Saddles for Bicycles, Tricycles, and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1886

page_text: Saddles for Bicycles, Tricycles, and similar Vehicles.
I, FRANK HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes, Eli and Hughes, N° 76, Chancery
Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents and Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ADJUSTABLE
SUSPENSION SADDLES FOR BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND SIMILAR VEHICLES," a com-
munication to me from abroad by Georg Rothgiesser of the Firm of R. Nagel
and Co, Manufacturers of Bicycle and Tricycle accessories of Bielefeld, Westphalia,
in the Empire of Germany, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates more especially to the lace saddles of the suspension class
described in previous Letters Patent, Nº 3833, bearing date August 7th, 1883, and
the object thereof is to render the saddle easy of adjustment in either a backward
or forward direction upon the backbone, and also by raising or lowering the same
and altering the inclination thereof to suit the requirements of the rider.
And in order that the Invention may be more fully understood I have hereto
annexed a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the Improved saddle, and attachments, and
Figure 2 is a back view thereof.
A is the backbone of either a bicycle or tricycle and B is a plate provided with
a number of stud holes and attached to the neck of the backbone by a clip or
fork B¹.
The plate B rests upon a pad of India-rubber C which acts as a cushion or
spring.
D is the saddle, the front portion D₁ of which is not supported by any frame
or "tree," whereby the weight is much reduced. This portion of the saddle is
attached to the plate B by means of a stud D2 which is rivetted to the nose of
the saddle, thereby bringing the latter very close to the backbone.
The hind portion of the saddle is supported by a metal plate or cross piece E to
which are fixed two lugs F-Through the lugs passes a metal rod G, the ends of
which are bent downwards and enter two cylinders H, the latter being supported
Daniel

page_text: at their lower ends by studs J fixed into the ends of a cross piece K and attached
to the backbone by means of clip L and nuts and screws M.
Spiral springs N pass over the cylinders H and are compressed by the ends of
the rod G.
To the cross piece K is attached a rigid tail piece P-A strap P¹ provided with
a thong and buckle passes around the rod G between the lugs and through the tail
piece P and serves to draw the saddle tight.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the saddle is adjustable in
three places, namely, at the nose by means of the stud D2 and slotted plate B,
behind by means of the cross piece K which can be readily moved upon the back-
bone, and by the strap P¹ which serves to tighten the saddle-The length of the
slotted plate B may be increased as desired and by altering the points of attach-
ment both front and rear, the springs N may be caused to lean either backwards
or forwards and thus vary the distance of the saddle from the backbone.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :
1. In a bicycle or tricycle, the method of attaching the front portion of the
saddle to the neck thereof by means of a hook or stud D' which enters into
one of a series of slots formed in a plate B, substantially as herein specified and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
2. As a means of supporting the rear portion of the saddle the combination of
the rod G¹ entering cylinders H and compressing between them the springs N, the
whole constructed and operating in manner substantially as herein specified and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
3. The use of a strap or equivalent P¹ passing around the rod G¹ and tail piece P
for tightening the saddle and altering the inclination of the springs N, substantially
as herein specified and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
4. The use of the movable rod G' in combination with the oscillating cylinders H,
as and for the purpose substantially as herein specified and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
5. The general arrangement and combination of parts operating in manner and
for the purpose substantially as herein specified and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings.