Improvements in Saddles for Velocipedes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 21st Dec., 1894-Accepted, 26th Jan., 1895
[Communicated from abroad by JOSEPH ACHARD-MILHET, of 31, Rue de l'Hôtel-
de-Ville, Lyon, in the Republic of France.]
Improvements in Saddles for Velocipedes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a saddle, designed to be inflated with compressed air,
for bicycles, tricycles and the like.
The saddle constructed according to my said invention can be fitted upon the
saddles heretofore used, and provides the cyclist with a soft, elastic and hygienic
seat..
This improved saddle comprises an air chamber formed of two sheets of india-
rubber, united edge to edge upon the largest part of their outer periphery, and I
secure upon the joint thus formed an indiarubber collar, from 2 to 3 centimetres
wide, extending below the saddle frame so as to keep the chamber firmly fixed
thereto. Upon their inner periphery the two indiarubber sheets are connected by
an intermediate band or crown likewise made of indiarubber, with which they are
united edge to edge, in order to give more development to the chamber.
For the purpose of giving more development to the front part of the air
chainber the two sheets are united along the said part by an intermediate india-
rubber band or strip having its greatest width in the middle.
At the rear part of the chamber I provide eyelets or other suitable means for
uniting the two indiarubber sheets and having for their object to distribute the
compressed air uniformly over the surface where the weight of the cyclist is brought
to bear. This arrangement is very important.
In order to be able to fix the cushion upon the saddle in a rigid manner and to
obviate any ulterior deformation of the same, I employ a device composed of a
metallic frame or skeleton having exactly the outer form of the ordinary leather
saddle.
This frame or skeleton is provided with a certain number of screws enabling it,
by the aid of sockets or the like, to be fixed upon the saddle proper. It has
moreover at its middle part an aperture serving for the passage of a tube for the
introduction of compressed air.
The mounting of the whole saddle designed to be inflated with compressed air is
effected as follows, that is to say the frame or skeleton is first covered below with
a cloth which is folded above and fixed in any suitable manner. The air chamber
is then secured upon the said frame or skeleton and its collar fitted upon the
circumference and sewn to the said cloth. The whole is covered with a piece of
leather or cloth folded below the frame or skeleton and fixed upon the cloth
surrounding the latter. A final cover formed by preference of a sheet of
celluloid conceals below the several stitches necessitated by the described mode
of connection.

page_text: The inflation of this cushion through the aforesaid tube provided with a valve is
effected in any suitable manner by means of a blower, pump or the like.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1894.
.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
My invention relates to a saddle designed to be inflated with compressed air, for
bicycles, tricycles and the like.
The saddle constructed according to my said invention can be fitted upon the
saddles beretofore used, and provides the cyclist with a soft, elastic and hygienic
seat.
My said invention is represented in detail in the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 shows a side elevation of the frame or skeleton of metal forming one
of the characteristic parts of my invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 represents a plan of the indiarubber chamber inflated with compressed
air as it is when in use.
Figure 4 is a section on the line - -y of Figure 3 showing the manner of
mounting the air vessel or cushion of indiarubber, and the frame or exterior
parts.
This improved saddle comprises an air chamber or cushion (see Figure 4) formed
of two sheets of indiarubber A and B, united edge to edge upon the largest part
of their outer periphery. I secure upon the joint thus formed an indiarubber
collar C, from 2 to 3 centimetres wide, extending below the saddle frame so as to
keep the chamber firmly fixed thereto. Upon their inner periphery the two india-
rubber sheets A and B are connected by an intermediate band or crown E
likewise made of indiarubber, with which they are united edge to edge, in order to
give more development to the chamber.
For the purpose of giving more development to the front part of the air
chamber the two sheets A and B are united along the said part comprised between a
and 6 by an intermediate indiarubber band or strip F having its greatest width in
the middle.
At the rear part of the chamber I provide eyelets O or other suitable means for
uniting the two indiarubber sheets A and B, and having for their object to
distribute the compressed air uniformly over the surface where the weight of the
cyclist is brought to bear. This arrangement is very important.
In order to be able to fix the cushion or chamber upon the saddle in a rigid
manner and to obviate any ulterior deformation of the same, I employ a device
represented in Figures 1 and 2 composed of a metallic frame or skeleton D having
exactly the outer form of the ordinary leather saddle.
This frame or skeleton is provided with a certain number of screws V enabling
it, by the aid of sockets or the like, to be fixed upon the saddle proper. It has
moreover at its middle part an aperture H serving for the passage of a tube T for
the introduction of compressed air.
The mounting of the whole saddle designed to be inflated with compressed air is
effected as follows, that is to say the frame or skeleton is first covered below with

page_text: a cloth which is folded above and fixed in auy suitable manner.
The air chamber
is then secured upon the said frame or skeleton and its collar C fitted upon
the circumference and sewn to the said cloth. The whole is covered with a
piece of leather or cloth K folded below the frame or skeleton and fixed by means
of a lace.
The cushion thus made may be fixed upon any saddle of leather or other material
having a suitable form for receiving it. However for its best use, in order to avoid
any deformation of the saddle and also in order to retain the whole power of
action for actuating the pedals I prefer to mount the cushion on a rigid frame
which constituting in this manner a complete saddle, thus permits of being fixed
directly upon the saddle supporting tube of the machine.
This frame which is connected to the cushion by the sime screws and thumb
nuts V hereinbefore mentioned is formed in this case with a covering J of celluloid
or metal to which has previously been fixed by rivetting or otherwise the curve
support U which by the aid of the ordinary mode of fastening R enables the
saddle thus completed to be directly mounted upon the saddle supporting tube
proper.
The inflation of this cushion through the admission tube T with compressed air
is effected in any suitable manner, but preferably by means of a small separate
tube of indiarubber, which is provided at one extremity with a screw-threaded
union adapted to be screwed upon the valve S and may be connected by its other
extremity to any suitable inflating apparatus such as a blower, pump and the like
which the cyclist may possess.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as conimunicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In the saddle hereinbefore described the arrangement of an indiarubber
cushion with receding eyelets provided at the places indicated, which cushion is
formed as stated of two sheets A and B of indiarubber with an intermediate band
or crown E and a strip F, and of an exterior fastening collar, the whole being
mounted as and for the purpose set forth with reference to the drawing.
Second. In the saddle hereinbefore described the combination with the cushion
as referred to in the 1st clain, of a frame or skeleton of metal or other rigid
substance, enabling it to be firmly fixed upon any saddle, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth with reference to the drawing.
Third. In the saddle herein before described the arrangement of the cushion,
of the frame or skeleton connected and assembled in the manner indicated ;
in combination with an indiarubber tube T with a valve S serving for the
inflation of the said cushion, substantially as described and represented in the
drawing.
Fourth. In the saddle herein before described the combination with the cushion
such as described in the first, second and third claims, of a rigid frame ready
to be fixed upon the machine, substantially as described and represented in the
drawing.
Dated this 21st day of December 1804
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.