Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
I, JAMES ELLSWORTH PLEW, of No. 542 West Fifty-ninth Street, Chicago, County
f Cook, State of Illinois, United State of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of my 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 improvements in bicycle saddles, and its object is to make
a comfortable and healthy saddle.
.
My invention consists substantially in the construction set forth in the subjoined
specification and more particularly pointed out in the claims.
Like letters refer to the same parts in the several figures of the drawing, in.
which-
Fig. 1 illustrates a plan view of the saddle.
Fig. 2 illustrates a longitudinal sectional view, on the line 2-2, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3, Fig. 2.
The primary portion or base of the saddle is composed of a firm and practically
unyielding material, and I have found it advantageous to construct it of sheet
steel, although any suitable material of the character specified may be utilized..
This base is designated by the letter A, in the drawing, and as shown in the
longitudinal vertical sectional view, extends from point to rear of the saddle, being
narrowed at the point or pommel, as is usual in such cases, and curved or shaped
as is desired so as to widen it into a seat. Upon this base is mounted the super-
structure of the saddle, and it is of great importance how this superstructure shall
be made and located. As shown in the drawings, the forward or pommel portion
of the base is covered by a pneumatic or soft cushion, which extends rearwardly
about the length of the pommel proper of the saddle. This pneumatic cushion is
formed in any suitable way, but, preferably, with a textile bag suitably secured in
place. The rear or seat portion of the saddle must be firm, as contradistinguished
from resilient or elastic, but may be provided with a thin non-elastic padding, so
as to remove the person of the rider from contact with the base itself. The dotted
line in Fig. 1 indicates a preferred relative proportion of the soft part and the
hard part of the saddle. The pneumatic cushion or soft part of the saddle is.
designated by the letter C, and the rear, or comparatively hard portion of the
saddle, by the letter E. A canvas covering, D, may be provided, and a leather
covering, B, over all. A pneumatic cushion, C, forms the pommel or nose of the
saddle and this is the part which comes in contact with the portion of the person
of the rider which is most sensitive, and not intended to sit upon, while the com-
paratively hard rear or seat portion affords a firm rest for that portion of the rider
which nature has designed to support the body in a sitting position. It will be
readily observed that this saddle differs from the ordinary pneumatic saddle in having
a firm rear portion or seat upon which the weight of the rider rests and a pneumatic
or soft cushion for the nose or pommel, which, while serving as a guide or obstruc-
tion to lateral displacement, yet is so soft as not to injure, irritate or excite the
organs of the body superposed over this portion of the saddle. It differs from the
ordinary leather saddle in that the seat portion retains its permanent shape, which is
adapted to the contour of the parts resting upon it, and is not capable of being
stretched or extended out of shape, either by excessive weight or sudden strain or
condition of the weather; and further, in that while the pommel in this saddle is, as.
Гр..

page_text: before observed, elastic or soft, the pommel in the ordinary leather saddle is hard, for
the latter consists of a rigid base with simply a covering of leather or light padding,
which padding soon becomes packed and hard.
The canvas covering, D, is of a strong or unyielding cloth, and this prevents the
pneumatic bag from bulging and creating an unnatural shape and unsightly appear-
ance. The slight padding on the seat portion of the saddle may be composed of
thick, firm felt, hair, or similar material. The covering, B, is preferably of leather,
and may be secured to the metal base in any suitable manner. The saddle as a whole,
may, of course, be made in a variety of shapes, adapted to the physique and sex of
the rider. I am well aware that a pneumatic saddle is old and well known, and that
a leather or flexible saddle, with pneumatic cushion at front and rear, is old, but
neither of these answer the conditions which it is the purpose of my improved saddle
to fulfil.
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. The combination with a practically rigid base, extending from front to the rear
of a bicycle saddle, with a soft or yielding nose or pommel superposed upon the forward
part of such base and suitably secured in place; substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
2. In a bicycle saddle, the combination with a rigid base, extending from the front
to the rear of the saddle and shaped and narrowed into a pommel or nose at the
forward portion, with a superposed pneumatic cushion upon the pommel or nose, and
suitably secured in place; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a bicycle saddle, the combination with a rigid base, extending from front to
rear of the saddle and formed with a narrowed or nose portion and a widened or
seat portion, with a superposed covering for the seat of comparatively inelastic
material and a superposed pneumatic cushion for the nose or pommel portion and the
whole covered with leather and fastened together; substantially as and for the purpose
set forth
JAMES ELLSWORTH PLEW.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.