Improvements in Saddle Supports for Velocipedes.
Year: 1899

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Saddle Supports for Velocipedes.
We, HENRY PERCY SCOTT, of 1109, Park Avenue Street, Lawyer, and WILLARD
CARL FELD, of 518, Delaware Street, Physician, both in the City of Kansas
City, County of Jackson and State of Missouri, United States of America, 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 follow-
ing statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in saddle supports. It is particu-
larly adapted for use with bicycle saddles.
The object of our invention is to prevent the physical discomforts due to
jarring movements imparted from the bicycle. It provides a saddle support
comprising a fixed member adapted to be secured rigidly to the seat post of the
bicycle, and an oscillating member to which the saddle is secured, means being
provided whereby the movable member is supported by a ball or roller bearing
upon the stationary member.
Our invention provides certain novel features of construction hereinafter fully
described.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. I represents a side elevation view of the
saddle and saddle post, the saddle support being shown in vertical section, and
the rear end of the movable member is broken away.
Fig. II represents a side elevation of the saddle support shown in the rear
elevated position. Fig. III represents a plan view of the saddle support.
Fig. IV represents a vertical sectional view taken on the dotted line ab of
Fig. III. Fig. V represents a vertical sectional view of the stationary member
taken on the dotted line e-f of Fig. IV. In this view is also shown the ball
retaining plate. Fig. VI represents a side elevation of the movable member
with the clamping plate raised. Similar letters of reference indicate similar
parts.
A is the stationary member secured to the seat post B. The member A com-
prises two longitudinal, parallel horizontal arms C and D provided on their
inner sides with the curved ball races E disposed with their concave sides up.
A yoke or bridge F connects the two arms and is provided with a transverse
hole G adapted to receive the seat post horizontal arm. In each of the curved
races E is located a ball H. I is the movable member provided with the two
side arms J and K located between the arms C and D and connected with each
other by the bridge L. The outside of the arms J and K are each provided with
curved ball races M located opposite to the races E and disposed in the reverse

page_text: position thereto, the concave side being, the lower side. The balls H are located
also in the races M and. support the movable member, Projecting vertically
from near the middle of each arm J'and K is a screw threaded post N. These
posts are adapted to extend through openings in the transverse horizontal
plate O between which and the bridge L in the grooves P are secured the spring
supporting wires Q of the saddle R. The clamping plate is secured in position
by the nuts S mounted on the posts N. T indicates set screws in the bridge F
for securing the member A to the seat post B. U indicates the retaining plate
adapted to keep the balls H on one side of the support a uniform distance apart.
This plate is vertically disposed and is provided with a hole near each end, each
hole loosely fitting the ball adjacent to it, room being provided between the
movable and the fixed member for permitting longitudinal movement of the
plate U. The retaining plate U serves to prevent tilting of the saddle. But
one plate is required for this purpose.
When in use the movable member normally rests in the central position as
shown in Fig. I, a rough road will cause the seat post to vibrate backward and
torward and will cause the movable member carrying the saddle to have a
reciprocal movement relative to the rigid member A. The disposition of the
races and M through the intermediacy of the balls H will elevate the saddle
at the end of each reciprocation, the effect being similar to the resistance offered
by, a.spring...
With our invention, the physical discomforts such as chafing etc. are obviated
and a very easy riding mechanism is produced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what 'manner the same is to be performed, we would have it
understood that we are aware that it has been proposed to mount velocipede
saddles on front and rear rollers running on independent curved rails, so as
to allow the saddle to rise and fall whilst always remining parallel to its original
position and that we make no general claim to any such arrangement but we
declare that what we claim is:-
Claim 1. A saddle support comprising a stationary member adapted to be
secured to the bicycle frame, and a movable member to which the saddle is
secured mounted upon ball bearings upon the stationary member, substantially
as described.
2. A saddle support comprising a stationary member adapted to be secured to
the bicycle frame, a movable member to which the saddle is secured, the two
members being provided with ball races, and balls located in the said races,
substantially as described.
3. A saddle support comprising two members one of which is provided with
a plurality of ball races, a ball located in each of said races and supporting the
other member, substantially as described.
4. A saddle support comprising two members one of which is provided with
a plurality of curved ball races, a ball in each of said races and supporting the
other member, substantially as described.
5. A saddle support comprising two members one of which is provided with
a plurality of ball races, a ball located in each of the said races, and supporting
the other member, and means for retaining the balls at a uniform distance apart,
substantially as described.
6. A saddle support comprising a stationary member provided with curved
ball races, a ball in each of said races, and a movable member provided with
races also engaging the said balls but curved oppositely to the races in the other
member, substantially as described.
7. A saddle support comprising a fixed member provided with two parallel
arms, a movable member provided with similar arms, and roller balls located
between the arms of the members and supporting the movable member, sub-
stantially as described.

page_text: 8. A saddle support comprising two members each provided with ball races
co-operating with the other, balls located in the said races, means for retaining
the balls at a uniform distance apart, and means for securing one member to
the saddle post and the other member to the saddle, substantially as described.
Dated this 30th September 1899.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.