Improvements in Saddles for Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Dec., 1897-Accepted, 19th Feb.,
1898
[Communicated from abroad by JOSEPH ACHARD-MILIET, of Lyon, in the
Republic of France, Truss-Maker.]
Improvements in Saddles for Velocipedes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:--
This improved saddle is characterized by the feature that, by its special con-
struction, it affords the cyclist a hygienic seat. Moreover, by reason of its new
form and the central opening which it presents and which constitute the essential
parts of the present invention, it obviates, as regards the organic parts the contacts
and shocks heretofore experienced in the generality of the saddles employed and
which are a cause of grave troubles in the bodily system.
The saddle is formed of the following characteristic parts:
(1) Of an inner metallic plate stamped to the desired form and used for carrying
and fixing the air chamber hereinafter described. The rear part of this plate is
convex, then in proportion as it extends to the front its sides are gradually bent
downwards. This plate presents at its middle part a partial incision or opening
having its largest width at its rear portion, and gradually narrowing towards its
front extremity.
This plate which forms the inner skeleton or frame of the saddle carries three
screws designed to mount and fix with the aid of nuts the saddle upon the saddle
support used. Two other screws also serve to connect the said plate or frame with
the outer cover plate hereinafter referred to. An aperture formed in this plate
serves for the passage of the valve used for inflating the air chamber.
(2) A rough cover of the plate, made of any cloth, in order to insulate it and
prevent especially the contact of its edges with the other parts which are to, be
fixed upon it. This cloth also serves for fastening upon the plate the collars of
the air chamber in a perfect manner by stitches.
(3) Of an air chamber of rubber, forming a cushion and made in such a manner
that it is formed at the rear by two parts which, although made in one piece, leave
between them the space corresponding to the opening in the plate or frame.
In order to unify the distribution of the air in this chamber and to obviate.
abrupt displacements of this air under the weight of the cyclist's body, which
displacements would produce a rolling in the seat, padding points are provided in
the rear portion of this chamber. This cushion which is substantially formed
of two sheets united edge to edge at the rear portion, carries eX-
teriorly at its unravelled part an extension band which, terminating
in a point at the arch, has its greatest width at the front part of the saddle. Another
small extension band is also fastened interiorly at the bell of the saddle. These

page_text: small bands at the extreme part of the bell have for their object to afford develop-
ment or place for the air at this portion of the cushion and to obviate a flattening
which imparts hardness to the seat.
This air chamber is mounted upon the plate or frame by means of a collar of
rubber extending according to requirements either partially or entirely round the
outer and inner periphery of the cushion, which collar being turned down below
the said plate keeps these two parts firmly fixed together. Lastly in order that
the inflation may take place an ordinary valve is fastened to it below.
(4) Of a leather cover completely covering the air chamber and inner plate, this
cover being constituted by two parts perfectly moulded upon the form of the air
chamber and the under side of the plate. These two parts are connected with each
other in the interior of the hollowed part of the saddle by a seam and on its
periphery by suitable lacing.
(5) Of an outer cover plate which, being enchased in order to make it fit exactly
the form of the under side of the plate is fixed directly to the latter and below it
by means of thumb nuts upon the screws.
Thus placed, this plate covers and conceals completely the seam and the lacing
previously mentioned thus giving an irreproachable saddle as regards the strength
and other qualities and also its appearance.
This plate serves also to fix, by means of the screws which pass beyond it, and
of suitable bolts, the curved plate and the saddle support which are attached
thereto for putting it in use.
Such is the new saddle characterized by its new form and the longitudinal
opening which extends through its middle and which divides it nearly over its
entire length into two parts, the wide portion situated at the rear of this cover being
designed to obviate any contact and any shocks of the coccyx upon the saddle and
consequently the shaking and troubles ascertained in the vertebral column and the
brain by the repeated shocks upon this part, and the narrow portion of the opening
existing at the front of the saddle having also for its object to prevent any contact
of the perinaeum and other parts or organs against it.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:-
The improved saddle forming the subject of the present invention is characterized
by the feature that, by its special construction, it affords the cyclist a hygienic
seat. Moreover, by reason of its, new form and the central opening which it
presents and which constitute the essential parts of the present invention, it obviates,
as regards the organic parts the contacts and shocks heretofore experienced in the
generality of the saddles employed and which are a cause of grave troubles in the
bodily system.
The improved saddle is shown in the accompanying drawings in which: -
Figures 1 and 2 shows an elevation and plan of the metallic plate provided in
the interior of the saddle.

page_text: Figure 3 is a section taken on the line 1-2 of Figures 1 and 2 showing the curved
form which is given to this plate upon its front part of peak.
Figure 3 is a similar section taken on the line 3-4 of Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 4 represents a plan of the air chamber or cushion of this saddle, the rear
portion being shown as a view from above and the front portion or peak as a view
from below.
Figures 5 and G are sections taken respectively on the lines 5-6 and 7-8 of
Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a view from below of the saddle, a portion of the exterior plate which
serves as a covering being supposed to have been removed and
Figure 8 is a view from above of this new and improved saddle.
This saddle is formed of the following characteristic parts
(1) Of an inner metallic plate A stamped to the desired form shown in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 and used for carrying and fixing the air chamber herein-
after described. The rear part of this plate is convex, then in proportion as it
extends to the front its sides are gradually bent downwards as more particularly
represented in the two sections Figure 3 and 3*. This plate presents at its middle
part a partial incision or opening A' A' which, having its largest width at its rear
portion, and gradually narrowing towards its front extremity.
This plate which forms the inner skeleton or frame of the saddle carries three
screws C C C designed to mount and fix with the aid of nuts the saddle upon the
saddle support used. Two other screws D D also serve to connect the said plate or
frame A with the outer cover plate hereinafter referred to. An aperture B formed
in this plate A serves for the passage of the valve used for inflating the air chamber.
(2) A rough cover of the plate A made of any cloth, in order to insulate it and
prevent especially the contact of its edges with the other parts which are to be
fixed upon it. This cloth also serves for fastening upon the plate the collars &
of the air chamber in a perfect manner by stitches.
(3) Of an air chamber E of rubber forming a cushion shown in Figure 4 and
made in such a manner that it is formed at the rear by two parts e el which,
although made in one piece leave between them the space A¹ A¹ corresponding to
the opening in the plate or frame A.
In order to unify the distribution of the air in this chamber and to obviate
abrupt displacements of this air under the weight of the cyclist's body, which
displacements would produce a rolling in the seat padding points F F F are
provided in the rear portion of this chamber. This cushion E, which is substan-
tially formed of two sheets e² e³ united edge to edge at the rear portion, carries
exteriorly at its unravelled part an extension band 6 which, terminating in a point
at the arch at V V has its greatest width at the front part of the saddle. Another
small extension band is also fastened interiorly at the bell of the saddle. These
small bands or bellows at the extreme part of the bell have for their object to afford
development or place for the air at this portion of the cushion and to obviate a
flattening which imparts hardness to the seat.
This air chamber is mounted upon the plate or frame A by means of a collar G
of rubber (see Figures 4, 5 and 6) extending according to requirements either
partially or entirely round the outer and inner periphery of the cushion Figure 4,
which collar being turned down below the said plate A keeps these two parts firmly
fixed together. Lastly in order that the inflation may take place an ordinary
valve H is fastened to it below.
(4) Of a leather cover completely covering the air chamber E and inner plate A,
this cover being constituted by two parts J and J¹ perfectly moulded upon the form
of the air chamber and the under side of the plate A. These two parts J and J
are connected with each other in the interior of the hollowed part of the saddle by
a seam S and on its periphery by suitable lacing S¹.
(5) Of an outer cover plate L which, being enchased in order to make it fit
exactly the form of the under side of the plate A, is fixed directly to the latter
and below it by means of thumb nuts upon the screws D.

page_text: Thus placed this plate L covers and conceals completely the seam S and the
lacing S previously mentioned thus giving an irreproachable saddle as regards
the strength and other qualities and also its appearance.
This plate L serves also to fix, by means of the screws C C C which pass beyond
it, and of suitable bolts the curved plate M and the saddle support which are
attached thereto for putting it in use.
Such is the new saddle characterized by its new form and the longitudinal
opening A¹ A which extends through its middle and which divides it nearly into
two parts, the wide portion situated at the rear of this cover being designed to
obviate any contact and any shocks of the coccyx upon the saddle and consequently
the shaking and troubles ascertained in the vertebral column and the brain by the
repeated shocks upon this part, and the narrow portion of the opening existing
at the point of the saddle having also for its object to prevent any contact of the
perinaeum and other parts or organs against it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1st. The improved saddle inflated by compressed air, substantially as herein-
before described and represented in the accompanying drawings.
2nd. The construction set forth of the several parts of this saddle, and their
mode of mounting and union, the whole substantially as described and represented
in the drawing.
Dated this 0011.
1.
100%
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.;
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.