A Device for Holding Stirrups in Position.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Device for Holding Stirrups in Position.
GEORGE BIRD "Rhodrons" Hook, Surrey Gentleman do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A spring of metal is attached to the stirrup leather for the purpose of keeping
the stirrup iron in such a position that the foot can be more readily inserted.
Dated this 31st day of January 1895.
GEORGE BIRD The Rhodrons, Hook, near Kingston-on-Thames Surrey no Calling
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:-.
The object of the invention is to obtain for the stirrups or stirrup of a riding
saddle or side saddle, a position at approximately right angles to the sides or side
of the horse when saddled, in order that the feet or foot of the rider may be more
easily inserted in the stirrups or stirrup. And it consists essentially in attaching
to the stirrup leathers or leather steel springs, or other suitable metal or substance
substantially as hereinafter more particularly described.
Figure 1 represents the steel spring for left stirrup leather.
Figure 2 represents the steel spring for right stirrup leather.
Figure 3 represents the left stirrup leather so arranged as to show in what
position of the stirrup leather, the spring is attached to same.
Figure 4 represents the right stirrup leather so arranged as to show in what
position of the stirrup leather the spring attached to same.
Figure 5 is a part front view of a horse in such a position as to display the manner
in which the stirrups are made to hang at approximately right angles to its sides.
A. is the flat end of spring for left stirrup leather which may be attached to
stirrup leather with A as the upper or the lower end. The size of spring is six
& a half inches long & five eighths of an inch wide, the corners being rounded & it
is of a thickness of the sixty fourth part of an inch. The spring is half twisted
that is to say the flat end A which is about one & a half inches is at right angles
to the flat end B which is also one & a half inches the half twist C consequently is
three & a half inches.
D is similarly or in like manner the flat end of spring corresponding with A for
right stirrup leather.
E is similarly or in like manner the flat end of spring corresponding with B for
right stirrup leather.
F is the half twist corresponding with C.
A* and D are respectively the front edges of left spring Fig. 1 & right spring
Fig. 2.

page_text: B and E are the continuations of A* & D* which in consequence of the half
twisting of the springs or spring before mentioned become the outside edges or
edge when attached to stirrup leathers or stirrup leather & when fitted on saddle
or side saddle the dimensions of length breadth & thickness flat end & half twist of
these left and right springs may each or all be made more than or less, than the
dimensions before quoted.
G are pieces of pigskin thin & firm or other suitable leather substance or material
each measuring 6 inches in length & of an inch broad stitched flatly and securely
at sides and lower end on the inside of the inner portions of stirrup leathers in such
a manner that the middle of these flat pockets or sheaths or cases hang at bottom
edges of saddle. These pockets or sheaths in any case to measure half an inch
more than springs in length & breadth. The left & right springs are then inserted
or slipped into these pockets or sheaths and the top end is stitched down & the
springs are encased. The stirrup leatliers are then specially adapted for left &
right sides respectively of saddle the left for side saddles. By this means the stirrup
leathers also become half twisted as the springs and that part of each which is
below the cases containing the half twist springs as described, are thus made to
hang at approximately right angles to the upper part & consequently the stirrups H H
also to hang in the position described namely at approximately right angles to the
sides of the horse when saddled as illustrated by Figure 5.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I
claim is
1. The adjustment of the lower part of the stirrup leathers or leather and the
stirrup irons or iron pertaining to riding saddles and side saddles in such a manner
that the same are made to hang at approximately right angles to the sides or side
of a horse when saddled, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. Steel springs or a steel spring to be attached to stirrup leathers or leather
pertaining to riding saddles & side saddles with casings or casing as described and
operating substantially as & for the purpose specified.
3. An attachment to the stirrup leathers or leather pertaining to riding saddles
and side saddles to be made of any metal or any substance or material or in any
style by which the lower part of the stirrup leathers or leather & the stirrup irons
or iron are made to hang at approximately right angles to the sides or side of a
horse when saddled & operating substantially as aud for the purpose hereinbefore
specified described & illustrated.
1st November 1905
GEORGE BIRD.