Improvements in the Manufacture of Cycle Saddle Seats and in the Tools or Dies used in the Manufacture of the same.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1899
'Improvements in the Manufacture of Cycle Saddle Seats and in the
Tools or Dies used in the Manufacture of the same.
I, EDWARD LYCETT, of 164, High Street, Deritend, Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of cycle
saddle seats and in the tools or dies used in the manufacture of the same, by
which I materially reduce the cost of production and at the same time ensure
the rivet holes in the leather seat being exactly opposite or in line with their
respective rivet holes in the cantle plate and pommel plate or end piece these
holes and the slit or opening in or about the centre of the seat lining being
cut or punched simultaneously by one operation, the leather seat being also
blocked or finished to the shape it assumes when built or fixed upon the under
frame of the saddle.
Hitherto each rivet hole in the leather seat of a cycle saddle both at the
pommel end and cantle end have been done by hand punch separately which
necessitates marking out by a pair of compasses or the like the particular
distances and positions of each hole so as to correspond to their respective holes
in the cantle plate and pommel plate or end piece of the saddle. This process
is both slow and expensive and not always accurate thus in many cases throwing
the seat out of truth.
Now according to my invention I entirely overcome these difficulties in the
following manner. I first form a bed of the required size and shape and upon
the upper surface of this bed around the end forming the cantle end of the
cycle saddle seat I fix a number of hollow punches say six and at the front end
of this bed I fix-say one hollow punch. I also fix about the centre of this bed a
punch or knife shaped or formed to correspond to the shape of the slot or
opening in or about the centre of the saddle seat. A number of holes say four
are also formed in this bed which is fixed in position upon a suitable press or
the like. I then form a die the upper surface of which is sunk or cut to form
an exact impression of the cycle saddle seat when in its finished condition and
in this die holes are formed to correspond to the number of punches on the bed
and to the central knife or punch. To the underside of this die are fixed a
number of pins which fit into the holes in the bed and around each of these pins
I fit a coiled spring or springs of sufficient strength to lift or support the die
so that the punches and knife are below the upper surface of the die when in
its normal condition which I call the female die. I now fix a male die to the
end of the plunger rod or screw of the press, which die is formed and shaped so
as to fit into the female die. After the leather which forms the cycle saddle
seat has gone through the first process of blocking or shaping in the usual
manner it is placed into the female die and the male die or force brought down
ento it and the edges of the seat are then trimmed. Pressure is then applied

page_text: to the male die which forces the female die down onto the punches and knife
thus at one operation cutting out or punching the required number of holes in
the leather seat both at the cantle and pommel end and in the centre. Holes
are formed on the underside of the male die to correspond to the number of
punches and knife:
EDWARD LYCETT.
By George Barker,
Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
Agent for Applicant, 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Cycle Saddle Seats and in the
Tools or Dies used in the Manufacture of the same.
I, EDWARD LYCETT, of 164, High Street, Deritend, Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of cycle
saddle seats and in the tools or dies used in the manufacture of the same by
which I materially reduce the cost of production and at the same time ensure
the rivet holes in the leather seat being exactly opposite or in line with their
respective rivet holes in the cantle plate and pommel plate or end piece these
holes and the slit or opening in or about the centre of the seat being
cut or punched simultaneously by one operation the leather seat being also
blocked or finished to the shape it assumes when built or fixed upon the under
frame of the saddle.
Hitherto each rivet hole in the leather seat of the cycle saddle both at the
pommel end and cantle end have been done by a hand punch separately which
necessitates marking out by a pair of compasses or the like the particular
distances and positions of each hole so as to correspond to their respective holes
in the cantle plate and pommel plate or end piece of the saddle. This process
is both slow and expensive and not always accurate thus in many cases throwing
the seat out of truth.
Now according to my invention I entirely overcome these difficulties in the
following manner. I first form a bed of the required size and shape and upon
the upper surface of this bed around the end forming the cantle end of the
cycle saddle seat I fix a number of hollow punches say six and at the front end
of this bed I fix say one hollow punch. I also fix about the centre of this bed a
punch or knife shaped or formed to correspond to the shape of the slot or
opening in or about the centre of the saddle seat. A number of holes say four
are also formed in this bed which is fixed in position upon a suitable press or
the like. I then form a die the upper surface of which is sunk or cut to form
an exact impression of the cycle saddle seat when in its finished condition and
in this die holes are formed to correspond to the number of punches on the bed
and to the central knife or punch. To the underside of this die are fixed a
number of pins which fit into the holes in the bed and around each of these pins
I fit a coiled spring or springs of sufficient strength to lift or support the die
so that the punches and knife are below the upper surface of the die when in
its normal condition which I call the female die. I now fix a male die to the

page_text: end of the plunger rod or screw of the press which die is formed and shaped so
as to fit into the female die. After the leather which forms the cycle saddle
seat has gone through the first process of blocking or shaping in the usual
manner it is placed into the female die and the male die or force brought down
onto it and the edges of the seat are then trimmed. Pressure is then applied
to the male die which forces the female die down onto the punches and knife
thus at one operation cutting out or punching the required number of holes in
the leather seat both at the cantle and pommel end and in the centre. Holes
are formed on the underside of the male die to correspond to the number of
punches and knife.
In order that my invention may be more clearly understood and easily carried
into practical effect I have appended hereunto three double sized sheets of
drawings upon which I have illustrated examples of my mode and tools for
manufacturing cycle saddle seats.
Figure 1 is a view of a press fitted with my tools or dies for manufacturing
cycle saddle seats.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional plan view of Figure 1 taken on the line 1-2.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the bed or bottom tool.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the female die or tool.
Figure 5 is a side view of the male die or tool.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the seat of the cycle saddle showing the
rivet holes and central slot or opening although the number of rivet holes and
the size and shape of the central slot or opening may be varied according as
desired.
Figure 7 is an underside perspective view of Figure 6 shewing the cantle and
pommel plates rivetted in position.
In carrying my invention into practice I form the bed or foundation B of
the particular shape and size required and upon the upper surface of this bed
around the end forming the cantle end of the saddle seat I fix a number of
hollow punches 12 say six and at the front end of this bed I fix say one hollow
punch b. I also fix preferably adjustably about the centre of this bed the punch
or knife K which is formed or shaped to correspond to the particular shape of
the slit or opening to be cut in or about the centre of the saddle seat as clearly
shewn at Figure 3. The punches 62 and the punch 6 preferably screw into the
bed B and are held in position by the nuts so as to be adjustable and easily
removed when they require sharpening or in case of breakage. A number of
holes 66 say four are also formed in this bed B which is fixed in position upon
the press or the like I then form the die F having its upper surface sunk or
cut to form an exact impression of the saddle seat when in its finished condition
and provided with the holes fi f2 and the slot or opening f³ to correspond
with the number of holes f1 and 2 and the central knife or punch K as clearly
shewn at Figure 4. Fixed to the underside of this die F are the pins f* which
fit into the holes in the bed B and around these pins or pegs f* I fit the
springs S which must be of sufficient strength to lift or support or bear the
weight of the die F when fitted in position upon the bed B so that the punches
and which fit into their respective holes f¹ and the knife or punch K which
fits into the slot or opening fare below the upper surface of the die F which I
call the female die when in its normal condition I now adjustably fix what I
call the male die M to the end of the screw 7 of the press as clearly shewn at
Figure 1 which die M is formed and shaped to fit into the female die F. After
the leather which forms the saddle seat has passed through the first process of
blocking or shaping in the usual manner it is placed into the female die F and
the male die or force M is then brought down onto the leather sent by operating
the handle or wheel 72 or its equivalent and the edges of the seat trimmed by
the attendant. Pressure is now applied to the male die by further operating a
handle or wheel p² thereby forcing the female die F down onto the punches bª
both
and
and the knife or punch K thus cutting out or punching the holes

page_text: at the cantle and pommel end of the saddle seat L and the central slot or
opening at one operation as clearly shewn at Figure 6. Holes are formed on
the underside of the male die M or soft metal inserted so that as this die forces
the leather down onto the punches and knife they are not damaged by contact
with the die. By this means I am enabled to ensure the rivet holes
exactly opposite or in line with their respective holes in the cantle plate T
and pommel plate or end piece D as shewn at Figure 7 consequently the seat is
always true and accurately fixed to these plates by the rivets and .
being
Having now particularly 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:-
CLAIMS.
First The improvements in the manufacture of cycle saddle seats and in
the tools or dies used in the said manufacture consisting in first taking a blocked
leather or other surface piece or seat made in the usual or in any way
than operating upon the same in the prepared dies F and M and seating B so
as to produce the necessary such like perforations at one operation substantially
as herein set forth and shewn upon the accompanying drawings.
Second: In the manufacture of cycle saddle seats piercing or cutting the
rivet holes at the pommel and cantle end of the seat and the central slot or
opening at one operation by placing the seat in a die such as F flexibly mounted
upon a bed such as B having a number of hollow punches at either end and a
knife or punch at or about the centre a die such as M operated in the manner
substantially as herein set forth and as shewn upon the accompanying sheets
of drawings.
Third: In the manufacture of cycle saddle seats a bed or seating such as B
having a number of punches at either end and a punch or knife at or about the
centre in combination with a hollow die such as F having holes to correspond
with the number of punches on the bed or scating and a forcing die M sub-
stantially as herein set forth and as shewn upon the drawings.
Dated this 11th day of August 1900
EDWARD LYCETT.
By George Barker,
Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
Agent for Applicant, 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.