Improvements in Saddles for Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 13th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 1897
Improvements in Saddles for Velocipedes.
I, LEWIS TULLY CORNELL, of 148 Kinzie Street, Chicago, in the County of Cook
and State of Illinois, United States of America, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in saddles for bicycles
and vehicles of a similar nature, its primary object being to provide a saddle which will
vary its position automatically to adjust itself according to the position of the rider,
and thereby give greater ease and comfort to the rider as well as facilitate the
propulsion of the vehicle.
Another object of the invention is to give to the two parts of the saddle a positive
and direct reciprocal movement, the movement of each part being directly controlled
by the movement of the other part.
A further object of the invention is to pivotally mount the two parts of the saddle
in such a manner as will give the greatest comfort to the rider and enable the positive
reciprocal movement of the parts.
My invention also has for its object to improve and simplify the construction of
saddles of this kind, whereby they are enabled to operate in a far superior manner, as
will be hereinafter fully described.
The two parts of the saddle can be made of wood or metal prepared and fashioned
in any desired manner or shape consistent with my invention, it being understood
that these parts may be made in many different varieties to suit the different
conditions and necessities of the trade.
These two parts are pivotally secured together by means of a pivot pin which
may be located at a point about twice the distance from the front of the saddle as
from the back. This pin supports the parts of the saddle in a suitable manner, it
being customary to arrange the pin in a transverse opening through the parts when
they are made of wood and journal the pin in bearings on the under side of the
parts when they are made of metal, such details of construction being, however,
within the skill of an ordinary mechanic and not being of the essence of the invention.
A supporting-plate is located immediately beneath the pivot pin, and it is provided
with upturned ends having openings therein to receive the pivot pin, this pin
passing through the openings in the ends of the supporting-plate and securing the
same in position.
About half way between the pivot pin and the front of the saddle, I locate the
front rocking-plate, which is curved downwardly at the centre and has its ends
arranged loosely in the sockets of the plates which are secured to the parts in any
suitable manner. The parts are prevented from becoming separated and are held
together by reason of the arrangement of the upturned ends of the supporting-
plate, which are connected with the pivot pin and thereby hold the parts in their
proper relative positions as regards their distance from each other; and, therefore,
the parts may reciprocate vertically without danger of the ends of the front
rocking-plate slipping out of the sockets, for, of course, it will be understood that
the size of the sockets will be proportioned according to the degree of reciprocation
of the parts, so that, when one part is elevated to its highest point and the
other part depressed to its lowest point, the ends of the front rocking-plate
will still remain firmly seated in the sockets. The sockets are constructed in
such a manner, however, that the ends of the rocking-plate may operate easily
therein.

page_text: A bridge-plate is secured to the supporting-plate at or about its centre, and its
forward end is bent in the shape of a hook to engage the front rocking-plate and
guide the latter in its reciprocating movement.
In the operation of the saddle constructed as herein described, the two parts will
respond immediately to the pressure exerted thereon by the rider and assume that
position which corresponds with the position of the rider's legs, thus giving to the
rider the greatest amount of ease and comfort and avoiding the rubbing and chafing
incident to the ordinary saddles. When the front of the part, for example, is
depressed to its lowest position by reason of the downward movement of the rider's
leg, it is obvious that the front rocking-plate will be rocked to raise the front of
the part and this movement of the parts, by reason of the connection formed by
the rocking-plate, is positive, and the movement imparted to one part of the saddle
by the other is direct.
I
An obvious modification of the arrangement of the front rocking-plate, is one in
which this plate is pivotally connected at its ends to the socket-plates and provided at
or about its centre with a slot, in which a pin, secured to the front of the
bridge-plate, operates. The operation of a saddle constructed in this manner is
substantially, in every way, precisely the same as that heretofore described; for, when
the part is depressed, the front rocking-plate will be rocked or shifted accordingly to
raise the other part by a direct and positive movement.
The arrangement of the pivotal and supporting devices beneath the saddle about
equidistant between the rocking-plate and the rear end of the saddle is particularly
important, for, in that position, the weight of the rider is most evenly distributed and
the operation of the parts of the saddle, as hereinbefore described, greatly facilitated.
By reason of this location and arrangement of parts, the rider will not become
unbalanced when the saddle is reciprocating, but this alternate reciprocation of the
parts of the saddle is effected in such an even manner that, when one of the parts is
depressed, the other part is raised, and the rider is thereby maintained evenly balanced
on the machine.
While I may make the front rocking-plate and other parts in the form of plates or of
strips of flat metal, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that these parts may
be made of round or angular bars; and a very desirable form of construction is one
in which the front rocking-plate is made in the form of a bar, circular in cross-section,
said.bar being provided with rounded or circular ends which operate in corresponding
sockets of the socket plates, thus forming a ball and socket joint at each end of the
bar. Instead of bending the forward end of the bridge-plate, I provide a loop or
staple which is secured to the bridge-plate and encircles the front rocking-plate or
bar. This construction is, to all intents and purposes, the same as that hereinbefore
described and accomplishes the same results in substantially the same manner; but
I have found, for some purposes, that this rocking-bar, provided with the ball and
socket connections at its ends, will operate in a superior manner. In this construction,
the forward end of the bridge-plate will engage the part which is being depressed and
limit its downward movement, as will be very readily understood.
It is obvious that the bridge-plate and supporting-plate could be made in one piece,
and, while I may make them of spring metal plates they may also be made of a single
piece of sufficiently strong spring wire. This wire can be bent up to form the
supporting-plate with its upturned ends, the bridge-plate having a loop or staple on its
forward end.
I am aware that various mechanical changes may be made in the construction and
arrangement of the different parts of my invention as described, and I, therefore,
reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of
the invention.
Dated thin 7th
c T
1007

page_text: Improvements in Saddles for Velocipedes.
I, LEWIS TULLY CORNELL, of 148 Kinzie Street, Chicago, in the County of
Cook and State of Illinois, United States of America, Engineer, 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 relates to certain new and useful improvements in saddles for
bicycles and vehicles of a similar nature, its primary object being to provide a saddle
which will vary its position automatically to adjust itself according to the position of
the rider, and thereby give greater ease and comfort to the rider as well as facilitate
the propulsion of the vehicle.
Another object of the invention is to give to the two parts of the saddle a positive
and direct reciprocal movement, the movement of each part being directly
controlled by the movement of the other part.
A further object of the invention is to pivotally mount the two parts of the
saddle in such a manner as will give the greatest comfort to the rider and enable the
positive reciprocal movement of the parts.
My invention also has for its object to improve and simplify the construction of
saddles of this kind, whereby they are enabled to operate in a far superior manner,
as will be hereinafter fully described.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a saddle made in two parts, in accordance with my
invention, and showing the connecting devices underneath the parts in broken
lines.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the saddle, showing the front rocking plate in
section.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the saddle.
Figure 4 is a side elevation.
Figure 5, a front elevation of a saddle embodying my invention with some
modifications in the detail construction.
Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of a metal saddle embodying my invention and
showing some additional details of construction.
Figure 7 is a sectional view through the front plate; and
Figure 8 is a detail view showing that the bridge-plate and supporting-plate can
be made of one piece and of spring metal.
Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
A and A' designate the two parts of the saddle, which can be made of wood or
metal prepared and fashioned in any desired manner or shape consistent with my
invention, it being understood that these parts may be made in any different varieties
to suit the different conditions and necessities of the trade.
These two parts are pivotally secured together by means of a pivot pin B, which
may be located at a point about twice the distance from the front of the saddle as
from the back. This pin supports the parts of the saddle in a suitable manner, it
being customary to arrange the pin in a transverse opening through the parts when
they are made of wood and journal the pin in bearings on the under side of the parts
when they are made of metal, such details of construction being, however, within
the skill of an ordinary mechanic and not being of the essence of the invention. A
supporting-plate C is located immediately beneath the pivot pin B, and it is provided
with upturned ends D having openings therein to receive the pivot pin B, this pin
passing through the openings in the ends of the supporting-plate and securing the
same in position.
About half way between the pivot pin and the front of the saddle, I locate the

page_text: front locking-plate E, which is curved downwardly at the centre, and has its ends
arranged loosely in the sockets F of the plates G, which are secured to the parts in
any suitable manner. The parts are prevented from becoming separated and are held
together by reason of the arrangement of the upturned ends of the supporting-
plate, which are connected with the pivot pin and thereby hold the parts in their
proper relative positions as regards their distance from each other; and, therefore,
the parts may reciprocate vertically without danger of the ends of the front rocking-
plate slipping out of the sockets, for, of course, it will be understood that the size of
the sockets will be proportioned according to the degree of reciprocation of the
parts, so that, when one part is elevated to its highest point and the other part
depressed to its lowest point, the ends of the front rocking-plate will still remain
firinly seated in the sockets. The sockets are constructed in such a manner, however,
that the ends of the rocking-plate may operate easily therein.
A bridge-plate H is secured to the supporting-plate C, at or about its centre, and
its forward end is bent in the shape of a hook 1, as shown in Figure 2, to engage the
front rocking-plate and guide the latter in its reciprocating movement.
In the operation of the saddle constructed as herein described, the parts A, A' will
respond immediately to the pressure exerted thereon by the rider and assume that
position which corresponds with the position of the rider's legs, thus giving to the
rider the greatest amount of ease and comfort and avoiding the rubbing and chafing
incident to the ordinary saddles. When the front of the part A, for example, is
depressed to its lowest position by reason of the downward movement of the rider's
leg, it is obvious that the front rocking-plate E will be rocked to raise the front of
the part A, and this movement of the parts, by reason of the connection formed by
the rocking-plate, is positive, and the movement imparted to one part of the saddle
by the other is direct.
In Figures 4 and 5, I have shown an obvious modification of the arrangement of
the front rocking-plate, in which this plate is pivotally connected at its ends to the
socket-plates J and provided at or about its centre with a slot K, in which a pin L,
secured to the front of the bridge-plate H, operates. The operation of a saddle
constructed in this manner is substantially, in every way, precisely the same as that
heretofore described; for, when the part A is depressed, the front rocking-plate E will
be rocked or shifted accordingly to raise the other part A' by a direct and positive
movement.
The arrangement of the pivotal and supporting devices beneath the saddle about
equidistant between the rocking-plate and the rear end of the saddle is particularly
important, for, in that position, the weight of the rider is most evenly distributed
and the operation of the parts of the saddle, as hereinbefore described, greatly
facilitated. By reason of this location and arrangement of parts, the rider will not
become unbalanced when the saddle is reciprocating, but this alternate reciprocation
of the parts of the saddle is effected in such an even manner that, when one of the
parts is depressed, the other part is raised, and the rider is thereby maintained evenly.
balanced on the machine.
While I have shown in Figures 1 to 5, inclusive, the front rocking-plate and other
parts made in the form of plates or strips of flat metal, it will be apparent to those
skilled in the art that these parts may be made of round or angular bars; and in
Figures 6 and 7 I have shown a very desirable form of construction, in which the
front rocking-plate E is made in the form of a bar, circular in cross-section, said bar
being provided with rounded or circular ends which operate in corresponding
sockets F of the socket plates G, thus forming a ball and socket joint at each end of
the bar. Instead of bending the forward end of the bridge-plate back in the manner
shown in Figure 2, I provide a loop or staple which is secured to the bridge-plate
and encircles the front rocking-plate or bar. This construction is, to all intents and
purposes, the same as that herein before described and accomplishes the same results
in substantially the same manner; but I have found, for some purposes, that this
rocking-har, provided with the ball and socket connections at its ends, will operate in
a superior manner. In this construction, the forward end of the bridge-plate will

page_text: engage the part which is being depressed and limit its downward movement, as will
be very readily understood from an inspection of the drawings.
It is obvious that the bridge-plate and supporting-plate could be made in one
piece, and, while I have shown them made of spring metal plates in Figure 2 and
elsewhere, they may be made of a single piece of sufficiently strong spring wire, as
shown in Figure 8. This wire can be bent up to form the supporting-plate C with
its upturned ends D, the bridge-plate H having a loop or staple I on its forward end.
I am aware that various mechanical changes may be made in the construction and
arrangement of the different parts of my invention as described, and I, therefore,
reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of
the invention.
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 bicycle saddle comprising two parts pivotally connected together, and a
rocking-plate or bar secured to said parts beneath the forward portions thereof and
adapted to communicate thereto a direct and positive alternate reciprocal movement,
substantially as described.
2. A bicycle saddle comprising two parts pivotally connected together, the socket-
plates secured to the parts, and a rocking-plate or bar having its ends arranged to
operate in the sockets in said socket-plates, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. A bicycle saddle comprising two parts pivotally connected together, and a
rocking-plate or bar having its ends loosely connected to the parts between the pivotal
pin and the front of the parts, substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. In a bicycle saddle comprising two parts pivotally connected together, the
combination of a supporting-plate, and a rocking-plate or bar arranged equidistant
from the front and rear of the saddle and from each other, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
5. In a bicycle saddle comprising two parts pivotally connected together, the
combination of a supporting-plate, a rocking plate or bar having its ends loosely
connected to the parts and adapted to impart an alternate reciprocal movement
thereto, and a bridge-plate secured to the supporting-plate and the rocking-plate,
substantially as described.
6. In a bicycle saddle comprising two parts pivotally connected together, the
combination of a rocking-plate or bar having its ends secured to the parts, of a
supporting plate arranged beneath the pivots of the parts at a point twice the distance
from the front of the saddle as from the back thereof, substantially as described.
7. In a bicycle saddle, the combination with two parts, of a pivot pin pivotally
connecting said parts, a supporting-plate provided with upturned ends secured on
said pin, socket-plates secured to the parts, a rocking-plate or bar having its ends
arranged to operate loosely in said sockets, and a bridge-plate rigidly secured to the
supporting-plate and provided with hooked forward end to engage the rocking-plate,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
8. In a bicycle saddle, the combination with two parts, of a pivot pin pivotally
connecting said parts, a supporting-plate C having its ends secured to said pivot pin,
socket-plates G secured to the parts, a rocking-plate or bar E having its ends arranged
to operate loosely in the sockets in said plates, a bridge-plate secured to the
supporting-plate C and having its forward end arranged to be engaged by each part
when it is depressed, and a loop or staple I secured to said bridge-plate and encircling
the rocking-plate or bar, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 13th day of January 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.