Improvements in and relating to Supports for Bicycle Saddles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Supports for Bicycle Saddles.
I, CHARLES ELBERT VAIL, a citizen of the United States residing at Salt Lake
City, in the County of Salt Lake and State of Utah, U.S.A., Merchandise Broker,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to carriages for bicycle saddles, and it has for its object to
provide a simple and improved device of this character which will automatically
operate to relieve the rider from the concussion and strain incident to the passage of
bicycles over rough surfaces, thus affording greater comfort, ease and safety.
To these ends iny invention embodies a carriage device adapted to automatically
yield in a longitudinal plane, the saddle being connected to said yielding carriage, so
that it has a yielding or sliding movement in a longitudinal plane with relation to the
Jine of travel, and on approximately a horizontal plane, independent of any vertical
yielding or spring movement, means being provided (preferably spring-actuated) for
controlling said longitudinally-yielding movement of the carriage and returning the
latter to normal position.
In the drawings-
Figure 1 is a perspective view, illustrating my invention with the saddle in position,
parts being broken away to show the construction.
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sertional view, showing the yielding movement in
dotted lines.
Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are detail transverse sectional views, taken, respectively, on the
lines -3, 4-4, 5-5, and 6—6, Fig. 2.
Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the body portion or cylinder of the
carriage.
Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the sliding or yielding member of the carriage,
looking towards the under side of the saddle.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view, illustrating another means of attaching the saddle to
the carriage, the saddle being shown in dotted lines.
Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof.
Figs. 11 and 12 are detail transverse sectional views of the same, taken,
respectively, on the lines 5-5 and 6-6, Fig. 10.
Fig. 13 is a perspective view, illustrating a modified construction of carriage.
Fig. 14 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof.
Fig. 15 is a bottom or inverted plan view of the same.
Fig. 16 is a transverse sectional view on the line 7-7, Fig. 15, and looking
rearwardly.
Fig. 17 is a detail sectional view, illustrating a different construction of the wheel
used in the carriage.
Fig. 18 is a perspective view, illustrating another modification in the construction
of the carriage.
Fig. 19 is a side elevation thereof, the movement being illustrated in dotted
lines.
Fig. 20 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same.
Fig. 21 is a view similar to Fig. 20, illustrating a change in the details of
construction.

page_text: Fig. 22 is a perspective view, illustrating another modification.
Corresponding parts in the figures are denoted by the same letters of reference.
Referring to the drawings, A designates the upright saddle-post, which is adapted
to be adjustably mounted upon the frame in any suitable manner. Connected with
said saddle-post is a stem, B; this connection may be integral or detachable, and the
stem B can be connected with a straight saddle-po-t as shown, or mounted upon the
horizontal arm, a, of an angular saddle-post, for which latter purpose the stem B may
be provided with a transverse opening, b, adapted to receive the top arm a of the post,
the parts being secured in position by set screws in any suitable or usual manner.
Carried upon the stem B is the body or main fixed member, C, of the saddle
carriage. This member is preferably constructed in the form of a cylinder or barrel
mounted longitudinally with relation to the bicycle and having a closed front end, c,
an open rear end, c', and a longitudinal top slot, *. At each side the longitudinal
slot care formed longitudinal slide-ways, c³, at the outer sides of which and on top
of the cylinder are preferably provided longitudinal shoulders or ribs, ct.
D designates the sliding or yielding member of the carriage, which is preferably in
the form of a flat plate, adapted to slide upon the slide-ways c c³ between the ribs or
shoulders c ct. The plate D carries upon its under side a cylindrical knob or
projection, d, adapted to be received within the cylinder or barrel C and preferably
corresponding thereto. The connecting portion, d', between the knob d and the
plate is accommodated in the open top or slot of the cylinder, and at this point
of connection the knob is preferably provided with longitudinal shoulders, d² d²,
corresponding to the slide-ways c³ ³, as shown. The knob or projection d is located
about centrally of the plate D or some distance from the front end of the latter, so
that it will be normally some distance from the front end of the cylinder.
E designates a cap-piece or plate preferably corresponding to the open rear end e
of the cylinder C and adapted to be secured in or upon said open end. This plate or
closure E is preferably secured in position by means of a transverse removable
pin, e, passing through a transverse opening, e, in the latter, and through registering
openings, e, in the walls of the cylinder.
Between the end plate E and the knob or projection d is mounted a coiled
spring, F, adapted to be contained within the cylinder. The ends of this coiled spring
are respectively secured to the members E and d in any suitable manner, and the
member d is preferably provided with a rearwardly-projecting stud, d³, received by
the spring and carrying the front end of the same, this stud being preferably
connected with the member d by a screw-threaded construction, as shown in Fig. 2,
to enable its detachment therefrom and the consequent disconnection of the spring
from the member d when desired.
In the foregoing construction and arrangement, it will be noted that the sliding or
yielding member (the plate D) carries the knob or projection d, the spring F and the
end plate or cap-piece E, which parts are adapted to be received by the cylinder and
contained therein. Any suitable form or construction of cap-piece or end closure E
may be employed, and the latter may be secured in position in any suitable manner,
so that the spring has its ends respectively connected to the fixed rear end portion of
the cylinder and the knob or projection d of the sliding plate D. One end of the
spring is thus connected to the cylinder or fixed member of the carriage and the
other end is connected to the sliding or yielding member of the carriage. By this
construction and arrangement the saddle carriage has a sliding or yielding movement
in a longitudinal plane both in a forward and rearward direction.
If only a
rearwardly-yielding movement is desired, the spring need not be connected to the
respective parts at its ends, but could be loosely mounted in the cylinder so that the
member & would bear upon its front end; in this event, the knob or projection d
would be relatively mounted so that it would be normally at the front end of the
cylinder.
The saddle, G, is mounted and carried upon the sliding or yielding member D, this
construction being preferably carried out by a longitudinal saddle plate or bar, H,
secured to the top of the plate D. The saddle bar H may be connected with the

page_text: plate D by screws, i i, passing through the respective parts, the bottom or under
side of the knob or projection d being preferably recessed, as shown at d', to
accommodate the heads of said screws. The longitudinal saddle-bar H is thus
virtually a part of the sliding or vielding plate or member D, and at its rear end is
provided with divergent projecting arms, hh, carrying a suitable plate, h¹, upon
which the rear portion of the saddle is supported. The front end of the saddle-bar H
is turned upwardly, in front of the sliding plate D, as shown at 2, and is adapted to
receive an adjusting screw, ³, carried by a suitable plate, h, supporting the front end
of the saddle.
In the foregoing construction and arrangement, my invention embodies a complete
saddle device or mechanism adapted to be applied to any bicycle, the saddle itself being
a fixed or component part of my device. This improved bicycle saddle device or
mechanism, as embodied in my invention, thus has no vertical spring movement, but
has a spring or yielding movement only in a longitudinal plane with relation to the
line of travel and on approximately a horizontal plane with relation to the bicycle,
this approximately horizontal yielding or sliding movement being exercised in both
a forward and rearward direction. When the saddle is in normal position, it has a
rearwardly-yielding movement by compression of the spring or cushion between
the member d and the rear end piece or closure E of the cylinder. It also has a
yielding or spring movement in a forward direction, corresponding to the space in
the cylinder in front of the member d, against the tension of the spring, inasmuch as
the latter is connected at its respective ends to the fixed and to the movable or
sliding members of the device. This forward yielding or spring movement relieves
the saddle from jar or shock when it is returned by action of the spring from its
rearward yielding or spring movement, and also prevents impact of the member dagainst
the front end of the cylinder. As above set forth, only a rearward yielding or spring
movement may be provided, if desired, by a relative arrangement of parts in which
the member d is normally at the front end of the cylinder, in which case the interposed
spring or cushion need not be secured at its ends.
The saddle-bar H may be an integral part of the plate D, if desired, in lieu of being
separably connected with the sliding plate.
In Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12, I have illustrated a different means for attaching the
saddle to the carriage, in which the saddle, instead of being a permanent or component.
part of the device, is adapted for convenient connection or detachment from the
yielding carriage mechanism. In this construction, the sliding plate D is provided
with suitable devices for connection of the saddle. Any suitable or adapted devices.
for this purpose may be employed, and any suitable or desired saddle may be
connected with the carriage, whether the saddle be provided with vertically-operating
springs or not. I have herein illustrated one form of connecting device, in which a
plate or projection, J, is provided upon the top of the plate D and formed with side
shoulders. j. between which and corresponding shoulders, ;', on a top clamp-block, J
the longitudinally-arranged saddle bars or springs, kk, are bound, the clamp-block Ji
being adjusted by means of a set-screw, L, passing through the respective parts.
In the connection of the stem B with the saddle-post A, I prefer to employ a
set-screw, m. working up through the bottom of the stem into the opening b, to
provide for the adjustment of the saddle carriage upon the arm a of the saddle-
post. When the stem of the saddle carriage is thus mounted upon the arm of an
angular saddle-post, variation in the longitudinally adjusted position of the saddle is
permitted with relation to its automatic yielding movement in a longitudinal plane.
When the stem B is connected with a straight upright saddle-post, I prefer to
employ a threaded stem, as at n, adapted to be received in the threaded top end of the
saddle-post and secured by a transverse set-screw, n'.
By reason of the improved construction and arrangement of parts as embodied
in the form of my invention herein illustrated, the operating members of the sliding
or yielding carriage are protected from exposure, so that the operation will not be
impaired by the accumulation of dust, grit, etc.
It will be understood that the saddle may be a fixed or component part of the

page_text: yielding device or mechanism, or that it may be of any suitable or adapted con--
struction and connected in any suitable or desired manner with the sliding or yielding
member of the carriage. It will also be understood that the connection of the fixed
member or body of the carriage with the saddle-post or frame of the bicycle may be
effected in any suitable manner.
By reason of the improved construction and arrangement herein described, the
parts of the device are readily separable for purpose of substitution, adjustment or
repair, it being merely necessary to detach the cap-piece or end closure E to enable
convenient separation of the sliding and fixed members of the carriage or removal of
the spring.
I prefer to employ springs of different tension adapted to variation in the weight of
the rider, the different springs being capable of ready and convenient detachment
from, or connection with, the device. The different springs may be each permanently
carried upon a corresponding end piece or closure E, and have their front ends
adapted to be passed through a transverse opening, o, in the projecting removable
stud, for connection with the member , by which arrangement substitution of
springs of different tension may be quickly effected.
The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood. When
the bicycle strikes an obstruction, or during its passage over an uneven or irregular
surface, the rider is relieved from the jolt or jar by the immediate yielding or sliding
of the saddle-carriage in a longitudinal plane with relation to the line of travel.
Normally the saddle carriage is retained in proper position by the tension of the spring
mechanism, but in the yielding or sliding movement of the device the spring serves
as a cushion which not only takes up the jar of the bicycle but also serves to return the
saddle and yielding mechanism to normal position when the strain is relieved,
thus effectually overcoming the effect upon the rider of jarring and jolting of the
bicycle.
I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the details of construction
and arrangement as herein shown for carrying out my invention, but reserve the
right to all such modification or variations in the general construction and arrange-
ment of parts as properly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention and
the terms of the following claims, the generic elements of my invention residing in a
bicycle saddle carriage having a yielding movement in a longitudinal plane with
relation to the line of travel, independent of any vertical spring movement, controlled
by an actuating spring or cushion mechanism, substantially as set forth.
In Figs. 13 to 17, inclusive, I have shown a different construction by which my
invention may be carried out, and which I will now proceed to describe. In this
instance the rigid member of the carriage is in the form of a plate, P, which when
in position occupies a longitudinal plane relative to the line of travel of the bicycle.
At the center of this plate is provided a chamber, p, within which is mounted upon
a horizontally-disposed bearing-pin, 7, a spur-wheel, Q. Disposed upon the bearing-
ping at each side of the spur-wheel is a coil spring, q', one end of each of the latter
being secured to said bearing-pin and the free end rigidly connected with the plate P.
Mounted and working upon the plate P is a casing, R, provided upon its top
surface with suitable means for mounting the saddle. This casing is open at its
rear end to allow for its movement upon the plate P, and at the rear portion of
its under side, the forward movement of the casing being limited by a pin or bolt, r,
passing through the sides of the casing, under the plate P, the latter having a
shoulder, p', which contacts with the bolt or pin.
The casing R is designed to have a rearwardly-yielding movement upon the plate P,
and to this end it is provided longitudinally on the under side of its top plate with a
countersunk rack,, which engages with the teeth of the spur-wheel.
The operation of this construction of carriage will be obvious. When the casing R
is caused to slide rearwardly upon the plate P, the bearing-pin of the spur-wheel Q
turns, through the medium of said wheel and the rack, against the tension
of the springs g', and when rearward pressure upon the casing is relieved said springs
act to return the casing to its normal position.

page_text: In lieu of the spur-wheel Q, and rack r³, a simple friction wheel, D, may be employed,
as shown in Fig. 17.
In Figs. 18 to 21, inclusive, I have shown another form of carriage. In this
instance the saddle-post is provided with two approximately horizontal bearing
channels, tt, within which work two parallel bearing-rods, T T. The latter are
coupled at their forward ends by a head, t', and at their rear ends by a block, U,
which is adapted to carry the saddle. The rods T are designed to play within
their bearing channels, and in order to carry out the function for which the device is
designed, coil springs, V V, are provided. said springs being disposed respectively
upon the rods T between the saddle-post and the head ', the tension of said springs
being exerted to normally retain the rods in a forward position.
If desired, roller bearings, W, for the sliding rods may be provided, as shown
in Fig. 21.
In Fig. 22 the rods T are shown as rigidly attached at their rear ends to the
saddle-post. In this instance, a block, X, which is designed to carry the saddle, works
upon the rods, the springs V being disposed upon the rods between the block and the
saddle-post. The forward movement of the block is limited by nuts, x, secured upon
the forward ends of the rods.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A bicycle saddle carriage adapted to impart to the saddle a sliding or yielding
movement only in a plane parallel with the line of travel of the bicycle, said movement
being also in a plane at an obtuse angle to that in which power is applied to the
pedals; substantially as set forth.
2. A bicycle saddle carriage, comprising a fixed member located in an approximately
horizontal plane and at an obtuse angle to that in which power is applied to the
pedals, and a yielding member adapted to carry the saddle and having a sliding
movement in a direct longitudinal plane with relation to the fixed member;
substantially as set fortb.
3. A bicycle saddle carriage, comprising an approximately horizontally-disposed
member, a longitudinally-yielding member carried thereby and supporting the saddle,
said yielding member having a sliding movement in a longitudinal plane with relation
to and parallel with the line of travel only, in contradistinction to a downward
movement, and means for controlling the movement of said yielding member;
substantially as set forth.
4. A bicycle saddle carriage, comprising an approximately horizontally-disposed
member, a member adapted to yield or slide only in a longitudinal plane relatively
thereto, such movement being in a longitudinal plane with relation to and parallel
with the line of travel, in contradistinction to a downward movement, and a spring for
controlling the movement of said yielding member; substantially as set forth.
5. A bicycle saddle carriage, comprising an approximately horizontally-disposed
cylinder or barrel, a member received thereby, one of said members having a
sliding movement in a longitudinal plane with relation to and parallel with the line
of travel of the bicycle, and means for controlling said movement; substantially
as set forth.
6. A bicycle saddle carriage, comprising an approximately horizontally-disposed
rigid member, a member adapted to slide longitudinally relative thereto, and a
detachable and removable controlling spring for said sliding member; substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
7. A bicycle saddle carriage, comprising a plate or member provided with a knob
or projection, a cylinder or barrel receiving said knob or projection and having
a longitudinal slot and an open end, a spring or cushion mounted within the cylinder
with relation to said knob or projection, and a detachable cap-piece or end closure
mounted at the open end of the cylinder, one of the first-mentioned or main members
being adapted to slide or yield longitudinally with relation to the other member and

page_text: in a longitudinal plane with relation to the line of travel, said yielding member carrying
the saddle and the other member having a fixed position; substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
8. A bicycle saddle carriage, comprising a plate or member provided with a knob or
projection, a cylinder or barrel receiving said knob or projection and provided with
a longitudinal slot and an open end, a spring or cushion mounted in the cylinder
with relation to said knob or projection, a detachable cap-piece or end closure mounted
at the open end of the cylinder. one of the first-mentioned or main members having a
sliding or yielding movement with relation to the other member and in a longitudinal
plane with relation to the line of travel, and the other member having a fixed position,
devices carried by said yielding member for the attachment of the saddle, and a stem
projecting from said fixed member for attachment to the saddle-post; substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
9. As an improvement in bicycles, a supporting stem for the saddle having aL
transverse opening, said stem being adapted for connection with either a straight
saddle-post or with the arm of an angular saddle-post; substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
10. A bicycle saddle carriage, comprising a cylinder or barrel, a member received
thereby, one of said members having a sliding movement in a longitudinal plane with
relation to the other member, and a spring located in the cylinder or barrel between
one end of the same and the other member and respectively connected therewith at its
ends; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
11. A bicycle saddle carriage, comprising a cylinder or barrel having a longitudinal
slot or slide-way and an open end, a plate or member provided with a knob or
projection received by said cylinder, one of said members having a fixed position and
the other member having a sliding or yielding movement in a longitudinal plane with
relation to the line of travel, a detachable cap-piece or end closure adapted to be
secured at the open end of the cylinder, and a controlling spring having its ends
respectively connected to the detachable end piece of the cylinder and to the
knob or projection of the other member; substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
12. A bicycle saddle carriage, comprising a cylinder or barrel, a plate or member
having a knob or projection received by said cylinder and relatively mounted so that
its normal position within the cylinder is some distance from the front end of the
latter, and a controlling spring mounted in the cylinder in the space in rear of said
knob or projection and having its ends respectively connected to the end portion
of the cylinder and to said knob or projection, one of said main members having
a fixed position, whereby the other member has a sliding or yielding movement in a
longitudinal plane with relation to the line of travel and in both a forward and rearward
direction, said yielding movement being controlled by the spring and the latter acting
to return the yielding member to normal position from either direction; substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
13. A bicycle saddle carriage, comprising a barrel or cylinder having a slot or
slide-way and an open end, a plate or member provided with a knob or projection
received by said cylinder, a detachable cap-piece or end closure mounted at the open
end of the cylinder, and a detachable spring having one end connected with said end
piece and the other end detachably connected with said knob or projection; substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this Sixteenth day of February 1897.
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY,
60 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agents.