Improvements in Velocipede Saddles.
Year: 1897

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as allowed by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 2nd day of March 1898.
Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1897-Accepted, 1st May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Velocipede Saddles.
I, HARRY ALONZO PERRY, of 4144 Grand Boulevard, Chicago, Cook County,
Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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:-
velocipede saddles, and has
My invention relates particularly to saddles known as
especial relation to the specific class know as pneumatic saddles.
The object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical and efficient
pneumatic saddle; and the invention consists in the features, combinations and
details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan view of a pneumatic saddle, looking at it from the top, and
constructed in accordance with my improvements; Fig. 2 a similar view, looking
at it from the bottom;
Fig. 3 a transverse sectional view, taken on line 3 of Fig. 2 and looking in the
direction of the arrow;
Fig. 4 a plan view of the supporting plate, looking at it from the top;
Fig. 5 a plan view of the inner inflating bag; and
Fig. 6 a longitudinal sectional view, taken on line 6 of Fig. 2.
In the art to which this invention relates, it is well known that in the use of
saddles it is desirable as far as possible to have a saddle that can be used under any
and all conditions, and which may have mechanism or means by which different
degrees of cushioning action may be obtained to suit different circumstances and
riders, and at the same time which may be ridden when inflated or deflated. It is
further desirable to have a saddle that will possess undoubted hygienic qualities.
In the ordinary pneumatic saddles now in use, all of these advantages cannot be
obtained in that when the saddle is deflated, it cannot be ridden, and if deflation
takes place suddenly during the use of the saddle, it is liable to seriously injure the
rider. The principal object of my invention, therefore, is to provide
a saddle
which obviates the above objection and embodies the advantages above outlined.
In constructing a saddle in accordance with my improvments, I make a base plate
or tree, A, of the desired form-preferably of that form shown in Fig. 4 of the
drawings bent upwardly at the rear end and having a central elongated opening a.
The underside of this tree is preferably provided with a casing, B, formed of leather
or other similar. material, and the upper side with a fibrous or felt strip or web, C,
either or both of which may or may not be secured to the metal plate as desired.
Upon the felt strip rests an inflatable bag, D, having a substantially central
elongated aperture, d, and portion d', for inflating the pommel, and a substantially
oval rear portion, D', which is preferably transversely divided into two substan-
tially oval portions, D¹, and d³, for the purposes hereinafter described.

page_text: Covering and inclosing the cushion portion is a cover, E, of leather or similar
material having an elongated opening, e, and which is preferably provided with
skirt portions, el, arranged at the pommel portion of the saddle. This upper
cover portion, which forms a portion of the inclosing leather case, is secured to the
under portion of the cover by sewing or otherwise at the edges-as shown by e²-
and also at the central portion-as shown by the stitches e³-so that the upper
cover when sewed to the lower cover or casing acts to hold all the portions in
position. The base plate, felt web and lower casing are all perforated as shown
at al in Fig. 4-to allow a valve, d³, on the inflatable bag to be passed through
for the purpose of inflating the saddle.
The providing of the central elongated aperture enables ventilation to take place,
and the providing of an inflating bag having a central aperture with an inflatable
pommel portion and divided rear portion, all formed in one piece secured and held
by means of the leather cover, prevents undue inflation, at any one particular
portion, in that the cushion or bag acts to prevent the abnormal raising of any
one portion of the bag during riding or otherwise. The peculiar formation of the
bag is such that the fabric-preferably rubber or similar material of which the
inflatable bag is formed-prevents undue distension, the objection found in
most of the pneumatic saddles. The saddle is provided with the usual springs, G,
and clips, H, shown in the drawings, and which need no further description.
The principal advantages due to the use of a saddle constructed in accordance
with my improvements are (1) The saddle has great hygienic properties; (2) The
arrangement of cover and peculiar construction of the inflatable bag is such that
no undue expansion takes place from riding the saddle and due to the weight
of the rider on particular parts; (3) The arrangement of the incasing .cover,
the form of the base plate in combination with the inflatable bag are such that.
the saddle may be ridden when deflated equally as well as when inflated; and
finally, any degree of cushioning may be obtained to suit different riders and
different circumstances and conditions.
While I have described my invention with more or less minuteness as regards
details, and as being embodied in certain precise forms, I do not desire to be limited
thereto unduly or any more than is pointed out in the claims: on the contrary, I
contemplate all proper changes in form, construction and arrangement, the omission
of immaterial elements and the substitution of equivalents as circumstances may
suggest or render expedient.
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. In a pneumatic saddle, the combination of a metal base plate or tree having a
substantially central elongated opening, a leather inclosing case or cover provided
with a substantially central elongated opening and secured together at its edges
and central portion to position the parts, and an inner inflatable bag constructed
as hereinabove described adapted to form a cushion in the pommel portion so
that the saddle may be ridden when inflated or deflated, substantially as described.
2. In a pneumatic bicycle saddle, the combination of a metal base plate having
an elongated pommel portion, a substantially transverse oval shaped seat or rear
portion bent upwardly at the rear portion thereof and an elongated substantially
central opening, a leather inclosing case or cover provided with a substantially
central elongated opening conforming substantially to the shape of the supporting
base plate or tree, and an inner inflatable bag provided with a pommel portion a
transverse substantially oval shaped rear or seat portion and a substantially
central elongated opening inserted between the upper portion of the cover and the
supporting base plate and arranged in combination with the parts to permit of the
riding of the saddle when inflated or deflated, substantially as described.
3. In a pneumatic saddle, the combination of a metal base plate bent upwardly
at its rear portion and provided with an elongated central opening, a fibrous web

page_text: portion resting on such base plate, an inclosing case or cover surrounding
parts and secured together at its edges to position the parts, and an inner inflatable
bag provided with a substantially central opening and a transversely divided seat
or rear portion inserted between the web portion and the inclosing cover and
arranged in combination with the other parts to permit the saddle being ridden
when inflated or deflated, substantially as described.
Dated this 26th day of February
HARRY ALONZO PERRY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.