IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDE SADDLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN BOULTBEE BROOKS of Great Charles Street, Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDE SADDLES," to be as follows:-
In velocipede saddles as ordinarily constructed, the edges or sides at the pummel
end are made rigid, and do not yield on pressure being applied thereto by the
thighs of the rider, or otherwise the edges of the metal lining in that part of the
saddle is hurtful to the thighs on pressure being applied on riding, by the rigid
edges of the said metal lining being felt through the leather covering the edges.
According to my invention the edges of the metallic framing or lining of the
saddle are rolled or turned over near the pummel end, into a beading or hollow rib
and so hollowed out that the inside of the flaps do not on external pressure press
against the rigid metal frame; so that on external pressure being applied to the
outside of the flaps by the thighs of the rider, the internal folds of the bending
leather pressing towards the rolled edges of the metal lining, gives a soft and
pliable feel to the flaps, consequently the flaps become yielding or springy in their
action, on pressure being applied, in consequence of the cushion like folds produced
on the creasing of the leather of the flaps, which press towards the rolled up edges
of the metal framing at the pummel end of the saddle. The base plate is arched in
the usual way, and its ends which are turned or rolled over form considerable
lateral internal support for the cushioning action between it and the folds of
the flaps.
In connecting the saddle to the back bone or bar of a bicycle or tricycle without
the necessity of removing both nuts in connecting the bars or clips, which grip or
hold the saddle to the said bicycle or tricycle; that is to say, the bar consists of a
straight piece of metal with a long hole which takes upon one of the screw pegs
affixed to the saddle framing; the other end of the bar has also a long hole with a
side opening so that in disconnecting the saddle it is only necessary to loosen one
of the screw nuts on one of the pegs, when the bar can turn horizontally upon the
other screw peg as a centre, and on the other hand on affixing the saddle to a
machine, the screw peg on the one side is passed through the gap or opening in the
side of the bar, and by a slight lateral or sliding movement, the bar is connected
to the two screw pegs which is afterward affixed in that position by the screwing
up of the screw nuts and the binding of the saddle described to the bar of a

page_text: velocipede. Or where it is necessary to attach the said saddle to the backbone of
a bicycle, it is only necessary to arch or bend the bar or clip to the shape required,
and pass between the screw pegs an arched plate; and instead of hinging the clip
upon one of the screw pegs, the joint may be made upon the bar or clip itself; so
that in attaching or disconnecting a saddle from or to a velocipede, the bar or
clip is turned vertically upon a joint after the removal of a screw nut upon the one
side; an eye on the end of the jointed part takes upon the screw peg on that side
upon which it engages.
By arranging and constructing clips and base plates as described, saddles can be
readily and expeditiously attached to, or disconnected from, the bars or back-bones
of velocipedes.

page_text: I, JOHN BOULTBEE BROOKS of Great Charles Street, Birmingham in the County
of Warwick, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDE SADDLES," and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
In velocipede saddles as ordinarily constructed the edges or sides at the pummel
end are made rigid and do not yield on pressure being applied thereto by the thighs
of the rider, or otherwise the edges of the metal lining in that part of the saddle
is hurtful to the thighs on pressure being applied on riding, by the rigid edges of
the said metal lining being felt through the leather covering the edges.
According to my invention the edges of the metallic framing or lining of the
saddle, may be plain or turned over near the pummel end, into a beading or hollow
rib and so hollowed out that the inside of the flaps do not on external pressure
press against the rigid metal frame; so that on external pressure being applied to
the outside of the flaps by the thighs of the rider, the internal folds of the bending
leather pressing towards the edges of the metal lining, gives a soft and pliable feel
to the flaps, consequently the flaps yielding or springy in their action on pressure
being applied; in consequence of the cushion like folds produced on the creasing of
the leather of the flaps, which press towards the edges of the metal framing at the
pummel end of the saddle. The base plate is arched in the usual way, and its ends
which are turned or rolled over form considerable lateral internal support for the
cushioning action between it and the folds of the flaps.
In connecting the saddle to the back bone or bar of a bicycle or tricycle without
the necessity of removing both nuts in connecting the bars or clips, which grip or
hold the saddle to the said bicycle or tricycle; that is to say, the bar consists of a
straight piece of metal with a long hole which takes upon one of the screw pegs
affixed to the saddle framing; the other end of the bar has also a long hole with
a side opening so that in disconnecting the saddle its is only necessary to loosen
one of the screw nuts on one of the pegs, when the bar can turn horizontally upon
the other screw peg as a centre, and on the other hand on affixing the saddle to a
machine, the screw peg on the one side is passed through the gap or opening in
the side of the bar, and by a slight lateral or sliding movement, the bar is con-
nected to the two screw pegs which is afterward affixed in that position by the
screwing up of the screw nuts, and the binding of the saddle described to the bar
of a velocipede. Or where it is necessary to attach the said saddle to the backbone
of a bicycle, it is only necessary to arch or bend the bar or clip to the shape
required, and pass between the screw pegs an arched plate, and instead of hinging
the clip upon one of the screw pegs, the joint may be made upon the bar or clip
itself; so that in attaching or disconnecting a saddle from or to a velocipede, the
bar or clip is turned vertically upon a joint after the removal of a screw nut upon
the one side; an eye on the end of the jointed part takes upon the screw peg on.
that side upon which it engages.
By arranging and constructing clips and base plates as described, saddles can
be readily and expeditiously attached to or disconnected from the bars or backbones
of velocipedes.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings,
the manner in which my invention is to be performed.

page_text: Figure represents a saddle provided with a connecting cup or par constructed
according to a part of my invention, so that the saddle can be connected or
disconnected from the back bone of a tricycle or bicycle without the necessity of
removing both nuts as is commonly practiced. Figure 2 is the bar separately, and
figure 3 is an edge view of the said bar. Figure 4 represents a modification of the
said bar, one end only is slotted, while the other has a hole which turns upon
one of the screw pins as a centre. Figure 5 represents a hinged arrangement for
embracing and clipping the back bone of a velocipede, without the necessity of
removing both screw nuts which clamp the fixing plate underneath the saddle, to
the machine. Figure 6 is a cross section of figure 5 on the dotted lines A. B.
Figure 7 shows the same section as figure 6 with the hinged part of the clip open,
so that the saddle can be readily connected to the back bone or L bar of a
velocipede. Figure 8 is a side elevation of figure 5. Figure 9 represents a modifi-
cation of the bar figure 4, in this case the screw peg turns upon a joint or pivot
instead of being fixed or made rigid to the saddle plate. Figure 10 is a plan of
figure 9, the screw nut being shown turned down to facilitate the removal of the
plate.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in figures 1 to 9 both
inclusive of the accompanying Drawings.
a is the slotted bar or clip, and b b are screw pins affixed rigidly to the framing
or plate of the saddle c. d d are screw nuts which take upon the ends of the
screw pins, and e is the saddle bar or back bone of a velocipede.
To disconnect the saddle c from the bare of the machine, it is only necessary to
loosen one of the screw nuts d, when the bar can be turned horizontally upon the
other screw pin as a centre; or both nuts can be slightly loosened and the bar
entirely removed as represented in dotted lines; thus the clip or flat piece of metal
which holds the saddle to the machine is capable of being removed by sliding it
horizontally from between the underside of the nuts and the packing piece or base
support c² on the underside of the saddle. On the other hand, on affixing the
saddle to a machine pass the gapped end a² over the stem of one of the screw
pins b, then slightly turn the plate a, so that the stem of the pin on the other side
shall pass through the side opening or gap d³, and then by a slight sliding motion,
and the tightening up of the screw nuts, the saddle is efficiently connected to the
bar of the machine in a simple and expeditious manner.
In the modification figure 5, the connecting saddle clip is made arched in form,
so as to embrace the back bone or L bar of a tricycle or bicycle. f is the arched
part of the clip which forms a semi-circular loop hinged a little out of its middle
at f2, for the purpose of opening out the said semi-circular loop, in order that the
divided clipping part can be introduced onto the back-bone; bb are the screw
pins, and d d are the nuts, fs is the fixed part of the loop, and g is the base plate
which is troughed about its middle to impart strength and rigidity thereto and also
to follow the contour of the back-bone or L bar.
To disconnect the saddle, remove the nut d from one side of the clip and open
out the hinged part f as represented in figure 7, when the saddle can be removed
from the back bone h.
In figure 9. a is the saddle bar or clip, and a² is the slot or open end. b is a screw
pin, jointed or pivotted at 62, and d is the nut.
To disconnect the saddle from the machine without the removal of both nuts,
loosen the screw d and then turn down the pivotted screw pin as represented in
dotted lines, when the bar a can turn upon the stem of the other screw pin b¹ as a
centre, as best seen in figure 10. Figure 11 represents an underside view of a plan
of a saddle constructed according to my invention so that on external pressure being
applied to the sides of the flaps of the saddle by the thighs of the rider, the internal
folds of the leather lining gives a soft and pliable feel to the flaps or the said flaps
become yielding or cushion like in their action, as will be hereinafter particularly
described. Figure 12 represents a plan of the underside of the frame of the saddle
figure 11 before the outer or covering skin has been applied or connected, Figure 13'

page_text: represents a cross section on the dotted lines A B figure 11, and figure 14 represents
a transverse section on the dotted lines CD figure 12.
is the skin of the saddle stretched between the pummel and cantel ends j k.
1 are the flaps disposed and hanging on both sides of the said saddle
m is the
metal framing, and n is the leather or other outside covering extending under the
metal frame and passing around the terminal edges m² and then extending to a
short distance up the sides of the frame and then again returning backwards into
the plane or direction of the flaps -This creasing or folding back of the leather
upon itself as represented and marked n n² n³ and n constitutes cushion like folds
which impart great ease and comfort to the thighs in riding; that is, the turning
back and folding upon itself the covering material as best seen in the section
figure 13, gives a soft and pliable feel to the flaps or the said flaps become yielding
or springy in their action on pressure being applied thereto-The termination of
the covering material n is attached by sewing to the lower terminations of the
flaps lo is a space left between the framing and the stretched covering i.
By constructing saddles as herein-last described there are no non-yielding parts
exposed to the seat or thighs of the rider, as the edges of the metal framing are
perfectly isolated by the cushion like folds disposed about the sides of the framing;
and by the shape given to the said sides between the parts marked E F.
Having now particulary described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First-Connecting and disconnecting saddles to and from the backbone | bar or
other parts of velocipedes, without the necessity of removing the fixing nuts, by
making or constructing the saddle fixing plates or bars, with end and side openings,
substantially as and for the purpose as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings, also the modifications represented
in figures 4, 9 and 10, in which a saddle can be removed or replaced upon the
backbone L bar or other parts of velocipedes, by simply loosening one or other of
the fixing nuts substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly The construction of saddle fixing bars or clips consisting essentially
of a semi-circular plate hinged about its middle, and capable of turning outwardly
and released and affixed substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described
and illustrated in figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings, also the
metal trough shaped base plate marked g as described and set forth.
Thirdly Affixing saddles to or removing them from velocipedes without the
necessity of wholly removing the fixing nuts substantially as and for the purposes
described and illustrated in figures 1 to 10 both inclusive of the accompanying
drawings.
Fourthly-Imparting cushion like flexibility to the sides or flaps of velocipede
saddles by arranging, folding and doubling the inside leather or lining around the
edges of the frame, and upon itself, in one or more folds; and also shaping the
parts and sides of the saddle substantially as and for the purpose as described and
illustrated in figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the accompanying drawings.