Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 11th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 11th Jan., 1887.
I JOHN COPE, of Leamore, Bloxwich, in the County of Stafford, Commercial
Traveller and Bit Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to an improved construction of Safety Stirrup in which the
means adopted to secure the safety of the rider when thrown are, while equally if not
more certain in action, much less apparent than in the safety stirrups hitherto offered;
that is to say, my improved stirrup will when in use not appear to the casual observer
other than the ordinary non-safety stirrup, and therefore, while adapted to be used by
ladies, it is particularly suited for gentlemen to whom any striking precaution to ensure
their safety if thrown would be objectionable.
I make one of the legs of my stirrup to open on a joint, hinge or pivot, preferably
near the top of the stirrup, and with a hole or recess at its lower end, providing this
recess with a pin, or pins or studs. The bottom or foot plate I pivot by one end to the
opposite or fixed leg so as to turn freely thereon, and I may make it with a joint or
hinge to permit it to fall down when its opposite end is released from the jointed or
moveable leg; or without such hinge, as the foot may be liberated by the simple
opening of the jointed leg without the fall of the pivoting bottom plate. The other
end of the bottom plate I provide with a stud or projection to fit into the hole or recess
of the jointed or moveable leg, and on this projection I form one or more curved or
spiral grooves, somewhat similar to a bayonet catch, in which will enter the pin or pins
in the recess when this projection of the bottom plate is introduced and turned therein.
Thus, when the bottom plate is to be fixed for riding it will be entered into the hole
or recess in the jointed or moveable leg and be turned therein until the pin or pins
reach the end of the curved or spiral grooves, when the plate will be in the ordinary
horizontal position.
Should the rider be thrown, the foot will turn the bottom plate, and the groove or
grooves on its projection travelling over the pin or pins in the recess will force the
jointed or moveable leg outward, opening the stirrup for the release of the foot.
In lieu of the curved groove or grooves, and pin or pins, I may use any suitable
device which, while securing my pivoting bottom plate in the moveable leg in a hori-
zontal position, will release it therefrom by the simple pivoting of the bottom plate to
a certain angle.

page_text: .
An Improved Safety Stirrup.
I, JOHN COPE of Leamore, Bloxwich, in the County of Stafford, Commercial
Traveller and Bit Maker 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:-
My Invention relates to an improved construction of safety stirrup in which the
imcans adopted to secure the safety of the rider when thrown are, while equally if not
more certain in action, much less apparent than in the Safety Stirrups hitherto offered;
that is to say, my improved stirrup will when in use not appear to the casual observer
other than the ordinary non-safety stirrup, and therefore, while adapted to be used by
ladies, it is particularly suited for gentlemen to whom any striking precaution to ensure
their safety if thrown would be objectionable.
I will now proceed to describe my improved Safety Stirrup by reference to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawing upon which :-
Figure 1 Illustrates my improved Stirrup as it appears in ordinary use.
Figure 2 Represents a view of the same, with foot plate partly turned and side leg
thrown open.
Figure 3 Is a modification of the above arrangement, the foot plate being jointed to
the side leg so as to permit of its falling down when released, and
Figures show, enlarged, the device by which the foot plate is secured in the movable
side leg.
It will be seen that I make one of the legs A of my stirrup to open on a joint, hinge,
or pivot B preferably near the top of the stirrup, and with a hole or recess C (Figs. 4)
at its lower end, providing this recess with a pin D, or pins or studs. The bottom or
foot plate E I pivot by one end to the opposite or fixed leg A¹ so as to turn freely
thereon, and I may make it with a joint or hinge F to permit it to fall down when its
opposite end is released from the jointed or movable leg; or without such hinge, as
the foot may be liberated by the simple opening of the jointed leg without the fall of
the pivotting bottom plate.
The other end of the bottom plate EI provide with a stud or projection G to fit
into the hole or recess C of the jointed or moveable leg A and on this projection G-I
form one or more curved or spiral grooves H, somewhat similar to a bayonet catch,
into which will enter the pin or pins D in the recess C, when this projection G of the
bottom plate E is introduced and turned therein.
Thus, when the bottom plate is to be fixed for riding it will be entered into the hole
or recess C in the jointed or movable leg A, and be turned therein until the pin or
pins D reach the end of the curved or spiral grooves H, when the plate will be in the
ordinary horizontal position.
Should the rider be thrown, the foot will turn the bottom plate E and the groove or
grooves H on its projection G travelling over the pin or pins D in the recess C, will
force the jointed or moveable leg A outward, opening the stirrup for the release of the
the foot.

page_text: In lieu of the curved groove or grooves and pin or pins, I may use any suitable
device which, while securing my pivoting bottom plato in the moveable leg in a hori-
zontal position, will release it therefrom by the simple pivoting of the bottom plate to
a certain angle.
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 :—
1. A safety stirrup having one leg hinged or jointed and secured to the foot plate in
such a manner that the pivoting of the foot plate beyond a certain angle will leave
this leg free to open and release the foot of the rider substantially as described.
2. The device combining the foot plate and the jointed leg substantially as herein-
before described and shown in detail Figures 4 of the drawing.
3. Safety stirrups constructed and operating as herein before described and illustrated
on the Drawing.