Improvements in Seats or Saddles for Velocipedes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 7th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 30th May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Seats or Saddles for Velocipedes.
I, JOSEPH JACKSON TRAVELL, of 19 Noel Street, in the Borough of
Nottingham, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
:-
.
This invention relates to improvements in seats or saddles for velocipedes or
like vehicles, and it has for its object to provide a seat or saddle that will more
perfectly accommodate itself to the movements of the rider when pedalling, and .
thus minimise or do away with the friction between the seat and the rider.
In carrying out this invention I form the seat in two parts, which are arranged
side by side, and mount each part ou the framing so as to capable of oscillating
independently of the other, in a plane approximately parallel to the plane of
rotation of the crank axle, so that as one leg of the rider is extended as the other
is raised, one part of the seat will oscillate in the reverse direction to the other,
thus corresponding to the movement of the rider.
In a hammock or suspension seat I form the leather or other flexible fabric
comprising the surface of the seat, in two parts of suitable shape and size, and
preferably stiffen their side edges with strips of metal or other suitable material..
The inner stiffened edges of these two parts are connected to each other at a
point about midway between the back and front by a swivel or other suitable
joint, and their outer stiffened edges connected at corresponding points by similar
joints to transverse extensions of the seat pin or pillar or a bracket secured
thereto.
The intermediate swivel or joint may also be supported by an extension of the
bracket or a spring secured thereto, or be connected by a flexible connection, to
the end of an extension of the bracket or a spring in front of the seat, preferably
carried to a point above the level of the seat.
If preferred the two parts forming the surface of the seat may be enclosed in a
framing or be stiffened on all their edges.
Seats of other construction than hammock or suspension I form in two parts.
each of suitable shape and material, and secure them on independent framings or
foundations. Each part of the seat may be provided with trunnions which are
mounted in bearings in a transverse frame of suitable construction secured to the
seat pin or pillar, or each part of the seat may be provided with bearings, on the
underside, which fit loosely on a transverse pin or axle, or on separate axles carried.
by a framing or bracket, which may be secured to, and be adjustable on, the seat,.
pin or pillar.
In any of the arrangements described the angular movement of each part of the
seat may be limited by stops, straps or springs, or if desired springs may be
employed for returning them to their normal position when the weight of the rider
is removed. The two parts. of the seat may also be padded or formed with
pneumatic cushions the construction of which may be of different forms according
to the form of seat to which they are to be applied...
Dated this 5th day of July 1895.
BOULT:&W.ADE,..
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: J, JOSEPH JACKSON TRAVELL, of 19 Noel Street, in the Borough of
Nottingham, Solicitor, 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 improvements in seats or saddles for velocipedes or
like vehicles, and it has for its object, to provide a seat or saddle that will
accommodate itself more perfectly than the ordinary saddle to the movements of
the rider when pedalling, and thus minimise or do away with friction between the
seat and the rider.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a front elevation partly in section, and
Fig. 2 a plan of a hammock-saddle or suspension seat constructed according to
my invention.
Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section on the line X X of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation, and
Fig. 5 a vertical cross section on the line Y Y of Fig. 4, of an alternative
construction of.saddle or seat according to my invention.
Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section on the line Z Z of Fig. 4.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
:
In carrying out this invention the seat is formed in two parts, which are
arranged side by side, (i.e. transversely to the length of the machine) and mounted
on the framing of the seat so as to be capable of oscillating independently of each
other.
In a hammock saddle or suspension seat (see Figs. 1 and 2 for example) I form
the two parts A and B of the seat, of leather or other flexible or inflexible
material, of suitable size and shape, and preferably stiffen or strengthen two sides
of each with strips of metal C as shown. The inner edges A' B₁ of the two
parts A and B are connected to each other at a point about midway between the
back and front of the saddle by a swivel, or preferably by a joint constituted by a
bent link D formed with spherical ends D¹ which engage in thimbles C' secured to
or formed on the underside of the inner metal stiffening strips of each part. The
other edges A2 B2 of each of the parts A and B are each connected to opposite
ends of a transverse or other suitably arranged spring frame E by a thimble C²,
secured to or formed on the underside of the outer stiffening strip C and engaging
with the spherical head F¹ of a pin F carried in a bracket F secured to the end of
the spring frame E as shown. The pins F are screwed into the brackets F' so
that they may be readily moved in or out end wise for regulating the tension of the
two parts A B of the seat.
The spring frame E may be secured to the seat pin or pillar G by a clip G¹
which may be of any suitable construction. The spring frame E may also be
strengthened or stiffened by a cross stay or spring extending from one bracket F²
to the other.
If desired provision may be made for checking and limiting the tilting movement
of the two parts of the seat from back to front and vice versa and also for returning
them to their normal position when the rider dismounts or the tilting force cease
to act on them. For this purpose, on the underside of one of the stiffening
strips C of each part A and B is pivoted an arm H (Fig. 3.); the lower end of
this arm passes through and slides in a hole or slot in a bracket H¹ secured to the
spring frame E. Secured to the back of the arm H is a spring H* the free end of

page_text: which bears against the stiffening strip C as shown, and when the latter is tilted
backwards checks and stops such rearward movement. On the strip C is secured
a spring H³ the free end of which bears against the arm H and when the stiffening
strip C is tilted forward checks such forward movement. By the action of the two
springs H2 H3 the stiffening strip C, to which the arm is hinged and that half of
the seat of which the strip forms a part will always be returned to the normal or
horizontal position, when relieved of the load which displaced them.
In the seat shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the two parts A and B of the seat each comprise
a framing consisting of two side supports J (which may be metal bars similar to
the strips C of Figs. 1 and 2) connected by cross stays J', leather or other suitable
material J being stretched between the two side supports J. The side supports J
are each provided with a bearing K and these bearings are mounted on pivots K*
secured to or formed on three brackets K', which latter are secured to a transverse
spring plate L. Thus each part A and B can tilt on its pivots as indicated in
Fig. 5.
The spring plate L is connected to a preferably transverse spring frame M by
two clips L and the spring frame M is secured to the seat pin or pillar G by a
clip G
The clips L' are provided with a hinged joint at L2 so as to permit of the free
action of the spring plate L and they are also adjustable on the spring plate L
and frame M respectively in order to regulate the action of the former, and
determine the degree of flexibility of the seat.
The ends of the frame M may also be directly connected to the spring plate L.
by hinged or pivoted joints, instead of being thus connected through the medium
of the clips L'.
A spring stop N (Fig. 6) secured to the central bracket K' may be employed
for preventing both parts of the seat from tilting too far backwards, whilst a bent
spring N with a coil in the angle may be employed for returning each half of the
seat to the spring N; in fact the springs N and N' co-operate like the springs H* H*
of Fig. 3, and for a similar purpose.
One end of each of the springs N' is secured to one of the side supports J of
each part of the seat, and its other end bears against the spring plate L.
In either of the seats shown each part of the seat instead of being constructed in
the manner described, may be padded or formed with pneumatic cushions of suitable
construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A hammock-saddle or suspension seat formed in two parts connected to each
other by a connection such as D and to the frame so that each part can oscillate
independently of the other part substantially as described.
2. A hammock-saddle or suspension seat formed in two parts such as A and B
connected to each other by a connection which is in tension between them and to
the frame by swivel or like joints so that each part can oscillate independently of
the other part substantially as described.
3. In a hammock-saddle or suspension seat the combination with a frame such
as E of two parts such as A and B a joint such as that provided by the link D
and thimbles C for connecting the two parts A and B and pins F and thimbles C
for connecting the two parts A and B to the frame E substantially as described.
4. In a hammock-saddle or suspension seat the combination with a frame such
as E of adjustable pins or screws F provided with spherical heads F', and thimbles
such as C on the parts A and B to engage with the heads of the said pins or
screws substantially as described.
5. In a transverse hammock-saddle or suspension seat the combination with an
Oscillating part such as A of an arm H pivoted thereto and also engaging with the
frame E, and springs such as H' and H' substantially as described.

page_text: 6. In a transverse velocipede-seat the combination with two oscillating parts
such as A and B of a transverse spring plate such as L on which the pivots or
bearings of the said parts A and B are mounted substantially as described.
7. In a transverse velocipede-seat the combiration with two oscillating parts
such as A and B, of a transverse spring plate such as L on which the pivots or
bearings of the said parts A B are mounted, a frame such as M and adjustable
hinged or pivoted devices such as L' for connecting the plate L to the frame M
substantially as described.
8. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete seat
substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
9. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete seat
substantially as described and illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 4th day of April 1806
J. JACKSON TRAVELL.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.