Improvements in Saddles for Bicycles, Tricycles, and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1893-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Saddles for Bicycles, Tricycles, and the like.
A communication from JAMES HENRY SAGER, of 53, Olean Street, in the City of
Rochester, in the County of Monroe and State of New York, United States of
America, Manufacturer."
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in cycle saddles hereinafter described and
it is intended to provide a stiff, light, safe and strong saddle which may be used for
racing purposes, and, by interposing a single or compound spring between the
saddle post and the springs E E' shown in the drawings, it may be changed into a
saddle for ordinary riding.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a central, longitudinal section of the saddle;
Figure 2 is a perspective view thereof, seen from beneath ;
Figure 3 is a vertical cross-section of the main clamp ;
Figure 4 and Figure 5 are detail parts of said clamp;
Figure 6 is a rear elevation of the cantle clamp showing the ends of the springs
broken off, and part of the cantle stretcher ;
Figure 7 shows a side elevation of the saddle provided with supplementary
springs, interposed between it and the saddle post of a cycle.
This invention has a saddle leather A provided with a pommel hook B and a
cantle stretcher C as usual. To the cantle stretcher is fixed, as by casting the same
integral therewith, a clamp frame which has a rectangular perforation there-
through and a set screw c" The pommel hook engages with one end of an eye D,
which is preferably of the curved form shown in the drawings; the other end of
this eye
is a solid portion perforated for the passage of the bolt d.
On the upper and lower sides of the solid part of the eye are laid the ends of a
spring or springs E E¹. These ends are perforated and the bolt passes through
these perforations and the ends of the springs are rigidly fastened to the eye D, by
tightening the bolt. The springs E El may be made separate as by cutting them
off on the dotted line - of Figure 1, or may be made, as my correspondent
prefers, of a single flat steel bar bent upon itself at or near its middle point, as at e;
the two parts (or, if the springs are separate, the two springs) extend from their
rear ends substantially straight and parallel for a short distance and are then bent,
still parallel, in uniform curves (with the concave sides next to the saddle) to their
front ends, which are fastened to the eye D, as above described, by the bolt d; the
lengths from the straight parts to the ends being the distance from the cantle clamp c
to the eye D, when the saddle leather A is properly stretched. The two parts E E¹
are thus arranged vertically, one above the other with their flat sides in horizontal
transverse lines. The springs E E having been bent as described, and having been
perforated for the bolt d are passed free ends first, through the cantle clamp c, after
a collar of about the same thickness as the distance between the springs E
and E' is slipped over the clamp frame c', the springs being one above and one
below the collar. When the set screw is tightened the lower spring E, is
pressed against the movable collar c, which in turn presses the upper spring E',
gainst the upper part of the perforation in the cantle clamp and the parts are
solidly fastened together. The main clamp F is now slipped on the springs E E'.
It consists of a perforated frame fa collar" similar to the collar ca block fand
set screw The perforation is rectangular at its upper part, and is curved at
he bottom, and is of such size as to hold the springs E E' with the movable collar fi

page_text: 111
between them, the movable block f¹ under the lower spring and the saddle post G
under the block f". The set screw fl presses the saddle post upward against the
block, which is movable between the parallel sides of the clamp frame, the block
presses against the spring E, which presses the movable collar f against the upper
spring E', which is thus pressed against the top of the clamp frame. The front
ends are then bolted to the eye D. The springs are thus, or may obviously be
otherwise, separately connected with the cantle and pommel. When the set
screw is properly tightened the saddle is tightly fastened upon the saddle post.
The main clamp F is fixed at any selected position on the curved part of the
springs E E. It is obvious that springs of other cross-sections than the form
shown may be used in this saddle, and that said springs may be brought close
together without departing from the invention.
The construction of this saddle having been described it is evident that by moving
it forward or backward in the main clamp F, the inclination of the saddle may be
varied and at the same time the relative elasticity of the springs behind and in
front of the main clamp is changeable; that by adjusting the cantle clamp on the
springs the tension of the saddle leather may be increased or reduced, and if the
saddle leather stretches it may be tightened as desired. The use of the two
Euperposed and separated springs each being fastened rigidly at the ends, causes
them to work against each other, and produces a strong, stiff and light combination
spring, which is advantageous, not only on account of such strength, stiffness, and
lightness, but also because if one spring breaks, the rider is not obliged to abandon
the use of his cycle, but may continue by using the remaining spring. The elastic
action of the springs E E is reduced to a minimum, and when they are pressed
upward by a jolt acting at the main clamp the tendency is to straighten them out
on account of their curvature, while the saddle leather, being already stretched,
opposes this straightening, and instead of the saddle leather dropping in the middle
as with "hammock" saddles the leather is strained tighter. The springs E E' are
slightly stiffer if made in one piece.
The device described is intended for use as a light scorcher or racing saddle, but
may be used in combination with supporting springs interposed between the
springs E E and the saddle post G, by using clamps of suitable forms, which any
skilled mechanic will adapt to the conditions shown. Figure 7 shows this
construction in full lines.
This invention when provided with the interposed springs J and J¹ forms a saddle
for ordinary riding which I proceed to describe and in which the following parts
are added to the scorcher saddle above described. In this case the springs E E'
with the parts for connecting them to the saddle leather A form a saddle supporting
frame.
On the two springs E E¹ and between the clamp c' and the eye D is a clip H
which is constructed similarly to the clip F, and upon loosening the set screw h,
may slide backward and forward upon the springs E E. In the clip H and
underneath the spring E is fixed one end of a spring J and to the upper side of the
eye D is fixed by the bolt da similar spring J. The springs J and J'are recurved
and extend from the points of attachment just described as follows:-The spring J
extends backward from the clip H and then curves forward under and substantially
parallel to the curvature of the springs E E'; the spring J extends forward
through the slot in the eye D, and then backward in a curve substantially parallel
to the springs E E' and lies under the spring J. Thus, the springs J J have short
C-curves, and, underneath the springs E El overlap to a suitable extent, the rear
spring J lying over and upon the front spring J'.
To the spring J is fastened a keeper; in which there is a slot, through which
the spring Jmay slide backward and forward. The front spring J is thus rigidly
attached to the saddle supporting frame, while the rear spring J is capable of
movement backward and forward by moving the clip II upon the spings E E.
By this movement adjustability of the flexible springs J J¹ is secured with reference
to the weights of different iders. The more the clip H is brought toward the

page_text: forward end of the saddle, the more the two springs will overlap and the stiffer the
spring J will be. The clip F1 serves to fasten the two leaves J J' together and to
the saddle support G of a cycle. By loosening the clip F¹ the springs J J' may be
moved together backward or forward in the same way and on account of their
curvature the saddle is thus tilted so that the pommel or cantle end may be raised
or lowered to suit the wishes of the particular rider.
When the rear or cantle end of the saddle is depressed and the front or pommel
end is raised, the spring J presses downward upon the portion of the spring J
which is back of the clip Fi, and the forward end of the spring J presses upward
against that portion of the spring J which is forward of the clip F¹. Each of
these springs thus supplements and increases the stiffness of the other in the manner
mentioned, and this stiffness may be augmented by sliding the spring forward
so that the amount of overlapping is increased or may be reduced by the reverse
action.
When the pommel end of the saddle is depressed and the cantle end is raised
those portions of the springs J J which are back of the clip E' act in a manner
similar to that just described, masmuch as the keeper j holds the two springs
together. On the other side of the clip F' the action is different, for when the
spring J is depressed in front, it separates from that portion of the spring J which
is forward of the clip F', and the downward movement of the pommel end of the
saddle is resisted only by the spring J. Thus when the cycle strikes an obstacle
and the rider is thereby thrown forward upon the saddle, he meets a resistance to
the shock which is opposed by the single spring Jonly. This spring J is made
of such stiffness as to form an easily yielding support. In the ordinary position of
the rider upon the saddle, he is supported by the parts of the two springs in the
rear of the clip F, and all ordinary jolts, or vertical or rearward movements are
opposed and sustained by both springs.
In order to reduce the saddle thus described to the scorcher first described, the
spring J is released from the eye D by loosening the nut upon the bolt d and
removing the spring from its attachment. The spring J is released from the
clip H by loosening the set-screw and removing the spring from its attachment;
a chip of suitable construction is then attached directly to the springs E E' and
the saddle support G. In case either of the springs Jor J'should break while
the rider is upon the road the saddle may still be reduced to a scorcher and the
rider continue his journey.
By the use of the flat springs this saddle is capable of resisting motion, not only
in a vertical plane, but horizontal or sidewise movements.
My correspondent does not limit his invention to the precise forms of springs or
of the other parts shown and described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :--
1. In a cycle saddle, the combination of a saddle leather a pair of springs
vertically arranged with reference to each other, connected with the pommel and
cantle of the saddle and a clamp for attaching said springs to the saddle support of
a cycle substantially as described.
2. In a cycle saddle the combination of a saddle leather a pair of curved
springs vertically arranged with reference to each other, and having their concave
sides next to the saddle leather means of attaching said springs to the pommel and
cantle of the saddle and a clamp for attaching said spring to the saddle support
of a cycle substantially as described.
3. In a cycle saddle the combination of a saddle leather a pair of springs
vertically arranged with reference to each other and fastened together at one end
and connected at the other end with the pommel of the saddle means for clamping
said springs to the cantle end of the saddle and a main clamp for attaching said
springs to the saddle post of a cycle substantially as described.

page_text: 4. A saddle spring for cycle saddles consisting of springs vertically arranged with
reference to each other and means of connecting each end thereof with a cycle
saddle substantially as described.
5. A saddle spring for cycle saddles consisting of a pair of separated springs
vertically arranged with reference to each other and means of connecting each end
thereof with a cycle saddle substantially as described.
6. A saddle spring for cycle saddles consisting of parallel flat springs arranged
vertically one above the other each connected with both ends of the saddle sub-
stantially as described.
7. A. saddle spring for cycle saddles consisting of a pair of parallel flat springs
arranged vertically one above the other, separated from each other and each con-
nected with both ends of the saddle substantially as described.
8. In a cycle saddle the combination of a saddle leather having a pommel hook
and a cantle stretcher provided with a clamp a pair of springs vertically arranged
with reference to each other and extending the full length of the saddle and
adjustably fastened in said clamp an eye attached to the front ends of said springs
and a main clamp adapted to fasten said springs to the saddle post of a cycle, sub-
stantially as described.
9. In a cycle saddle the combination of a saddle leather and a saddle supporting
frame constituting a saddle complete in itself a pair of oppositely arranged springs
fastened to said frame one adjustably and the other rigidly and means of fastening
said springs together and to a cycle substantially as described.
10. In a cycle saddle the combination of a relatively rigid saddle supporting
frame a recurved spring rigidly attached to one end thereof, a recurved spring
adjustably attached to the other end thereof one of said springs overlapping and
lying upon the other, and means of fastening said springs together and to a cycle
substantially as described.
11. In a cycle saddle the combination of a saddle leather a cantle supporting bar
provided with a suitable clamp a pommel hook a slotted block or eye parallel
springs fastened in said clamp and to said block or eye a clip adjustably fixed on
said parallel springs a spring attached to said clip a spring rigidly attached to said
block or eye and extending to and lying against the other spring and means of
fastening the two last mentioned springs together and to a cycle substantially as
described.
12. In a cycle saddle the combination of a saddle leather a pommel hook a
cantle supporting bar having a clamp an eye adapted to engage the pommel hook
parallel springs fastened in said clamp and fixed to said eye, a leaf spring attached
to said eye and passing rearwardly underneath said parallel spring a clip fastened
upon said parallel spring and movable backward and forward thereon a leaf spring
attached to said clip and passing forward and lapping over and lying upon the other
leaf spring, and a clip adapted to fasten said two leaf springs together and to a
cycle substantially as described.
13. In a cycle saddle the combination of a sad lle leather a cantle bar attached
thereto a slotted block means of attaching sand block to the pommel end of said
leather parallel springs extending under said leather the full length thereof and
having ends attached to said block means of fastening the other ends of said parallel
springs to said cantle bar a clip fixed upon said parallel spi.ngs a spring attached
to said clip a spring attached to said block and lying against the spring attached to
said clip and means of fastening said two last mentioned springs together and to a
cycle substantially as described.
Dated this 26th day of June 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
London, Nottingham, Liverpool, and Manchester,
Agents for the Applicant.