Improvements in and connected with Bicycle Saddles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 16th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 16th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Bicycle Saddles.
1, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been communi-
cated to me from abroad by Mary Foote Henderson of Washington, District of
Columbia, United States of America) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved bicycle saddle, embracing the cushion, the
frame or support, and the means for attachment of the saddle to the saddle-post or
bar and its object is to provide a cushioned seat supported by a saddle-frame which will
ensure the comfort and safety of the rider.
The object in the construction of the cushion of the saddle is to provide an edge or
edges bordering on two interior soft cushions, which edges will be soft enough to be
comfortable to the rider, yet will retain enough rigidity to keep the upper surface of
the seat quite away from the saddle-frame and which will serve at the same time to
prevent the rider from slipping or sliding on the seat in the rising and falling movement
of the legs in operating the treadle.
The object of the invention as regards the framework of the saddle is to
provide a support for the cushion of as little bulk or weight as is consistent with
strength.
A further object of the invention is to provide a convenient and ready means of
attachment of the saddle to the saddle-post, and of the adjustment of the saddle
thereon.
In the construction of the saddle-frame a wire forming the outline of the saddle is
strengthened at the rear end by a brace that serves three purposes. The brace is so
struck up or bent as to furnish two flanges running downward from the level of the
saddle-seat, thereby giving both strength and lightness to the structure. The outer
flange forms a groove or socket for enclosing the wire, avoiding the extra bulk or
weight which would result if the wire were placed on the top of a brace.
The inside flange, perforated or indented serves for the attachment of the cushion
to the saddle-frame.
The saddle-frame provides for a seat made of perforated wood, cane, or other
material which will give stability to the cushion-cover.
The cushion has two soft lobes in connection with a depression at the centre of the
seat, and a firmer border of yielding material.
The frame further consists of a wire bent at one end into an eye for the reception
of a screw on one side of the central line, thence proceeding downwardly and
upwardly to the pommel, where a second eye is formed, thence returning towards
the cantle, being shaped on both sides to conform to the contour of the rider's leg.
The cantle-plate has the general shape of the rear portion of a saddle, and is
provided with three, or more, depending ribs, or flanges, the space between two of
the flanges serving as an extra support and as a seating for a wire saddle-
frame.
The saddle-attaching device comprises a bolt and four lugs, one being fixed at an
end of the bolt, and the others loosely strung thereon. By suitable depressions or
recesses in adjacent faces of these lugs are formed a central socket for the saddle-
post, and a socket on each side thereof for the wires of the frame. The two

page_text: intermediate lugs also have projections on one side of the bolt constituting braces..
The end of the bolt opposite the fixed lug is threaded for engagement of a
clamping nut.
Dated this 8th day of February 1897
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
Improvements in and connected with Bicycle Saddles.
I, JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of London
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been
communicated to me from abroad by Mary Foote Henderson, of Washington, District
of Columbia, United States of America,) 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 an improved bicycle saddle, embracing the cushion, the
frame or support, and the means for attachment of the saddle to the saddle-post or bar,
and its object is to provide a cushioned seat supported by a saddle-frame which will
ensure the comfort and safety of the rider.
The object in the construction of the cushion of the saddle is to provide an edge
or edges bordering on two interior soft cushions, which edges will be soft enough to
be comfortable to the rider, yet will retain enough rigidity to keep the upper surface
of the seat quite away from the saddle-frame, and which will serve at the same time
to prevent the rider from slipping or sliding on the seat in the rising-and-falling
movement of the legs in operating the treadle.
The object of the invention as regards the framework of the saddle is to provide a
support for the cushion of as little bulk or weight as is consistent with strength.
A further object of the invention is to provide a convenient and ready means of
attachment of the saddle to the saddle-post, and of the adjustment of the saddle
thereon.
In the construction of the saddle-frame a wire forming the outline of the saddle
is strengthened at the rear end by a brace that serves three purposes. The brace
is so struck up or bent as to furnish two flanges running downward from the level
of the saddle-seat, thereby giving both sirength and lightness to the structure. The
outer flange forms a groove or socket for enclosing the wire, avoiding the extra
bulk or weight which would result if the wire were placed on the top of a brace.
The inside flange, perforated or indented, serves for the attachment of the cushion
to the saddle-frame.
The saddle-frame provides for a seat made of perforated wood, cane, or other material
which will give stability to the cushion-cover.
The cushion has two soft lobes in connection with a depression at the centre of
the seat, and a firmer border of yielding material.
The frame further consists of a wire bent at one end into an eye for the reception
of a screw on one side of the central line, thence proceeding downwardly and
upwardly to the pommel, where a second eye is formed, thence returning towards the
cantle, being shaped on both sides to conform to the contour of the rider's leg. The
cantle-plate has the general shape of the rear portion of a saddle, and is provided
with three, or more, depending ribs or flanges, the space between two of the flanges
serving as an extra support and as a seating for a wire saddle-frame.
The saddle-attaching device comprises a bolt and four lugs, one being fixed at an
end of the bolt, and the others loosely strung thereon. By suitable depressions or
'recesses in adjacent faces of these lugs are formed a central socket for the saddle-post;

page_text: and
socket on each side thereof for the wires of the frame. The two intermediate
lugs also have projections on one side of the bolt constituting braces. The end of the
bolt opposite the fixed lug is threaded for engagement of a clamping nut.
In the drawings,
Figure 1, is a perspective view of the saddle-cushion, Figure 2, is a sectional view.
of the same,
Figure 3, is a plan of underside of the saddle-frame,
Figure 4, is a perspective view of the saddle-frame seen from underneath, Figure 5:
is a sectional vertical elevation of the same, taken on the line - Figure 4,
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the brace of the saddle-frame,
Figure 7, is a perspective view of the saddle-attaching device, and Figure 8, an
elevation of the same with the parts separated.
An essential feature of the improved saddle-cushion is an edge or edges B'C', maile
of cloth, or other material, and stuffed with any suitable flexible and resisting substance
firmly fastened. These edges may also be made of rubber tubing or compressed-air
tubing. They may, or may not, continue all around the outside edge of the cushion,.
and they may also be single, or repeated once, or several, times, where more, or less,
flexibility, or rigidity, is needed.
A depression is made longitudinally through the centre of the cushion, as seen
between A and D in Figure 1. At B and C, two soft cushions are represented lying
between the said depression and the outside edges. The sectional transverse view,
Figure 2, shews more fully the soft inside cushions B and C and the more rigid edges.
at B' and C¹.
In the construction of the saddle-frame, as shewn in Figure 3, a wire starts around
the screw at a and follows in a slightly-curved line first downward and upward,.
passing by a part of the frame at 6 until it meets and surrounds the screw, as
represented at c, then follows in a line to suit and conform with the contour of
the leg of the rider at f, then around to form the general shape of the rear of the
saddle, as clearly shewn, then repeats the curve of fat d, again around the screw
at c, along to g, and terminates around the screw at 1. The brace is shewn at ee e,.
Figure 3. It is made of steel, or wood, or other suitable material, but preferably
of steel plate pressed into shape. The ribs, or flanges, are better seen at a' ' c³,
Figure 6. The rib or flange at a', Figure 6, serves, when perforated or indented,.
for attaching the cover, or cushion, to the saddle-frame.
The saddle attaching device comprises a bolt, four lugs Imno, and a nut P, the
lug being fixed to the bolt, and the other lugs being loose thereon (Figures 7 and 8).
The adjacent faces of the lugs have depressions or recesses forming the sockets q'q'..
The socket receives the L pin which supports the saddle, and the sockets q¹ q²
receive the wires by of the saddle frame. The lugs m n have, on the side opposite.
the socket 9, the curved projections s, s, constituting braces.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-.
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In or for bicycle saddies a cushion with two soft cushion-lobes in connection
with a depression in the centre of the seat, and a firmer border of yielding material.
2. In or for bicycle saddles a cushion with two, or more, firm but yielding edges.
made near together, for especially hard use, substantially as described.
3. An improved frame for bicycle saddles, the said frame consisting of a wire.
bent at one end into an eye for the reception of a screw on one side of the central.
line, curved downwardly and upwardly to the pommel where a second eye is formed,.
then returned toward the cantle, and shaped to conform to the contour of the leg
of the rider, and curved also to form the cantle, and then curved in a similar
manner, on the opposite side of the central line to form a complete frame.
4. An improved frame for bicycle saddles, the said frame consisting of a wire
bent in a slightly-curved line first downward and then upward, from the cantle to.
the pommel and thence extending rearwardly and shaped to conform to the leg of the

page_text: rider, and curved to form the cantle, the wire being then so bent as to duplicate
the said construction to form the second half of the saddle-fraine.
'
5. A metallic cantle-plate for a bicycle-saddle, the said cantle plate being formed
of the general shape of the rear portion. of a saddle, and provided with three or
more depending ribs, or flanges, approximately parallel extending therearound, and
with the space between two of the flanges serving as an extra support and as a
seat of a wire saddle-frame, substantially as herein before described.
6. The attaching device for bicycle saddles the said device being composed of a
bolt, a fixed lug, three loose lugs, and a clamping nut, the faces of the lugs being
provided with opposite recesses, constituting sockets for the post and frame of the
saddle, and with braces, as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Dated this 16th day of March 1297
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.