Improvements in Saddle Bars.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 6th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Saddle Bars.
I HENRY REES-PHILIPPS of No. 13 Berkeley Street Piccadilly in the County of
Middlesex Manager of Inventor's Agency Limited do hereby declare the nature of
this Invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to saddle bars of the type described and represented in
the specification of Letters Patent granted to John Langham Reed dated the
27th February 1882 No. 945.
In constructing a saddle bar of the type referred to according to my invention I
proceed as follows I attach to the plate or plates by which the saddle bar is fixed to
the saddle tree a vertical rod or axis. A tubular piece slides freely on the said rod.
The lower end of the said tubular piece is inclined and bears upon the inclined upper
face of the tube in the lower part of the fixing plate in which the lower end of the
vertical rod is fixed. When the said tubular piece is turned out of its normal position
it rises on the rod on which it slides the action being similar to that of an ordinary
rising door hinge. To the said tubular piece the saddle bar proper is fixed or is
formed in one piece therewith. The saddle bar proper consists of a flat metallic
plate or frame the upper edge of which is nearly rectilinear but inclines upwards
from the tubular piece. The lower edge of the saddle bar proper is curved from the
tubular piece upwards and joins the upper edge in a point or slightly rounded
termination. When the saddle bar proper is at liberty to move it assumes its
normal position by the action of gravity. In order however the more effectually to
secure the return of the saddle bar proper to its normal position after it has been
deflected therefrom I prefer to combine with or assist the action of gravity by the use
of a steel or other spring. I prefer to employ a helical or coiled spring around the
vertical rod carrying the saddle bar proper the upper part of the said spring bearing
against the underside of the top plate and the lower end of the said spring. against
the top of the tubular piece carrying the saddle bar proper. I do not limit myself to
any particular kind of spring.
The stirrup strap passes over and is supported by the upper inclined edge of the
saddle bar proper and in whatever direction a rider whose saddle is provided with my
invention is thrown the stirrup strap passes off the saddle bar proper and the stirrup
is completely detached from the saddle. If the rider is thrown in a backward
direction the stirrup strap slides up and off the inclined saddle bar proper. If he is
thrown forward the saddle bar proper turns towards the front of the saddle and rises
on the vertical rod or axis carrying it and the stirrup strap slides off the saddle bar
proper. In consequence of the facility with which the saddle bar turns on the rod
carrying it there is no risk of the stirrup strap becoming wedged between the said
bar and the saddle which sometimes happens when the saddle bar is rigid.
Although I prefer to give the saddle bar proper a rising motion as it turns from its
normal position yet I do not limit myself thereto as the action of the said saddle bar
is nearly the same when in turning from its normal position it is not made to rise.
Dated this 12th day of November 1888.

page_text: When
rotating through a semicircle upon the fixed rod or axis 9. The saddle bar d has the
shape seen in the Drawing, that is, it consists of a flat metallic plate or frame the
upper edge of which is slightly inclined upwards from the tubular piece f, the lower
edge of the said saddle bar d being curved from the tubular piece f upwards and
joins the upper edge in the point or slightly rounded termination d. The upper end
of the tubular knuckle piece c in which the lower end of the rod g is fixed is inclined
at and the bottom of the tubular piece f carrying the saddle bar d is also inclined
at and bears upon the incline 2 of the knuckle piece c. When the saddle bar dis
turned out of its normal position the action of the two inclines ³ ³ causes the said
saddle bar to rise upon the rod or axis g as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.
the saddle bar d is at liberty to move it assumes the normal position represented in
Figures 1 and 2 by the action of gravity but I prefer to combine with the saddle bar
a coiled spring h for effectually securing the return of the saddle bar d to its normal
position. This coiled spring his situated around the fixed rod or axis g and the
upper end bears against the underside of the tubular knuckle piece b and its lower
end against the top of the tubular piece f of the saddle bar d. When the saddle
bar d is deflected from its normal position its rising motion causes the spring / to be
compressed between the two parts bf. as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 and on the
pressure being removed from the saddle bar the compressed spring presses down the
tubular piece f and through the action of the inclines cfcauses the saddle bar to
return to its normal position. When the saddle bar d is in its normal position
Figures 1 and 2 the rise on the tubular piece is at the bottom of the fixed
incline the action of the parts causing the said bar to press the stirrup strap or
leather e firmly against the saddle flap by the weight of the rider.
Although I prefer to give my improved saddle bar the rising motion described as
it turns from its normal position yet I do not limit myself thereto as the action of the
said saddle bar is nearly the same when in turning from its normal position it is not
made to rise.
It will be seen that the stirrup strap or leather e passes over and is supported by
the upper inclined edge of the saddle bar d and in whatever position the rider is
thrown the stirrup strap or leather passes off the said saddle bar d and the stirrup is
completely detached from the saddle. If the rider is thrown in a backward direction
the stirrup strap slides off the inclined saddle bar d having its normal position in the
direction of the arrow Figure 1. If the rider is thrown forward the saddle bar rises
and turns on the rod or axis g and takes the position represented in Figures 3 and 4
and indicated in dotted lines in Figure 2 and the stirrup strap slides off the saddle
bar. If the rider is thrown to the right or left over the horse's back the stirrup
leather or strap e slides off the saddle. bar either without turning it upon the axis or
rod g or turning it through such an angle that it takes a position favorable for the
ready sliding off of the stirrup strap.
In consequence of the facility with which the saddle bar turns on the rod or axis g
carrying it there is no risk of the stirrup strap becoming wedged between the said bar
and the saddle which sometimes happens when the saddle bar is rigid.
Figure 5 represents a modification of my invention the said modification having for
its object to enable the fixing plates of the saddle bar to readily adjust themselves to
the shape of the tree on which they are rivetted. In this modification the saddle bar d
and its inclines have the same construction and action as corresponding parts
of the saddle bar already described but the head of the rod or axis g and its
connection with the fixing plate are modified.
The saddle bar is carried by the two plates i and k the bottom of the rod g being
rivetted or otherwise connected to the tubular knuckle piece c on the plate k and the
upper end of the said rod g being connected loosely to the top plate i the enlarged
head g of the said rod's seating it in the seat b' in the snug b on the said top plate i.
By this arrangement the upper part of the pin g has such freedom of motion in its
snug 6 that the two plates i, k readily adjust themselves to the form of the saddle tree
in rivetting on the said plates.