IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLES FOR BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
I JESSE FORSTER Saddler of 5 Gower Street Birmingham in the County of
Warwick do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
SADDLES FOR BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of an arrangement of parts for the purpose of forming
a Saddle suitable for use on Bicycles or Tricycles.
The parts are hereinafter described.
A Basement Plate' suitable to be fastened to Bicycles or Tricycles on which to
erect or build up the complete saddle.
'A Cradle' for the purpose of fixing on the Basement Plate and also to clip or
receive the leather saddle.
'A Socket' to receive the curved front end of Basement Plato and also to form a
hearing for the front end of the Cradle.
'
A Vertical Cantle Plate to strengthen the leather part of the Saddle and also to
form a recess or bearing for the back end of the Cradle, and also to receive the
crooked ends of adjusting screwed hooks hereinafter described.
Two Adjusting Screwed Hooks with nuts for the purpose of regulating the
tension or springing capacity of the saddle.
'A Leather Saddle formed in the usual shape for use on Bicycles or Tricycles.
Having now mentioned the principal parts constituting the complete saddle
I will now proceed to describe ench part more fully and also the method of putting
the parts together.
The Basement Plate is made out of a piece of metal preferably steel, about one
sixteenth part of an inch in thickness more or less; by about four inches wide by
9 in long more or less looking at it on its horizontal plane or surface the back end
retains the width herein before mentioned, the corners being rounded off to about
three fourths of an inch radius; the sides are then hollowed inwards to about one
third of the total length, eventually curving outwards forming projections of a
similar radius to the beforementioned back corners; both sides of the plate are then
curved inwards, gradually tapering until the front end is narrowed to a width of
one inch or thereabouts, the narrow front end is then turned up to an angle of
80 degrees or thereabouts, forming a tang from one to two inches in length, to suit
saddles for either Bicycles or Tricycles.

page_text: 'The Cradle' (viewed on its horizontal plane) is formed out of metal wire about
one fourth of an inch in diameter more or less, and is nearly the same length as
the Basement Plate, and also about the same width at its back end the back corners
are not similar to the Basement Plate, but are formed as near the shape of right
angles as the bending of the wire will admit; it then gradually narrows until
at about two thirds of its length the two wires meet and run parallel for the
remainder of the length; the parallel parts are then welded together thus forming
an open frame with a long solid shank.
The said Cradle is somewhat similar in appearance to the musical instrument
known as a Jews-Harp.
The said Cradle when viewed edgeways or on its vertical plane presents an
arched appearance.
In lieu of the shanked end of the Cradle as liereinbefore described I can by
preference dispenso with the said shanked end and finish the cradle at its narrow
end by joining the two ends of the wire at the part of the Cradle where the
shank commences thus making a short round bar about one fourth of an inch
diameter and of a suitable length to form part of an inge joint hereinafter further
described.
'The Socket' is formed out of a piece of metal bent into a suitable shape to fit
the narrow front end of leather saddle and formed into a slut to receive the narrow
tang in front of Basement-Plate.
The Cantle Plate is formed in the following manner. A piece of metal preferably
steel about one sixteenth of an inch in thickness by about one inch and a quarter
wide by nine inches long is turned out at one odgo about one fourth of an inch, the
other edge is also turned over and bent into a concave gutter shape, slightly arched.
About two inches from each end of the strip of metal, the parts turned over are
cut off, thus leaving a narrow piece at each end flexible in their relation to the
other portions of the Cantle Plate, that other portion being kept rigid by means of
the turned edges.
The two Adjusting Screwed Hooks are formed out of wire of suitable dimentions,
one end being straight and also threaded to receive a suitable nut, the other end
being bent into a hook of a convenient shape to pass through the Cantle-Plate with
a suitable amount of clearance.
The parts constituting the completo Adjustable Tension Saddle are then put
together in the following manner
The leather part of the complete saddle is formed in the shape usual for Bicycles
and Tricycles, that is to say closely resembling the the half of a pear.
In order to conveniently fix the various metal parts in their relative position the
leather portion of saddle is turned face downwards thus presenting to view the
under side of said saddle.
At the narrow or front end of leather part of saddle is fixed the 'Socket' by
means of rivets passed through the leather and thence through the metal of socket
flange, at a convenient distance for riveting.
At the wide or back end of saddle is fixed the 'Cantle Plate' by means of rivets
in a similar manner to the Socket.
The Cantle Plate is arched at that edge which is formed into a concave gutter,
the arched edge is then placed against the under-side of leather part of saddle.
The flat part of the said Cantlo Plate is then riveted to the back part of leather
saddle in such a manner that the top edge (which is strengthened by turning over
as hereinbefore described) is level with the under edge of leather saddle the
stiffened part extending over the wido part of the back end of said saddle, the
flexible ends adapting themselves to the pear shape of saddle.
The tanged end of Basement Plate is then passed into the slot in socket a pin is
then passed through the small or front end of leather saddle thence through one side
of socket thence through tanged end of Basement Plate thence through other side
of socket; a nut being then passed on to the pin. The 'Basement Plato' is thus
secured in a rigid manner to the front end of leather saddle, ·

page_text: The shank end of Cradle is then screwed on to Basement Plate in such a manner
that when lowered down towards the back end of leather saddle the front end of
said cradle will bear and fit in the concave gutter provided in the Cantle Plate to
receive it.
In some cases the shank end of cradle will be dispensed with as hereinbefore
mentioned, in such cases the short bar at the small end of the shortened cradle will
form part of an inge a piece of metal will then be folded round the said short bar
to complete the inge, the said piece of metal being of sullicient dimentions to fasten
by means of screws on to the Basement Plate; when the said short cradle is
screwed on to the Basement Plate, the front end of said short cradle can by means
of the inge joint be readily guided into the concave gutter provided in Cantle
Plate.
Thus it will be readily understood that the cradle being fixed rigidly to the
Basement Plate the said basement plate being then fixed in the socket at sinall end
of saddle it will necessarily follow that when the front end of cradle (either with or
without shank) is lowered into the concave gutter as hereinbefore mentioned the
leather seat or saddle will rest on two bearings one at the back and one at the
front.
The Cantle Plate is then connected to the Basement Plate by means of the
two adjusting screwed hooks herein before mentioned.
The hooked end of one hook is passed through a suitable hole in the Cantle Plate
the straight end is then passed through a suitable hole near one corner of the back
part of Basement Plate, the other hook is then fixed in a similar manner through
the other corner of Basement Plate and also through the Cantle Plate; the nuts are
then threaded on to the straight part of the Adjusting Screwed Hooks.
Thus completing a simple and effectual arrangement for adjusting the tension or
elasticity of the complete Saddle.
The Saddle being now turned over in the proper position for rider to sit on, the
complete action and advantage of the adjustable tension can be more readily
understood.
The weight of the rider acting on the saddle (which is fastened rigidly to the
Cantle Plate in an arched form) draws the edge of the Cantle Plate slightly nearer
to the front end of the saddle thus releasing or slackening the leather on the
sides of the saddle; the flexible part of Cantle Plate (that is to say the two ends)
allowing that slackness to fall in position thus casing the rider's legs.
When there is such an amount of weight on the Saddle as to cause too much
slackness, a few turns of the nuts on the adjusting screwed hooks will regulate the
tension to the desired flexibility.
1004

page_text: I JESSE FORSTER Saddler 5 Gower St Birmingham in the County of Warwick
do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLES FOR
BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention consists of an arrangement of parts for the purpose of forming
a saddle, suitable for use on Bicycles or Tricycles. The parts are hereunder
described.
'A. Bacement Plate' suitable to be fastened to Bicycles or Tricycles on which to
errect or build up the saddle.
A. Cradle' for the purpose of fixing on the Bacement-Plate and also to clip or
receive the leather saddle.
'A. Socket' to receive the curved front end of Bacement Plate and also to form
a bearing for the front end of the Cradle.
A Vertical Cantle plate, to strengthen the leather part of the saddle and also to
form a recess, or bearing for the back end of the cradlo and also to receive the
crooked ends of adjusting screwed hooks hereinafter described.
Two Adjusting Screwed Hooks with nuts; for the purpose of regulating the
tension or springing capacity of the saddle.
A Leather Saddle forined in the usual shape for use on Bicycles or Tricycles.
Having now mentioned the principal parts constituting the complete Saddle,
I will proceed to describe each part more fully and also the method of putting the
parts together.
-
The Basement Plate is made out of a piece of metal preferably steel about ono
sixteenth part of an inch in thickness, more or less, by about four inches wide, by
about nine inches long, more or less.
Looking at it on its Horizontal plane or surface, the back end retains the width
herein before mentioned, the corners being rounded off to about three fourths of an
inch radius, the sides are then hollowed inwards to about one third of the total
length eventually curving outwards forming projections of a similar radius to the
beforementioned back corners, both sides of the plate are then curved inwards,
gradually tapering until the front end is narrowed to a width of one inch or there-
abouts, the narrow front end is then turned up to an angle of eighty degrees or
thereabouts forming a tang from one to two inches in length to suit saddles for
either bicycles or tricycles.
The Cradle (viewed on its horizontal plane) is formed out of a piece of motal
wire, about one fourth of an inch in diameter inore or less, and is nearly the same
length as the basement plate and also about the same width at its back end; the
back corners are not similar to the basement plate, but are formed as near the
shape of right angles as the bending of the wire will admit, it then gradually
narrows until at about two thirds of its length the two wires iacet and run parallel
for the remainder of the length, the parallel parts are then welded together, thus
forming an open frame with a long solid shank. The said cradle is somewhat
similar in appearance to the musical instrument known as a Jews-Harp.
The said cradle when viewed edgeways, or on its vertical plane presents an
arched appearance.
In lieu of the shanked end of the cradle as herein before described, 1 can by
preference dispense with the said shanked end and finish the crudle at the narrow
end by joining the two ends of the wire at the part of the Cradle where the shank

page_text: commences thus making a short round bar about one fourth of an inch diameter
and of a suitable longth to form part of an hinge joint hereinafter further
described.
The Socket is formed out of a piece of metal bent into a suitable shape to fit
the narrow front end of leather saddle and formed into a slot, to receive the narrow
tang in front of basement plate.
The Cantle Plate' is formed in the following manner. A piece of metal
preferably steel about one sixteenth of an inch in thickness by about ono inch and
a quarter wide by nine inches long is turned over at one edge about one fourth of
an inch, the other edge is also turned over and bent into a concave gutter shape,
slightly arched.
About two inches from each end of the strip of metal, the parts turned over aro
cut off, thus leaving a narrow piece at each end, flexible in their relation to the
other portion of the cantle plate, that other portion being kept rigid by means of
the turned edges.
The Two Adjusting Screwed Hooks are formed out of wire of suitable dimen-
tions, one end being straight and also threaded to receive a suitable nut, the other
end being bent into a hook of a convenient shape to pass through the Cantle plate,
with a suitable amount of clearance.
The parts constituting the complete adjustable tension saddle aro then put
together in the following manner
The leather part of complete saddle is formed in the shape usual for Bicycles or
Tricycles, that is to say closely resembleing the half of a pear.
In order to conveniently fix the various metal parts in their relative position,
the leather portion of saddle is turned face downwards thus presenting to view the
under side of saddle.
At the narrow or front end of leather part of saddle is fixed. the 'Socket' by
means of rivets passed through the leather and thence through the metal or
substance of socket flange at convenient distances for riveting.
At the wide or back end of saddle is fixed 'The Cantle Plate' by means of
rivets in a similar manner to the Socket.
The Cantle Plate is arched at that edge which is formed into a concave gutter,
the arched edge is then placed against the under side of leather part of saddle; the
flat part of the said Cantle Plate is then riveted to the back part of leather of
saddle in such a manner that the top edge (which is strengthened by turning over
as bereinbefore described) is level with the under edge of leather saddle tho
stiffened part extending over the wide part of the back end of said saddle, the
flexible ends adapting themselves to the pear shape of said saddle.
The tanged end of the Bacement Plate is then passed into the slot in Socket,
a pin is then passed through the small or front end of leather sad lle, thence
through one side of socket, thence through tanged end of Basement Plate,' thence
through other side of socket-a nut being then passed on to the pin the Basement
Plate is thus secured in a rigid manner to the front end of leather part of saddle.
The shank end of cradle is then screwed on to Basement Plate in such a manner
that when lowered down towards the back end of leather saddle the front end of
said cradle will bear and fit in the concave gutter provided in the Cantle Plate to
receive it.
In some cases the shank end of Cradle will be dispensed with, as heroinbefore
mentioned. In such cases the short bar at the small end of the shortened Cradlo
will form part of an Hinge, a piece of metal will then be folded round the said
short bar to complete the hinge the said piece of metal being of sufficient dimentions
to fasten by means of screws on to the Basement Plate. When the said short
Cradle is screwed on to the Basement Plate, the front end of said short cradle can
by means of the hinge joint be readily guided into the concave gutter provided in
Cantle Plate.
Thus it will be readily understood, that the cradle being fixed rigidly to the
Basement Plate, the said basement plate being then fixed in the socket at small

page_text: O is the back end that rests in the gutter U of cantle plate or on the wire
strengthening rib W.
Figures 7 and 8 shew the arrangement in lieu of the shanked end of the cradle,
the short round bar P forming the fulcrum pin of an hinge working in the clip Q
the short bar would be formed at or near A B Figure 6.
Figures 9. 10. 11 show the socket in detail. R is the slot to receive the narrow
tang in front of basement plate. R¹ is the hole to receive socket pin D¹,
S is the socket flange.
Tare the rivet holes by which to fasten the flange to the leather.
Figures 12. 13. 14 & 15 show the vertical cantle plate. U is a section showing
the concave gutter that in some cases I provide over the whole length of the
bottom of cantle plate. In other cases I prefer to cut it away as illustrated
excepting the parts marked V, when using the parts V only, I provide a piece of
wire W to strengthen the bottom of cantle-plate. X shows the top edge turned
over to strengthen it Y shews the flexible portion Z shews the rivet holes by
which to fasten the cantle plate to leather saddle.
The great advantages of this improved saddle are mainly produced by tho
vertical cantle plate as very fully and exhaustivly set forth in the provisional
specification, to which may be added a special feature or quality, that is to say
that by the use of a vertical cantle plate, the grain or pores of the leather can bo
stretched in a similar manner to that in which the parchment of a drum head is -
drawn over the vertical edges of the druin barrell.
The vertical edge of the cantle plate answers the same purpose and produces the
Enine result when the leather is rivetted through the holes Z of cantle plate.
This extra stretching or enlargement of the pores produces an elasticity extra
and independant of that produced by the flexible part of the cantle plate Y in
conjunction with the springing tendancy of the cradle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is
1st The vertical cantle plate as illustrated and described in conjunction with the
cradle; basement plate; Socket; screwed hooks F, or screwed pins F¹ for tho
purpose of forming an adjustable tension saddle.
2nd The vertical cantle plate as illustrated at Figures 12. 13-14 and 15.
3rd The socket as illustrated at Figures 9. 10. 11.
4th The basement plato as illustrated at Figures 3 and 4.
5th The Cradle as illustrated at Figures 5. 6. 7 and 8.