Improvements in or relating to Stirrups and Stirrup Leathers.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Feb., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Stirrups and Stirrup Leathers.
A communication from LAURENCE OLIPHANT LIESCHING, of Colombo, Ceylon.
I, JOIN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of the Firm of J. C. Mewburn & Ellis, of 55 and
56, Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agents, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to stirrups and stirrup leathers and has more particu-
larly for its object to diminish the jar or shock produced by the impact of the rider
at every bound of his horse. This diminution of the shock is effected according
to this invention at the very moment when the shock would otherwise produce
its maximum effect, by the arrangement of elastic devices such as metal springs
or bands of any suitable elastic material in the stirrup leathers or in the stirrups,
or between the saddle and the stirrup leathers. The use of such bands or springs
does not necessarily entail alteration in the ordinary saddles. The invention may
also be applied to existing stirrups and stirrup leathers, although specially con-
structed stirrups and stirrup leathers are more advantageous for the purposes in
view.
The invention may be carried out in various ways
"
According to one arrangement the elastic devices consist of two endless elastic
bands preferably of caoutchouc or of woven caoutchouc or
"elastic webbing
attached to the bottom of the stirrup leathers by means of preferably metal rings.
The elastic bands are connected at their other cuds to the stirrups by means of
metal rings.
Acording to another arrangement the elastic devices may be formed of coiled
metal springs or plates or washers of caoutchouc which are adapted to be com-
pressed between the bottom of the stirrup leathers and the stirrups by means of a
metal tension device
The elastic devices may also consist simply of coiled metal springs enclosed in
flexible sheaths if necessary, and introduced between the stirrup leathers and the
stirrups to which said springs are connected by means of rings.
In a modification the elastic devices may consist of two parallel bands firmly
sewn or cemented to the stirrup leathers.
According to a further modification springs are arranged at the bottom of the
stirrups below the foot plates. Or springs are arranged at the top of the stirrups
in which case the stirrup leathers may be attached to special pieces adapted to
slide on the branches of the stirrups.
Springs may be attached to the saddle to support the stirrup leathers; these
springs may be attached to the body of the saddle or they may be connected
together and form a continuous band carried across the top of the saddle.
This last arrangement may be desirable in the case of racing saddles where the
weight must be reduced as much as possible.
In this case the stirrup leathers may be formed of a continuous elastic band
passing over the saddle near to the pommel, and supporting the stirrups directly.

page_text: These springs or bands may also be attached if desired to a yoke or pad arranged
on the shoulders of the horse in front of the saddle.
In arrangements where the springs are applied to the stirrups, these springs
may be in the form of solid or hollow blocks of caoutchouc arranged above the
stirrups and adapted to be compressed between the lower part of the stirrup
leathers and the stirrups.
The springs when applied to the stirrup leathers may be attached to any desired
parts of the latter. The stirrup leathers may also be composed wholly of such
springs; and the springs may be composed of any suitable clastic materials.
Dated this 25th day of February 1899.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
Improvements in or relating to Stirrups and Stirrup Leathers.
A communication from LAURENCE; Oliphant LiesCHING, of Colombo, Ceylon.
I, JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN, of the Firm of J. C. Mewburn & Ellis, of 55 and
56, Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agents, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner-the-same-is-to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to stirrups and stirrup leathers and has more particu-
larly for its object to diminish the jar or shock produced by the impact of the
horse and rider at every bound of the horse. This diminution of the shock is
effected according to this invention at the time when the shock would otherwise
produce its maximum effect, by the arrangement of elastic attachments in the
form of bands or strips of india rubber or other material in the stirrup leathers
or between the saddle and the stirrup leathers or between the stirrup leathers
and the stirrup irons; or the stirrup leathers themselves may consist of elastic
material. The use of such elastic bands does not necessarily entail alteration
in the ordinary saddles. The invention may also be applied to existing stirrup
leathers. For special purposes the stirrups and the elastic attachments can b
suspended from a pad resting on the horse's withers instead of being suspended
from the saddle itself.
The invention, may be carried out in various ways, some of which are illustrated
by way of example in the accompanying drawings.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 1 two endless elastic bands or strips 1, 1
preferably of caoutchouc or of woven caoutchouc or "elastic webbing," are attached
to the bottom of the stirrup leather 2, 2 by means of rings or loops 3, 3. The
elastic bands 1, 1 are connected at their other ends to the stirrup 4 by means of
rings or loops 5, 5, and a strap 6.
In the modification shown in Figure 2, two parallel elastic bands 7, 7 are firmly
sewn or cemented to the stirrup leather 8, 8.
In Figure 3, elastic bands 9 are attached at their upper ends to the body of the
saddle 10, and at their lower ends to the stirrup leathers 11 by means of loops 12.
In Figure 4, the elastic bands 13 are each carried over the saddle and connected
to the saddle bar at the opposite side as hereinafter fully described with reference
to Figures 5, 6 and 7. Loops 14 for guiding the elastic band 13 are provided on
cach side of the saddle.
In practice I have found it desirable for some purposes to employ what I may

page_text: term compound elastic bands or strips in connection with each stirrup leather,
that is to say, each band or strip consists of two or more bands or strips which
come into action in succession according to the impact or strain to be met.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 illustrate an example of these compound bands each of which is
shown in this case as composed of three clastic bands or thick strips of rubber 15,
16, 17, a number which I consider best although two, or more than three may be
employed. These strips as shown are of different thicknesses and of approxi-
mately equal length; they are arranged side by side the thickest or broadest
strip being preferably next to the saddle, and the thinnest or narrowest strip
further from the saddle. It is however not essential for the strips to be of different
thicknesses or of different strengths or of the same length.
The cross sectional area of the thickest strip 15 on each side of the saddle is
designed to take a strain or impact of one half of say 3 times the weight of the
rider, 15 stone, whilst the strip 16 is designed to take in conjunction with strip 15
strains or impacts of one half of say 4 times the weight of the rider, whilst the
strip 17 is designed to take in conjunction with strips 15 and 16 strains or
impacts of one half of say 5 times the weight of the rider. These three strips are
encircled by rubber rings 18, which hold them firmly together but so as to allow
them to expand freely and independently of one another in the longitudinal
direction.
Each strip is formed with preferably a dead eye in its upper and lower ends.
Through the eyes in the upper ends of the strips 15, 16, 17 there are passed respec-
tively rings or loops 19, 20, 21 (which may be provided with buckles as shown) of
practically equal length and through the eyes in the lower ends of the strips
there pass respectively the adjustable buckle straps 22, 23, 24 which are adjusted
to different lengths, the strap 22 engaging with the thickest strip 15 being the
shortest, whilst the strap 24 engaging with the thinnest strip 17 is the longest.
The relative lengths of the straps 22, 23, 24 are such that so long as the strip 15
is not subjected to a strain greater than that which it is designed to take, it alone
will bear the strain. But on the application of greater strain causing the strip 15
to stretch to an extent greater than the difference between the lengths of the
straps 22 and 23 the strip 16 also will be placed under strain, and in the case of a
still greater strain being applied the strip 17 will be placed under strain, so that
all three strips will come progressively into operation until all three are under
strain. An adjustable buckle stirrup leather strap 25 passes through all the
three straps 22, 23, 24 and carries the stirrup iron 26.
An adjustable buckle strap 27 passes through all the three top loops 19, 20, 21
and over the top of the saddle 10 to the other side of the latter where it passes
through a slit in the skirt and is buckled to the saddle bar. The corresponding
buckle strap from the other sile is carried in a similar manner over the saddle and
buckled to the other, saddle bar, and the two buckle straps are preferably made to
interlace with or pass through each other where they cross. A loop 28 serves to
keep the straps in place. The buckle straps 27 need not go over the saddle as
described as each one may be connected to the saddle bar at its own side of the
saddle.
The impact of a rider weighing ten stone transmits through the two stirrups
a sudden strain of about 30, 40 or 50 stone, according to the weight and pace of
the horse. The strain of 30 stone is taken by the thickest strips 15, one on
each side of the saddle, whilst the increased strain to 40 stone will be shared by
the strips 15 and 16 on each side of the saddle. Similarly, the increased strain
to 50 stone will be taken by the strips 15, 16 and 17 on each side of the saddle
each of the strips on each side coming automatically into operation and taking its
proper share of the increasing and total strain. In order to prevent the elastie
strips being stretched further than a given extent a check strap 37 preferably
adjustable by a buckle may be employed.
The arrangement shown in Figure 8 differs from the preceding, only in that the
loops 29, 30, 31 instead of being practically all of the same length as is the case

page_text: with the loops 19, 20, 21 (Figures 5 and 6) are made of different lengths, the
loop 29 which engages with the thickest strip 15 being made the shortest, whilst
the loop 31 engaging with the thinnest strip 17 is made the shortest. The
straps 32, 33, 34 engaging respectively with the lower ends of the strips 15, 16, 17
may be made all of the same length or of different lengths as shown.
Figure 9 illustrates a form of clastic band which may be employed in the place
of the form of elastic strip shown in the preceding figures. It consists of a
loop of solid round rubber 35 encircled by retaining rubber rings 36. It will be
understood that when rubber loops of this form are employed in the arrangements
shown in Figures 5 to 8, the cross sectional area of the round rubber of which
each particular loop is formed will be made proportionate to the strain to be
taken by that loop as hereinbefore described with reference to the strips 15, 16, 17.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, as communicated to me, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, I declare that what I claim is :--
34
1. Elastic attachments for stirrups comprising bands or strips of india rubber
or other elastic material at some part between the stirrup irons and the saddle (or
pad when used as before explained) substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described.
2. The several arrangements of elastic attachments for stirrups, substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
1899.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,-
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.