US2845766A

US2845766A - Saddle

Info

Publication number: US2845766A
Application number: US688370A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank H Leddy
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-10-04
Filing date: 1957-10-04
Publication date: 1958-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 1975-08-05

Description

F. H. LEDDY Aug. s, 1958 SADDLE File'd Oct. 4, 1957 FIG. 3.

FRANK H. LEDDY United States Patent SADDLE Frank H. Leddy, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application October 4, 1957, Serial No. 688,370

6 Claims. (Cl. 54-46) This invention relates to saddles and has reference to improvements in pivoted stirrup leathers.

An object of the invention is to provide a saddle of the referred to type which is more comfortable to the rider. Particularly, such comfort is made possible by thinner bars having greater area, yet by reason of the present pivot construction the stirrup leathers are strongly supported on the bars.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pivoted stirrup leather construction and arrangement whereby the stirrups may be readily swung to the neck position, but are positively locked against a swinging backward.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a ball bearing for freely swinging the stirrup leathers, together with means for adequately supporting the stirrup leathers thereon.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of a saddle tree showing a stirrup leather pivotally connected therewith in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged broken transverse sectional view of the construction illustrated in Figure 1, the section being taken vertically along the pivot point thereof.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a ball bearing assembly used in the invention, and

Figure 4 is an exploded broken perspective view of applicants pivot assembly adapted to be received in a particularly shaped recess in the outer forward surfaces of the saddle bars.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral designates a rawhide covered saddle tree including bars 11 along each side thereof. It is to be understood that the rigging is to be applied to the tree and that the present construction makes possible a more comfortable completed saddle.

A particular feature of the invention has to do with the shape of the recesses 12 in the forward outer surfaces of the bars 11, and which recesses are covered with rawhide 13 as is the remainder of the saddle tree 10. The recesses are forwardly and downwardly shaped, as at 14, for permitting the stirrups 15 to be moved to neck position, but the rearward edges of the recesses, indicated at 16, are vertical, whereas the upper portions of the recesses are arcuate, as at 17.

The stirrup leathers 18 are generally of conventional construction and include inner and

outer leathers

19 and 20, and fenders 21.

Another feature of the invention has to do with the ball bearing construction and means for attaching the stirrup leathers thereto. Such bearing 22 is shown in Figure 3, and the details thereof in Figure 2. The ball bearing includes a tubular inner race 23, a cylindrical outer race 24, and balls 25 therebetween. The outer race 24 has a disk flange 26 therearound and holes 27 therethrough for receiving rivets 28. As shown in Figure 2, the rivets are positioned through the inner and

outer leathers

19 and 20, and which rivets have flat heads for compact constructiom Also, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the inner race 23 extends beyond the outer race, and the inner end thereof is notched, as at 29, for engagement with projections 30 on a mounting plate 31. The mounting plate 31 is secured to the flat surface of the recess by means of screws 32. The mounting plate 31 also includes a central opening 33 for receiving a countersunk pivot screw 34 which is threadedly engaged in a flanged nut 34', the flange 35 of which is received beneath the rawhide 13 in a recess 36 in the under surface of the bar 11. The outer recess 12 is covered by a thin metal plate 37 having a countersunk hole 38 therein for receiving the head 39 of the screw 34.

In view of the foregoing description, it will be seen that the stirrups 15 may be readily swung forwardly and rearwardly a limited distance. It will further be seen that applicants unique bearing and stirrup leather construction provides adequate support. Moreover, the securing of the inner race of the ball bearing 22 prevents Wear and assures ball bearing action at all times. Moreover, the described construction permits relatively thin bars 11 for comfort, not only to the rider but to the horse upon which the completed saddle is placed.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary construction herein shown and described, but may be made in various ways within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a saddle having a tree including bars on each side thereof, a ball bearing having a disk flange around the outer race, inner and outer stirrup leathers secured at their upper ends to opposite sides of said disk flange, and a pivot screw secured to each said bar, said ball bearings and stirrup leathers being pivotally mounted on each said screw.

2. In a saddle as defined in claim 1, the construction wherein said bars have recesses in the outer surfaces thereof, and wherein said ball bearings are received in said recesses in the outer surfaces of said bars.

3. In a saddle as defined in claim 2, the construction wherein said recesses are downwardly sloped along their forward edges and vertically disposed at their rear edges.

4. In a saddle as defined in claim 1, the construction wherein a plate is attached to the outer surface of each of said bars, and wherein the outer end of each said pivot screw is supported by said plate.

5. In a saddle as defined in claim 4, the construction including flanged nut fittings in said bars, the flanges of which are received in the inner surfaces thereof, and wherein the inner ends of said screws are received within said flanged nut fittings.

6. In a saddle having a tree including bars on each side thereof, said bars having recesses in the outer surfaces thereof, the forward edges of said recesses being forwardly and downwardly sloped, and the rear edges of said recesses being verticaly disposed, and stirrup leathers pivotally mounted therein.

Solotinow Apr. 13, 1909 Funk Apr. 19, 1949