Improvements in Saddles for Horses.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Saddles for Horses.
I, CYRIL FRANK TEMPLER, Lieutenant in H.M. Forces, 1st D.C.O., Bombay
Lancers, of Poonah, India, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which
has been communicated to me by Major-General Edward Locke Elliot, C.B.,
D.S.O., of "Craig-Dhu," Simla, India,) to be as follows:-
-
My invention relates to saddles for horses and particularly to those which are
used for military and like purposes, and has for its objects to provide a more
efficient saddle than that which has been hitherto generally used, and one which
has certain important advantages hereinafter set forth.
The
Broadly speaking, a saddle constructed in accordance with my invention com-
prises in combination, five component parts, viz., two side bars or plates adapted
to lie on each side of the horses spine, but without touching same, a pair of
arches flexibly connecting together, near the front and rear and in the most
advantageous positions, these two side bars by the rotary engagement of the ends
or feet with socket bearings therein, and a leathern suspensory and tensional
scat attached by straps to said arches and holding the whole together.
side bars are flat steel plates preferably perforated and in use they are attached
to cushions of approximate similar shape and adapted to fit well and rest upon
the horse's back. At a short distance from their rear ends the side bars are
hinged so as to allow them to yield in an upward direction to any pressure of the
propelling muscles of the horse. To each side bar at its weight bearing extremi-
ties are fixed two metal socket bearings for receiving in practically horizontal
directions the lower ends of the transverse connecting arches. These sockets are
rivetted on in longitudinal directions and may be closed or open-ended and pro-
vided with means for introducing lubricant; to the forward socket at each side
is fixed a plate to which is hinged the stirrup bar, thus giving same a forward
position easily accessible to the rider. To flexibly connect together these two
side bars I employ a pair of transverse arches of appropriate span, height and
pattern which may be that employed in the "universal pattern troop-saddle.
They are preferably made of steel and have feet formed at about right angles to
the arch adapted to fit into the sockets above referred to. The forward arch
is put into the sockets from the front and the rear one from the rear so that their
feet project towards one another at each side.
.
The two oppositely disposed arches are kept in proper position and the whole
securely tied together by the tension of the seat which consists of a sheet of
ordinary hoop saddle-leather cut to suitable size and shape and suspended between
the rear and front arches by straps fixed to one end passing over the arches
and secured to the other end of the seat below the rear arch. To each side bar
is fixed an eye or loop for the girths.
To take the saddle to pieces it is only necessary to release the two straps and
remove the seat. The arches may then be drawn out of the sockets leaving the
side bars free.
By this construction the side bars must lie flat and comfortably upon their
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page_text: 66
bearing surfaces and by reason of the swivelling arches can automatically adjust
themselves to any shape of back, and also yield behind, thereby minimising
liability to sore backs." The tree gives a maximum amount of seat room to
the rider without increasing the length of that portion of the side bars while
distributing the weight. The component parts are readily detached and assembled
without the aid of tools or skilled labour and the parts may be made interchange-
able so that on any one becoming unserviceable it can be readily replaced.
The position of the stirrup bar ensures a better forward position of the rider's
leg and admits of his adjusting his stirrups at any time.
Dated this 27th day of Tul., 1000
Improvements in Saddles for Horses.
I, CYRIL FRANK TEMPLER, Ligutenant in H.M. Forces, 1st D.C.O., Bombay
Lancers, of Poonal India, at present of The Badminton Club, Piccadilly, in the
County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been
communicated to me by Major-General Edward Locke Elliot, C.B., D.S.O.,
Inspector General of Cavalry in India, of "Craig-Dhu," Simla, India), and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement;-
My invention relates to saddles for horses and particularly to those which are
used for military and like purposes, and has for its object to provide a more
efficient saddle than that which has been hitherto generally used, and one which
can be easily taken to pieces and put together without skilled labour and which
has certain important advantages hereinafter set forth.
Broadly speaking, a saddle constructed in accordance with the said invention com-
prises in combination five component parts, viz., two side bars or plates adapted
to fit and lie on each side of the horse's spine but without touching same, a pair
of removable transverse arches flexibly connecting together, near the front and
rear and in the most advantageous positions, these two side bars by the rotary
or swivelling engagement of the cylindrical ends or feet thereof with corresponding
socket bearings fixed thereupon, and a leathern suspensory and tensional seat
attached by straps and buckles or the like to said arches and holding the whole
structure together.
I will now fully describe the invention in reference to the accompanying
drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view of the complete saddle, Fig. 2 a similar view
of the tree with seat and flaps removed clearly showing the construction, Fig. 3
is a longitudinal section on the centre line of the saddle. Fig. 4 is a plan of
one side bar and fittings, Fig. 5 a rear elevation of the forward arch, and Fig. 6
a front elevation of the rearward arch. Like letters refer to like parts in all
of the figures. A A¹ are respectively the front and rear transverse arches,
BB the two side bars, F the leathern flaps suspended therefrom and $ the seat.
The side bars BB are flat steel plates preferably perforated for lightness and
ventilation, and in use they have attached to their lower sides padded or felt
cushions 6 of approximately similar shape, and adapted to fit well and rest com-
fortably upon the horse's back. At a short distance from their rear ends these
side bars B B are hinged as shown at 61 so as to allow their rear portions B¹ to
yield in an upward direction to any pressure of the propelling muscles of the
horse. To each side bar B near to its weight bearing extremities are fixed two
cylindrical metal socket-bearings C C¹ for receiving in practically horizontal
80

page_text: directions the lower cylindrical ends or feet a a a¹a¹ respectively of the trans-
verse connecting arches A A'. These sockets C Care rivetted on the bars B in
longitudinal directions and may be closed at their inner extremities or open-
ended, and they may be provided if desired with means for introducing lubricant
to the said arch feet; to the lower part of each forward socket C is fixed a plate d
to which is hinged the stirrup bar D), thus affording same a forward position
easily accessible to the rider. For flexibly connecting together these two side
bars B B in such manner that they may be able to move with the horse and also
be readily detachable I employ a pair of transverse arches A A¹ such as are
illustrated of appropriate span, height and pattern, which may, for example, be
that employed in the "universal pattern troop-saddle. They are preferably
made of steel and have plain cylindrical projecting feet aa aa formed at or
about right angles to the plane of the arch and adapted to fit into the side-bar
sockets CCCC above referred to. The feet aa of the forward arch A are
inserted into the sockets C C from the front side, and those ala¹ of the rear
arch A¹ from the rear side, so that the feet of both arches project towards one
another at each side.
These two oppositely disposed arches are maintained in proper positions and
the whole saddle securely tied together by the tension of the seat which consists
of a sheet of ordinary troop-saddle leather S cut to suitable size and shape and
suspended between the rear and front arches A A' by straps s s sewn to one end at s¹
passing inwardly over the forward arch A and secured to the other end of the seat
below the rear arch A¹ by a buckle as shown in Fig. 3 or otherwise conveniently.
To each side bar B is fixed an eye or loop such as E for attachment of the girths Ġ.
This saddle is easily taken to pieces for which purpose it is only necessary to
unbuckle the two straps ss and remove the seat S. The arches A A may then
be withdrawn from the sockets CCCC leaving the side bars BB free.
By this construction the side bars will always lie flat and comfortably upon
their bearing surfaces and by reason of the swivelling arches can automatically
adjust themselves to any width and shape of back and also yield upwards at the
rear of the saddle thereby minimising liability to "sore backs." The tree gives
a maximum amount of seat room to the rider without increasing the length of
that portion of the side bars while distributing the weight. As will be seen
the component parts are readily detached and assembled without the aid of tools
or skilled labour and it is intended that the parts be made interchangeable so
that on any one becoming unserviceable it can be readily replaced.
The position of the stirrup bar 1 ensures a better forward position of the
rider's leg and admits of his adjusting his stirrup leathers at any time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention (as communicated to me from abroad) and in what manner the same is
to be performed, I declare that what I claim is: ―
1. A self adjusting saddle for horses comprising in combination two side bars
adapted to fit and lie on each side of the horse's spine without touching same,
a pair of removable transverse arches with plain cylindrical projecting feet
flexibly connecting said bars together at front and rear by swivelling connections
as specified and a leathern suspensory seat secured by straps and connecting and
holding the whole together, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. The improved self adjusting saddle for horses constructed and arranged as
|and for the purposes herein described and illustrated in the drawings,
Dotod thio 974h dov of in 1800
Doted this 27th day of invil 1800
For the Applicant,
J. C. CHAPMAN.
Chartered Patent Agent, 70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.