Improvements in Horse Riding Saddles or Seats having Pommel Parts especially adapted for Lady Riders.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 14th May, 1898
Improvements in Horse Riding Saddles or Seats having Pommel Parts
especially adapted for Lady Riders.
I, PERLAT WILLIAM PETERS, Ladies' Tailor, a subject of the Emperor of
Germany, but residing at Number 1742-N Street, Northwest, Washington City,
District of Columbia, 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: -
This invention relates to safety appliances for riding saddles and particularly
ladies' saddles, and has for its object to provide an automatically detachable saddle
pommel of such nature and construction that should a rider fall from the saddle
the said pommel will be simultaneously disconnected from the saddle bow and
seat so as to be rendered capable of sliding off; thus offering no obstruction or
immovable projection on which a riding habit or other garment might become
entangled with consequent risk of dragging the unseated rider. It is well known
that, on a lady's saddle, the usual rigidly attached pommel is liable to become
a source of great danger by catching the clothing and thereby causing the rider
to be dragged in case of a fall or when unseated from any cause. My invention
provides an automatically detachable pommel that becomes instantly disconnected
and freely removable from the saddle seat whenever the rider is thrown, whilst
at all other times it remains safely in its normal rigid position and is every way
adapted to furnish the necessary assistance to a lady rider.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings the said invention is practically illus-
trated, and numbers are used thereon and referred to hereinafter to indicate the
parts.
In the said sheet Fig. 1 is a sectional view of part of a riding saddle with a
detachable pommel together with automatic pommel-attaching and detaching
mechanism illustrating the gist of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the lower part of the automatically detachable
saddle pommel. Fig. 3 is a part sectional plan of a retractible bolt carrying
dowel. Fig. 4 is an inverted plan of the said dowel. Fig. 5 is a view of an auto-
matic take-up device. Fig. 6 is a plan of a coupling device. Fig. 7 shows the
parts of the said coupling device separated and indicates in dotted lines a modified
form of take-up. Fig. 8 is a view of a divided and perforated plug for one end
of a conduit or guideway in which the coupling and take-up devices are placed.
Fig. 9 is a cross section of the said conduit and plug.
In carrying out my invention I provide on the saddle seat 10 an automatically
detachable pommel 11 that may have any usual or convenient form, suitable for
giving a lady required assistance in maintaining a proper and comfortable riding
position. The base or lower part of the pommel 11 is provided with a preferably
circular sinking 12 from which radiate a number of sockets or side gaps 13 adapted
to receive the ends of projected bolts 14 carried on a retractible dowel 15 that is
yieldingly supported in a recess or chamber 16 of the saddle bow. The normally
projecting portion of the dowel 15 is provided around its exterior with a series

page_text: of radially arranged transverse grooves 17 to serve as housings for the several
radially arranged bolts 14, each of which has a stem 18, and is adapted to extend
through an aperture in the rear of such housing and project into a central recess 19
of the said dowel when the several bolts are withdrawn. A spring 20 surrounds
the stem of each bolt, and takes its bearing against each bolt and its housing so
as to normally project the bolts 14 into locking engagement with the sockets or
side gaps 13 of the detachable pommel. The nose of each bolt 14 is bevelled off
as shown so that by forcing the pommel 11 down onto, the noses of the bevelled
bolts the bolts will be caused to recede until the sockets or side gaps 13 are brought
into coincidence with the noses of the bolts, which will then immediately spring
into locking engagement with said sockets and thus firmly secure the pommel
onto the saddle.
To the inner face of each bolt 14 is secured a cord 21, leading from the socket
or housing 17 through an opening in its rear end, and thence through the dowel
recess 19 to a perforation 22 in the axis of the retractible dowel. In or near this
perforation 22 the several bolt-retracting cords 21 converge, and connect with main
retracting cords 23 that are extended outward through a conduit 24 with which
the dowel receiving chamber 16 communicates. Any suitable guide or guides
as 25 may be provided for the cords 23, say, for instance, one or more staples con-
veniently located in the dowel receiving chamber.
This retractible dowel 15 may be supported on a number of spiral springs 26,
or other elastic devices, and may be provided with recesses 27 to sheath the said
yielding supports. One side of the retractible dowel 15 may have thereon one
or more lugs 28 engaging a guideway 29 to prevent the rotation of the dowel, and
more particularly to serve as a stop for limiting the outward movement of the
dowel from the recess in which it is located and works. The dowel 15 may be
provided with a cut-away part 30 to enable it to straddle the main retracting
cords 23, when the dowel and bolts 14 carried by it are drawn fully inward and
clear from engagement with the detachable pommel, which can thus slide off from
the saddle without obstruction.
For the purpose of automatically exerting a pull on the main retracting cords 23,
so as to thereby disengage the bolts 14 and withdraw the dowel 15 from the
pommel 11, there is provided an automatically actuated pull mechanism placed
in the conduit or guideway 24, and which is adapted to detachably connect with
a button or other fastening on the dress of the rider and to be automatically
uncoupled or leased as soon as the pommel is disengaged. This pull mechanism
may comprise a divided plug 31 inserted in the open end of the conduit 24, and
having perforations 32 in which the main retracting cords 23 are secured. The
halves of the plug 31 are each provided with a groove which form, when together,
a central perforation 33, having a flared mouth, through which a cord 34 is loosely
passed. One end of this cord 34 may have a loop 35 for detachable connection
with a button or other fastening, or the riding habit or dress or the said. cord 34
may be attached to the rider in any convenient manner. To the other end of the
cord 34 is secured a ball 36, normally engaging in a socket 37 partly formed in
each of two pivotally connected jaws 38 which are adapted to slide back and forth
in the conduit 24 into which they are fitted, in such a manner as to be held nor-
mally closed around the the said ball. One of these ball-confining jaws 38 is provided
with holes 39 for the two main retracting cords 23. At their rear or inner side
the two jaws 38 are pivotally coupled to a sliding block 40, which is also freely
movable back and forth within the guideway or conduit 24. The opposite sides
of this slide block 40 are provided with holes 41 for the main retracting cords 23
to pass through so as to be capable of moving through the same. One side of the
block 40 is double inclined so as to present bevelled surfaces 42 next to the ball
confining jaws 38, thereby permitting them to open freely and to readily release
the said ball whenever the jaws are withdrawn from the conduit. A spring or
springs 43 (shown in Fig. 7) may be arranged between the two pivotally connected
jaws 38 to ensure a quick opening thereof, and a consequent relief of the ball 36

page_text: as soon as the, said jaws are free from the walls of the conduit. In the slide
block 40 there is mounted a spring actuated bolt or locking pin 44 which is nor-
mally pressed inward by contact with the conduit wall. When the jaws 38 and
block 40 have been drawn outward a sufficient distance to eject the plug 31, release
the ball 30, and its attached cord 34, the bolt 44 will be forced by a spring 45
into engagement with a slot 46 which is formed in the top wall at the end of the
conduit or guideway 24. Thus the slide block 40 is prevented from being with-
drawn from the conduit 24, and also from being drawn again into said conduit
by the normal acting take-up hereinafter described. It will be understood that as as
the plug 31 is being forced out it draws on the main retracting cords 23, thereby
drawing the bolts 14 and retracting the dowel 15; so that the pommel 11 will be
instantly released and permitted to slide off or be removed from the saddle seat.
The sliding block 40 has connected therewith a take-up 47 which may consist
of a cord secured to said block and to a spring reel 48 mounted in the conduit or
guideway 24 as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, or, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7,
a simple drawing spring 47" may be employed as the take-up means.
In connecting up the parts of the automatic pull mechanism the ball 36 will be
placed between the jaws 38, while the block 40 is held locked by engagement of
its bolt 44 in the slot 46, and now by pressing on a spring 49 an attached pin 50
will force the bolt 44 out from the slot 46, and thereupon the take-up device will
draw the coupled-together block 40, jaws 38, and confined ball 36 into the conduit.
The divided plug may now be again inserted into the end of the conduit. The
pommel 11 having been forced into secure locking engagement with the bolts 14,
the lady rider may now mount, and should attach the cord 34 to some suitable part
of her dress.
It will be observed that the pivottally connected jaws 38 and block 40 serve as
a coupling between the ball-carrying cord 34 and the take-up 47, and that by means
of the said take-up mechanism the said coupling and ball have a tendency to move
inward along the conduit in opposition to any slight strains on the cord 34 attached
to the riding habit or dress. The cord 34 should be of a sufficient length so that
it will not draw the coupling jaws against the plug 31 as long as the rider remains
on the saddle, but should the rider fall or be thrown the jaws 38 will be drawn
forcibly against the plug 31, thereby ejecting the same and causing it to draw
on the retracting cords 23 and release the pommel 11, so that the latter will slide
off from the saddle and thus obviate the usual danger of catching the rider's dress.
The ball 36 will become released from the jaws 38 as soon as the plug 31 is ejected,
and the block 40 will be automatically retained at the entrance to the conduit 24
in readiness for again connecting up the mechanism for future use. It may be
preferable to provide the jaws 38 with rollers 51 to facilitate easy movement along
the conduit or guideway.
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:-
First. In a riding saddle, making the pommel part automatically detachable
from its peak and seating through the action of a rider on being thrown, sub-
stantially as described.
Second. The combination with a riding saddle of an automatically detachable
pommel and mechanism for operating it, which is adapted to be connected to the
rider so that the pommel will be automatically released in case the rider is thrown,
substantially as described.
Third. The combination with a riding saddle of an automatically detachable
pommel, mechanism for locking the pommel in position, and automatically actuated
detachable connections for operating the pommel-locking mechanism to release
the said pommel in case the rider is thrown, substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination with a riding saddle and an automatically detachable
pommel of a retractible dowel to normally engage and secure the pommel, and

page_text: automatically-actuated mechanism for withdrawing the said dowel and releasing
the pommel in case the rider is thrown, substantially as described.
Fifth. The combination with a riding saddle and an automatically detachable
pommel of a retractible dowel provided with bolts to normally engage and secure
the pommel, and automatically actuated mechanism adapted to connect with the
rider for withdrawing the said bolts and dowel, and releasing the pommel in case
the rider is thrown, substantially as described.
Sixth. The combination with a riding saddle and an automatically detachable
pommel, of a retractable and yieldingly-supported dowel to normally engage and
secure the pommel, and automatically-actuated mechanism for retracting the said
dowel and releasing the pommel in case the rider is, thrown substantially as
described.
Seventh. The combination with a riding saddle and an automatically detachable
pommel, of automatically actuated locking mechanism for normally securing the
pommel in position, and automatically actuated pull mechanism to connect
dowel and releasing the pommel in case the rider is, thrown substantially as
described.
Eighth. The combination with a riding saddle and an automatically detachable
pommel of locking mechanism for normally securing the pommel in position,
retracting cords for said locking mechanism, a conduit through which said cords
are extended, a divided and perforated plug to detachably engage said cord and
close the end of the conduit, a cord extended through a perforation of said plug
and adapted to be attached to the rider, a ball secured to inner end of said cord,
sliding jaws placed in the conduit and detachably engaged with said ball, and a
take-up connected with said jaws, substantially as described.
pommel of locking mechanism for normally securing the pommel in position,
Ninth. The combination with a riding saddle and an automatically detachable
devices for withdrawing said locking mechanism to release the pommel, a slide
block provided with pivotally connected jaws, a cord adapted to connect with
the rider and having at one end a ball to be normally and detachably confined
by said jaws, a take-up for said slide block and jaws, and means for locking the
sliding block on release of the pommel substantially as described.
Tatal this th
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Patent Agents for Applicant.