Improvements in Velocipede Saddles.
Year: 1898

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipede Saddles.
I, THEODORE ERNEST BECK, of Warwick, Orange County, State of New York,
U.S.A., Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this 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 has for its object, first, to provide a velocipede saddle of cheap
and simple construction that will afford the greatest ease and comfort to the
rider by yielding at all desired points to conform to the rider's movements, and
at the same time be sufficiently rigid as a whole to afford that firm support
to the rider which is desirable for properly propelling the wheel; second, to so
construct and unite the several parts entering into the construction of the saddle,
that the latter, as a whole, will practically consist of but one piece whereby all
liability of loss or displacement of the parts will be avoided, and third, to otherwise
improve the general construction of this class of saddles to render the same more
comfortable and desirable. The above objects I secure by means of the con-
struction and arrangement of parts embodying my invention as hereinafter
set forth in detail and pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the drawings;
Fig. 1, is a bottom view of a saddle embodying my invention.
Fig. 2, is a side view of the saddle spring with the seat removed and the pommel
block in section, also showing in dotted lines, the position assumed by the spring
under the weight of the rider.
Fig. 3, is a cross-section of the spring and pommel block taken through line 3-3
of Fig. 2, and
Fig. 4, is cross section of the saddle taken through line 4-4 of Fig. 1.
To explain in detail; a denotes the spring which, in the present instance
illustrated, forms the frame upon which the seat portion of the saddle is secured.
This spring, as herein shown, is formed with an upper portion comprising two
limbs a, a, which are bent in a desired form between the pommel and cantle to
substantially conform to the outline of the seat for the support of the latter.
From the cantle the said upper limbs extend forward a short distance in the
same plane as the outer portion of the limbs and between the latter, as at a², a³,
to serve as a central or intermediate support for the seat. From such point the
said limbs are each bent downward at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of
the saddle for engagement by a clamp or support and then extended forward to
the pommel for attachment at such point with the upper portion or limb of the
spring. The two limbs forming the lower portion of the spring are each formed
with a part thereof extending approximately parallel with each other, as at a³, a³,
for the engagement of the clamp, which part, in side elevation, is curved as shown
in Fig. 4 to permit a change in the inclination of the saddle.
The spring a, as herein shown, is formed of one piece which, in giving the
spring its form as described, is bent or doubled at the center, as at a*, to form a loop
or eye at the pommel end of the lower portion of the spring while its two ends a³, a³
terminate at the pommel end of the upper portion of the spring. The said upper
and lower portions of the spring are united at the pommel end of the saddle in a

page_text: manner as follows; a block or plate b, having two openings 61, 61, in which the
upper free ends a³, a³, of the spring are loosely fitted to be capable of longitudinal
movement is secured in fixed connection with the lower portion of the spring
by means of a screw, which latter passes through the said loop a' in the spring
with its head engaging the lower side of the same and its threaded end connecting
with the block b within a screw-threaded opening therein, as clearly shown in
Fig. By this means, the upper and lower portions of the spring are united at
the pommel in a manner to be properly supported relative to each other and yet
allow a longitudinal movement of the upper limbs relative to the lower at such
point of connection. Such movement, as above referred to, is necessary for the
reason that, the lower portion of the spring being supported in rigid connection
with a saddle clamp, the upper portion when depressed at the cantle end under the
weight of the rider is caused a slight longitudinal movement, and if the connection
between the upper and lower portions at the pommel was rigid, a breakage or
disconnection between the parts would be liable to result.
Another feature of the ends a³, a5, of the upper limbs of the spring being loosely
supported in the openings in the block b as described is, that as the opposite sides
of the saddle are depressed under the movements of the rider, the supporting
limbs a, a, of the spring have a natural tendency to turn or rock, which move-
ment is readily allowed by reason of their loose connection at the pommel as
described. Such loose connection of the upper seat supporting limbs a, a, at the
pommel whereby the same may yield in the different directions as described, allows
the saddles to readily conform to the different movements of the rider.
Having illustrated and described one practical means for securing connection
between the upper and lower portions of the spring at the pommel for the purpose
described, any other suitable means for securing a like connection between the
parts may be employed without departure from my invention.
The seat portion of the saddle, as herein illustrated, is formed and attached upon
the spring in a manner as follows: A piece or flap" d of stiff leather or other
suitable material having the general outline of the desired seat is placed upon the
upper limbs a, a, of the spring as a support for the padded portions of the seat
to be hereinafter described. A second flap d of flexible leather or other material
is then placed below the upper limbs and a portion of the lower limbs at the
pommel end thereof and secured to the upper flap to enclose such parts of the spring
therebetween, by lines of stitching,, extending at opposite sides of the
limbs and around the pommel end of the same, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4.
The lower flap is provided with two slits or openings d³, d³, at the cantle end of
the saddle through which the opposite upper limbs of the spring pass, and with
openings d, d, adjacent to the pommel end through which the opposite lower
limbs pass at a point back from the head of the clamping screw c, as shown in
Fig. 1. The lower limbs of the spring between the pommel and cantle are thus
below and outside of the lower flap , but the latter being extended over the
under side of the said lower limbs at the pommel end of the same to cover the
screw c or other means for securing connection between the upper and lower
portions of the spring, and being secured to the upper flap as described, serves as
an additional means of securing together said upper and lower portions of the
spring at such point, prevents the said screw from becoming loosened or dis-
connected from its engaging parts, and secures a more attractive appearance to
the saddle.
The upper flap d might be adapted to serve as the seat portion of the saddle
if so desired, or a padded form of seat be secured upon the same, the construction
of such seat portion as herein illustrated being as follows: Two pieces or flaps, e
and e, of leather or other suitable material having the general outline of the
seat and provided with cushions e², e², of felt or other similar material contained
therebetween, are placed upon the flap d and stitched or otherwise secured at their
outer edge to the edge of the flap d and which contain a portion of the
spring therebetween as described. By this means, the several parts entering into

page_text: the construction of the saddle are all so supported and united as to practically
form but one piece.
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:
1. In a velocipede saddle, a spring or frame comprising an upper portion for
the support of a seat, and a lower connecting portion for engagement by a clamp
or support, and means for uniting the upper and lower portions whereby one
may have a longitudinal movement relative to the other, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
2. In a velocipede saddle, a spring or frame, comprising an upper portion for
the support of a seat and a lower portion bent down from the cantle for engage-
ment by a clamp or support and then bent upwards at the front end to the pommel,
and means for uniting said upper and lower portions of the frame at the pommel to
allow a longitudinal movement of one relative to the other.
3. In a velocipede saddle, a spring or frame, comprising an upper portion for
the support of a seat. and a lower connecting portion for engagement by a clamp
or support, and a block connected with one of said portions of the frame, having
an opening therein through which the end of the opposite portion is inserted,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a velocipede saddle, the combination, with a suitable seat, of a spring
or frame bent at its middle to form an eye, having an upper portion comprising
two limbs for supporting the seat, and a lower portion bent down from the cantle
for engagement by a clamp or support, and then extended forward to the pommel
and a block secured to the lower portion of the spring at the pommel by means of
a bolt or screw passing through said eye, and provided with openings into which
the free ends of the upper limbs are loosely received, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
5. In a velocipede saddle, the combination, with a suitable seat, of a spring
comprising an upper portion having two limbs conforming to the outline of the
seat as a support for the same and extending forward from the cantle in the
same plane as the outer portion of the limbs and between the latter as a central
or intermediate support for the seat, and then bent downward and forward to form
a lower portion for engagement by a clamp or support, and means for uniting the
upper and lower portions of the spring at the pommel.
6. In a velocipede saddle, a spring, the upper portion of which serves as a sup-
port for the seat, and the lower portion of which is extended down from the
cantle for engagement by a clamp or support and then extended upwards at the
front end for attachment at the pommel to the upper portion of the spring, com-
bined with a seat having a flap resting on said upper portion of the spring and
a lower flap below said upper portion and the pommel end of the lower portion,
said lower flap being secured to the first mentioned flap to enclose the parts of the
spring contained between the same.
7. In a velocipede saddle, the combination, with a suitable seat, of a spring
having an upper portion comprising two limbs for supporting the seat, and a lower
portion for engagement by a clamp or support connected with said upper portion,
and means for loosely uniting the upper and lower portions of the spring at
the pommel to allow a turning or rocking movement of the upper limbs.
”. 1
11 13
1000
THEODORE ERNEST BECK,
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.