US33930A - Improvement in stirrups and their covers - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED DEG. 17,1861.

R. N. EAGLE. STIRRUP AND ITSGOVER.

B SHEETS-SHEET 1.

m: NORRIS PETERS co. momumo WASHINGT No. 33.930. v PATENTED DEG. 17,1861.

R. N. EAGLE.

' 'STIRRUP AND ITS COVER.

fiii'nesses,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT N. EAGLE, OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY.

IMPROVEMENT IN STIRRUPS AND THEIR COVERS.

To all whom it nmy concern.-

Be it known that LROBERT N. EAGLE, -of the United States Army, have invented cer- -tain new and useful Improvements in Riding- Stirrups and the Covers for Same; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full.

and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making partof this specification.

This invention consists in, first, so con structing the. stirrup as to. bring the point of suspension inside or toward the horse from a "ert-ical line, which is drawn from near the center of and at right angles to the tread, so

as'to incline the tread of the stirrup inwardand upward toward the horse, thereby throwing the foot ofthe rider involuntarily into the correct position and assisting the natural curvature of the leg to embrace the body of the horse; second, in. making this inclination adjustable, so as to suit the various circumstances under which it may be used and the riders using it; third, the peculiar manner of constructing the eye and its parts and connecting them to the body of the stirrup, so as to give said stirrup such an angular position horizontally and with reference to the body of the horse as to give a ready entrance to the foot Without twisting the stirrup-leather and at the same time permit the easy movements of the foot in the proper directions; fourth, hanging the stirrup upon the horizontal or nearly horizontal axis which passes angularly over the tread in the direction of a line drawn horizontally from the .littletoe to the instep, as set forth; fifth, the arrangement of the sides or arms in the construct-ion of the stirrup,'said sides or arms being carried up in a spiral direction from their base, the outer arm (the longest) being thrown forward with its upper extremity turned inward and toward the rear and the inner arm brought backward with its upper extremity turned inward and toward the front, in the manner and for the purposes hereinafter, more fully described; sixth, constructing the tread of the stirrup with an irregular concavity, so as to conform to the natural convexity of the boot when the foot is bent, the margin of the base of the tread at the great toe being higher relatively than the base at the entrance, while the base at the little toe is the most elevated,

as and for the purposes hereinafter described;

- seventh, the cover for the stirrup hereinafter described, said cover being made of one piece of leather, as described and shown, or its equivalent-such as rubber cloth, canvas,- &c.-the lower portion being turned inward from the bottom to cover the tread and sides to protect the foot from the weather and the boot from wear or from being passed too far forward through the stirrup. In the drawings, Figure l is a back elevation of the right-foot stirrup with the leather cover attached; Fig. 2, a vertical section of same longitudinally through the axis and in the central line of suspension; Fig. 3, a side elevation ofsame; Fig. a, a perspective View of skeleton stirrup for the left foot. Figs. 5 and 6 are modifications of the above principles. The present improvements are designed to obviate manyinconveniences heretofore existing in the differentstirrups commonly in use. From the peculiar construction the tread is turned inward and upward toward the horse.

At the same time the toes are involuntarily pointed toward the horses chest, thereby throwing the heels out and preventing the spurs from continually galling the horse and insuring the proper, safe, and graceful position on horseback.

A is the cover; B, the lower part of the cover turned inward to form the inside lining of the tread and sides, and also a guard to protect the foot, both from the weather and from pass- 7 ing too far through the stirrup; O, concave tread of metal or its equivalent, partly inside and partly outside the cover A; D, the axis,- with three grooves a a a", forming different points of suspension by moving the hub b of the eye d along the axis D, at'the same time allowing the stationary pin 0 to pass along and through the slot 6 or e in the axis D.

In Fig. 4 the eye (Z is attached to the hub h by the pin on which the eye (Z oscillates, and in this case a slot'is cutinside and lengthwise of the hub 12, by passing which along the axis D and over point of suspension is changed. The bar g in Fig. 4 acts as a guard to preventthe foot from being passed too far through the stirrup.

By placing the hub 12 or b at that-end of the axis. D nearest to the horse a greater degree of angularity of the tread is obtained the stationary pin f the First. 'In the'inclination of the tread, which adapts itself to the natural position of the foot, as is best represented by a trooper gathering his horse without stirrupsi Second. In the point of suspension, graduating theinclination of the tread so as to suit the wants of a recruit or the requirements of an easy-service stirrup for the constant equestrian, the effect being to incline the inner edge or sole of the boot more or less inward and upward toward-the horse, transferring the area of pressure to the entire sole instead of partially, and, as heretofore, upon the ball of the foot while the leg was stretched, or upon the outer edge of the foot when the leg was bent to embre ce the barrel or sides of the. horse, this effect being produced as well from an involuntary motion of the rider as from pressure of the feet upon thestinrups.

Third. In the stirrup turning on axe s,,which allow theheels of the rider to adjust themselves in reference to the height of the toes, and also. with its powers of inversion offering all the advantage of a practical safety stirrup in insuring the instant disengagement of the foot should the rider happen to be thrown.

Fourth. In the peculiar construction of the eye, which with its partscompose a nearly u-niversal joint, and turning on axes forward and back in lines at right angles to of the horsesside when in use, allow of freer movements for the foot in the proper direction Without deprivingit at the same time of the necessary support, and which, added to the elevation given to the front part of marginal base of the tread, prevents the foot pointing too far forward toward the chest of the horse either when the foot is being firstinserted or afterward while it is bearing full upon the stirrup. Said efiect being produced by the being highest and consequently the point of contact first offered to the foot, which in find ing its bearings must naturally throw the tread, or rather press it, toward the rear, .fol-- lowing, by the assistance of the eye and its .parts, in the directionof a line drawn from little toe to instep.

Fifth. In the shape or economy of the tread, which being concave adapts itself to the bend of the foot, altording a bed or hollow, as it were, for the foot, and preventing it from slipping about, as well as in a great measure from being thrust in too far, and aided by the peculiar suspension of the stirrup renders it next to impossible that the stirrup could be lost atany gait, provided the leathers were adjusted to a proper length. In explanation of which it may be observed that in the stirrups now used the leathers have to be either lengthened for a stretch of the leg as most 0011- venientinriding atordinary gaits, or else shortened for a curvature of the limb in adapting it to the rougher ones-such as the trot-out? or in jumping--to insure any assistance from or aid in preserving an equilibrium, or, in fact, to be able to keep the stirrup at all, for the reason that the more the leg was bent or drawn up in embracing the horse the longer,

approximately, the'straps became, which being only adjusted to a reach of the leg, as measured by the arm of the rider, became nearly useless for more than one purpose or position. Hence the proficient has heretofore depended mainly upon the-knees and thighs, which vastly increased the fatigue of riding, whereas with these stirrups the leathers being measured for adjustment on the short side, the horse'is gathered in jumping or the leg composed to a convenient length for walking without depriving the foot of its modicum of support orpreventing it from keeping the stirrup in either contingency. I

Sixth. In the manner of hanging the stirrup, which. requires no twisting of the straps, but, being. always unmasked, admits of a ready entrance to the foot or recovery of the stirrup by direction of the toes toward the shoulder or forearm of the horse, causingless friction to the leg and wear of the overalls of the soldier, in consequence of the leathers not coming into contact with'the legs below the knee, except in gathering the horse, the fiat of the straps only touching, the buckle being 1 inside and next the horse. 1 each other, but at acute angles to the plane Seventh. Accidental spurring of the horse jis obviated by this stirrup keeping the feet nearly parallel to the horses sides and inclin- :ing the toes in, instead of forcing them out, fand when suspended at a point nearest. the

horse causing such constraint-as ultimatelyto. render this position most agreeable to the rider.

The more pressure that is-thrown upon the stirrup and the higher the point of sus- ,pension used the more positively is the effect V 1 produced. front part of the marginal base of the tread Eighth. These stirrups are intended to exercise the ankle, as the moulinet with the saber does the wrist, and to train all riders, whether they are bowed or knocked in the gconformation of theirlegs and knees. physical conformation of the former offering :le'ss resistance to a secure seat in the saddle v would require a less acute angle of deflection, whereas riders of the latter class of course a. greater degree, in order to overcome the difficulty of bringing their legs inquick enough under emergencies to embrace thebarrel or The sides of the horse.

Ninth. The interlocking of ,feet rendering the trooper liable to be unhorsed by a heavier adversary, or when at speed, as in the charge,

- to the not uncommon casualty of having the foot twisted out if not the leg broken, is in a some a great measure avoided, while the advantage must be as obvious in the increased facilities oifered for moving"boot to boot in-c'olumn or close masses.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1; The locating of the point of suspension inside or toward the horse from a vertical line which is drawn from near the center of and at right angles to the tread of the stirrup, substantially as set forth.

2. In making this inclination adjustable by the sliding hub or its equivalent, so as to suit the difierent circumstances under which it may be used or the conformation of the user, substantially as described. 7 3. The peculiar angular construction of the eye and hub combined, and the manner of their attachment to the body of the stirrup, so as to impart to the tread of said stirrup an angular position horizontally and also with reference to the body of the horse, thus allowing an easy entrance. to the foot without twisting the stirrupleather and causing at the same timethe foot to move in the proper directions, substantially as set forth.

4. Hanging the stirrup upon the horizontal atthe entrance of the stirrup, as

boot, and with the front of said marginal base of the tread higher relatively than the base and for the "purposes described.

7. The cover of the stirrup, as described, said cover being made of one piece, the'lower portion being turned inward from the bottom to cover the tread and lower part of sides, thus forming a guard and protection for the foot, substantially as set forth.

R. N. EAGLE.

Witnesses:

OHRLJ. LORIGAN, L. A. ROBERT.-

order to conform to the bend of the footer

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