Improvements in the Construction of Saddles for Bicycles, Tricycles, and the like,
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 4th May, 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 8th June, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Saddles for Bicycles, Tricycles,
and the like,
I, GEORGE HURDLE 4 Adelaide Road St. Denys, Southampton Hants Engineer
and Patentee do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
These improvements consist of a Frame shaped as a Saddle, and made of any
Material whereby a spring can be obtained, upon which Leather or other suitable
Material is stretched, when mounted on a Brackett or Cradle, having a forked arm at
the Back and an arm in front, with holes to receive the front or nose of saddle
frame, in the front of this is a Sockett holding a Ball or roller, over which the
Leather is drawn, fastened to which is a pin screwed having a nut whereby the
Leather can be tensioned at will.
Dated this Nineteenth day of December 1888.
GEORGE HURDLE.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Saddles for Bicycles, Tricycles,
and the like.
I, GEORGE HURDLE of 4 Adelaide Road St. Denys Southampton in the county of
Hampshire Engineer and Patentee. 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 present invention relates to the construction of saddles for bicycles, tricycles,
and the like, and the object thereof is to construct a saddle which will give with
every movement of the rider so that the friction upon the carrying part of the body
is considerably less than is the case with saddles constructed in the ordinary way;
and at the same time my improved saddle is constructed so as to permit the rider
riding with steadiness and firmness, for which purpose the rigidity of said saddle is
sustained to a necessary extent; to attain which I construct my improved saddle in
the following manner:
I mount a spring frame of a suitable shape upon a rigid or partly rigid bracket or
cradle, the said cradle having its back portion made in the form of a forked arm,
and its front portion in the form of a nose or single arm; the forked arm is pre-
ferably hinghed to the other portion of cradle, but inay when desired be made in one
there with or suitably fixed thereto in which case it is composed of suitable flexible
material so as to give or spring to a required extent. The end of the single arm or
nose of cradle has mounted thereon or connected thereto a suitable ball or roller.
The seat for the saddle is composed preferably of leather blocked up to the desired
shape in the ordinary way, the said leather or seat has the cantle portion secured to
a flange which connects the top portions of forked arm of cradle, and the pommel of
said seat or leather is stretched over the ball or roller by means of a suitable tension
rod which is carried by a small bracket which is either made with or attached to the
under part of the single arm or nose of cradle. The lower portion of cradle is made
with a suitable enlargement or boss which has formed through it a square hole for
the purpose of receiving the shank of a socket or other fitting used for the purpose
of attaching the said saddle to any suitable part of the bicycle, tricycle, or the like.
In order that my present invention may be more fully understood and so that it
may be readily carried into effect I hereunto attach a sheet of drawings of which the
following is a description:-
Fig. 1. is a side elevation of my improved saddle showing the leather or other
material for forming the seat by a dotted line, and Fig. 2 is a plan of same also
showing seat by a dotted line.
Similar letters denote like parts in each view.
The spring frame A is made in the shape shown and is mounted upon a rigid or
partly rigid bracket or cradle B which has its back portion in the form of a forked
shaped arm b¹, the upper part of each prong of which has formed therein a suitable
recess wherein fits the back portion of the spring frame A.

page_text: The ends of the prongs which form part of the arm 61 are connected by means of
a flange which may be either made therewith as shown or attached thereto.
The front portion of the cradle B is in the form of a nose or single arm 6*, and
the forked portion b₁ is preferably connected to the nose portion 6 by means of a
suitable hinge 6; it will be obvious however that the forked portion 61 may be made
in one therewith or suitably fixed thereto in which case it would be necessary for
said forked portion 61 to be of a suitable flexible material so that it would give or
spring to a required extent with the springing or giving of the spring frame A.
The end of the nose or single arm of cradle B has two suitable holes b' which
receive the bent or turned down ends a³ of the spring frame A; the said end 6 has
also made therewith a suitable cup 68 which receives a loose ball D, or the said end 6°
may where preferred be made in the form of a jaw and may receive a suitable roller
as will be well understood, or may be arranged in any other desired way.
The seat E is composed preferably of leather blocked up to desired shape in the
ordinary way; the said seat E has its cantle portion e' secured or attached to the
flange and the pommel of said seat is stretched over the ball D, by means of
the end of said leather being attached to a suitable tension rod H, which has a
nut h¹ for the purpose of adjustment, and the said rod H is carried in a small bracket
or projection J which may either be made with or attached to the single arm or
underside of nose 6. The lower portion of cradle B is made with a suitable enlarge-
ment or boss b which has a square hole for the reception of the shank of the socket K,
by means of which my improved saddle may be fixed to any desired part of the
bicycle, tricycle, or the like.
By means of the simple method of suspending the blocked leather or other seat E
as illustrated and described the rider receives a sense of ease and comfort and the said
seat adapts itself and gives to every movement of the carrying portion of the rider's
body. The spring given to the saddle is just sufficient to prevent jolting and chafing
when riding over rough and uneven roads, and the rigidity given to the saddle is
such that very little loss of power takes place when driving.
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 I
claim is:
1. In saddles for Bicycles, Tricycles, and the like, the combination of a spring
frame A, with a rigid or partly rigid forked cradle or bracket B, substantially as
described and illustrated by means of the accompanying drawings.
2. In saddles for Bicycle Tricycles and the like the use of a spring frame A, made
in the form shown and supported or mounted upon a cradle B having a hinged forked
portion 6' and a fixed rigid portion 6 substantially as set forth.
3. The improved saddle substantially as herein before described and used for the
purpose specified.
Doted this 2nd law of Mov 1889
H. F. BOUGHTON, M.I.M.E.,
Barnsley, Agent.