Improvements in or relating to Saddles for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1896
Complete Innsification
10th A
1007
OLL Ala
4007
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Saddles for Velocipedes and other
Vehicles.
I, JOSEPH SLATER LEWIS, of 6, Acton Square, Peel Park, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to saddles for velocipedes and other vehicles and has
for its object to construct an improved saddle which will automatically adjust
itself to the various movements and shape of the rider's body.
In carrying out my invention, I prefer to construct that portion of the saddle
on which the rider sits, in halves, and of interlaced metal links similar to those
employed for steel burnishers, or of woven or twisted or other form of built
up fabric such as aployed for mattresses, the object being to obtain. great.
flexibility and a maximum amount of ventilation; leather or other suitable.
fabric may however be used. I suspend the said halves of the saddle after the
manner of hammocks, the front ends being connected nearly vertically to the
pummel or front support, and the rear ends to a swing tree, which is connected
at the centre with the rear or back support of the saddle by means of a universal
ball and socket joint or its equivalent. Assuming that the said halves are not
in full tension, it will be obvious that as one side or half of the saddle is pressed
downwards by the lowering of the leg the other side or half will be raised or
elevated in consequence of the upward movement of the other leg. By this
arrangement a compensating or reciprocating movement of the halves of the
saddle is permitted as the rider's legs move alternately upwards and downwards,
thus securing an even pressure on all parts of the seat, and avoiding all danger
of undue perineal pressure.
In order to increase the flexibility of the saddle I preferably provide a series
of spiral springs which I attach to either or both ends of each of the halves of
the saddle and to the pummel and the swing tree, or I may provide a laminated
spring which may also form the said swing tree. As a further alternative, swing
trees may be provided at the pummel or front end of the saddle such front
swing trees being laminated springs or plain bars, but with universal joints in
either case. I may also use two or more subsidiary swing trees with univer-
sal joints and in combination with spiral or laminated springs, and which
I connect to the rear ends of the halves of the saddle. The front and rear sup-
ports are mounted on a horizontal T-bar for L-pin of the usual type, which is
secured to the frame of the velocipede and which is raised and lowered in the
usual manner. The said front and rear supports slide on this bar and are drawn
outwards in order to adjust the tension of the halves of the saddle by means of
nuts engaging with the T-bar or L-pin, which is screw-threaded for that
purpose.
In a modification the springs are not attached to the seat portion of the saddle.

page_text: but are arranged between the front and rear supports and the T-bar or L-pin
said supports being pivotally mounted on the bar or pin.
For the purpose of adjusting the distance apart of the halves of the saddle
when necessary I may provide slots in the swing tree attached to the rear sup-
port in which slots the rear ends of the halves of the saddle may be moved laterally
and secured said ends being the ends of the spiral springs or the centres of the
subsidiary swing trees. Instead of slots collars sliding along the said swing
tree may be provided. All or any of the swing trees may be curved in such a
manner as to properly fit the rider.
In a further modification the front and rear supports of the said halves, springs,
and swing trees are attached to a separate horizontal plate or bar, beneath
which a number of vertical spiral springs are attached to a secondary plate or bar,
the latter being mounted on the T-bar or L-pin in the usual manner. This
arrangement permits the saddle to move about in any direction,, and in com-
bination with the beforementioned swing tree arrangement' provides for almost
every movement of the rider's body.
1411
1
.
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Saddles for Velocipedes and other
Vehicles.
I, JOSEPH SLATER LEWIS of 6, Acton Square, Peel Park, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, 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:-
This invention relates to saddles for velocipedes and other vehicles and has
for its object to construct an improved saddle which will automatically adjust
itself to the various movements and shape of the rider's body.
In carrying out my invention I prefer to construct that portion of the saddle
on which the rider sits in halves and of interlaced metal links similar to those
employed for steel burnishers, or of woven or twisted or other form of built
up fabric such as employed for mattresses, the object being to obtain great
flexibility and a maximum amount of ventilation; leather or other suitable
fabric may however be used. I suspend the said halves of the saddle after the
manner of hammocks, the front ends being connected nearly vertically to the
pummel or front support, and the rear ends to a swing tree, which is connected
at the centre with the rear or back support of the saddle by means of a universal
ball and socket joint or its equivalent. Assuming that the said halves are not
in full tension, it will be obvious that as one side or half of the saddle is pressed
downwards by the lowering of one leg the other side or half will be raised or
elevated in consequence of the upward movement of the other leg. By this
arrangement a compensating or reciprocating movement of the halves of the
saddle is permitted as the rider's legs move alternately upwards and downwards,
thus securing an even pressure on all parts of the seat, and avoiding all danger
of chafing or undue perineal pressure.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will proceed to describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way
of example various forms of my improved saddle.

page_text: Figure 1 is a
plan of a saddle constructed in accordance with my invention.
Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating a modification.
Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating a further modification.
Figure 5 is a side elevation partly sectional illustrating another method of
mounting the saddle.
Referring now to Figure 1 the seat portion of the saddle is there shown made in
halves A A which are attached by spiral springs B at the front end to the pummel Ü
and at the rear end to a swing tree D which swing tree is pivotally attached to
the rear support of the saddle for example by means of a ball and socket joint
as hereinafter described with reference to Figures 2 and 3, or by links as shown
for example in Figure 4, or by other suitable means. Swing trees similar to
the swing tree D may also be provided at the pummel or front end of the saddle,
being attached to the front support by universal joints. I sometimes provide
laminated springs forming the swing tree instead of a plain bar.
In Figure 2 the seat portion A of the saddle is in one piece but divided at
the rear, its rear ends being secured to two subsidiary swing trees E E con-
nected by universal joints to the main swing tree D. Said universal joints may
consist as shown in the drawings of bolts F with hemispherical nuts F¹, the
latter being received in suitable cavities in the swing trees. The swing trees E
and D may also be connected if desired by spiral springs. In Figure 3 the
method of connecting the swing tree D to the rear support G is very clearly
shown, a stud G₁ being provided in the support with the hemispherical head of
which a suitably formed cavity in the swing tree D engages.
The front and rear supports of the saddle may be mounted upon a horizon-
tal T-bar or L-pin of the usual type, which is secured to the frame of the
velocipede and which is raised and lowered in the usual manner. A modified
construction is however illustrated in Figure 3 in which the rear support G is
mounted on a spiral spring H while the front support I is mounted upon a
cradle spring J being free to move backwards and forwards on said spring, its
position being adjusted by means of a screw threaded bolt K which engages
the said support as shown."
In another modification shown in Figure 5 the front of the saddle is hooked
into the front end of a spring plate or rod L which is adjustably secured to a
second bar or rod L' by means of the nut L2. The rod or bar L¹ bears at its
rear end the rear support G of the saddle and is bent at its forward end as
shown, its horizontal part L being secured to the T-bar or L-pin by any suitable
means. Figure 5 and also Figure 4 show a link connection M between the swing
tree D and the saddle support G in place of the stud G shown in Figure 3. I
do not however confine myself to the specific means of connection shown.
For the purpose of adjusting the distance of the halves or of the rear portions
of the saddle when necessary I may provide a séries of slots or holes F2 (sec
Figure 2) in the swing tree D, the hemispherical nuts F being adapted to fit
any of the slots so that the bolts F may be brought nearer to or farther apart
from each other when desired. A similar arrangement may be provided where
spiral springs B shown in Figure 1 are used. Instead of "slots, collars sliding
along the swing tree D may be provided.
All or any of the swing trees may be curved in such a manner as to properly
fit the rider.
In a further modification the front and rear supports of the saddle springs and
swing trees are attached to a separate horizontal plate or bar beneath which a
number of spiral springs are attached to a second plate or bar, the latter being
mounted on the T-bar or L-pin in the usual manner. This arrangement permits
the saddle to move about in any direction and in combination with the before-
mentioned swing tree arrangement provides for almost every movement of the
rider's body.

page_text: 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:-
1. For velocipedes and other vehicles, a saddle capable of rotating on an
approximately horizontal axis substantially parallel to the plane of the wheels.
2. A addle the seat portion of which has its front end or rear end or both ends
joined to a swing tree or to swing trees connected through a universal joint or
joints to the saddle support or supports.
3. Saddles constructed substantially as herein described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of August 1897
W. P. THOMPSON & Co..
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.