SAFETY SADDLE BAR
Year: 1884

page_text: We, the undersigned MATTHEW COOPER, 18 & 19 Railway Street, York, and
JAMES COOPER, No. 8 Richardson Street,' York, both in the County of York, Saddlers
and Harness Makers do hereby declare the nature of our Invention for A SAFETY
SADDLE BAR and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
To consist of three parts, viz.,
No. 1. A plate rivetted to the saddle tree.
No. 2. A half circle plate working on a pivot on plate No. 1, and abutting on a
stud fixed in No. 1 plate.
No. 3 plate is hinged to No. 2 plate and forms the bar on which the stirrup
leather rests; the bar, or No. 3 plate, rests upon a ledge in No. 1 plate.
Should the rider be thrown and dragged on either side, the stirrup-leather will
at once slip off the bar or plate No. 3; if the rider is thrown on the opposite side
(and the foot remain in the stirrup) No. 3 plate then works on the pivot fixed in
No. 1 plate and frees the stirrup-leather at once; if the rider be thrown over the
horse's head the stirrup-leather at once brings up and forward No. 3 plate or bar,
which works on the hinge in No. 2 plate and the pivot in No. 1 plate and he is at
once free.
As no part of the bar leaves the saddle, it merely requires turning into position
again and it is ready for use.
We have only made use of the term as to one bar, but we wish it to be
understood that saddle bars made as herein described are to be used on both sides-
right and left-on a gentleman's saddle, and singly-on the near side-of a lady's
saddle.
We will now describe by the aid of the accompanying Drawings the way in
which our Invention is to be performed.
Figure 1, represents the front view of the near side bar, and No. 2 the front view
of the off side bar in their normal positions.
Nos. 3 and 4 edge views of the bottom plate with notch in which the bar or
plate No. 3 is held in its normal position during the act of mounting, or riding.
No. 5 represents the bar turned on the pivot in an upward direction, as when
the rider has been thrown to the opposite side.
No. 6 represents the bar turned over by means of the hinge, as when the rider
has been thrown forward over the horse's head.
The bar works on the hinge and pivot, no matter in what direction the rider
may fall, and at once releases him.
The same letters and Figures indicate the same parts in each Drawing.
C" is
Figure 1 represents the front view of the near side bar; No. 1 is the bottom
plate, No. 2 the half circle plate, and No. 3 the bar plate. "A" is the pivot on
which the half circle plate works, "B" is the stud on which it abuts, and
the hinge which couples the bar plate to the half circle plate, "D" is the ledge
turned up at the bottom of No. 1 plate, "E" is the notch in the ledge in
Figure 3 which holds the bar in its normal position when mounting or riding.
The saddle bar is neat in appearance, light, and does not project; the position
and fixing on the saddle tree are the same as in the ordinary bar.
The inventors claim the right to make the bar with a spring thumb-piece if
required, and do not confine themselves to the exact shape of the plates, which, in
some cases, will have to vary according to the description of saddle; especially so
for a lady's side saddle.

page_text: Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we claim as our
Invention in safety saddle bars-
First. The peculiar construction of plate No. 1 having a ledge turned up at
the bottom, for the purpose of supporting the bar, also a stop or shoulder in the
end of said ledge for retaining the bar in its normal position when mounting or
riding.
Secondly. The method of fixing the bar or No. 3 plate to No. 2 plate by means
of a hinge, and Nos. 2 and 3 plates by a pivot to No. 1 plate, as herein before
described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying
Drawings.
In Witness whereof we, the said Matthew Cooper and James Cooper have
hereunto set our hands and seals this Third day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.
Witness,
WILLIAM W. FRENCH,
33, Dove Street, York.
MATTHEW COOPER.
JAMES COOPER.