Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1896
1, FRANÇOIS DE FERRIÈRES, of 87, Rue de Paris Petit Ivry, (Seine) in the
Republic of France, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in saddles for velocipedes, sulkys and
like vehicles.
According to my invention I take a cast of the perineal-sacral region (or
perineal-pelvic or ischio-coccygeal according as the region is considered super-
ficially or otherwise) of the body in a particular position, that is to say, in the
seated position with the legs stretched. I form the cast from a block of sufficient
size and having the shape of an ellipse the minor axis of which follows the
perineal-coccygeal line and the major axis the contour of the posterior surface of
the projections formed by the ischia.
To form the saddle I press or hammer a plate of metal or other material into the
cast and the said plate is then adapted to form the body of the saddle.
When a person seats himself on a saddle of this kind he is supported and
enclosed in the cast of the perineal-sacral region taken in the only position in
which (on account of the movements by which he actuates the vehicle) the
different parts can obtain rational and efficacious support. The bony prominences
formed by the ischia and the coccyx support, especially when shocks occur, the
whole weight of the body. The delicate parts are supported but are deprived of
all pressure and are free from shock in consequence of being raised a few
millimetres above the relatively prominent bony projections. The fleshy parts
relieve, as far as possible, the bony prominences from the fatigue attendant upon
supporting the whole body for some length of time. The legs are quite free in
their movements on account of the depression in the cast formed by the thighs and
of the tapering form of the ellipse.
I may also reproduce the form of the cast by another method, that is to say,
I make the mould from an elliptical block and into the cast obtained I pour, press
or force any suitable material such as for instance metal, india-rubber, paper pulp,
linoleum, felt or the like, the layer being of any desired thickness and serving for
the body or the lining of the saddle or for both.
I can provide the body thus obtained with various linings such as for instance
sheets of india rubber, felt and the like covered if desired with leather velvet or
the like or with a pneumatic tube round the edge of the saddle. In this latter case
the elliptical hollow left in the centre of the inflated saddle tube is filled with a
cushion of felt. This form is especially adapted for velocipedes driven by motors
or like vehicles in which movement of the legs is not required.
The sheets of felt, india rubber or the like which have been pressed into the cast
can be mounted on a suitable frame work or on springs giving elasticity in a
direction perpendicular to the ground.
The saddle being formed as above described I arrange it on springs adapted to
support it at four points. These springs are made of plain or twisted metal wire
and of different forms such as for instance two cylindrical or conical spirals
arranged eccentrically or two half moon shaped springs having eccentrically
placed eyelet holes.

page_text: These springs.are attached together and fixed to the saddle bar by means of a
special collar clamp provided in the interior with two semi-elliptical grooves into
which the springs fit. The two ends or ears of the clamp are connected together
by a screw and nut. The clamp may be hinged if desired.
To adapt this clamp to tubes of a diameter smaller than its own I insert a second
collar of metal or other suitable material and of sufficient size to enable the clamp
to grip the tube.
Dated the 31st day of May 1805
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Saddles for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
I, FRANÇOIS DE FERRIÈRES, of 87, Rue de Paris, Petit Ivry, (Seine) in the
Republic of France, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in saddles for velocipedes and like
vehicles.
Observation has shewn that a cyclist tends to assume when riding two distinct
attitudes, viz., when he bends forward to obtain the maximum of force, and when he
straightens himself up to rest himself. It is the object of this invention to provide
a saddle suited to these two attitudes, and to this end I take a cast of the perineal-
sacral region (or perineal-pelvic or ischio-coccygeal, according as the region is
considered superficially or otherwise) of the body under the following particular
conditions.
I cause a person to seat himself on a cylinder of suitable proportions, which is
covered with a suitable plastic material, capable of retaining an impression. The
person is first directed to carry the weight of his body as far back as possible in
order to mark out in the plastic material an imprint of the sacro-coccygeal region.
He is then made to bear his weight as far forward as possible and at the same time
to cause his legs to assume their lowermost position with regard to the pedals in
order to obtain clear impressions of the posterior portions of the thighs on the front
slope of the cylinder. The formation of these two impressions gives rise to a
prominence resembling in shape the snout of a carp or dolphin and corresponding
to the space between the upper parts of the adductor muscles of the thighs. This
prominence will form the pommel in the finished saddle.
Finally, the person, holding himself erect, is caused to separate his thighs by
moving his legs slightly apart. By this means he will press on the ends of the
front portion of the cast which are thereby slightly flattened and rounded off.
This flattening has for object to provide for the expansion that will occur at the
gluteal fold when the pace is accelerated and muscular contraction, consequently,
becomes more powerful.
A cast prepared as above described is very irregular and its outline has no
definite shape. In practice I shape the cast to the form of an ellipse because the
outline of the impression produced by the posterior region of the body is roughly
an arc of an ellipse, while the impression produced by the contact of the upper and
posterior parts of the thighs with the edge of the cast is also roughly that of an
arc of an ellipse.
To form the saddle I press or hammer a plate of metal or other material on to a
steel mould made from the cast, and the said plate is then adapted to form the body
of the saddle.
Or, I pour, press or force into a matrix prepared from the above steel mould any

page_text: suitable material as, for instance, metal, india-rubber, paper pulp, linoleum, felt or
the like, so as to form a layer of any desired thickness designed to serve as the
lining or the body of the saddle or as. both.
I can provide the body with various linings such as, for instance, sheets of
india-rubber, felt and the like covered, if desired, with leather, velvet or the like.
The saddle being formed I arrange it on springs or supports of any suitable kind.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe it by reference to
the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is a perspective view shewing the method of taking the cast:
Figure 2 is a front elevation of a saddle made according to my invention :
Figure 3 is a side view of the same:
Figure 4 is a front view of the steel or other plate¯¯¯**
Figure 5 is a plan of the same.
a, Figure 1, represents the cylindrical surface, and 6 the plastic material placed
on the cylinder a moulded to the required shape. c is the impression of the sacro-
coccygeal region, and d, d the impressions formed by the posterior and upper part
of the thighs. The ends e, e of the cast are flattened as shewu. f is a ridge
marking the junction of the two opposite slopes, the said ridge being situated in the
major axis of the ellipse and acting as a support to the cyclist when he is changing
his position.
When a person seats himself on a saddle of this kind, the rear portion of the
same fits and embraces the gluteal muscles whilst the legs are allowed full freedom
of movement on account of the curve of the ellipse and the convexity of the front
slope on which the thigh is supported.
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 saddle for velocipedes or other vehicles reproducing the shape of the
perineal-sacral region of the body in the seated position, such shape being obtained
by means of a cast, taken on a cylinder, of the said region when the body is in two
distinct attitudes so that the cast shews two opposite slopes (the line of junction of
which forms a ridge along the major axis of an ellipse) and a flattening off at the
front ends, substantially as described.
2. The manufacture and use of the improved saddle hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 27th day of January 1896.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.