Improvements in Pneumatic Saddles for Bicycles, Velocipedes, and Tricycles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July. 1894
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1895-Accepted, 6th July, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Saddles for Bicycles, Velocipedes, and
Tricycles.
THOMAS ROBERT SPARKS 5 Willow Place Booterstown Co. Dublin. Tea Agent
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
A saddle the base of which consists of a formation of wire, chain work or of
other material which will support the air cushion and allow the outside air to
circulate freely round its base, preference being given to a material or construction
having some elasticity, said formation to be suspended from a round or flat rim
preferably of steel, and of the usual shape of a bicycle saddle, but turned upwards:
at the front to the height of one or more inches; said rim may be made of one
piece with the frame which connects it with the bar of the bicycle or it may be
connected with it by bolts & nuts or otherwise.
To further prevent heating wire, chain work or other material may also be
placed between the cushion and the cover of the saddle which will allow the air to
circulate freely over the air cushion and pass through outlets at the rere.
Between the said wire work or other material and the outer cover of the saddle
a pad made of cloth, asbestos or other suitable substance may be placed and
connected with rim at front and rere or the wire work or other suitable substance
may be affixed to said pad and the latter likewise affixed to the outer cover. By:
means of a wire or other contrivance at edge of the outer cover it will be kept
rigidly in position when the air cushion is inflated and when the latter is deflated
the cover can be easily removed. The air cushion which is made of india rubber
or other suitable material is not extended to the front of the rim, the cover is
therefore passed over the upright portion of the rim at front and is joined. under-
neath it; by this arrangement space is left for the admission of air.
In order to lessen the expansion of that part of the air cushion which passes
between the legs of the rider it may be so formed that it will not rise as high as:
the back part of the cushion, while the bottom of the 'back part sinks below the
level of the rim thus giving a fairly level surface.
An india rubber tube or bag may he attached to the bottom of the air cushion or
may form part of it & be passed through an opening in the base of the saddle in
order to increase the quantity of air without increasing the friction in the inside of
the saddle.
The air cushion may be held down at both sides or at any other point by means
of a plate or wire which is turned down at the ends and so constructed as to pass
through and catch under the base of the saddle, or may be attached to it by chain
or cord, thus preventing the cushion from rising beyond a certain height, while
said plate or wire sinks freely with the cushion while under pressure.
The cushion may be inflated by means of a ball fitted with valves which will
pump in air when worked by the hand; said ball may be attached to the cushion
by means of a coupling or may be made so as to form part of the cushion. "The
cushion will be fitted with a valve placed in a convenient position for deflation.
Dated this 30th day of July 1894.

page_text: Improvements in Pneumatic Saddles for Bicycles, Velocipedes, and
Tricycles.
1 THOMAS ROBERT SPARKS, Tea Agent 5 Willow Place Booterstown Co. Dublin
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 an improved saddle for cycles in which a pneumatic
cushion is used, such cushion being placed on an open wire work base, which allows
the outside air to reach and cool it. The wire work base to be suspended in or
from a suitable metallic or other rim or frame, preferably of steel, turned upward
at front and of the usual shape of a bicycle saddle. The said rim is carried by the
supports which attach the saddle to the pillar of the machine, by means of a
suitable clamp.
The air cushion which is supported by the said wire work base, is made narrow
at front, and is made of, or is covered with, unstretchable material, so as not to
interfere by expansion or otherwise, with the moving of the legs of the rider when
the back part of the cushion is. under pressure, and to admit of the free circulation
of air underneath the cover.
The air cushion is held down, where desired, to the aforesaid wire work base, by
means of staple shaped wires which pass over the cushion and down through the
wire base, and are secured underneath it by a cross wire passing through eyes
formed at their ends. By this means the cushion is prevented from rising beyond
a certain height, while it is free to sink freely under pressure of the rider. Instead
of the above mentioned staple shaped wires, a chain or cord may he used for the
same purpose. A steady seat is also secured by this means.
An india rubber ball fitted with valves for the purpose of inflation by hand"
pressure is connected with the air cushion by means of a tube or otherwise, and
may be placed under the saddle or in any other convenient place. For purposes of
deflation an ordinary screw stopper may be attached to the cushion.
The cover of the saddle, which is preferably of leather, is attached to the frame
by means of a wire or other unstretchable band, sewn or otherwise secured, to or in
its edge.. Said band is made of one piece, but may be joined at any point, so as to
form a detachable connection. The band being smaller in extent than the frame
of the saddle over which it passes keeps the cover securely in position when the
cushion is inflated; and can be easily removed by pulling it over the frame when
the cushion is deflated. The cover can be drawn together at. the neck of the
saddle by a wire or strap placed underneath the frame to prevent it expanding
between the legs of the rider.
In order that this invention may be more fully understood drawings are
annexed.
Fig. 1. is a view of the underside of the saddle and Fig. 2. is a longitudinal
section.
The letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figs;
A. is the steel frame turned up in front at A. 1. Fig. 2. in which the wire-work
base B. is attached and suspended, part of which is shown cut away at the thick
line C. as is also part of the air bag D. in order that the general arrangement of the
parts may be better understood; E. the staple shaped wires which prevent the air
bag D. from rising and are secured underneath by the cross wire E. 1. which passes
through. eyes formed at their ends; the ends E. 2. passing down through a hole in
the centre of the air bag D. G is the rover secured in position by the wire
band H. and the strap H. 1; K is the inflater attached to the air bag by the

page_text: tube K. 1. L is the deflating stopper, M & M the supports which attach the
saddle to the pillar by the clamp N.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
I. In pneumatic saddles for cycles, an open wire-work base suspended in or from
a steel or other frame as and for the purpose specified.
II. In pneumatic saddles for cycles, an adjustment for keeping the air cushion in
position and preventing its rising beyond a certain height, of the nature and
construction of those herein described and shown by letters E & E. 1. in the
drawings annexed.
III. In pneumatic saddles for cycles, a cover with a wire or other band fastened
to or in its edge which securely holds it to the frame when the cushion is inflated;
and which is suspended from the turned up portion of the frame in front, allowing
air to pass between it and the cushion.
IV. The combination and arrangement of parts forming my improved pneumatic
saddle, made and used in the manner, and for the purpose herein described, and
shown in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 29th day of May 1895.