IMPROVEMENTS IN STIRRUPS AND STIRRUP PADS
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN Moss FLETCHER of Cheadle in the county of Chester, Gentleman do
heroby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STIRRUPS
AND STIRRUP PADS" to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in stirrups and stirrup pads, the object
of the invention being to provide a safety stirrup which, in the event of a rider
being thrown from his or her horse will automatically release the rider's foot and
thereby prevent him or her being dragged by the horse; also a pad or covering
to be applied to the boot of the rider for avoiding injury to the rider's foot
or bout.
In carrying out my invention I construct one of the side bars of the stirrup
separate from the upper part or cross bar and I hinge the said side bar to the lower
or sole part of the stirrup; the upper end of the side bar is formed with an eye
hook or loop which passes over the end of the upper part or cross part of the
stirrup which end is turned upwards, somewhat in tho shape of a horn, so as to
retain the said eye or loop when pressure is applied thereto by the rider's foot
being in the stirrup.
In order to ensure the hinged or loose side of the stirrup being kept in position
when the rider's foot is not in the stirrup, I provide a flexible loop of cord, wire,
clastic or other suitable material which loop is passed through a hole in the upper
part of the stirrup and over the horn or turned up end of the upper part and oyo
or loop of the loose side bar for the purpose of keeping the said loose side from
being shaken off the horn or end of the upper part or cross bar, and from making
a jingling noise; at the same time the said loop will allow the loose side-bar to be
released when pressure or strain is brought to bear upon it, in which case the loop
would be caused to slip off the side bar or become broken.
By this construction in the event of a rider being thrown from his or her horse
the pressure or strain caused by the rider's foot on the loose side-bar of the stirrup
would cause the said loop to slip off or be broken, and the eye or loop of the side-
bar to become detached from the horn or end of the upper part or cross bar when
the side-bar would be turned on its hinge so as to open the stirrup and release the
foot of the rider.
I sometimes construct the stirrup with both side bars hinged to the solo part in
the manner herein before described in which case I pass a flexible band over both

page_text: side-bars to hold them in position which band serves at the same time to retain
the rider's foot in its proper place in case of its rising in the stirrup as is often the
caso when riding buck-jumping horses.
I find it advantageous in some cases to provide a small horn or guide upon the
end or ends of the upper part of the stirrup and bearing upon the loop or loops of
the side-bar or bars to prevent the latter from jumping off the said ends.
The hinges on which the side-bar turns (except when the latter is provided with
a cross bar as hereinafter described) is constructed similarly to what is known as a
"barrel or spring hinge such as is employed in pocket folding button hooks and
folding cork screws.
"
For retaining the loose side bar in position when riding, I sometimes use a cross
bar formed on the loose side-bar and at about a right angle thereto and passing
across the lower or sole part of the stirrup under the rider's foot the pressure of
the foot keeping it down and in position thereby pressing the looped sido fast on
the horn.
The pad or covering for preventing the horn or borns or projecting end or ends
of the upper part of the stirrup and also the iron hook, loop or loops which is or are
on the side or sides of the stirrup from injuring the rider's foot is sewn on the
rider's boot or otherwise fastened to the boot by its upper part; the lower part is
loose and has a cushion of india rubber or other material for the purpose of
protecting the foot from injury and for keeping water, rain soil or the like from
getting between the said pad and the wearer's leg or foot. The lower part of the
said pad is provided with hooks, loops or their equivalents for the purpose of
keeping the pad in position by means of straps or bands fastening onto real or
imitation spurs or their equivalents for the purpose above described and so arranged
as to keep the pad tight against the wearer's boot instep or leg.
30
1 1
T
1002

page_text: Improvements in Stirrups and Stirrup Pads.
I JOHN MOSS FLETCHER of Cheadle in the County of Chester, Gentleman do
hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STIRRUPS
AND STIRRUP PADS and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
2)
This invention relates to improvements in stirrups and stirrup pads, the object of
the invention being to provide a self-acting safety stirrup which in the event of n
rider being thrown from his or her horse will automatically release the riders foot
and thereby prevent him or her being dragged by the horso; also a pad or covering
to be applied to the boot of the rider for avoiding injury to the rider's foot or
boot.
In carrying out my invention I construct one of the side bars of the stirrup
separate from the upper part or cross bar and I hinge the said side bar to the lower
or sole part of the stirrup; the upper end of the side bar is formed with an eye,
hook or loop which passes over the end of the upper part or cross bar of the
stirrup, which end is turned upwards, somewhat in the shape of a horn, so as to
retain the said eye or loop when pressure is applied thereto by the rider's foot
being in the stirrup.
In order to ensure the hinged or loose side of the stirrup being kept in position
when the rider's foot is not in the stirrup, I provide a flexible loop of cord, wire,
elastic or other suitable material which loop is passed through a hole in the upper
part of the stirrup and over the horn or turned up end of the upper part and eye
or loop of the loose side bar for the purpose of keeping the said loose side bar from
being shaken off the horn or end of the upper part or cross bar, and from making a
jingling noise; at the same time the said loop will allow the loose side bar to bo
released when pressure or strain is brought to bear upon it, in which case the loop
would be caused to slip off the side bar or become broken.
I sometimes construct the stirrup with both side bars hinged to the sole part in
the manner herein before described in which case I pass a flexible band over both
side-bars to hold them in position which band serves at the same time to retain the
rider's foot in its proper place in case of its rising in the stirrup as is often the case
when riding buck-jumping horses.
I find it advantageous in some cases to provide a small horn or guide upon the
end or ends of the upper part of the stirrup and bearing upon the loop or loops of
the side-bar or bars to prevent the latter from jumping off the said ends.
The binges on which the side-bar turns may be constructed similarly to what is
known as a "barrel" or spring hinge, such as is employed in pocket folding button-
hooks and folding cork-screws.
For retaining the loose side bar in position when riding, I sometimes use a cross
bar formed on the side-bar and at about a right angle thereto and passing along
the lower or solo part of the stirrup under the rider's foot, the pressure of the foot
keeping it down and in position, thereby pressing the looped side tight on the
horn.

page_text: The pad or covering for preventing the horn or horns or projecting end or ends
of the upper part of the stirrup and also the iron hook, loop or loops which is or
are on the side or sides of the stirrup from injuring the rider's foot is sewn on the
rider's boot or otherwise fastened to the boot by its upper part; the lower part is
loose and the under side has a cushion of india rubber or other material for the
purpose of protecting the foot from injury and for keeping water, rain, soil or the
like from getting between the said pad and the wearer's boot, leg or foot.
The lower part of the said pad is provided with buckles, hooks, loops or their
equivalents for the purpose of keeping the pad in position by means of straps or
bands fastening on to real or imitation spurs or their equivalents for the purpose
above described and so arranged as to keep the pad tight against the wearer's boot,
instep or leg.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will proceed to doscribe
the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1. is an
elevation of a stirrup constructed according to my invention and having one of the
side bars hinged and provided with a loop or oyo; figure 2, is an edge view of the
same; figure 3, is an elevation of a stirrup having both side bars hinged or not, and
provided with loops or eyes; figure 4, is an elevation of a stirrup provided with a
small horn or guide bearing upon the loop button or eye on the side bar and having
a cross bar formed on the solo part; figuro 5, is an elevation of a stirrup having a
cross bar formed on the loose side bar thereof; figures 6 and 7 aro an elevation and
an edge view respectively of part of a stirrup having a split horn or guide for
retaining the loose side bar in position; figures 8 and 9 are views of the upper and
under sides respectively of my improved stirrup pad or covering. Similar letters in
all the figures represent similar or corresponding parts.
Referring to figures 1 and 2 a, is the side bar which I form separate from the upper
part or cross bar b; the side bar a, is hinged at c, to the lower or sole part d, of the
stirrup, by means of a plain hinge, or a barrel or spring hinge similar to those
employed in pocket folding button-hooks and folding cork-screws; e, is the other
side bar which is formed in one piece with the cross bar b, and the sole part d; f, is
the eye or loop formed on the upper end of the side bar a; g, is the end or horn
on the upper part or cross bar b, of the stirrup over which horng, passes the eye or
loop f of the loose side bar a; as shewn in figure 2, the eye or loop f, may not rest
upon the horn g, when the rider's foot is not in the stirrup, but when the rider's
foot presses upon the sole plate d, of the stirrup the eye or loop f, is pressed down
upon the horn g, and is thereby retained or locks itself firmly in position; h, is the
flexible loop of cord, wire, elastic or other suitable material for ensuring the hinged
or loose side bar a, of the stirrup being kept in position when the rider's foot is
not in the stirrup; the said loop h, may be passed through the usual hole i, for
the stirrup leather and over the horn or end g, and eye or loop f, and serves to keep
the loose side bar a, from being shaken off the horn g, and from making a jingling
noise; at the same time it will be evident that the loop h, will allow the loose side
bar a, to be released when pressure or strain is brought to bear upon it as would
be the case if the rider were thrown with his foot entangled in the stirrup, in
which caso the loop h, would be caused to slip off the side bar a, or become
broken.
By this construction (the parts being in the position shewn by the full lines of
the drawing) in the event of a rider being thrown from his or her horse the pressure
or strain caused by the rider's foot on the loose side bar a of the stirrup would
cause the loop, to slip off the eye or loopf and horn g, or be broken and the eye
button or loop h, of the side bar a, to become detached from the horn or end h, of
the upper part or cross bar b, when the side bar a, would be turned on its hinge c,
so as to open the stirrup as shewn in dotted lines at figure 1, and the side bar, when
open, would release the foot of the rider.
In the arrangement shown in figure 3, both the side bars a and e, are hinged
at c, c, to the solo part d, and provided with eyes or loops ff; h, is the flexible band
which is passed over both side bars as shewn and which besides serving to hold the

page_text: side bars in position on the horns g, g, with which each end of the cross bar b, is
provided, serves also to retain the rider's foot in its proper place in case of its
rising in the stirrup, as is often the case when riding buck-jumping horses and
colts.
In figure 4,j, represents a small horn or guide which I find it advantageous to
employ in some cases, the said horn or guide j, being formed or fixed on the end of
the upper part b, of the stirrup, and bearing upon the loop f, of the loose side bar a,
to prevent the latter from jumping off the horn g, when the side bar a, is not
pressed down by the rider's foot being in the stirrup; k, is a cross bar which
I sometimes employ formed on the lower or sule part d, of the stirrup; the said
cross bar is formed at a right angle to the looso side bar a, and by bearing upon
the lower end thereof at l, serves to retain the loose side bar a, in position, thereby
tending to press the eye or loop f, on to the horn g; the point of the bar k, is forced
upwards when the loose side bar a, is opened by any outward pressure, and allows
the bar a, to turn on its hinge.
In figure 5. is shewn a cross bar k, similar to that just described, and shewn in
figure 4 except that it is formed on the loose side bar a, instead of on the lower or
sole part fe of the stirrup, and bears upon the sole part at 1, instead of on the
lower part of the loose side bar a, at l.
I sometimes form the horn or end g, of the cross bar b, with a slot or split as
shewn in figures 6 and 7 and I provide the upper end of the loose side bar for
bars with a button m, or buttons, and make the end of the loose side bar of such
a size that it can pass into the said slot or split in the horn g; the construction is
otherwise the same as that hereinbefore described and the operation of this
arrangement will be understood without further description.
The stirrup may be made of ordinary steel or other metal, but there being more
strain on one side e, than the other or hinged side a, as shewn in the drawing at
figure 1, it would be much heavier than the ordinary solid stirrup; to obviate this
disadvantage, I sometimes make it of U shaped steel, or of similar section to the
metal used in the ribs of the frames of what are known as the "
umbrellas, Fox's Patent.
"
paragon frame
By using this hollow or U shaped form of metal, my improved self-acting safety
stirrup would not only be very much lighter than an ordinary stirrup, but would
also be more rigid; 1 can also insert india rubber in the frame so formed whereby
the feet of the rider will not be so liable to become cold and will be prevented from
slipping in wet or frosty weather.
The parts c, g and f may be placed in different positions to those shewn in the
drawing for instance the hinge could be placed near to the part i, or top of the
stirrup, and the horn g, and loop f, or buiton m, be situated at the sole part or
bottom of the stirrup. In this case the button m, would be near the sole of the
rider's boot; and the sole d, of the stirrup could have a strong clastic band or
other device round it for clasping the shank of the button m, and holding it firmly
but temporarily in its place, until the foot of the un-horsed rider forced it open, and
caused his roleaso.
This arrangement would probably act more easily and quickly than when the
loop or button is at the upper part and may be found more advantageous for light
stirrups such as are used by ladies and children.
In figures 8 and 9, which represent my improved pad or covering for preventing
the horn or horns g, herein before described and also the iron eye or loop f, from
injuring the rider's boot or foot, n, n, represent holes by which the pad can be
sewn on the rider's boot (or it may be otherwise fastened to the boot) by its upper
part; o, is the cushion of india rubber or other suitable material for protecting the
foot from injury and for keeping water, rain, soil or the like from getting between
the pad and the wearer's boot leg or foot; p, p, are the buckles at the lower part
of the pad for keeping the same in position by means of straps or bands fastening
onto real or imitation spurs or their equivalents and so arranged as to keep the pad
tight against the wearer's boot, instep or leg.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. A safety stirrup having one or both of its side bars hinged or jointed to the
lower or upper sole part of the stirrup the upper ends of the said side bar or bars
being adapted to pass over the end or ends of the upper part or cross bar of the
stirrup substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. In a self-acting safety stirrup the combination with a loose side bar hinged or
jointed to the lower or sole part of the stirrup and provided with an eye or loop of
a horn or end formed on the upper part of the stirrup and adapted to receive the
said eye or loop and a flexible loop such as h, for retaining the said parts in position
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and represented in
figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.
3. The modification of the arrangement shewn in figures 1 and 2 in which both
the side bars are moveable and a single flexible loop is employed for holding both
side bars in position the said loop serving also to retain the rider's foot in proper
position in case of its rising in the stirrup, substantially as herein before described
and represented in figure 3 of the accompanying drawing.
4. In a safety stirrup such as is herein described, the employment of a small horn
or guide, bearing upon the loop or loops of the loose side bar or bars substantially
as and for the purpose herein before described and represented in figure 4 of the
accompanying drawing.
5. The arrangements shewn in figures 4 and 5 in which a cross bar is employed
passing along the lower or sole part of the stirrup and formed on the said sole part
as shewn in figure 4 or on the loose side bar as in figure 5 substantially as and for
the purpose hereinbefore described.
6. The arrangement in which a split horn is employed for retaining the loose side
bar or bars substantially as herein before described and represented in figures 6
and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
7. The improved stirrup pad herein before described and represented in figures 8
and 9 of the accompanying drawing.