IMPROVE- MENTS IN. SEATS OR SADDLES OF VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
I GERARD ASTON of 13 Pembroke Gardens Kensington in the County of
Middlesex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN. SEATS OR SADDLES OF VELOCIPEDES" to be as follows :—
My invention has for its object to give an improved seat or saddle to velocipedes,
my improved seat or saddle will enable riders more perfectly to utilise the power
they exert in working their velocipedes and will enable them to make long journies
with greater comfort than hitherto.
Instead of making the seat or saddle of one piece, I divide the seat or saddle
into two parts, from front to back and so that each part would as it were form a
seat or saddle for each leg of the rider, the parts of my improved seat or saddle
would work on a spindle or shaft and when at rest the two parts would be
supported at the back by a suitable bearing and when desired a rest for the back
of the rider might be added.
When in action each of the two parts would be moved by the leg using it and
the action of the rider on my improved seat or saddle would be more like walking
than when using any seat or saddle hitherto made.
I have tried my invention experimentally on my tricycle and have found it to be
a practical success.

page_text: I, GERARD ASTON, of 13 Pembroke Gardens, Kensington, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE SEATS OR SADDLES OF VELOCIPEDES” and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
My invention has for its object to give an improved seat or saddle for velocipedes,
my improved seat or saddle will enable riders more perfectly to utilise the power
they exert in working their velocipedes and will enable them to make long journeys
without the discomfort hitherto complained of.
Instead of making the seat or saddle of one piece, I divide the seat or saddle
into two parts, from back to front, so that each part forms as it were a separate
seat or saddle for each leg of the rider; the parts of my improved seat or saddle
work on a spindle or shaft, and when at rest the two parts are supported at the
back by a suitable bearing, and when desired a rest for the back of the rider may
also be added.
When in action each of the two parts is moved by the leg using it, thus there is
no friction between the leg of the rider and the seat, and the action of the rider on
my improved seat or saddle is more like walking than when using any seat or
saddle hitherto made.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings the
manner in which: my. improved seat is to be made.
Figure 1.shews the plan of the seat, Figure 2 gives the view from the back,
Figure 3 gives a view from the side. a represents the plates of the seat on to
which the cushions or leathers are fastened. b represents the spindle or shaft on
which the two parts of the seat work. c represents a bar placed under the back
part of the seat to prevent the back part of the seat from going down too low.
d represents the piece of metal by which c is supported. e represents the bearing
through which the shaft b passes g represents the part of each half of the seat
through which the shaft b passes, to g the plates of the seat are fastened by means
of rivets. h represents four steel collars fastened on the shaft b to keep the two
parts of the seat in place.
In my drawings I have represented the surface of each half of the seat as being
flat, but if considered desirable it may be concave or any other suitable shape.
The shape of the lower part of the bearing e must be varied to suit the spring of
the machine to which the seat is to be applied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
First The manufacture of the seats or saddles of velocipedes in two parts
mounted on a shaft or spindle substantially as herein-before described.
Secondly-The application, combination, and use of such improved seats or
saddles in velocipedes, substantially as herein-before described.
Dated this 7th day of November 1884.