Improvements in cycle-sauures.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in cycle-sauures.
I, GEORGE GARNER SMITH, of Riverslie, Crosby Road, Seaforth, in the County
of Lancaster, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
:-
This invention has reference to velocipede, principally bicycle, saddles; and
more especially to that type of saddle in which the seat surface is a hydraulic or
liquid cushion, the liquid being contained within a suitable container or con-
tainers, or principally so. For instance, it has reference to saddles of the type
specified in my former Application for Patent, No. 26338 of 1896 the present
application being, mainly, for improvements on the former invention, by which
the construction is simplified and rendered cheaper; there being comprised in
it however, also certain additional improvements.
In a saddle or saddle pad according to this invention, the water or other liquid
is contained within a comparatively shallow container or casing consisting of
upper and lower layers of canvas, or other textile or suitable material, held
together at suitable points by division strips, cords, or connections, and the whole
outside of which-viz. the article being coated with india rubber, or rubber proofed,
and made water tight. The container proper therefore, will consist of the textile
outer case, providing strength to the parts, and held together at suitable points
to preserve the shallow and flat form, and the external coating or proofing of
india-rubber, which would be applied in any suitable way to render the cushion
or seat water tight; and this waterproof case is enclosed or carried on the top and
sides with leather, or other suitable material.
Further, according to this invention, such a cushion or pad has at its base, a
metal plate shaped or formed to a predetermined form, and secured to the under-
side of the liquid containing parts; and thus fixes the shape of the
upper surface; the outer covering, when used, being preferably carried
round at its edges to the underside of this; and on the upper side,
between the container or case and the outer covering, a lining or layer of felt or
like material is provided in order to compensate for the small unevenness or
inequalities of the case, and so makes the outer surface even.
The cushion part or parts thus described, is or are secured to the base or sup-
port proper of the saddle. According to one construction, the saddle has a rigid
base or framework of metal, and of the required form; and the seating or cushion
is made up of two pads, one on either side, which rest upon, and are fastened
to the frame by suitable bolts or other fastenings, a longitudinal gap being pro-
vided between the two pads. The pads are so made that their front edges form
a cushion along such edges; and the cushion or soft edging projects beyond the
metallic or hard portion of the pads or frame; so that no chafing of the legs at
this point can take place, but on the other hand, gives a comfortable feeling. In
the case where the seat is made with a rigid base or form as described, the pads

page_text: are so shaped that they are slightly hollow or concave laterally, and at the same
time fall away forward, that is downwards towards the front edge.
In one form, a saddle frame according to this invention is made of tubes, bent
round to the shape of the pad or pads outside, and carried or extended longi-
tudinally along the middle, and also forward to form a peak.
In another case, it is made of metal, such as aluminium or aluminium alloy
cast or bent to the desired form; the forward centre portion being carried forward
in the form of a peak.
In some cases, this peak portion of the saddle will be provided on its upper surface
with an air cushion or pad, in which case, the saddle will consist of a combination
as far as the back or seating or resting portion is concerned, of hydraulic or water
pads or seats, and a central longitudinal air pad or seat along the peak, a space
being provided between the two pads along the centre.
The improvements hereunder are not necessarily used in combination; and
therefore one or more of them may be used separately, and in conjunction with
forms of saddles other than those particularly referred to therein.
Dated this 21st day of Santember 1907
-CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.
Improvements in Cycle-saddles.
I, GEORGE GARNER SMITII, of Riverslie, Crosby Road, Seaforth, in the County
of Lancaster, Solicitor, 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 has reference to velocipede, principally bicycle, saddles; and
more especially to that type of saddle in which the seat surface is a hydraulic or
liquid cushion, the liquid being contained within a suitable container or con-
tainers, or principally so. For instance, it has reference to saddles of the type
specified in my former Application for Patent, No. 26338 of 1896, the present
application being, mainly, for improvements on the former invention, by which
the construction is simplified and rendered cheaper; there being comprised in
it, however, also certain additional improvements.
In a saddle, or saddle pad, according to this invention, the water or other liquid
is contained within a comparatively shallow container or casing, consisting of
upper and lower layers of canvas, or other textile or suitable material, held
together at suitable points by division strips, cords, or connections, and the whole
outside of which-viz. the article, is coated with india-rubber, or rubber proofed
and made water tight. The container proper, therefore, will consist of the textile
outer case, providing strength to the parts, and held together at suitable points
to preserve
the shallow and flat form, and the external coating of
india-rubber, which would be applied in any suitable way, to render the cushion
or seat water tight; and this waterproof case is enclosed or carried on the top and
sides with leather, or other suitable material.
Further, according to this invention, such a cushion or pad has at its base, a
metal or other suitable plate, shaped or formed to a predetermined form, and
secured to the underside of the liquid containing parts; and thus retains the pad
in place and shape; the outer covering, when used, being preferably carried round

page_text: at its edges to the underside of this plate; and on the upper side, between the
container or case and the outer covering, a lining or layer of felt, or like material,
is provided, in order to compensate for the small unevenness or inequalities of the
case, and so makes the outer surface even.
The cushion part or parts thus described, is or are secured to the base or sup-
port proper of the saddle. According to one construction, the saddle has a rigid
base or framework of metal, and of the required form; and the seating or cushion
is made up of two pads, one on either side, which rest upon, and are fastened
to the frame by suitable bolts or other fastenings, a longitudinal gap being pro-
vided between the two pads. The pads are so made that their front edges form
a cushion along such edges; and the cushion or soft edging projects beyond the
metallic or hard portion of the pads or frame; so that no chafing of the legs at
this point can take place, but on the other hand, gives a comfortable feeling. In
the case where the seat is made with a rigid base or form, as described, the pads
are so shaped that they are slightly hollow or concave laterally, and at the same
time fall away forward, that is downwards towards the front edge.
In one form, a saddle frame, according to this invention, is made of tubes, bent
round to the shape of the pad or pads outside, and carried or extended longi-
tudinally along the middle, and also forward to form a peak.
In another case, it is made of metal, such as aluminium, or aluminium alloy,
cast or bent to the desired form; the forward centre portion, being carried forward
in the form of a peak.
In some cases, this peak portion of the saddle will be provided on its upper surface
with an air cushion or pad; in which case, the saddle will consist of a combination,
as far as the back or seating or resting portion is concerned, of hydraulic or water
pads or seats, and a central longitudinal air pad or seat along the peak, a space
being provided between the two pads along the centre.
and
The improvements hereunder are not necessarily used in combination;
therefore one or more of them may be used separately, and in conjunction with
forms of saddles other than those particularly referred to therein.
In the drawings illustrating this invention, Figure 1 is a plan, and Figure 2
a longitudinal sectional elevation taken at A, A, Figure 1. Figure 3 is a plan,
and Figure 4 part sectional elevation, showing a container separate from the
saddle frame.
Referring to the drawings, a is the textile or like case; bis the rubber skin
or covering on the outside of a and c are strips, cords, or connections, connecting
the roof portion of the container with the floor portion; and by which the
shallow or flat form of pad or cushion is produced and retained. In the draw-
ings it will be seen that the connections care arranged in the form of a scroll;
but it is to be understood that these parts can be applied in zig-zag, parallel, or
any other suitable form; and, also, that the outer rubber or waterproofing may
be applied in any suitable way; but, in any case, the case is made up as described,
prior to its being finally rendered fluid proof.
In Figure 3, the container is shown provided with a tubular end o, through
5 which it may be charged with fluid, this end, after charging, being closed.
0
35
Below the pads forming the seat proper of the saddle, are the metal or other
rigid frames . These frames may be in the form of plate, as shown, or wire,
or equivalent material, and, as will be seen by the drawings, are somewhat smaller,
generally, than the pads; and on to these frames, the pads or cushions are secured.
These frame plates, in the case shown, are covered with a canvas lining b¹; and
at the front edge are turned downwards, so as to provide for a soft bend or cushion-
ing along the edge of the pad. Further, in the case shown in the drawings, there
is a separate air filled pad or pillow, e, between the front edge of the pads, and
the plates d.
This lends additional softness to the front edges of the pad, forming a cushion
along such edges; and, as will be seen, mainly in Figure 2, this cushion or soft

page_text: .
edging projects beyond the metallic or hard portion of the pads or frame of the
saddle, so that no chafing of the legs at this point can take place; but, on the
other hand, gives a comfortable feeling.
In the transverse direction, the plates d may also be hollowed in the centre.
or of concave form, so that the upper surface of the pad will slightly dip towards
the centre in the transverse direction.
The plates d, with the pads attached, may be secured to the base of the saddle,
by studs or nuts d³..
Over the pads there is a leather covering i, which forms the general outside
cover to them, it being wrapped round and securely fastened, by a suitable
adhesive, to the pads; the pads, themselves, being provided externally, that is,
outside the rubber coat or skin b, with an outer canvas coating f, to which the
leather or like outside covering i will be adhered.
In some cases, as shown in the drawings, a felt, or other equivalent lining
is provided between the outside cover i, and the fluid containers.
The base shown in the drawings represents a dished metal base to the seat
proper, to a portion of which the two pads are secured, one at either side; the
space being provided between them. Also, in the saddle shown, there is used
or applied in combination witli the two seat pads, a single air pad 7 on the peak h¹
of the saddle frame or base h. This air pad may be enclosed or covered in by a
leather casing, and made similarly to the fluid containers above described. As
a modification of this front pad 1, it may be made in duplex, instead of single,
form, one along the edge at either side of the peak.
As above stated, in some cases, the air pad or cushion is not used; in which case
the flat fluid containing pads on the seat proper of the saddle are alone used. Or,
as a modification of this, the pads, or separate pads, containing liquid, may be
continued along the peak, either along the edges, or along the centre of it.
A modification of the base or frame of the saddle is shown in Figures 5 and 6,
Figure 6 being a section at B, B, Figure 5.
This modification consists of making a frame or base h of tube, of round, oval,
square, or other section, bent or made to the form and shape required; and to this
tube the pads or cushions of saddles of the character herein referred to may be
fastened.
Although this invention has been described as being mainly connected with cycle
saddles or seats, in which a fluid is employed within a container of same, yet, it is
to be understood that, if desired, air or other gas may be used within it, or them,
in lieu of liquids; and also that the improvements in the pads or cushions may
be applied, not only as forming an integral part of the saddle, but also as a cushion
for the saddle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The herein described, improvement in a cycle saddle seat or pad, namely,
a seat or pad comprising a fluid container or containers which is or are made up
of a case of textile or other suitable material, and an outer skin or covering of
india-rubber or proofing material, by which the said case..is rendered fluid
tight, the said textile or like case being rendered fluid tight subsequently to its
being formed or made up for the purposes specified.
**
"
2. A cycle saddle seat or cushion in which a fluid is contained, comprising a
textile or like casing a, parts of which are connected together by connections.c;
and an external skin or covering of rubber or similar proofing, b, applied subse-
quently to the formation or manufacture of the case; substantially as set forth..
3. A cycle.saddle seat or cushion, comprising. a container adapted to hold fluid
on which the rider sits, and a rigid base plate or frame, shaped, substantially as
described, to the form which the seat or cushion is to take, for the purposes set
forth.

page_text: 4. A cycle saddle, comprising, in combination, a rigid frame, fluid cushions or
pads at the back part of same, and a cushion or cushions containing air upon a
peak of the frame; substantially as set forth.
5. A cycle saddle having a frame or base made up of tubular form substantially
as set forth.
6. A cycle saddle having liquid cushions or seats carried forward and down-
ward at the front edges, to form a cushion along such edges, substantially as
described; and also as shown in and set forth with reference to the drawings.
7. The cycle saddle fluid containing cushion or pad, shown in and set forth
with reference to the drawings.
8. A cycle saddle, particularly as set forth with reference to, and shown in
the drawings.
Dated this 21st day of July 1898.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents 15, Water Street, Liverpool.