Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1886.
Complete Left, 7th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 21st Jan., 1887.
ALFRED JOHN WHEELER of No. 121, Green Lanes, Islington, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce a fastening to be used in place of the
saddle bar for securing the stirrup leather to the saddle, which, while securely holding
the leather under ordinary circumstances, will permit of the ready detachment of the
same in case of accident.
In carrying out my invention, I employ a plate of metal, in which is formed a
semicircular recess or groove. On the inner side of this groove, I secure to the plate
a hook of special form.-This hook may be securely rivetted to the plate, or it may
turn loosely on a stud or pin secured to the plate.
The hook which I employ consists of a cylindrical stem or stud, having at its outer
end a laterally projecting cam shaped piece. This extension I prefer shall be set so as
to point upwards. By the side of, and at a slight distance from this hook, is a stud or
pin, which
rivetted or otherwise secured to the plate, or a projection may be formed
on the plate.
The stirrup leather is connected in any convenient manner to a metal loop-eye or
ring, which is intended to take over the hook. This loop or ring is formed with a
slight projection on its outer periphery, the principal object of which is, under
ordinary circumstances, to retain the ring on the hook; but it also serves, in case
of an accident, under certain conditions, when the ring is turned round so as to bring
the projection against the pin or projection on the plate, to act by leverage to throw
the ring off the hook.
If the rider be thrown over the horse's head, the ring or loop will be pulled
upwards, and readily slip off the hook. If the rider is being dragged, the ring will
press against the stud, pin, or projection on the plate, which will act as a fulcrum, and
the drag on the stirrup leather will cause the ring or loop to twist and come off the
hook, this action being assisted by the cam shape of the hook.
When the hook is mounted loosely, I prefer it shall be mounted excentrically on its
stud or pin, with the hook portion to the front. The stud, pin, or projection will in
either case be placed immediately in rear of the hook.
By this means I can secure the stirrup leathers to the saddle without the risk of
the leathers getting loose, except when the rider has been actually thrown out of
the saddle.
The parts of the fastening may be formed of malleable castings, or may be stamped
out, and the bar-plate will be secured to the saddle by rivetting or otherwise.

page_text: Improved means for Attaoning Stirrup Leathers to Saules.
I, ALFRED JOHN WHEELER of No. 121 Green Lanes, Islington, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide means for securing stirrup leathers to
saddles, which means, while securely holding the leather under ordinary circumstances,
will permit of the ready detachment of the same in case of accident.
The improved means may be secured to the saddle tree in place of the ordinary
saddle bar, or may be adapted to the saddle bar itself.
In the accompanying drawing, I have shown the invention in both forms, thus :-
Fig. 1 is a front view of the invention as used in place of the saddle bar.
Fig. 2 is a front view of the improved means as applied to the ordinary saddle bar.
Fig. 3 is a left hand side view; and
Fig. 4 is a right hand side view.
Fig. 5 shows a ring with buckle attached ;
Fig. 6 is a side view of same.
Fig. 7 shows a ring with an opening below, to allow the leather strap to pass
through; and
Fig. 8 is a side view of the same.
A is a plate of metal, which is struck up in a die into the form shown in the
drawing, having at its upper part an overhanging shoulder A¹, and at its lower rear
edge a lateral projection or enlargement A'.-A slot A is formed in the plate of
metal A, which is also pierced with holes a a¹ to receive rivets, by which the plate A
is secured to the saddle tree in the same position as the ordinary saddle bar.
B is a hook or hooked stud, which is secured to the plate A by a screw or rivet.
This hook consists of a cylindrical or semi-cylindrical stem B, with a cam shaped
lateral projection or excentric head B₁, the stem being recessed or hollowed out, as
shown, for lightness. The front face or head of this hook may be set at an angle to
the rear face, in order to reduce the weight of metal, and the cam shaped projection
may be bent slightly inwards nearly to meet the overhanging shoulder of the plate,
but so distanced from it as to allow for the ready placing thereon or removal of a
ring. The rear face of the stem may be provided with a pin, which will take into one
of two or more holes formed in the plate, whereby the exact position of the hook can
be adjusted in relation to the position of the plate on the saddle tree or saddle bar.
C is a ring, which is curved (see the side views), and provided with a buckle, to
which the stirrup leather is secured, and by which the same is attached to the hook B.
The leather will be firmly secured by one end to the bar O¹ by sewing or rivets ; the
free end will be passed through the stirrup, and finally secured by the buckle C*, and
the extra length will, if desired, be tucked in behind the bar C¹.
When placing the ring on the hook, the ring will either be turned up to an angle
of nearly 90 degrees from its normal position, placed behind the hook and then turned
down, or it may be twisted onto the hook from the side.

page_text: When in position, it will be quite impossible, under ordinary circumstances, for the
ring to jump off the hook, for the ring being slightly curved, as before mentioned,
any upward motion thereof will cause its top edge to strike against the overhanging
shoulder A² on the plate, it being only possible for the ring to come off when it
is turned up to about an angle of 60 degrees, or twisted sideways to about the
same angle.
Should however an accident occur, and the rider's foot become caught in the
stirrup, the ring will readily come off the hook; for example, suppose the rider is
thrown over the horse's head, the ring would be twisted upwards and sideways in the
direction of the horse's head by the stirrup leather, and would release itself from the
hook. Should the rider be thrown over the side of the horse, the same result
practically will take place. But if the rider be dragged, the rear edge of the ring
will be drawn by the stirrup leather against the projection A2, which will act as a
pivot, or the fulcrum of leverage, on which the ring will, under the weight of the rider
being dragged, twist outwards off the hook.
It will thus be readily understood that the ring cannot come off unless it be turned
up or twisted. The cam-like shape of the hook, the curve of the ring, and the over-
hanging shoulder on the plate, assist more or less in turning or twisting the ring.
The slot A', while lightening the plate, helps to reduce the length of the stem of the
hook, for the ring requires plenty of room when turning or twisting, and the slot
allows sufficient space for the purpose.
In adapting my improved attachment to ordinary saddle bars, I am enabled to
lighten considerably the plate A, as the portions by which it would be rivetted to the
saddle tree can be dispensed with.
In this arrangement, the plate A and hook B are secured to a block D' on a plate D
by means of a screw. The plate D fits behind the saddle bar, and the block D¹
between the two arms thereof. To ensure the plate A being fixed in the proper
position and also prevent it from turning, I form therewith, or secure thereto, a
rearwardly projecting piece at the point which piece is passed between the arms of
the saddle bar and I may also form a projection on the face, which will fit into the
stem of the hook B for the same object.
In the drawing I have shown, in reference to this arrangement, a ring without a
buckle, but it will be evident that either can be used. It will be evident also that in
place of the enlargement A³, a pin may be rivetted to the plate to effect the object.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to bo performed, I declare that what I claim is :—
1. The means for attaching stirrup leathers to saddles, constructed, arranged and
operating substantially as herein described and shown with reference to the drawing.
2. In means for attaching stirrup leathers to saddles, a plate to be used in place of
the ordinary saddle bar, or in combination with the ordinary saddle bar, and formed
with an overhanging shoulder and a lateral projection or enlargement, with or without
a slot, as shown and described, and for the purposes set forth.
3. In means for attaching stirrup leathers to saddles, a hook or hooked stud, formed
with a cylindrical or semi-cylindrical stem or shank, and a lateral cam shaped
projection or excentric head as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In means for attaching stirrup leathers to saddles a ring shaped as shown and
described, and for the purpose set forth.
5. In means for attaching stirrup leathers to saddles, the combination with a plate
having an overhanging shoulder, a lateral projection or enlargement, and with or
without a slot, of a hook or hooked stud and a ring, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.