Improved Adjustable Saddle Support for Bicycles.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Adjustable Saddle Support for Bicycles.
We, CORTIS KIMBLE GEORGE and HENRY HERBERT CHASE, both of West
Concord, County of Merrimac, and State of New Hampshire, United States of
America, Mechanics, 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:-
The object of our invention is to provide means whereby a bicycle saddle may
be moved longitudinally, either forward or rearward and secured by the rider
whilst mounted and in motion.
One of the greatest difficulties with which wheelmen have to contend in hill
climbing, is the position of the saddle relative to the treadles; the best results
being obtained when the former is directly over the latter, so that the rider may get
the full benefit of his weight upon the cranks.
This has been accomplished heretofore by shifting the saddle on the saddle-bar,
or by reversing the horizontal portion of the saddle-bar, extending it forward
instead of rearward, to do either of which the rider must dismount; and as such
forward position of saddle is not comfortable for ordinary level roading, the rider
must again dismount to readjust it when he has reached the top of a hill. By the
use of our improvements the foregoing difficulties are obviated.
Our invention will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings forming a part of the following Specification.
Of the drawings,―
Fig. 1. represents a broken elevation of a bicycle in which our improvements
are adapted to an ordinary saddle-bar.
Fig. 2. being a detached view (in perspective) of that form of our device shown
in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3. being a broken plan view of the same, and
Fig. 4. shows a modified form of our improved saddle-bar from which the
adjustable slide is removed, and which is adapted to be substituted for the ordinary
saddle-bar.
Similar reference letters denote corresponding parts throughout the various
views.
The most important feature of our invention is the horizontal portion of the
saddle-bar with its adjustable slide, said har being adapted for attachment to an
ordinary saddle-bar, or to be substituted for the latter as will be presently
explained.
A, is the forward or steering wheel, B, the rear or driving wheel, C, the crank,
D, the treadle, E, the guard covering the link belt F, and the forward sprocket
wheel, and G, the bicycle frame. H, represents the ordinary saddle-bar or
support, which is mounted in an arm g, and formed of round iron bent at a right
angle.
The horizontal portion h, may be placed so as to extend forward as shown in
Fig. 1. or to the rear, and upon it the ordinary saddle clamp is adjusted by
set-screw.
1, is our improved saddle-bar which in Figures 1 and 2, is shown as an attach-
ment to the part h, of the ordinary saddle-bar H, and for that purpose is provided
with perforated ears J, to receive said bar h, and with a set-screw j, for securing
the one part to the other; but in Figure 4, these ears, are omitted and a bar HT,
preferably formed integral with the bar I, is provided and this is used in
substitution of the common saddle-bar H, being mounted in the arm g, in its
stead.

page_text: The bar I, has perforations i, in its side and upon it is dovetailed a sliding
saddle-clamp K, provided with an opening k, in which to mount the saddle M,
secured by set-screw k¹.
The saddle M, may be readily adjusted forward or backward by a movement of
the body in either direction after first bearing with the leg against a spring
actuated stop-lever L, pivoted at 1, to said saddle-clamp K, and pivotted at its
opposite end with a pin ', passing through an opening ², in said clamp K, and
bearing normally in one of the perforations i, of our improved saddle-bar I, by
means of a spring N.
The action of the rider in passing the lever L, inward releases the pin l, from said
perforations i, and permits the adjustment of the saddle-clamp by a movement of the
body in the saddle to the desired position upon the saddle-bar I, and by releasing
the lever, said pin is again permitted to engage with either of the perforations,
and thus secure the saddle in the desired position relative to the treadles without
dismounting or the lever L, may be omitted entirely, and the clamp, which is
preferably formed from a single piece of metal, or m de rigid and disconnected,
can be held upon the bar simply by frictional contact.
In devices of this kind heretofore constructed, special means have been found to
be absolutely necessary to secure the clamp to the bar, but in our device such means
may be entirely omitted or dispensed with. Suitable stops, are placed at each
end of the bar I, to prevent the saddle-clamp K, from sliding therefrom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination with a saddle-bar angular in cross-section, and the lower side
of which is provided with perforated ears, of a saddle clamp formed from a single
piece of material, the lower side of which is provided with an angular recess to fit
upon the bar, and the upper portion is provided with an opening for the reception
of the saddle substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with the horizontal portion of a saddle-bar, the sides of which
are inclined and one of them is provided with perforations, of a recessed saddle
clamp formed from a single piece of material thereon, the walls of the recess
being inclined to correspond with the sides of the bar, and a lever pivotally
secured to the clamp, one end of which projects laterally therefrom beyond the
outline of the saddle, and the other end is provided with a piu for engaging with
the holes in the side of the saddle-bar, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1892.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.