Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 24th June, 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1896
I, CHARLES EUGENE VICTOR POTIN, of No. 21 Boulevard Poissonnière Paris
in the French Republic, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in saddles for velocipedes comprising the
construction of an adjustable hinged saddle the height and inclination of which
may be varied as required. This variation of position is desirable on account of
the variable force the rider has to exert in ascending and descending inclines
and in travelling on a level road.
In carrying out my invention I pivot on the upper end of a slidable rod fitting
in a socket on the frame of a velocipede, a lever arm to which the seat or saddle
is secured in any usual manner. At a convenient point on this lever arin is hinged a
toothed sector the free end of which engages in a suitable slot formed in the slidable
rod, the teeth of the sector being cut in such a form that the weight of the sector
causes then normally to bear against the lower edge of the slot thereby rendering
the lever arm and the slidable rod to some extent an integral piece. I may
supplement the effect of the weight of the sector by the pressure of a spiral spring
secured around the slidable rod and bearing upon a boss at the top of the rod, and
this arrangement will also prevent the vibration of the machine from displacing
the sector.
By the foregoing arrangement the lever arm and saddle may be adjusted at
any desired angle. In ascending inclines the rider usually leans forward to obtain
more power over the pedals. The momentum of the saddle and the tendency of
the rider to slip from it will cause it to incline forward to a position in which it
will be retained by the toothed sector, thus affording the rider a better seat for
developing power. This forward movement of the saddle is absolutely automatic
and its extent will vary proportionately with the force exerted on the pedals.
The sector may be furnished at its front end with a suitable handle to facilitate
lifting it out of engagement in the slot when it is desired to bring back the
saddle to its normal position.
For the purpose of securing the saddle immovably in position I provide a pin
to pass through a hole near the front end of the sector.
By arranging the pivot of the lever arm slightly behind the slidable rod,—
for instance by bending back the upper extremity of the rod,-the saddle may
be adjusted either in front or in rear of the pivot as may be desired.
Dated this Seventh day of September 1895.

page_text: 1, CHARLES EUGÈNE VICTOR POTIN of No. 21 Boulevard Poissonnière, Paris,
in the French Republic, Manufacturer, 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:-
and
The object of this invention is to throw the weight of the rider on the pedals
when traversing a difficult road or ascending an incline, thereby augmenting the
power of the pedals without fatiguing the rider. The accompanying drawing
shews a view in side elevation of so much of a velocipede as is necessary to illustrate
my invention which is as follows:- fit a velocipede with a jointed saddle pillar
consisting of an upper limb a and a lower limb b, having a coiled spring c mounted
thereon and a slet formed therein wherein a segmental rack d works to and fro.
Such rack is rivetted to the upper limb of the saddle pillar as indicated at e,
1s provided with a handle to which a chain g is attached which carries a pin h.
One, two, or more holes are formed in the rack plate, into either of which such
pin is inserted to form a stop, and in order to prevent its displacement by the
vibration of the machine it is perforated and fitted with a split pin, (not shewn in
the drawings), in the ordinary manner. The saddle may be mounted either
behind or in front of the saddle pillar. Assuming it to be behind, as shewn in the
drawing, when the rider wishes to throw his weight on the pedals, he raises the
saddle at the back to any convenient angle without dismounting, thus bringing
the upper limb of the saddle pillar into an inclined position, as indicated in dotted
lives in the drawing, and so throwing his weight on to the pedals. The saddle is
retained in such position by the segmental rack, which engages in the slotted lower
limb and is prevented from escaping therefrom by the coiled spring c. To bring
the saddle back to the horizontal position the rack is pulled up in front, the pin /
acting as a stop to prevent the rack being pulled up too high. When the saddle
is mounted in front of the saddle pillar the position of the rack is reversed, the
handle being placed behind the saddle pillar, so that to incline the saddle the rider
pulls up such handle from behind without dismounting, while to restore the saddle
to the horizontal position he pulls up the saddle in front, the stop being fitted
behind the pillar in the manuer already described to prevent the rack being pulled
over too far.
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. ]
claim is :-
In a velocipede, a saddle mounted on a jointed saddle pillar fitted with a coiled
spring, and having a segmental rack furnished with a stop working to and fro in
a slot in such pillar, all substantially as hereinbefore described and shewu.
Dated this 24th day of June 1906
ELT & Co.,
Registered Patent Agents and Patent Specialists,
43 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.