Improvements in Saddles for Bicycles, Tricycles, and similar. Vehicles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Saddles for Bicycles, Tricycles, and similar.
Vehicles.
We LLEWLLEYN AUGUSTUS PARROCK of 52 Alma Street, Aston, Manufacturer
and GEORGE BUTLER of 1 Lombard Street Birmingham Bicycle fittings Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of our invention is to obtain in a better manner than has been heretofore
found possible, a saddle, in which the leather on which the rider sits shall be kept in
a state of tension by the weight of the rider.
To effect this object we construct the metallic parts of the saddle in the following
imanner: We provide a bar which we call the base bar, of approximately the length
of the saddle, preferably of rectangular cross-section, the deepest side of the rectangle
being vertical. This base bar has an eye at the front end and a cross piece at the
back by means of which it is fastened to the back boue or main framing of the
machine, either directly or through suitable springs in a well known manner.
The aforesaid base bar then forms a rigid base for the mechanism now to be
described.
Near each end of the base bar we drill a hole in a horizontal direction and through
each of these hole we pass a joint pin.
We form a light frame of the shape of an isosceles triangle, the end being curved,
and at the apex of this frame we drill a hole for one of the joint pins aforesaid, that
is, the one in the front end of the base bar, to pass through.
The curved end of the triangular frame fits under and is secured to the leather of
the back end of the saddle.
We provide a bar nearly of the length of the fixed base bar with a hole at one end
and joint this bar to the back end of the base bar by means of the joint pin before
mentioned.
The front end of this bar fits under and is connected to the front part of the leather
saddle.
We connect the front end of the bar just described with the front end of the base
bar by a suitable helical spring and the back end or base of the triangular frame
with the back end of the base bar in a similar manner.
When a weight such as that of the rider of the machine comes on the saddle the
effect is to depress the free end that is the back end of the triangular frame to which
the back of the saddle is fixed and also to depress the free end that is the front end of
the bar to which the front of the saddle is fixed. But the effect of these free end
moving in ares of circles considered with regard to the base bar and to the joints in
the base bar to which they are jointed is that the free ends recede from each other
when they are depressed thus putting the leather of the saddle to which they are fixed
in a state of tension, which tension is maintained all the time that the weight of the
.rider rests on the saddle.
And in order that this our said invention may be more clearly understood we will
now proceed to describe the same reference being made to the sheet of drawings, to
the figures, and letters marked thereon (that is to say)
Fig. 1. is a side view in elevation showing our improvements in saddles with the
leather seat applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a view upper plan when the leather seat is removed.
The same letters of reference indicate like or corresponding parts upon each
figure.
is is the hase har provided with the eve b at the front or pommell end.
c is the

page_text: cross-piece at the back or cantle end and by means of which the saddle is fastened
to the back bone or mainframing of the machine:-this bar a forms a rigid bearing
and supports the mechanism as follows: d d are holes through which are passed the
pins d' d' screwed at the one end to receive the nuts e e. ff are the sides or bars
forming the isosceles triangle or frame having holes working upon the pins d' at the
pommell or front end. g is the curved end of the said frame provided with the
holes h and by means of which it is secured to the leather seat O, by rivetting, that is,
at the crank or back end of the saddle.
The bar is nearly the length of the base or fixed bar a and is forked to fit upon
each side of a having holes through which the pin d' is passed at the cantle end and
thus works as a joint between the bars or sides ff.
The front being formed as a spoon k with the hole for fitting and rivetting to the
underpart of the leather seat, at the front or pommell end. m is the helical spring for
connecting the front end of the bar with the front end of the base bar a; and n is
the helical spring for connecting the back end of the frame ff with the back end of
the base bar a. The said springs are connected at the front part by the ends being
passed through the holes p.p, and at the back by being passed through the holes q q.
It will be perceived that the springs m and n, as they are relatively placed with a
and i, and a and f, create a depression and an amount of tension to the seat O, but
when the rider is seated on the leather seat O, the free ends of ff which support the
said seat at the cantle end and the free end at i, which supports the said seat at the
pommell end becomes further depressed, so that a tension is imparted to the leather
seat O, and which is maintained but yielding sufficient elasticity to the side strain and
centre of the seat O, to be easy and agreeable.
The above being our said invention we observe, in conclusion, that we do not limit
ourselves to the precise details or arrangement of parts as shown on the accompanying
sheet of drawings but that we hold ourselves at liberty to alter or modify the same
without departing essentially from our said invention. We do not claim the con-
struction of the several parts as hereinbefore specified taken separately and apart from
each other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A saddle for bicycles, tricycles, and similar vehicles constructed with the base
bar a and cross piece c, together with the side bars ff and g, the curved end with the
bar: both ff and i working upon the joints formed by d¹ d' on a, the said i being
crossed and working between ff, and connected by the springs m n substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated.
.
2. The general combination and arrangement of parts, substantially for the purposes
as hereinbefore described in the foregoing specification and illustrated on the accom-
panying sheet of drawings.
Dated 24th August 1889.
THOS. KENDRICK,
Agent for Applicants.