Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 15th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 1st May, 1897
We, HORACE WALTER DOVER, Engineer,
WALTER DOVER, Engineer, and PICKERING PHIPPS,
Gentleman, both of The Dorman Engineering Company, Mayorhold,
Northampton, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a velocipede saddle or seat which is divided
longitudinally into halves pivoted on a transverse axis each half oscillating
in unison with and adapting itself to the movement of the adjacent leg of the
rider.
These oppositely moving halves may be quite independent but preferably they
are coupled together by a mechanical motion such as a rock lever and links with
ball and socket joints, or by a cord and pulley, so that the oscillating motion of the
one part is transmitted to the other in the opposite direction.
By thus constructing the saddle each half can be made to accurately conform to
the variable shape and relative position of the buttocks and limbs of the rider the
two halves being adjustable in the lateral direction whereby greater comfort and
ease in riding is obtained and the weight of the body is entirely supported by the
buttocks all pressure being removed from the organs situated in the median plane
of the body.
2000
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
PHIPPS
We, HORACE WALTER DOVER, Engineer, and PICKERING
Gentleman, both of The Dorman
of The Dorman Engineering Company, Mayorhold,
Northampton, 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 or seat which is divided
longitudinally into halves pivoted on a transverse axis each half oscillating
in unison with and adapting itself to the movement of the corresponding leg
of the rider.
These oppositely moving halves are coupled together by a mechanical motion
such as a rock lever and links with ball and socket joints or by a cord (or chain)
and pulley, so that the oscillating motion of the one part is transmitted to the
other in the opposite direction.
By thus constructing the saddle each half can be made to accurately conform to
the variable shape and relative position of the buttocks and limbs of the rider the
two halves being adjustable in the lateral direction whereby greater comfort and

page_text: ease in riding is obtained and the weight of the body is entirely supported by the
buttocks all pressure being removed from the organs situated in the median plane
of the body.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the preferred arrangement and
Figures 2 and 3 are cross sections on line 1-1 looking forwards and backwards
respectively.
Figure 4 shews diagrammatically a perspective partial view of a modified form
of rock lever mechanism.
Figure 5 shews diagrammatically a perspective partial view of a cord and pulley
arrangement.
A. A. are the two halves of the saddle each preferably constructed of a light
steel frame padded or covered with leather moulded to the desired shape in the
usual way, the two halves being mounted to oscillate upon ball bearings upon a
transverse axis B supported (with capability for lateral adjustment of the two
halves of the saddle) upon a central bracket C which may be mounted upon the
usual springs or spring frame or directly upon the saddle pin.
In Figures 1 to 3 the rear parts of the two halves of the saddle are coupled by
links D to the opposite ends of an equal armed rock lever E mounted on ball
bearings upon a rearwardly directed horizontal (or approximately horizontal)
pin F which may be carried by the bracket C or be otherwise supported. The
links D are coupled to the lever and saddle by ball and socket or other universal
joints d d so as to permit of the free angular motion of the links in any direction
necessitated by the varying relative positions of the lever E and of the saddle.
The two halves of the saddle being thus coupled together they must of necessity
be oscillated simultaneously in opposite directions by the movements of the legs in
pedalling whilst so long as the pressure, is equally applied on both neither can move
which is important in mounting for instance.
It will however be obvious that the coupling mechanism may be otherwise
constructed, for instance as in Figure 4 where the links D are coupled to lever
arms E on the ends of a short rock shaft E¹ the arms E being in fore and aft
planes instead of a transverse plane as in the case of the lever E previously
described.
Instead of rigid links and levers the connection may be flexible, as shewn
diagrammatically in Figure 5, where G is a cord or chain attached by its two
ends g g to the two halves A A of the saddle and passing under a pulley H
mounted on the pin F or other support so that as the front end of the one saddle
half is depressed and its rear end is raised the rise of the rear end of the same
half will depress the rear end of the other half and raise its front end, and
conversely.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we would observe that we
lay no claim to a saddle divided longitudinally into halves rocking independently
and uncoupled on a common transverse axis, but we declare that what we
claim is :-
Coupling together the halves of a longitudinally divided saddle mounted to
oscillate on a common transverse axis by mechanism substantially as shewn and
described whereby simultaneous oseillating motion of the two halves in opposite
directions is ensured when pedalling and motion is prevented when pressure is
equally applied to both.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.