US469957A - Saddle - Google Patents

Description

B. P. BLOOD.

(No Model.)

SADDLE.

Patented Mar. 1, 1892.

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SPZECIFlIGATlIOl\ forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,957, dated March 1, 1892.

' Application filed August 13, 1891. Serial No. 402,592. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN PAUL BLOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Amsterdam, in the county of Montgomery and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Saddles for Horse- Riding, of which the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made by letter, Figurel is a perspective view of a riding saddle with my improvements applied. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a stirrup and a portion of the stirrupstrap with a foot in the stirrup, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a modification of the stirrup and portion of the strap.

The principle utilized in my device is the stilfening of the stirrup-straps and thereby affording an upward resistance and a clutch to the riders foot, thus making the stirrup and its hanger, which have served heretofore only as preventing the foot from descending, eifectual in also preventing it from flying upward to his disadvantage and danger. From the saddle as I construct it a tolerable rider can hardly be dismounted, the reach and the general efficiency of the cavalry soldier are greatly increased, and for the lady or gentleman rider the jolting of the person is eased by a better distribution of the stress over the muscular system.

In Fig. l the hanger cl is made of two pieces of spring-steel slotted for a setscrew by which its length may be graduated. It is suspended from a pivot 9 under the lapel of the saddle and terminates in a swivel e at its lower end. The stirrup proper depends from this swivel, the front of which projects about two and one-half inches, with a breadth of about three inches, in a shape and direction conforming to the riders foot' at the instep, as shown at a. The bottom or floor of the stirrup b rocksupon a pivot at its middle and is meant to extend to and resist the riders heel at its rear end and at the forward end to support the ball of the foot and upon the deflection of the heel to clutch the foot between itself and the projection over the instep, described before, in the region of the base of the toes. On the skirt of the saddle, at the nether angle of the riders knee, is a triangular puff c, on which his leg may bear, as on a fulcrum, when he would ease his seat or when for any purpose he would rise in the saddle. With his foot firmly clutched in the stirrup by the deflection of his heel, his instep repressed by the projection a, and his weight balanced by the leverage of the leg over the puff c the swordsman will instantly appreciate the gymnastic advantages of his equipment.

Fig. 2 shows the stirrup practically with the foot in its clutch, with a chain lanyard or checkf attached to the swivel. This chain is more especially for a ladys side-saddle, to be hitched to the girth under the horses brisket, to prevent the foots vaulting too far or flying outward unduly. For the same purpose the hanger (1 may have play in aslotted clamp on the saddle-skirt. For certain violent exercises the chain f mayadvantageously connect the two stirrups under the horses belly.

Fig. 3 shows a simpler and more radical application of my principle of upward resistance in stirrups, the floor of the stirrup being considerably extended fore and aft to afford leverage, the top of it being more simply swiveled in the heel of the hanger d, as seen at t in the drawings, and the projection a (which I assume as identical for my purpose with a in Fig. 1) effected by expanding the hanger d at the bottom and bending it forward and downward in conformity with the instep of the foot.

The whole stirrup may be covered with leather in the usual manner, and the hangers being colored in imitation of leather nothing extraordinary in the appearance of my saddle need detract from public admiration of my riders grace and efficiency, and experience will prove that from the clutch of this powerful stirrup the foot may be more readily and surely withdrawn than from any stirrup-pendent' from a pliable and upwardly unresisting strap.

While I have illustrated the two sections of the stirrup-strap as adj ustably connected by means of a set-screw, yet it is obvious that other means might be employed for instance, the lower section may carry a stud and the upper section a series of holes to receive said stud, and said upper section be provided with an eye or loop to guide and receive the lower section, or a clamp of any suitable means might be employed.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination, with a riding-saddle, of stirrup-straps composed of metal or nonflexible material, puffs 011 the skirts of the saddle at points to bear against the leg below the knee, and a stirrup swiveled to the straps and adapted to bear at one end against the heel and the other end arranged to extend under the ball of the foot, substantially as specified.

2. Ariding-saddle constructed to afford upward resistance to the rider and having in combination stirrup-straps composed of metal or the like, stirrups swiveled to the lower end of said straps and having a floor or bearing which extends rearwardly to the heel of the rider and forwardly beneath the ball of the foot, and a stop adapted to bear on the instep, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, with a riding-saddle, of stirrup-straps composed of metal or nonfiexible material, pulfs on the skirts of the saddle at points to bear against the leg below the knee, and a stop adapted to bear on the instep, substantially as specified.

BENJ. PAUL BLOOD.

Witnesses:

H. A. BLOOD, JOHN P. BLOOD.

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