Year: 1898

page_text: I, JOHN STRATTON WRIGHT, of Pine Hill, Duxbury, County of Plymouth, State
of Massachusetts, United States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object to provide a saddle for bicycles which shall
be comfortable, easy riding, and so-constructed that the weight of the rider shall
be supported upon the bones of the pelvis, and that no pressure shall be brought
to bear upon the middle flesh.
The invention consists in making the bicycle seat in two parts, supported
upon springs adjustable toward and away from each other; the invention also
consists in supporting the seat upon springs in such a manner that the seat will
be resilient, vertically from the weight of the rider and also that each part of the
seat will be independently resilient to accommodate the motion of the rider's legs
when propelling the bicycle. The invention still further consists in devices
whereby the resiliency of the seat supporting springs is rendered greater or less
as may be desired.
Referring to the drawings forming a part of this specification,
Figure 1, is a perspective view of my improved bicycle saddle, one of the pads
forming the seat portion being removed.
Figure 2, is an underneath plan of the same.
Figure 3, is a perspective view of a modified form of my invention.
Similar letters or numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
In the drawings, the pads 1, 1, forming the seat portion of the saddle, are
fastened by clamps or clips 2,2, to the seat supporting springs 3, 3, said springs
are each formed of a single piece of wire, bent to form a suitable support for the
pads 1, 1, substantially in a horizontal plane, forming a rim 4 to which pads are
fastened; the wire is bent downwardly at the outer side of the pad, as at 5, and
both arms 6, 6, are brought from the side at 5 toward and past the centre of
the seat in a plane substantially parallel to the seat supporting portion or rim 4.
The arms 6, 6, pass through the bicycle seat clamp 7, and are fastened thereto by
a set screw 8. Upon each side of the clamp 7, is an auxiliary clamp 9, through
which the arms 6, 6, from each side of the saddle, pass and to which they are

page_text: fastened by the set screw 10. In order to adjust the pads 1, 1, toward or away
from each other, the set screws 8 and 10, 10 are loosened, the pads placed at the
desired distance apart by sliding the arms 6,6 in the clamp 7 to the desired dis-
tance, and then tightening the set screws. The springs 3, 3, give the necessary
vertical resiliency by bending at the curved portion 5 thereof and also, in a less
degree, along the horizontal arms 6, 6, up to the clamp 9, where they are reinforced
in each case by the strength of the arms 6, 6, from the opposite side of the clamp 7.
It will thus be seen that the spring arms 6, 6 will be less rigid the nearer the
It will be understood that
clamp 9 is approached to the clamp 7 and vice versa.
each side of the saddle is resilient independent of the other, both in relation to
the vertical motion due to the rider's weight and to the pressure brought to bear
by the rider's legs when propelling the bicycle; in the latter case the front
portion 1, 1 of the seat, upon each side, is alternately pushed down and the springs 3
subjected to a torsional strain, yield sufficiently to accommodate the motions of
the rider's body, without danger of chafing or bruising the parts directly in
contact with the seat portion of the saddle.
It will be seen that the two sides of the saddle, being independently supported
upon springs, renders the saddle of my invention automatically adjustable to the
varying pressures to which it may be subjected, or, in other words, it will fit itself
to the varying shape or habits of the rider. For instance, some riders are larger
and heavier on one side than the other, others push harder upon one side than the
other, but in applicant's saddle these variations of physique or action are accom-
medated, and no injurious effects to the rider result therefrom.
In Figure 3, I have illustrated a modified form of spring, wherein the portion 5
of the spring 3 is given one turn and a half in order to give more resiliency to
the seat.
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:-
1st. A bicycle-saddle consisting of two parts or seats supported upon springs,
said springs being adjustable laterally in a clamp, adapted to be fastened to the
saddle-post of a bicycle, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
2nd. A bicycle-saddle consisting of two pads or seats, each pad supported by a
single wire spring, comprising a rim to which the pad is fastened, the free ends
of the wire being bent downwardly at the side of the seat or rim and extending
inwardly to a clamp to which they are adjustably fastened, substantially as
described, for the purpose specified.
3rd. A bicycle-saddle, consisting of two pads or seats, each pad supported by a
single wire spring, comprising a rim 4, to which the pad is fastened, both ends
of the wire having a downward bend 5 at the side of the rim or seat, and extending
inwardly to a saddle-post clamp 7, to which they are adjustably fastened, substan-
tially as described, for the purpose specified.
4th. A bicycle-saddle, consisting of two pads or seats, each pad supported by
a single wire spring, adjustable laterally in a clamp adapted to be fastened to
the saddle-post of a bicycle, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
5th. A bicycle-saddle, consisting of two pads or seats, each pad supported by
a single wire spring adjustable laterally in a clamp adapted to be fastened to
the saddle-post of a bicycle and adjustable devices for varying the resiliency of
said springs, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.
6th. A bicycle-saddle, consisting of two pads or seats, each pad supported by
a single wire spring comprising a rim 4, to which the pad is fastened, both ends
of said wire spring having a downward bend 5 at the side of the rim or seat and
extending inwardly to and beyond a saddle-post clamp 7, to which they are adjust-
ably fastened, in combination with adjustable auxiliary clamps 9,9, substantially
as described, for the purpose specified.

page_text: 7th. A bicycle-saddle, consisting of two pads or seats, each pad supported by
a single wire spring, comprising a rim to which the pad is fastened, the free ends
of said wire spring being bent downwardly to form a pair of spiral springs at the
side of the seat or rim, thence extending inwardly to a clamp to which they are
adjustably secured, substantially as described for the purpose specified.
Dated this First day of June 1898.
JOHN STRATTON WRIGHT.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.