Importance

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Abstract

The safety stirrup disclosed herein has a strap receiving hanger bar at the upper extent of the stirrup, and a pair of laterally spaced apart side bars that depend downwardly from the hanger bar, wherein one of the side bars is pivotally connected to the hanger bar so as to be swingable, laterally outwardly with respect to the opposite side bar. One end of a footrest bar that normally bridges the lower ends of the side bars is pivotally connected to the lower end of the nonpivoted side bar, and the opposite end of the footrest bar is held by a releasable catch formed on the lower end of the pivoted side bar. A biasing spring continuously urges the pivotally mounted side bar inwardly so as to cause the catch at its lower end to retain the footrest bar in a bridging, foot supporting position. A pair of deflector plates are separately affixed, one to each side bar, and are shaped as to be forwardly and upwardly convergent so as to react to excessive, upward tilting of the boot toe of a falling rider which wedges between the deflector plates, spreading the plates and thus the supporting side bars, laterally outwardly. The resulting displacement of the lower end of the pivotally mounted side bar releases the catch that retains the footrest bar and allows the footrest bar to swing downwardly and away, safely releasing the rider's boot and foot.

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First Claim