Improvements in Velocipede Saddles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipede Saddles.
I, HARRY ALONZO PERRY, of 4144, Grand Boulevard, Chicago, Cook County,
Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
my invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical and efficient
saddle, so constructed and arranged as to be readily assembled or taken apart for
purposes of repair or renewal. The invention consists in the features, combina-
tions and details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of a bicycle saddle con-
structed in accordance with my improvements, looking at it from the top; Fig. 2
a similar view, looking at it from the bottom with a portion of the bottom plates
broken away; Fig. 3 a side elevation of a saddle constructed in accordance with my
improvements; Fig. 4 a plan view of the base plate, looking at it from the bottom;
Fig. 5 a plan view of the upper side of the securing. plate; Fig. 6 a plan view of
the lower side of the inner inflatable bag; Fig. 7 an enlarged sectional elevation
of the rear portion of the saddle, taken on line 7 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 8 a longitudinal
sectional elevation of a portion of the saddle, taken on line 8 of Fig. 1.
In the art to which this invention relates it is well known that one of the
difficulties encountered in the manufacture and usage of saddles containing
pneumatic or other cushions is due to the fact that such saddles are provided with
a leather cover, which has been sewed or otherwise permanently secured to some
other part of the saddle, making it expensive to assemble the parts initially, and
difficult to remove the cover and disassociate the parts for the purposes of repair
or renewal. The principal object of my invention, therefore, is to remove these
objections and to provide a saddle which may be constructed or repaired economi-
cally, which may be taken apart for the inspection or renewal of parts, and which
will act in a simple and efficient manner.
In constructing a saddle in accordance with my improvements, I make a base
plate A, of the desired shape, size and strength, and provide it at or near its lateral
edges with a flanged portion or portions a bent substantially at right angles, and
preferably downwardly, from the main portion of the plate. This base plate is
preferably provided with a central aperture or opening a¹, across which a connect-
ing rib a joins the parts together.
A cover B, preferably formed of leather, is provided and cut in substantially the
same shape as the base plate. This cover is provided with a central opening or
openings 6 and secured to the base plate at or near its central portion by means of
a plate C, which is preferably riveted-though it may be otherwise secured-to
the base plate, or dispensed with if desired. This cover is made of such a size
that its lateral edges 6¹ may be folded under and around the annular flange of the
base plate. A supplementary plate D is provided, of substantially the same shape
as the base plate, and provided at its lateral edge or edges with corrugations or
teeth d, preferably bent at an angle to the main portion, so that such supple-

page_text: mentary plate may be laid underneath the base plate and contiguous thereto, as
shown in Fig. 7, so that its teeth contact the in-turned edges of the leather cover
and act to hold such cover firmly in position. This plate need not be made prac-
tically imperforated as shown in the drawings, but may be cut away for economy
of weight if desired.
To firmly secure and hold the different parts of the saddle together, bolts E, E¹
and E3 are provided, which extend from the main base plate down through the
securing plate, having their headed portions inside the base plate or between such
base plate and the cover. A spring G, which may be used as the saddle spring,
is also secured to the securing plate by means of these bolts and nuts, so that when
such bolts and nuts are tightened it acts to secure the cover, base and securing
plates together and to the supporting saddle spring.
A proper cushion is provided and inserted between the upper portion of the base
plate and the inner portion of the cover to properly fill such space and afford a
yielding resistance to the rider, so as to minimize the shock and jar incident to
riding. A plan view of this cushion is shown in Fig. 6, and consists in a main
portion H, having a pommel portion and rear portions 1, 2, and preferably
h³ and h, formed by means of the transverse and longitudinal slits h³ and h³.
These slits are for two purposes, which will be apparent when the assembling, of
the saddle is taken into consideration. When an ordinary cushion is used, they
serve for the purpose of allowing the cushion to be inserted after the, cover is put
in position that is, after the central securing plate C is riveted to the base plate
and the cover the cushion may be inserted, thereby making it economical to handle
the parts and rivet them together, without being encumbered by the addition of
other portions. The slitting of the cushion in this way also serves to permit the
removal of the cushion without separating the central securing plate, from the
base plate or cover. When a pneumatic cushion is used, the shape shown in
Fig. 6 is serviceable for two purposes: First, to enable the cushion to be inserted
or removed without disassociating the cover from the base plate; and, second, to
limit the expansibility of the rubber bag or prevent undue distension of the same,
which will act or tend to keep the cushion or saddle in the normal or desired
position. In the assembling of the parts the cushion is placed in position after
the central securing plate is riveted to the base plate. A small amount of stickum
or tire cement may be used after the cushion is placed in position to join the
cushion together where it is slit, and also to secure it to the base plate if desired.
The saddle cushion when formed in a pneumatic manner is provided with a stem
and valve I, preferably in the pommel or forward portion thereof, so that air may
be distributed to the different portions as economically as possible.
When assembling the parts the leather cover is first riveted or otherwise secured
at its central portion to the base plate by means of the central plate; the bolts E,
E and E are next placed in position; the cushion is next inserted in place and
its slotted portions cemented together and to the base plate; the lateral edges of the
cover are next turned inwardly and the securing plate forced into position;
the saddle spring is next placed in position and the nuts for the bolts placed over
the springs in threaded engagement with the holts and firinly secured together,
thus securing all of the parts of the saddle together. When it is necessary to
repair the saddle or remove the inner cushion for renewal, all that is necessary is
to remove the nuts on the securing bolts, take off the spring and securing plate,
remove the cushion, and repair it or renew it, as the case may be.
The principal advantages due to a saddle constructed as outlined above, and
shown in the drawings, are, first, that the saddle may be constructed economically,
in that all the sewing is dispensed with; second, it dispenses with several old
parts, thereby necessitating less material and reducing the initial expense; and,
third, the saddle may be repaired and the parts put together without the necessity
for disassociating all of the parts due to the fact that all of the parts that it is
necessary to disassociate can be taken apart quickly and economically.
While I have described my invention with more or less minuteness as regards

page_text: details, as being embodied in certain precise forms, and as being adapted to certain
specific classes of saddles, I do not desire to be limited thereto unduly, any more
than is pointed out in the claims. On the contrary, I contemplate all proper
changes in construction, form and arrangement, the omission of immaterial elements
and the substitution of equivalents, as circumstances may suggest or necessity
render expedient.
said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a saddle, the combination of a base plate, a cover portion, a cushion
inserted between the cover and base plate, and means for detachably securing the
parts together, substantially as described.
2. In a saddle, the combination of a metallic base plate, a cover portion, and a
supplementary plate securing the cover and base plate together, substantially as
described.
3. In a saddle, the combination of a base plate provided with a flanged rim, a
cover portion having its edges brought in juxtaposition to the flanged rim of the base
plate, and a supplementary plate for securing the cover and base plate together,
substantially as described.
4. In a saddle, the combination of a metallic base plate provided with a flanged
rim, a cover portion having its edges folded under the edge of the flanged rim,
and a supplementary plate arranged underneath the base plate for securing the
cover and flanged rim together, substantially as described.
5. In a saddle, the combination of a metallic base plate provided with a down-
wardly turned flanged rim, a cover portion formed of leather or similar substance
having its lateral edges folded under the flanged rim of the base plate, and a supple-
mentary plate provided with serrated edges arranged so as to contact or indent
the leather cover and secure the parts together, substantially as described.
6. In a saddle, the combination of a base plate provided with a flanged rim, a
cover portion secured at or near its central portion to the base plate and having
its edges in contact with the flanged rim, a supplementary plate for securing the
cover and flanged rim together, means for holding the supplementary plate firmly
in engagement with the base plate, and a cushion interposed between the cover
and the base plate, substantially as described.
7. In a saddle, the combination of a base plate provided with a central aperture
or apertures and a flanged rim, a cover portion provided with an aperture or
apertures and having its edges passed underneath the flanged rim, à metallic
portion for securing the cover and base plate together at or near its central portions,
a supplementary plate provided with serrated or notched edges for holding the
cover and base plate together, a bolt and nut mechanism for securing the base and
supplementary plates together, and a pneumatic cushion inserted between the cover
and the base plate provided with a longitudinal slit in its rear portion to permit
the removal or insertion of such cushion without disturbing the relation of the
cover and base plate, substantially as described.
8. In a saddle, the combination of a cushion provided with transverse and
longitudinal slits to permit the removal or insertion of the cushion into or out of
its place of use, substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.