Improvements in Bicycle Saddles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1895--Accepted, 16th Feb., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycle Saddles.
I, HENRY ANDREW CHRISTY, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at 161 South Canal Street, in the City of Chicago, in the County of Cook,
and State of Illinois, U.S.A., Manufacturer, 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 :-
With the prevailing styles of bicycle saddles there is much complaint upon the
part of riders that they are injured by the friction, rubbing or pressure exerted
upon sensitive portions of the body by the saddles. These injuries are wholly due,
as I conceive, to the shape of the saddles, which, as ordinarily constructed, are
made long and narrow, the widest portion being at the rear and tapering to a point
at the front. This pointed front portion, which I term the horn, presents a convex
upper surface and projects far enough forward to enter well between the limbs of
the rider, and by reason of this fact this portion of the seat is in rubbing contact
with the limbs, and what is more serious it is very liable to exert a pressure upon
other and very easily injured portions of the person.
In my improved saddle I have only a truncated horn, that is to say, I omit from
it all of the horn except. so much as is essential to enable the rider to maintain.
himself easily against slipping side-wise on the seat, and I also prefer that this
truncated horn portion, instead of being convex upon its upper surface, as in the
old construction, should be cut away or concave, centrally thereof, thereby giving
room for the portions of the person which are so easily injured. I also preferably
make the rear of the saddle wider than ordinarily constructed so as to sustain the
fleshy portion of the buttocks as well as the pelvis, and may provide upon each side
of the scat portion, in the preferred form shown in Figures 1 to 3, a sunken portion
or recess constructed to receive and hold pads or cushions which may be removably
fitted therein, for the comfort and ease of the rider. Such recesses or sunken
portions may, however, be omitted in some cases. The saddle may be made of
wood or metal, or papier maché or pulp, or any other suitable material or
combination of materials to produce a solid seat.
These features of the invention
will be fully understood from the accompanying drawings and the following
description thereof.
In the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as a part of this
Specification,
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of my improved saddle; Figure 2 is a
plan of the same;
Figure 3 a section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified construction; and Figure 5 is a
plan view of said modification.
A, A, denote the sides of the saddle which are intended to support the pelvic
portions of the body. As shown they are considerably wider than the ordinary
saddle, thereby adapting them to support the fleshy portions of the buttocks more
perfectly than does the old construction. At each side of the seat portion, in the
form shown in Figures 1 to 3, are provided or formed sunken or recessed
portions a, a, adapted to receive and hold pads or cushions fitted therein; said
recesses being formed with abrupt marginal walls, as at a', a', which serve to hold
the pads in proper position when in use, and prevent the same from slipping; pads
or cushions being provided of a suitable size or shape to adapt the same to be

page_text: retained in said recesses, but to be readily removed therefrom, when desired, in
case it is desired to substitute other pads therefor, or for any other purpose. The
saddle is also formed with a neck or horn portion as shown at B, which extends
forward a short distance so as to enable the rider to maintain himself upon the
saddle against lateral movement, but does not extend far enough forward to project
between the legs of the rider so as to cause a rubbing action, and is cut away or
recessed upon its upper surface centrally of said horn portion as at b, for the
purpose bereinbefore stated. The cushions C may be made of any suitable material
adapted to afford a soft and comfortable seat for the rider. The recesses adapted
to receive said cushions may be varied in form and size according to requirements
or the desires of the manufacturer, and to adapt the saddle to individuals of
different sizes.
When the recesses or sunken portions a, a, are not used the general surface of
the body portion of the saddle may be smooth, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5.
The rear portion may also be curved, if desired, as at a², and the sides as at a³, a³,
which latter terminate in such manner as to form a truncated horn or neck B; the
neck or horn extending forward but a short distance and being divided by a
suitably recessed or cut away open portion b.
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 1
claim is :-
:-
1st. A bicycle saddle having a solid top provided with a horn portion shortened
up or truncated so that it will not project between the legs of the rider, and also
cut away or recessed upon its upper surface centrally of said horn portion,
substantially as described.
2nd. A bicycle saddle having a solid top provided upon its upper surface with
recessed or sunken portions at each side of the seat portion constructed to receive
and hold removable pads; said recesses being formed with abrupt marginal walls
to prevent the pads from slipping, substantially as described.
3rd. A bicycle saddle having a solid top provided upon its upper surface with
recessed or sunken portions at each side of the seat portion constructed to receive
and hold pads; said recesses being formed with abrupt marginal walls to prevent
the pads from slipping, in combination with pads adapted to fit said recesses so as
to be removably retained therein, substantially as described.
4th. A bicycle saddle having a solid top provided upon its upper surface with
recessed or sunken portions at each side of the seat portion constructed to receive
and hold removable pads, and having a horn portion shortened up or truncated so
that it will not project between the legs of the rider, and also cut away or recessed
upon its upper surface centrally of said horn portion, substantially as described.
Dated this 15th day of January 1895.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.