Improvements in Velocipede Saddles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 30th Oct.,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipede Saddles.
I, ALFRED ERNEST AMES, of No. 10 King Street West, Toronto, in the Province
of Ontario, Dominion of Canada, Banker, 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:—
This invention relates to a velocipede saddle and its supporting spring and has
for its object to produce a saddle which is more comfortable than the saddles now
in use and to produce a spring support for the saddle which is strong and yields
freely.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a velocipede saddle embodying my invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.
Figures 3 and 4 are vertical longitudinal sections on the lines 3-3 and 44
Figure 2, respectively.
Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section on the line 5-5 Figure 2.
Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the seat frame and pommel.
Figure 7 is a view of the supporting spring and
Figure 8 a detail of the connecting bracket.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.
A represents the saddle frame which is preferably formed of a sheet metal plate
and enlarged from its front end toward its rear end. The front portion a of the
saddle frame is substantially horizontal while its rear portion a¹ is bent upwardly
or raised slightly above the front portion. The front end of the saddle frame is
provided with a semi-circular recess B, forming two horns or projections bb on
the front end of the frame. The sides 61 61 of the frame diverge rearwardly from
the horns or projections, the rear end 6 of the frame is slightly curved outwardly
and at the junctions of the rear end and the sides the frame is provided with
outwardly rounded corners 6363. The frame is provided along its entire marginal
edge with a depending flange which is preferably turned inwardly along the
front portion of the saddle, as shown at c', so as to avoid presenting a sharp or
rough edge to the clothing of the rider.
DD represent the pads or cushions of the saddle which are arranged side by
side on the frame and which together are of substantially the same shape as the
frame. Each of these is provided with a straight inner side d which is separated
from. the opposing inner side of the other pad by an intervening longitudinal
space d', a recessed front end d³, a rearwardly diverging outer side &³, and a
slightly curved rear end d connected by rounded corners with the rear ends of the
inner and outer sides. The rear portions d³ of the pads are curved or inclined
upwardly above the front portions thereof, whereby the pads conform to a
larger part of the body and the weight of the rider is more uniformly distributed.
Each of the pads consist preferably of a horizontal bottom piece e of heavy leather
or similar material, a filling e¹ of felt, wool or similar material, and a covering ea
of soft leather or similar material which extends over the top and sides of the

page_text: filling and is folded with its edges against the underside of the bottom piece to
which latter the covering is fastened by any suitable means. The pads are fastened
to the frame by screws f which pass upwardly through openings in the saddle
frame and engage with the bottom piece. The space between the pads is suffic-
iently narrow to provide practically a continuous support for the rider's body,
while at the same time the space is sufficiently wide to provide ventilation and
avoid pressure against the backbone of the rider. The supporting frame is
preferably provided centrally with a ventilating opening g in line with the space
between the pads.
By recessing the front portions of the frame and the pads the body of the rider
is not supported at this point thereby avoiding unnecessary friction and irritation
of this portion of the body.
H represents the pommel of the saddle which is formed by a round metal rod
and consists of two inwardly curved longitudinal portions hh diverging from their
front ends to their rear ends a depending curved front portion) h¹ connecting the
front ends of the longitudinal portions, two depending legs h³ h³ arranged on the
rear ends of the longitudinal portions and rearwardly projecting toes or lugs h³ h³
arranged on the lower ends of the legs haha. The toes of the pommel are passed
downwardly through openings ii in the horns of the saddle frame and are secured
to the underside of the frame by brazing or otherwise. The height of the legs
is such that when the pommel is secured to the frame the longitudinal portions of
the pommel are substantially flush with the front portions of the pads.
By making the frame out of sheet metal and the pommel separately out of a
round rod, the saddle can be made much stronger with comparatively little weight
and neater in appearance than is possible when the saddle frame and pommel are
made wholly either out of sheet metal rods.
J represents a spring supporting bracket secured transversely to the underside
of the frame and consisting of a central depressed portion ; and ears 71 arranged at
the ends of the central portion, said ears being raised above the central portion and
secured to the underside of the frame by rivets or otherwise.
K represents an elliptical spring which is arranged transversely underneath the
central portion of the saddle frame and the bracket and L represents another
elliptical spring which is arranged lengthwise underneath the central portion of
the saddle frame and bracket, the two springs crossing each other at right angles
midway of their length. The upper central portions of the springs rest one on
top of the other and are secured between the underside of the bracket and the
upper side of a block m by rivets m¹ passing through the bracket block and the
central upper portions of the springs. The lower central portions of the springs
also rest one on top of the other and are secured between the underside of the
block n and the upper side of a supporting bar n¹ by rivets n³ passing through the
block n supporting bar and lower portions of the springs. The supporting bar
extends downwardly and rearwardly from the lower portions of the springs and
is connected with the saddle support of the velocipede by any well known and
suitable device. This construction of a spring support is very strong and reliable
and yields readily under pressure.
.
If desired the longitudinal spring L may be of semi-elliptical form instead of
complete elliptical form as shown.
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. A velocipede saddle composed of a frame which has its rear portion ascending
rearwardly and pads which are secured on said frame and have their rear portions
ascending in a similar manner.
2. A velocipede saddle composed of a frame which has a rearward recess or
indentation at its front end and pads which are secured on said frame and whose
front ends conform to the recess or indentation in the front end of the frame.

page_text: 3. A velocipede saddle having a frame which is composed of a plate and an open
pommel which consists of a bent rod secured to the front ends of the frame plate.
4. A velocipede saddle composed of a frame plate having at its front end two
projecting horns, an open pommel secured with its rear ends to said horns, and
pads secured on said frame plate.
5. The combination with the saddle and a spring support composed of an
elliptical spring arranged transversely and an elliptical or semi-elliptical spring
arranged longitudinally.
Cantanha 19077
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.