUP BAR
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Johns at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th October.
1865.
I, WILLIAM JOHNS, of Milner Street, Chelsea, S.W., do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED DOUBLE-ACTING SAFETY
STIRRUP BAR," to be as follows:-
By this Invention whilst a firm rest is secured for the stirrup leather, and
limited changes of position permitted, the stirrup leather must escape from
the "bar" horizontally, or nearly. horizontally,. upon the limits of angular
motion being exceeded, and in case of the rider being thrown his foot and
the stirrup leather would go clear out of the horizontal part of the "bar;"
and what is still more important is that perfect safety to the rider is secured
in case his foot does not become disengaged from the stirrup when thrown
over, or from one side to the other of the saddle, or whenever the stirrup
leather makes an obtuse angle from the vertical downward position in which.
it should be when the rider is upright and firm in the saddle and with his
feet resting in the stirrups. This is effected by the escape of the stirrup
leather from the outer point and upper side of the "bar" as well as from the
one end thereof, both pieces opening simultaneously.
The double-acting safety stirrup bar, according to my Invention, is con-
structed in the following manner :-A metal plate, somewhat of the usual
form of the stirrup bar heretofore in use as secured to the saddle tree, has
mounted upon it two bent finger or hook-like pieces (but differing in form)

page_text: by means of pivots or pins, upon which they are made to vibrate. The lower
of the bent lever pieces, which has an upward curved outer end, upon being
pressed against by the edge of the stirrup leather (with sufficient strain or
such as would be due to a sudden displacement of the rider) is caused to open,
and so permits of the escape of the stirrup leather, and enables the rider to
free himself from the horse. The inner end of this bent lever piece is bevilled
. so as to rest and act upon the bevilled part of the lower and shorter end
or arm of the upper hinged or pivoted straighter finger piece, and so to retain
it and inclose and hold (as within a loop or flat link) the stirrup leather in its
proper position. The upper hinged or pivoted piece is raised upwards by the
inner and horizontal end or tail piece of the lower bent lever piece when it is
called into action for assisting the escape of the stirrup leather horizontally,
whilst in case of the stirrup leather going over the saddle with the foot of the
rider still remaining in the stirrup, the stirrup leather will come into contact
with the longer end of the upper pivoted piece and open it, and freely permit
of the stirrup leather or strap escaping therefrom. A dovetail lip or strip
may be formed along the bottom of the plate for supporting or bedding both
of the moveable pieces when in their normal position or position of rest, and
in addition thereto (or in substitution thereof) a steel spring may be intro-
luced along the bottom edge of the plate or stirrup bar for the purpose of
assisting the action of the apparatus, and the returning of the moveable parts
back to their respective positions; for this purpose the spring should be bent
or curved up at its point. The outer end of the upper and the upper end of
the lower moveable pieces may be notched, scarfed, or otherwise made to
take the one into the other for the purpose of affording mutual support and
resisting side strains.