Improvements in Stirrups.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 16th Apr., 1892
Improvements in Stirrups.
I, AMBROSE MYALL, of 21 Cockspur Street, S.W. in the County of London,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been
communicated to me from abroad by Alain Joly de Lotbiniere, of 15 Buade Street
in the Province of Quebec and Dominion of Canada) 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 improvements in stirrups and has for its object to so
construct a stirrup that the foot-rest thereof will be yielding and spring-controlled.
The invention consists in the novel construction of the several parts, as will be
hereinafter described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar figures of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the views.
Figure is a partial side elevation and partial sectional view of a stirrup
constructed in accordance with my invention;
Figure 2 is a plan view of the stirrup; and
Figure 3 represents respectively a side elevation and plan view of a spring
employed in connection with the foot-rest of the stirrup.
The members of the bow section 10, of the stirrup are made longer than usual,
and some distance from their lower extremities are provided with shoulders 11.
Above the shoulders the members of the yoke of the stirrup may be of any desired
shape in cross section. Below the collars 11, however, the members of the yoke
are round in cross section, as is best shown at the right in Figure 1. Each member
terminates in a reduced threaded section 12, and above the threaded section each
member of the yoke is provided with a square or polygonal section 13.
The foot-rest 14, has formed at each end a sleeve 15, and the sleeves are adapted
to slide upon the surfaces of the bow section of the stirrup below the collars 11,
that is, upon the cylindrical sections, as is best shown in Figure 1.
Between each
collar 11 and the upper surface of each sleeve of the foot-rest 14, a washer 16 is
located, preferably of leather.
The foot-rest is held normally in engagement with the collars 11, through the
medium of a single spring 17, as shown in Figure 3, or two springs 17º, as
illustrated in Figure 1, or two spiral springs as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1.
When a single spring is employed, it is of what is known as the "bow pattern,"
and has formed at each extremity a rectangular or polygonal opening 18, and these
openings 18 in the spring are adapted to receive the square or polygonal
surfaces 13 of the bow-section or frame of the stirrup, and the central portion of
the spring has a bearing against the under central face of the foot-rest. When
two springs 17" are employed, their outer ends are provided with the apertures or
openings 18, in like manner to the single spring, and the springs are held in a fixed
position through the medium of the washers 19, and lock nuts 20, the latter being
screwed upon the threaded extremities of the bow-section or frame, as shown in
Figure 1.
By making the apertures 18 rectangular or polygonal, and the surfaces 13
receiving said apertures of like formation, the springs are preserved against lateral
motion.
Among the results obtained by the use of a stirrup constructed as described,
might be mentioned the following; A. rider will at all times throw a portion of his
Instead of this weight
weight on the stirrups at every movement of the horse.
being transmitted directly to the back of the horse through the stirrup leathers,

page_text: it is taken up gradually by the foot-rest, as the latter must first be compressed and
in turn compress the springs to a greater or less extent, and by this means the
shock is transmitted to the back of the horse in an exceedingly mild form. The
stirrup also ensures an easy seat for the rider, and no effort is required of rising in
the stirrup when the horse is trotted, even though the animal trots very hard, as
the foot-rest by sinking on the springs is the equivalent of the rider rising from the
saddle.
The stirrup also acts as a safety stirrup, as the rider's feet, in the event of his
being thrown, cannot become jammed in the stirrups, as the downward pull in the
event of the rider being dragged along the ground, causes the foot-rest to sink, and
so release the foot from the stirrup. Another important feature of the invention is
that the rider will at all times feel the stirrups, and thus the danger of losing them
is materially lessened.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion; and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :--
1. As an improved article of manufacture, a stirrup provided with a movable
foot-rest, substantially as described.
2. A stirrup provided with a movable foot-rest, and a spring cushion normally
supporting the said rest, as and for the purpose specified.
3. A stirrup provided with a spring-actuated foot-rest having a sliding movement
upon the frame, substantially as described.
4. The combination, with the frame of a stirrup. of a foot-rest having sliding
movement upon the members of the frame, as and for the purpose specified.
5. The combination, with the frame of a stirrup, of a foot-rest having sliding
movement upon the members of the frame, and a spring attached to the frame and
having a bearing against the foot-rest, normally holding the latter in an elevated
position, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 24th day of February 1892.
AMBROSE MYALL.