Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1897-Accepted; 12th Mar.,
1898
I, JOHN WILLIAM MACKENZIE, of the Firm of Wheatley and Mackenzie, Engineers
and Patent Agents, of 40, Chancery Lané, in the County of London, 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 seats for saddles for bicycles and similar vehicles, and
particularly to that class in which resilient cushions of air filled pads are interposed
between the supporting frame and the main body or seat portion of the saddle; and
the object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which the
saddle body or seat proper, while itself materially rigid, will be so supported as to be
vertically yieldable at any point upon which substantial pressure is exerted; a
further object of the invention being to form such a device as will be simple in
construction, ready and efficient of operation, strong, durable and capable of
withstanding the necessary strains of continued use; and to provide moreover a
device in which the cushions and the minor parts of the device other than the seat
body and the frame, are enclosed and protected, and the main parts secured in the
proper relations.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which :-
Fig. 1, an inverted plan view of a saddle embodying the invention, the attaching
device thereof being shown in section, corresponding to the line a, in Fig. 2, and
one of the securing caps being removed to exhibit the interior construction...
:f
Fig. 2, is a longitudinal central section of the saddle taken upon the line y, y,
ふ
Fig. 1, and showing also in elevation a portion of the cross head of the bicycle to
which the saddle is secured;
Fig. 3, is a rear elevation of the saddle.
In the drawing forming part of this specification, the separate parts of the improve→
ment are designated by the same letters of reference in each of the views, and in the
practice of the invention I form the seat proper or saddle body A, either of light
inetal such as aluminum or optionally of any other desired and suitable material,
preferably perforated, and in form approximately of a laterally elliptic or elongated
body provided with suitable depressions A¹, at each side of the centre thereof, the
saddle body being forwardly extended centrally to form a horn A2 of the saddle,
which is preferably upon a substantially horizontal plane with the main or average
surface of the saddle body.
Formed integrally with the front edge of the seat A, and extending downwardly
therefrom, is a flange A³, which ranges from one side of the seat body around the
horn A2 and following the contour of the front side of the seat.

page_text: Immediately beneath the form A2, and at each side of the seat body A, I form
cylindrical recesses or depressions A4, the walls of which, in the case of the rear or
side recesses, are annular downwardly projecting integral flanges A5, while the wall of
the forward recess is formed by the flange A³, in front of the horn A², in conjunction
with a segmental downwardly depending integral flange A6, rearwardly of said
flange A³, to complete the wall of said forward recess.
The supporting frame of the saddle consists of a spring frame B, which extends
between the side or rear recesses A4, and is preferably composed of a main rod
of heavy wire or metal having a sufficient resiliency of any desired degree, and
downwardly curved centrally as shown in Fig. 3, each end of the said rod being
formed into a nearly circular loop B¹, of a form and size to fit loosely within the
recesses A, the ultimate ends of each of said loops being extended parallel with the
main rod or bar B, to form rods B2, ranging toward the centre of the saddle and then
projecting or bent forwardly to form parallel rods B³, which unite in a loop B¹ within
the forward recess A', the said rods B3 being curved upwardly.
The walls A5, of each of the side recesses, and the rear wall A, of the forward
recess, have formed therein short vertical slots a extending from the lower edges
thereof upwardly to receive their respective rods B, B2 and B³, comprising the spring
frame, said slots being of a sufficient depth to permit vertical movement of the
loops B¹, in the recesses. The slots a, in the wall A6, are at a slightly greater
distance apart to receive the rods B³, it being noted that these rods are sufficiently
distant to permit the cross head of the bicycle to pass through the spring frame when
the horn of the saddle is tilted downwardly to an unusual degree.
Within each of the recesses A4, I insert a resilient cushion C, the same preferably
.consisting of an air pad formed of rubber or other yielding material, hollow and filled
with air under normal atmospheric pressure, said pads being preferably provided
with a flat or plane upper surface C¹, and a rounded or substantially convex under
surface C².
Beneath the convex surface C2 of the cushions C, and between the same and the
loops B¹, I insert disks D, which may be centrally apertured and provided with a
downwardly depending annular flange b, to prevent buckling. The said disks are
loosely inserted in the recesses so as to be capable of vertical movement of the whole
area, or any edge thereof, according to the direction or locality of the pressure
exerted upon the saddle..
The recesses A4, are closed by means of caps or disks E, each provided within its
periphery with an annular rib or flange c fitting within the walls of the recesses from
which ribs project lugs d, by means whereof said caps E are secured to said walls
through the agency of the screws e, inserted through both the walls and the said
lugs d, whereby the lower ends of the recesses are closed, and cushions C, disks D,
and the loops B¹, of the spring frame B, held within said recesses, and whereby the
said spring frame B is thus secured to the seat body in such manner as to be
vertically movable relative thereto, irrespective of its resiliency.
I have shown the saddle in the accompanying drawings particularly in Figs. 2 and
3, in position upon the cross-head F, of the bicycle saddle post, the same being
secured by means of a clasp G, consisting of a yoke shaped body adapted to
surround or receive within the same, the said cross head, said body being provided
with two upwardly projecting arms G¹, which are laterally ring shaped or circular,
and which surround the rod B, and fit between the rods B³. Within the rings G¹ are
inserted two semi-cylindrical sections H, provided upon inner faces with registering
concave grooves f, so that they clasp the rod B above and below the same 5
said sections being also provided with corresponding but larger grooves forwardly
of the grooves f, to receive the bent portions or junction of the rods B2 and B³
therein, and the said sections are also provided in the front thereof with notches h to
fit or clasp said rods B³. Between these semi-cylindrical sections and the cross
head F of the bicycle, is inserted a block 1, concaved on its upper surface to fit the 5
lower section H, and formed substantially V-shaped or notched on its under surface.

page_text: or engage the cross head. The ring G¹ being loosely mounted upon the rod B,
with the yoke G depending therefrom, the sections H which are removable, are
placed one above and one below the spring frame, so that said sections will also be
surrounded by said rings G¹, and after inserting the block I beneath said sections and
slipping the yoke G upon the cross-head, the clamp may be secured by turning the
usual set-screw i which is inserted through the lower end of the yoke G, and the
tightening of the said screw, which bears against the cross-head F, has the effect of
drawing the rings G¹ downwardly, and forcing the two sections H together so that
they firmly clasp the spring frame B and clamp the same to the cross-head through
the medium of the block I.
In the operation of this saddle it will be observed that the fulcrum or point of
rigidity of the device is the clamp sections H, and that the connection of the saddle
body or seat therewith is vertically yieldable at any point of its area, while the same
will be held in a normal position of the cushions C, and at such angle as may be
elected when it is clamped to the cross-head. Assuming pressure to be exerted at the
horn of the saddle, it will be seen from the drawings and particularly Fig. 2 that the
first effect will be compression, of the cushions C between the horn A2 and the disk D
supported by the loop B' of the spring frame B which moreover, imparts an upward
tendency thereto, against the resiliency of the cushions; and if the pressure be
appreciable the compression of the cushion will continue until the arm B strike the
top of the slots, at which point further compression of the cushions nearly ceases, and
the resiliency of the spring frame then comes in force, which not only prevents too
great undue rebound of the saddle when the pressure is relieved, it being readily seen
that the cushions will yield under any pressure however slight, until such pressure is
sufficient to bear against the spring frame, fulcrumed near its loop against the top of
the slots, at which point the depth of depression of the horn proportionally to the
force exerted will naturally be materially lessened by greater stiffness of the spring
over the cushions. Should the pressure be exerted upon the extremity of the horn,
the rounded or convexed surface C2 of the cushion permits the forward edge of the
disk D and the loop B¹ rise, whereby the end of the horn more quickly depresses
against diminished resistance, so that injury does not result from sudden contact
with the edges of the saddle when seated upon the same. Similarly if the pressure
is midway of two of the cushions, or centrally of and equally upon all of the same,
each cushion jointly with the others in operating substantially as hereinabove
specified. The limitation of compression of the cushions prevents the saddle from
being rendered absolutely useless by the possible destruction of one cushion, and the
form of the said cushions, with the plane upper surface C¹ and the convex or rounded
under surface C², prevents the displacement thereof, in addition to their function in
the direct operation of the device.
I do not confine myself to details of construction nor to the exact elements, or
form thereof, herein set forth, as the scope of the invention embodied in my improved
saddle is wide as to its material essentials, and the novel functions and results con-
sidered by me to be attained by this invention permit of substantial modification of
minor parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.
It will be observed that approximately all the structural defects and injurious
operative effects of an ordinary, bicycle saddle are absent in this invention. A saddle
having a high or a hard pommel is notoriously productive of discomfort, suffering and
material physical injury, to riders of both sexes, particularly to women upon many of
whom such radical effects have resulted as have led to an unmerited condemnation of
feminine cycling in general by a substantial proportion of physicians; such saddles
often inducing prositus and kindred ailments, and superinducing many theretofore
latent nervous affections. The broad laterally elliptic body unprojected horn of the
saddle afford a secure seat without a tendency of slipping, the unpadded, clean
perforated metal surface being cool, restful, and comfortable; and it is by reason of
the novel structure support, and yieldable cushioning that I am able to so form the
saddle, and derive therefrom these obvious advantages.

page_text: 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 I claim
is :-
1. A saddle for bicycles and other vehicles, comprising a seat body formed with a
plurality of recesses beneath the same resilient cushions within said recesses, a spring
frame which is adapted to be secured to the vehicle, the ends of said frame being
directed against the resilient cushions and bearing upwardly against the same, and
means for securing the seat body and spring frame against mutual detachment,
in such manner that the said seat is vertically movable relatively to said spring
frame.
2. In a saddle of the character described, a support consisting of a spring frame
formed of a laterally ranging body provided centrally with a forwardly ranging
extension, whereby a plurality of arms are formed resilient from the center of the
frame and extending to each side and to the forward end of the saddle, and adapted
to be suitably connected with the seat body to support the same.
3. In a saddle of the character described, a seat body consisting of a single integral
part formed with a downwardly ranging curved flange at the front thereof, and
rearwardly of said flange beneath the horn, with a segmental flange to form a
recess, and annular flanges depending from said seat at each side thereof to form
like recesses, each of the said recesses being adapted to receive a resilient cushion,
and the walls thereof being formed to receive the ends of the supporting frame of
the saddle.
4. In a saddle of the character described, a spring frame consisting of a continuous
strip of resilient material, formed of a main or laterally ranging rod with parallel
supplemental rods, centrally projected forwardly to form parallel rods ranging at
right angles each of the ends of the spring frame being formed into a loop to support
the seat body.
5. A saddle for bicycles or other vehicles, comprising a seat body, having recesses
formed beneath the same at the front and sides thereof, resilient cushions within
said recesses, a spring frame adapted to be secured to the vehicle, and having its
ends extended to enter said recesses to bear against the cushions, each of said ends
being provided with means to engage said cushions whereby they are compressed by
downward movement of the seat body, and means or devices for securing the
cushions within the recesses and maintaining the spring frame in relation thereto in
such manner that the seat body is vertically movable relatively to said frame.
6. A saddle for bicycles and other vehicles, comprising a seat body having
depending annular flanges upon the under surface thereof to form recesses, resilient
cushions within said recesses, a spring frame adapted to be secured to the vehicle,
and formed with a plurality of arms which project through the flanges or walls of
said recesses, and bear against the cushions, said walls being formed to permit
vertical movement of said arms and means adapted to engage said flanges or walls to
retain the parts within the recesses in such manner as to permit vertical movement
of the seat body relatively to the spring frame.
7. A saddle for bicycles or other vehicles, comprising a seat body provided with
annular depending flanges upon the under surface thereof at its front and sides,
whereby are formed recesses, resilient cushions in each of the said recesses, a spring
frame adapted to be secured to the vehicle and extending laterally between the side
recesses and longitudinally to the forward recesses, the ends of the said frame being'
enlarged or formed to fit within said- recesses, said flanges being provided with vertical
slots receiving the arms of the frame to permit vertical movement thereof, and disks
or caps engaging the flanges to substantially wholly enclose each recess and retain the
parts therein.
8. A saddle for bicycles or other vehicles, comprising a seat-body provided with
annular depending flanges upon the under surface thereof whereby are formed
recesses, resilient cushions within said recesses a spring frame adapted to be secured
to the vehicle and consisting of a continuous strip formed into parallel lateral rods

page_text: and central longitudinal rods, the ends of said rods being connected and formed into
loops inserted in each of the recesses of the seat-body and adapted to bear upwardly
against the cushions, the flanges or walls of said recesses being provided with vertical
slots through which the frame-rods pass disks inserted between the loops and the
cushions to receive the pressure thereof, and disks or caps engaging the flanges or
walls to wholly enclose the recesses, and provided with means for fastening the
same.
9. In a saddle of the character described an attaching device comprising clasped
sections adapted to engage its upper and under surfaces of a supporting frame of the
saddle, rings mounted on said frame and surrounding said sections, said rings
terminating a depending yoke adapted to surround the cycle cross-head, and means
for causing the parts to frictionally engage to clamp the saddle in position.
Dated this 14th day of December 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.