AN IMPROVEMENT IN STIRRUPS, AND IN THE MODE OF ATTACHING THE SAME TO SADDLES
Year: 1863

page_text: Ub, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman,
for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT IN STIRRUPS, AND IN THE MODE OF
ATTACHING THE SAME TO SADDLES."-A communication from abroad by
Jacques Eugene Armengaud, of Rue St. Sebastien, Paris, in the Empire
of France.
Sealed the 11th September 1863, and dated the 9th April 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with bis Petition, on the
9th April 1863.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN STIRRUPS, AND IN THE
MODE OF ATTACHING THE SAME TO SADDLES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of stirrup-
leathers and stirrups, and in the mode of their attachment to the saddle, the
object being to ensure a firmer seat to the horseman by giving him greater
command over the horse with the knee, and lessening the risk of his losing his
stirrup. For this purpose the stirrup leathers instead of being suspended from
the saddle bow, as usual, have their point of suspension at a point on a level, or
nearly so, with the knee of the rider, so that he can press his foot upon the
stirrup or move his foot backwards and forwards without changing the

page_text: position of his knee. This is effected by attaching to the bow of the saddle
under the flap at each side a rigid metal band covered with leather, extending
down to somewhat below the point where the knee of the rider would be
supposed to come, which metal band is provided with holes for the reception of
a button attached to the upper extremity of the stirrup leather; these holes
are set at suitable distances apart to enable the stirrup leather to be adjusted
to any desired length. A hook attached to the free end of the stirrup leather
is brought up after passing through the stirrup loop, and dropped into one of
a series of holes in the upper part of the leather.
The improvement in the stirrup consists in so constructing it that it shall
hang in a position ready for the reception of the foot, instead of having to be
turned round and the stirrup leather twisted before the foot can be inserted.
This construction ensures a sure foothold for the rider. For this purpose the
loop for the reception of the stirrup-leather is set at right angles to the bow
of the stirrup.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 9th October 1863.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-sixth year of Iler
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Iler special license that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, aud vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT IN STIRRUPS, AND IN THE MODE OF ATTACHING
THE SAME TO SADDLES," being a communication from Jacques Eugene Armengaud,
of Rue Saint Sebastien, Paris, in the Empire of France, upon the condition
(amongst others) that 1, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, by an instrument

page_text: in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, referenco being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed,
and to the letters and figures marked thercon (that is to say) :-
:-
It is generally admitted by riding masters and others competent to form an
opinion on the subject, that to maintain the point of fixation of the knee,
is most important in ensuring to a horseman a firm and secure seat.
Now the main object of this Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, is to cause the point of attachment of the stirrup leathers
to coincide with the points of fixation of the knees. There is gained thereby,
first, fixity of the knee, for by this union of the point of suspension of the
stirrup and of the point of fixation of the knee, the adherence of the knee (the
internal condylus of the femur) to the saddle may be permanent, the knee
being continually pressed towards the same point. Second, mobility of the leg
on the knee joint without inconvenience to the upper parts of the body, as the
stirrup leather being of the length of the leg, the stirrup and the foot will have
the same centre and the same radius. Third, easy pressure of the knee at a given
moment, as the foot does not quit the stirrup, all the movements which would
tend to move the foot of the rider from the body of the horse will also remove
the stirrup therefrom, but by reason of the centre of action of the foot and the
stirrup coinciding, the knees will grip the saddle without any attention on the
part of the rider, as this connection will exist, whatever may be the movement
of the foot. Fourth, bearing upon the stirrup becomes possible, in fact, tho
stirrup may be borne upon without the knee being moved, and the weight of
the body being thrown out of its position. Fifth, more steady equilibrium, by
reason of the pressure upon the stirrup which will bring the weight of the body
to the lowest possible point.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 shews in side view the improved saddle,
the ordinary mode of attaching the stirrup leathers being contrasted with the
improvement by the old arrangement being drawn in red lines; Fig. 2 shews
the improved saddle with one of the side flaps removed, the better to explain
the novel mode of attachment; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same
taken in the line 1, 2, of Fig. 2. To the bow a of the saddle is screwed the

page_text: metal band B, which is covered with leather, and pierced with oval-shaped
holes o, in one of which is to be placed the oval-shaped button 6 of the loop C,
which carries the stirrup leather E; Figures 4 shew, on an enlarged scale, this
loop in front and side views, the oval button 6 of which corresponds in dimen-
sions with the holes o, but is intended to lie with its largest diameter across the
oval bole to which it is applied. In order to insert the button in the holes
for the purpose of suspending the stirrup leathers E, they must be presented
with their larger diameter parallel to the larger diameter of the holes, and
when the stirrup leathers are in position the buttons will lie across the holes,
and thus produce a securo attachment. In order to lengthen or shorten the
stirrup leather a hook F', shewn detached at Fig. 5, is employed. The form of
the loop and hook C and F is such that no projection is felt through the saddlo
flap.
The stirrups D are made with a ring d at right angles to the stirrup arch,
which gives the rider greater facility for placing his foot in the stirrup, and
keeping it there. The button 6 of the loop C must be placed in the oval
hole O, corresponding to the point where the knee comes upon the saddle,
which point serves as a pivot or centre of motion for the leg. The stirrup-
leather is then adjusted so as to be of the length exactly of the leg, and tho
stirrup and the foot having both the same centre and radius will have no
tendency to quit each other as will be seen by reference to the blue lines in
Fig. 1. There is, therefore, no fear in moving the leg of missing the stirrup,
and consequently the necessity for contracting or drawing in the leg for the
purpose of keeping the stirrup (which necessity exists when the stirrup is
hung in the usual manner as indicated by the dotted red lines of Fig. 1) is
cutirely removed. The red and blue dotted lines of Fig. 1 shew very clearly
the difference in the arcs of circles described in the two cases, that is to say,
by the knee at the point x, and by the stirrup leather at the point y, and also
facilitates the comparison, and indicates the tendency which the foot has to
quit the stirrup by passing through different arcs of circles. The point at
which the knee is to be placed and the stirrup suspended, will besides be
determined according to the principles of the riding schools, so as to give to
cach rider the most advantageous seat according to his stature and build.
The stirrup arrangement above described may readily be adapted to any
kind of saddle whether for racing, hunting, military or other purposes, the
English saddle being only shewn in this instance as an example of the appli-
cation of the Invention. It should also be remarked that these novel means
of adjustment allow of the padding or stuffing of the quarters and pannels of
the saddle being considerably diminished, and consequently allow of the saddle

page_text: being made light and close fitting. The old quarters which were interfered
with by the stirrup leather passing over them, only supported a vertical pad-
ding, but according to this Invention the padding may be rounded, as shewn
in the Drawing, which will allow of the thigh and knee being more con-
veniently placed.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "An Improvement in
Stirrups, and in the Mode of Attaching the same to Saddles, and explained the
manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under
the above in part recited Letters Patent, I claim constructing stirrups and
suspending the same in the manner and for the purpose above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, havo hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Ninth day of October, in the year of our
Lord Ono thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
J. W. MOFFATT,
66, Chancery Lane.
A. V. NEWTON. (L.s.)