AN IMPROVED MODE OF MOUNTING SADDLES OF BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nahum Salamon, of Holborn Viaduct, in the City of
London, Sewing Machine Factor, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED MODE
OF MOUNTING SADDLES OF BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES."
SARA
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nahum Salamon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th December 1879.
NAHUM SALAMON, of Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London, Sewing Machine
Factor. "AN IMPROVED MODE OF MOUNTING SADDLES OF BICYCLES AND OTHER
VELOCIPEDES."
The object of this Invention is to ease the seat of the rider of bicycles, and
prevent his feeling the jar or vibration caused by passing over irregular ground.
It is also designed to increase the endurance of the elastic medium employed in
supporting the saddle. Instead of using suspension springs of india rubber, which
are liable to rapid deterioration, I propose to employ elastic washers to receive the
pressure of the saddle, which washers will retain their efficiency for a long period,
and cannot by deteriorating put the rider of the bicycle in jeopardy.
To the front part of the backbone near the pommel of the saddle I fit a vertical
pin to receive washers of india rubber, which have metal washers interposed
between them. These washers will form an elastic bed, on which the forward end
of the saddle bar rests, an eye being made in it to permit of its passing over the
vertical pin. The rear end of the saddle bar is similarly formed with an eye, into
which enters a vertical pin pendant from a bracket which is attached to the
rear of the backbone. This pin is intended to receive an elastic cushion of washers
similar to those on the front pin, which cushion is to form an elastic support for
the rear end of the saddle bar.
Interposed between the saddle bar and the bracket will be one or more elastic
washers, and a similar provision will be made above the front end of the saddle
bar. A nut fitting a thread on the end of each pin will serve to retain the saddle
bar and washers in place.
To remove all tendency to longitudinal oscillations of the saddle bar, I propose to
connect the rear end of that bar with the bracket which carries it by means of a
forked link piece, which will offer no obstruction to the rise and fall of the bar,
but will serve as a stay against motion in any other direction.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Nahum Salamon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th June
1880.
NAHUM SALAMON, of Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London, Sewing Machine
Factor. "AN IMPROVED MODE OF MOUNTING SADDLES OF BICYCLES AND OTHER
VELOCIPEDES."
The chief object of this Invention is to provide an efficient means for easing the
seat of the rider of bicycles, and preventing his feeling the jar or vibration caused
by passing over irregular ground. The Invention is however equally applicable to
other velocipedes in which a saddle is used.
In place of suspension springs of india rubber for carrying the saddle bar, which
springs are liable to rapid deterioration, I propose to employ suspended elastic
washers to receive the pressure of the saddle, which washers will retain their
efficiency for a long period, and cannot by deteriorating put the rider of the
bicycle in jeopardy. At the same time they provide for the adjustment of the
saddle bar to adapt it to riders of various weights.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 shews in side elevation, and Fig. 2 in
plan view the manner of mounting the saddle bar of velocipedes according to my
Invention. a is a portion of the back bone of a bicycle fitted with a saddle b, which
is attached in any approved manner by its metallic shell to a saddle bar c (by
preference an elastic bar or steel), supported at its opposite ends upon, and it may
be between elastic washers. Fitted to the front end of the back bone immediately
in front of the pommel of the saddle is a bracket d, from which depends a bolt e, it
being held in place head downwards by means of a nut. Upon this bolt is strung
a series of vulcanized india rubber washers f, between which are interposed thin
metal washers, and overlying these washers is a coller g, formed with trunnions on
its periphery, which are embraced by hooked terminations of the saddle bar c.
This saddle bar, it will be seen, is forked at its forward end to allow of the
bracket d standing up and carrying the pendent bolt between its hooked
extremities.
The hooks of the saddle bar are secured to the collar g by means of screws which
enter the ends of the trunnions of the collar, and press loose washers against
the hooked ends so as to hold them securely in place on the trunnions. When the
pendent bolt e is secured to the bracket d, any pressure thrown on the forward end
of the saddle bar will be received by the elastic washers f, which will impart
elasticity to the seat.
The rear end of the saddle bar c is formed with an elongated eye, into which
enters a vertical bolt e¹, pendent from a bracket d¹, which is attached to the rear of
the back bone. This bolt is fitted with an elastic cushion of washers f¹, similar to
those on the front bolt, which cushion forms an elastic support for the rear end of
the saddle bar c. Interposed between the saddle bar and the bracket is another
elastic washer to take the rebound of the saddle bar, and a like provision may, if
thought desirable, be made for the front end of the saddle bar. A nut fitting a
thread on the upper end of each bolt will serve to retain the saddle bar and washers
in placo.
To remove all tendency to longitudinal oscillations of the saddle bar C, I connect
the rear end of that bar with the bracket d¹ by means of a forked link piece h,
which connects by pivot pins with the bar and bracket This link coupling,
while it presents no obstruction to the rise and fall of the bar, will serve
as a stay against the motion of the saddle in any other direction, and thus an easy
and safe seat will be secured to the rider.
The elastic cushion composed of washers, as shown in the Drawing, are arranged
for a maximum weight of rider), but for riders of lighter weight one or more of the

page_text: elastic washers underlying the collar g and the rear end of the saddle bar c may be
withdrawn and placed above the collar and the eye of the saddle bar respectively.
By this means the elasticity of the seat may be readily adjusted to suit all riders.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "An Improved Mode of
Mounting Saddles of Bicycles and other Velocipedes," and explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in
part recited Letters Patent I claim, mounting the saddles of velocipedes on a saddle
bar, whether elastic or otherwise, carried by adjustable india rubber cushions and
secured against oscillation, in the manner and for the purpose above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nahum Salamon, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Seventeenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
N. SALAMON. (...)