Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 13th Apr., 1889
We, CHARLES MONTAGUE LINLEY and JOHN BIGGS, both of 29 Clerkenwell Road
in the city of London, in the county of Middlesex, Cycle Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to the saddles of velocipedes, and it has for its objects pro-
viding for the independent flexibility of each side of the leather seat to accomodate
the alternate leg action, increasing the elasticity of the seat, and generally increasing
the comfort of the rider.
We attain these objects in the following manner :-At the back of any suitable
frame we attach a cross bar or cantle plate by a single central pin or bolt, which
will allow the said cross bar or cantle plate a free rocking motion about the centre
of its length in the horizontal plane. On to each end of this cross bar or cantle
plate we pivot a short bar by a suitable pin or bolt passing in a vertical direction
through the centre of the said bar, thus allowing each plate a free rocking motion
in the horizontal plane, at the centre of its length on the cantle bar or plate.
The leather seat is split longitudinally from near the front end, and the two parts
of the rear end thereof are fixed in any convenient manner to the two rocking bars
on the cantle bar or plate. The front end of the leather seat instead of being
rivetted or otherwise fixed to the top of the front end of the frame carrying it, is
passed over a block of india-rubber or its equivalent, supported in a convenient
recess, or its equivalent, in the top of the front end of the frame, and it is then
carried round under the front end of the frame and attached in any convenient
manner to the underside thereof.
As a modification, we divide the leather seat longitudinally and fix the rear ends
of the two parts to a rigid cantle plate. We then connect the two front ends of
the leather seat by a cord, or its equivalent, passing round a roller, or its equivalent,
working on a vertical stud carried by the front end of the saddle frame, suitable
guide rollers, or their equivalents, being used if desired.

page_text: We sometimes use this method of supporting the front end or ends of the leather
seat of a saddle in combination with the pivotal cantle bars or plates hereinbefore
described.
It will be seen that in a saddle constructed as hereinbefore described, each side
of the leather seat is free to give independently of the other, to accomodate the
free action of the legs, due to its pivotal connection to the cantle plate.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Saddles of Velocipedes.
We, CHARLES MONTAGUE LINLEY, and JOHN BIGGS both of 29 Clerkenwell Road,
in the City of London in the County of Middlesex, Cycle Manufacturers, 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 :-
Our invention relates to the saddles of Velocipedes, and it has for its objects,
providing for the independent flexibility of each side of the leather seat to accomodate
the alternate leg action, increasing, the elasticity of the seat, and generally increasing
the comfort of the rider.
We attain these objects by mechanism illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in
which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a saddle constructed according to our invention,
and Figure 2 is a plan thereof, while Figure 3 shows a modification in the detail of
construction.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
At the back of any suitable supporting frame A we attach a cross bar, or cantle
plate B by a single central pin or bolt b, which will allow the said cross bar or cantle
plate a free rocking motion about the centre of its length in the horizontal plane.
On to each end of this cross bar or cantle plate B, we pivot a short bar C by a
suitable pin or bolt c, adapting the said bars C, C, to rock freely on the cantle plate
or bar D in the horizontal plane. The leather seat D is split longitudinally from
near the front end, and the two parts of the rear end thereof are also split and are
fixed to the two rocking bars C, C, on the cantle bar or plate D, by rivets or otherwise
in the manner illustrated. The front end of the leather seat D instead of being
rivitted or otherwise fixed to the front end of the frame A, is extended forward as a
strap d, and after passing over a block E of india-rubber, or other elastic material
supported in a convenient recess in the said frame, or mounted on a pine carried by
the said frame as illustrated, it is made fast to the underside of the frame A by a
buckle d', or its equivalent.
To keep the strap d in position, a clip strap a is fulcrated on the pine and adapted
to encircle the strap as illustrated.
As a modification we sometimes turn the front end of the frame A over as illustrated
by Figure 3 and pass the strap end d of the leather seat D round it, dispensing with
the rubber block E. The leather is then drawn taut either by a buckle as hereinabove
described, or by a screw tension device as illustrated by Figure 2.
It will be seen that in a saddle constructed as hereinabove described, each side of
the leather seat is free to give independently of the other to accomodate the action of
the thighs, without in any way varying the tension of the seat. By constructing the
front part of the saddle as herein before described, the tension of the leather seat is
easily adjusted, while the shape of the nose of the saddle forms a very efficient dress
protector, as it entirely prevents the dresses of ladies being caught on the nose of
the saddle when mounting as so often happens with saddles of the usual shape and
construction.

page_text: "
As a further modification we sometimes divide the leather seat longitudinally, and
fix the rear ends of the two parts to a rigid cantle plate and connect and support the
front ends in the manner illustrated by Figure 4 of the accompanying drawing. To
the front ends of the two parts of the leather seat D is attached a strap or cord d
which passes round a roller E or its equivalent working on a vertical stud pin e
mounted on the end of the supporting frame A. It is not essential that the roller E
is used, as the strap or cord D may be passed round the plain stud pin e.
Instead of connecting the two front ends of the leather seat D by the strap or
cord E, the seat D may be formed out of one piece of leather, cut and shaped so
that it will itself pass round the roller or its equivalent. Where the flexibility of
the leather seat does not allow of the one roller supporting it, other guide rollers or
their equivalents being used if desired.
We sometimes use this method of supporting the front end, or ends, of the leather
seat of a saddle in combination with the pivotal cantle bars or plates hereinbefore
described.
We sometimes make the cantle plate B rigid with the supporting frame A and
allow the rocking bars C, C, alone to give the desired flexibility to the leather seat...
Having now particularly described' and ascertained the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed; we declare that what we
claim is :
1
1st. A saddle for Velocipedes, constructed arranged, and operating, as set forth.
2nd. In a saddle for Velocipedes, connecting the cantle plate or bar pivotally to
the supporting frame, adapting it to rock in the horizontal plane, as set forth.
3rd. In a saddle for Velocipedes, pivotting the cantle-plate or bar to the supporting
frame, and pivotting two bars or plates carrying the rear part of the leather seat to
the said rocking cantle plate, as and for the purpose' set forth.
4th. In a saddle for Velocipedes, fixing the rear end of the leather seat to two bars
fulcrated on the cantle plate or bar carried by the rear of the supporting frame, as.
and for the purpose set forth.
5th. In a saddle for Velocipedles, adjusting the tension of the leather seat by
passing it over an elastic block on the front of the supporting frame, and connecting
it with a buckle, or its equivalent, fixed to the said frume, as set forth.
6th. In a saddle for Velocipedes, forming the nose or peak in the manner and for
the purpose set forth.
7th. In a saddle for Velocipedes, the combination with the supporting frame A,
of the rocking canile plate or bar B, the rocking bars C, C, fulerated on the said cantle
plate B, the split leather seat D extending forward as a strap d, the elastic block E,
and the buckle d'; all combined, arranged, and operating, as and for the purpose.
set forth.
8th. In a saddle for Velocipedes forming the nose of the saddle and adjusting the
tension of the leather seat as illustrated by Figure 3 of the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 18th day of February 1889