Improvements in Saddle-bars.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 8th Mar., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Saddle-bars.
I, AMOS VICKERY, of 32 Brixton Road Brixton, London, in the county of Surrey
Supply Stores, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This bar retains the greater portion of the common saddle bar, and in its ordinary
position when riding, resting securely on two projections in the bottom plate, thus
avoiding strain on the hinges; but being thus hinged that portion readily rises by the
aid of the rear and oblique projection and releases the stirrup leather in the event of
the rider being dragged. The bar is hinged to the tumbler, which is pivoted to the
bottom plate. Should the riders foot hang in the stirrup when falling to either side,
the bar will immediately rise and release the stirrup. The bar being so hinged, should
the rider be thrown forward or over the horses head, the bar will, with the aid of the
hinge, turn forward, and allow the rider to get free from the saddle this bar will move
to any position to release the stirrup when required, and then only the bottom plate is
rivetted to the saddle tree in the ordinary way but so hollowed to take the stirrup
leather thereby avoiding a lump under the knee, this bar retains nearly the appearance
of the common bar.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Saddle-bars.
I AMOS VICKERY, of 32 Brixton Road, Brixton, London, in the county of Surrey,
Supply Stores, 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 certain improvements in the construction of saddle bars
and has for its object the prevention of accidents, and the attainment of greater safety to
the rider if thrown by ensuring the prompt liberation of the stirrup leathers from the
saddle under all and every possible abnormal condition, in what direction soever the
strain or drag may occur.
A bar constructed according to my invention is equally adapted for cross or side
saddles, it retains the greater portion of the common saddle bar and in normal position
all usual stresses upon it are taken by two solid fixed supports. The bar by means of
two swivelling connections is capable of turning through vertical and horizontal arcs
and also through arcs intermediate between the horizontal and vertical.
Thus by my invention "dragging" is impossible for when any abnormal strain is
made on the stirrup leather the bar will accommodate itself to any position and at
once release the stirrup leather when required-and then only--it being unaffected by
the regular strains.
I will now fully describe the construction and operation of my improved bar in
reference to the accompanying drawings which represent a near side bar. Figures 1,
2, 3 and 4 are elevations showing the bar in different positions hereinafter referred to:
Figure 5 is a plan of Figure 1, Figures 6 and 7 are front and back end elevations
respectively: Figure 8 shows details of supports in plan. In all these figures similar
letters indicate similar parts.
A is the base plate which is rivetted to the saddle tree in the usual manner.
It is
or may advantageously be made of the shape and form illustrated, recessed for the
reception of the stirrup leather / which consequently cannot bend as is the case with

page_text: the usual bar, and no inconvenient lump is caused under the riders legs. Upon the
plate A are cast two projecting pieces a and c of special form hereinafter described.
B is the bar which may or may not have as desired the ordinary spring hinged
thumb piece p at its free end, it is hinged vertically at 6 to a tumbler T which is
strongly pivotted at t to the plate A and has a stop t' formed upon it at such a point
as to hold the bar when it has turned forward as far as desirable: 6' is a strong spring
applied to the hinge b. The hinged or forward end of the bar B is supported by the
projection a which is of such shape on its upper surface as to allow the vertical
turning motion of the tumbler T and is suitably formed also at its forward end to
form an abutment for the said stop t' on the tumbler T; it has also a lateral
upturned projection a¹ which supports and retains the bar when in normal position.
The rear projection e serves to guide the bar into position and has also a lateral
projection c¹ supporting its free end, and in plan the projection c¹ is sloped or bevelled
on its inner side next the stirrup leather.
Figure 1 shows a near side bar in normal riding position resting on the two
projections a and c thus avoiding strain on the hinge b, the stirrup leather / being
shown dotted. Should a backward drag occur the stirrup leather travels up the inner
bevel of the projection c¹ and forces the bar to turn on the tumbler pivot t to such a
position as is shown in figure 2 when the leather will slip off it, the hinge not being
called into action unless the strain takes also some lateral direction; should this occur
strongly as when a rider is thrown over his horses head the bars will turn in or about
in the horizontal plane to such a position as is illustrated in figure 3 by the path
indicated by the dotted line in figure 5; or in the same case according as the
greatest pull or strain may come the bar may turn the tumbler and assume the
position of figure 4 the forward angle being regulated by the stop t' and
the projection a-indeed by its two swivelling connections 6 and T (which
constitute as it were an universal joint) the bar or bars can turn to any direction of
greatest strain and at once release the stirrup leather or leathers but there is no
liability of the stirrup leather or leathers becoming detached under ordinary con-
ditions. There are no loose or separate parts and the mechanism can be made as
strong as is necessary and owing to its simplicity the bar gives no trouble and
cannot get out of order.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. A saddle bar hinged to a tumbler which is pivotted to the back plate and sup-
ported in normal position by two projections upon said back plate the whole of the
parts being constructed and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. A saddle bar constructed as hereinabove described and illustrated.
Dated this
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J. C. CHAPMAN, Fel. Inst. Patent Agents,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.