AN IMPROVED SAFETY STIRRUP
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN SCOTT, of the Firm of James T Hampson & Co of Clarence Works,
Walsall, in the County of Stafford, Saddlers' Ironmonger do hereby declare the
nature of my invention for "AN IMPROVED SAFETY STIRRUP" to be as follows:-
1
My Invention relates to an improved safety Stirrup from which the foot of the
rider is released with certainty in case of being thrown by the opening of an inner
or second bow, which, until the bottom of the stirrup has been pivoted to a certain
angle, is kept from opening by the logs or sides of the stirrup.
My improved safety stirrup has the ordinary legs or side pieces with bow and
slot or eye for the stirrup leather; the bottom however, which may be an open or
a closed plate of any form, is pinned or attached to the side pieces or legs in such
a manner that it may pivot to an extent limited by a stop, preferably a little more
than three quarters of a turn.
At, or near each end of this bottom plate, preferably of one piece therewith,
are two uprights, standards, or inner legs; hinged, or otherwise jointed, to the top
of each of which is a curved piece or half bow, the end of one of these half bows
having a hole to receive a pin on the end of the other, or their ends might taper
and overlap to form an even joint, or they might simply meet.
At the spring of each of these half bows, or at other suitable point in its length
I thicken each half bow on the outside, or I make a projection or projections to
bring that face almost or quite in contact with the inner face of the actual sides
or legs of the stirrup which are so formed that while permitting the inner bow to
slightly open, they will not allow of the two curved pieces or half bows being
wholly thrown apart until the bottom plate has pivoted to an angle sufficient to
carry the bow past the legs or sides, which for lightness may be open or be a solid
piece as may be desired.
The pivoting devices and joints may be of any suitable kind but the meeting
point of the two parts forming the inner bow is not secured by any kind of catch,
so that its two parts must separate directly the foot brings them beyond the legs
or sides.
In riding with this stirrup, so long as the foot of the rider occupies the ordinary
positions the inner bow cannot open but should the rider be thrown, the pressure
of the foot causing the bottom of the stirrup to pivot brings this bow past the
legs or sides, the two parts or half bows are instantly thrown apart, turning on
their hinge or joint, and the foot is free.
This improved safety stirrup is equally applicable to a lady's or a gentleman's
saddle.

page_text: The pivoting devices and joints may be of any suitable kind, but the meeting
point L of the two parts G, G', forming the inner bow is not secured by any kind
of catch, so that its two parts must seperate directly the foot brings them beyond
the legs or sides B B.
In riding with this stirrup, so long as the foot of the rider occupies the ordinary
positions the inner bow cannot open, but should the rider be thrown, the pressure
of the foot causing the bottom D of the stirrup A to pivot brings this inner bow
past the legs or sides B B, the two parts or half bows G G₁ are instantly thrown
apart turning on their hinge or joint M and the foot is free.
This improved safety stirrup is equally applicable to a lady's or a gentlemans
saddle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
In a safety stirrup, an inner bow in two parts carried by a pivotting bottom
plate on the outer bow, the two parts of the inner bow being kept together by the-
outer bow until liberated by the pivoting of the bottom plate and thereby l-ft free
to separate, substantially as described for the purpose specified.