Improvements in Saddles for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Saddles for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
I, LIONEL WILLIAM CLARKE, of 5, Ladbroke Square, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention consists of improvements in cycle-saddles whereby all hurtful pressure
is avoided and the disadvantages of a peak are done away with and the rider is
nevertheless prevented from slipping sideways without interfering with the freedom
of his legs.
It will be found on examination of the human thigh that a line can be drawn from
the hip bone round the back of the leg such that the motion of the leg in cycling at
any point on this line is very slight and I construct my improved saddle in such a
way that a large portion of the weight of the rider is supported on this line.
To this end I construct my saddle of two distinct portions hereinafter called. the
front and the back portion and for convenience of description I shall describe my
saddle with reference to a safety bicycle and I shall call the vertical plane passing
through the centres of the two wheels and which is the plane of the frame of the
machine the principal plane.
The front portion of my saddle consists of a tube of suitable diameter arranged
approximately horizontally and symmetrical about the principal plane, and shaped so
as to embrace the upper portion of the thighs of the rider on the aforesaid. line of
small motion. In order to understand the form in which this tube must be made
imagine a vertical plane perpendicular to the principal plane, intersecting the
principal plane behind the saddle. The middle portion of the tube will be at a
certain distance from this plane, and on each side of this middle portion the tube
first approaches the plane and then recedes from it curving in a.horizontal plane, and
finally bends upwards and forwards in a direction making an angle of. about forty-five
degrees with the vertical. The central portion of this tube will lie between the legs
of the rider but will not project far enough forwards to cause the inconveniences
occasioned by a peak, and indeed such forward projection may be made as small as
desired, while the curved portions of the tube will einbrace the backs of the riders
thighs on the aforesaid line of small motion, and the bent up portions. also touching
the rider on the same line will prevent him from slipping sideways and yet leave his
legs perfectly free.
The back portion of the saddle may consist of a straight. tube arranged at right
angles to the principal plane or of a pad, and in either case such tube or pad will be
approximately in the same horizontal plane as the centre of the front.tube.
Both the front and the back portions of the saddle may be made of leather or other
suitable material distended by a pneumatic tube springs, stuffing or other suitable
means, and both the portions of the saddle are supported on suitably shaped base
plates which are carried by springs of any suitable design. Such base plates may be

page_text: independent or connected by a hinged link or rigidly connected to each other, and
such springs are preferably.connected to the L pin by means of a boss which permits
of fore and aft tilting so that the height of the back portion of the saddle above or
below the front portion may be altered to suit the rider's fancy.
Such a saddle, although eminently adapted for use by women, will also be found 5
to afford great additional comfort to inen.
I, LIONEL WILLIAM CLARKE, of 5, Ladbroke Square, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, 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 :-:
My invention consists of improvements in cycle saddles whereby all hurtful
pressure is avoided and the disadvantages of a peak are done away with and the rider
is nevertheless prevented from slipping sideways without interfering with the freedom
of his legs.
It will be found on examination of the human thigh that a line can be drawn round
the back of the leg such that the motion of the leg in cycling is very slight at any
point on this line, and I construct my improved saddle in such a way that a
large portion of the weight of the rider is supported on and distributed along this
line.
To this end I preferably construct my saddle of two distinct portions..
The drawing shews a plan, elevation, and side view of my saddle as thus constructed.
The front part A B C is a tube of the approximate shape of the aforesaid line of
small motion. From B, its middle point, it curves. backwards approximately
horizontally, and then curves forwards and upwards to its ends A and C.. The forward
projection at B is not large enough to cause the inconvenience occasioned by a peak,
and indeed may be made as small as desired.
The back portion D E may consist of another tube, preferably straight, or of a
pad. Both the front and back portions of the saddle may be made of leather or other
suitable material, and are distended preferably by pneumatic rubber tubes, although
springs, stuffing or other suitable means of distending may be employed. If pneu-
inatic: both portions may be inflated from one valve by means of a connecting tube, 3
or they may be inflated. independently.
Both portions are supported on suitably shaped base plates, which are preferably
rigidly connected, to one another, or both may be supported on one plate, as in the
drawing annexed; and such plate is connected to the L pin by any suitable means
which permit of fore and aft tilting so that the height of the back portion of the
saddle: above or below the front portion may be altered to suit the rider's fancy.
The two portions of the saddle may, if desired, be connected by a covering of leather
or other pliable material, but in such a way as not to interfere when the rider is on
the saddle with the upward projection of the front portion of the saddle above the
part immediately behind it, which upward projection operates, in conjunction with
the raising of the points A and C, to keep the rider in position.
Having now particularly described. and
ascertained the nature of my said

page_text: invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
A saddle for cycles in which the front part projects upwards above the part
immediately behind it and is shaped so as to fit the superincumbent part of the
riders body substantially as and for the purposes described and illustrated.
Dated this 21st day of December 1897.
LIONEL W. CLARKE.