Improvements in Safety Stirrups.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 11th May, 1894-Accepted, 16th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safety Stirrups.
We, WILLIAM HAMPSON, and JOHN SCOTT, trading as Hampson and Scott, of
Clarence Works, Walsall, in the County of Stafford, Saddlers' Ironmongers, and
WILLIAM BOWDLER, of Field Street, Bloxwich in the County of Stafford,
Lockmaker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to an improved construction of safety stirrup, whereby
without material increase of cost we provide a reliable support for the foot when
the rider is in a normal position, and a ready automatic release should he be
thrown..
To effect this we make the stirrup iron in two parts, the upper being of the
ordinary bow or curvilinear form, and the lower portion or foot-plate being attached
to one of the legs by a pivotted hinged joint, arranged at one end of the same. The
other end of the foot-plate is provided with a pivot taking into a slot formed in the
opposite leg of the bow. This pivot has on its outer end a large flat head to
prevent the bow from springing open, and is retained normally in position by a stud
or projection formed or secured upon the outer face of the leg of the bow engaging
with a flat formed on the head of the pivot. Normally this stud will prevent the
footplate from turning in a forward direction, but should the rider be thrown, the
pressure of his foot will cause the foot-plate to partially revolve on its pivots in a
backward direction until the head of the pivot is released from the fixed stud. As
soon as this is effected the pivot will automatically disengage itself through the
slot in the leg of the stirrup, and the footplate falling from the hinged joint at once
releases the foot of the rider.
Dated this Thirteenth day of July 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safety Stirrups.
We,
WILLIAM HAMPSON, and JOHN SCOTT, trading as Hampson and Scott, of
Clarence Works, Walsall, in the County of Stafford, Saddlers' Ironmongers, and
WILLIAM BOWDLER, of Field Street, Bloxwich in the County of Stafford,
Lockmaker, 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 :-
Our invention relates to an improved construction of safety stirrup whereby
without material increase of cost we provide a reliable support for the foot when
the rider is in a normal position, and a ready release should he be thrown.
And in order that our invention may be more clearly understood reference is had
to the accompanying sheet of drawings upon which :-
Figure 1 illustrates an elevation of a stirrup in which the foot-plate is secured
by means of a pivotted hinged joint at one end and a pivot and slot at the other.
Figure 2 represents the same but with foot-plate shewn released.

page_text: Figure 3 illustrates a modification of the above the foot plate being secured by
means of a hook-and-eye joint.
Figure 4 shews the same but with foot-plate released.
In carrying out our invention we make the stirrup-iron in two parts, the upper A
being of the ordinary bow or curvilinear form, and the lower portion or foot-plate B
being attached to one of the legs C of the upper portion A by a pivotted hinged
joint E arranged at one end of the same, or by means of an eye F formed upon or
attached to the plate B engaging with a corresponding loop G formed at the lower
end of the leg C. The other or free end of the foot plate may be provided with a
pivot H arranged to engage within a slot I formed in the opposite leg D of the
bow A, or we may provide a second eye K at this end of the foot plate and an
elongated hook L at the lower end of the leg D for the eye K to engage with, the
construction being so arranged as to permit the foot-plate B to partly revolve
backwards on its horizontal axis E and also vertically in a downward direction.
The pivot H bas on its outer end a large flat head M to prevent the bow A from
springing open, and is retained normally in position by a stud or projection N.formed
or secured upon the outer face of the leg D of the bow and engaging with a flat O
formed on the head M of the pivot H. Normally this stud N will prevent the
foot plate B from turning in a forward direction, but should the rider be thrown the
pressure of his foot will cause the foot plate B to partially revolve on its pivots E
and H in a backward direction until the head M of the pivot H is released from
the fixed stud N. As soon as this is effected the pivot H will automatically
disengage itself through the slot I in the leg D of the stirrup, and the foot-plate B
falling from the hinged joint E at once releases the foot of the rider.
In the modification shewn in Figures 3 and 4, it will be seen that from each of
the eyes F and K project horns P and Q. The horn P being arranged to engage
within a groove or depression R formed upon the inner face of the leg C serves to
steady the foot plate B in its normal position and prevent its turning too freely.
The horn Q serves to prevent the foot plate from revolving in a forward direction
by means of its upper end which is so formed as to come into contact with a
projection S formed on the elongated hook L for this purpose.
In lieu of the depression or groove R in the leg C we may provide a projecting
stud and arrange for this to enter a corresponding groove formed on the horn P, or
the stud may be formed upon the horn, and the groove in the leg C.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In safety stirrups, a pivotted foot-plate detachable at one end, and attached
at the other end by a hinged-pivotted-joint or by a loop and eye, as and for the
purposes described.
2. In safety stirrups having a pivotted foot-plate, the detachable device of a pivot
and slot or of a hook and eye, for securing the free end of the foot-plate as and for
the purposes described.
3. Safety stirrups constructed, combined and arranged substantially as described
and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 11th day of May 1894.