Improvements in Stirrups.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 25th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 25th Apr., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stirrups.
We CHARLES BELLOCQ, Merchant, of 104 Rue d'Amsterdam, Paris, France,
and HENRY GUMMERSBACH, Saddler, of 104 Rue d'Amsterdam, Paris, France
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object we have in view to accomplish is to prevent a rider, when accidentally
falling off a horse in motion, from being dragged along the ground with his foot
caught in the stirrup.
To accomplish that object we have devised a stirrup which can be readily
disconnected from the strap to which it is suspended.
Broadly speaking, the stirrup proper, which may be of any desired kind, is formed,
at the top of its semi-circular bend, with a horizontal slot into which can be made
to engage a projection on a pivoted spring catch. The spring catch itself is pivoted
to a metal bearer which is suspended vertically to the strap pending from the saddle
on each side of the horse. Between such bearer and the catch, the upper part of
the stirrup is held suspended.
In imparting motion to the stirrup proper by means of the foot, the rider can at
any time readily separate the stirrup from the rest of the connected parts.
Dated this 19th day of July 1895.
We, CHARLES BELLOCQ and HENRY GUMMERSBACH both of 104 Rue
d'Amsterdam, Paris in the Republic of France, Merchants 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 a safety stirrup which in case the rider is thrown,
becomes automatically detached from the stirrup leather, which supports the stirrup
iron.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings
Figure represents a side view of a stirrup provided with our detachable
mounting.
Figure 2 is a front view of Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents the whole stirrup device mounted and stirrup leather and
Figure illustrates the manner in which the said device operates.
Between the stirrup-iron A and the leather B is inserted a clip piece C. This
piece is provided with an opening D through which the stirrup leather B is passed,
and in its centre part F of the said piece C is arranged a lug or ear G to which is
pivoted a piece H, the upper part of which bears against a spring I which latter
serves to keep it away from C and which consequently causes the lower part L of

page_text: said lever or piece H to close against C; in this manner the eye M of the stirrup
iron is engaged by the jaw O which forms the end of the lever H, and retains the
stirrup iron in place without enabling the same to escape, when the foot of the rider
occupies the position represented in Figure 3.
Figure 4 illustrates how the said device operates in event of the rider being
thrown.
When the latter has fallen or is in the act of falling to the ground his foot P
engages with and remains in engagement with the stirrup iron and bears against
the projection R of the jaw O of the lever of H. Owing to this pressure upon
the said projection the jaw O is forced out of engagement with the eye of the
stirrup.
The spring I may be arranged in any suitable manner, and the stirrup holder or
piece C may on its part be pivotally connected to the piece forming the jaw, in any
suitable manner so as to allow the said jaw to open and close.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
A detachable stirrup iron, the characteristic features of which being :
1. The use of an intermediate piece C applied between the stirrup-iron A and
the stirrup-leather B connecting the same on to the saddle.
2. The piece or clip C being formed by two parts, one of which swings in its
centre F and carries at its lower part a kind of jaw O, with which engages the eye
of the stirrup iron.
A lower projection R which causes the opening of the tongs in which latter is
heid the eye of the stirrup iron by the position occupied by the foot of the rider
when falling.
The whole substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 25th dow of L
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.