Year: 1886

page_text: I, CHARLES MARSHELL CLARKE of Pittsburgh in the County of Allegheny, State
of Pennsylvania and United States of America, Draughtsman, do hereby declare the
nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The invention herein relates to certain improvements in the class or kind of
bicycle saddles in which the saddle proper is suspended from springs attached to
the reach or back bone of the machine, and the object of said invention is to so
construct the spring support of the saddle and to so attach such spring that the
inclination of the saddle may be readily and quickly adjusted, and that the
elasticity of the greater part of the spring may be effective in resisting shocks to
which the machine may be subjected; and to these ends my invention consists
in the construction and combination all as more fully hereinafter described and
claimed.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a bicycle having my improved saddle
secured in place thereon.
Fig. 2, is a top plan view of the saddle spring.
Fig. 3, is a side elevation of the rear portion of the spring showing the manner of
securing the cross bar.
Fig. 4, is a side elevation of a modified form of the spring.
Fig. 5, is a top plan view of a portion of the same.
Fig. 6, is a sectional view, the section being taken on the line x-x, Fig. 1.
To the reach or back-bone 1, is attached, by means of the clip 2; the spring 3,
provided with an enlarged spoon shaped portion, 4, adapted to fit the back-bone and
afford a sufficient bearing for the spring. The rear end of the spring curves
gradually upward for a short distance and then curves abruptly upward and
inward over the lower portion. To the end of the rear portion of the spring, is
secured by rivets or other suitable means the cross piece 5, provided with a series
of holes through which is passed the lacings or rivets whereby the rear end of the
flexible seat 6, is secured to the cross piece. The front portion 7, of the spring is
formed in a manner similar to the rear end, with the exception that the radii of
the curves of the front portion are preferably shorter than those of the rear
portion. The free end of the front portion projects rearwardly over the main
portion of the spring, and is provided with an eye 8, through which is passed a
strap or tongue 9, formed on or secured to the front end of the flexible seat said
tongue or strap being secured to the under part of the saddle by the buckle 10, as
clearly shown, whereby the tension of the flexible seat may be adjusted as desired.
If desired, this C shaped spring may be made in two parts as shown in Fig. 4,
one part being provided with a slot 11, and the other being secured thereto by

page_text: means of bolts passing through the slot. By this construction provision is made
for lengthening the spring either for the purpose of tightening the flexible seat or
for permitting the use of longer or shorter seats. In lieu of securing the cross piece
to the rear end of the spring by rivets or bolts, said cross piece may, if desired, be
formed integral with the spring, but I prefer the construction shown as being less
expensive.
In securing the spring to the reach or back-bone, the forward end is supported
by the shoulder 12, projecting rearwardly from the neck of the reach, as shown in
Fig. 1, and by moving the spring along the back-bone the front end thereof will be
raised or lowered according to the direction in which the spring is moved. It will
be observed that the curvature of the spring is such that it has a comparatively
short bearing upon the back-bone, and in securing the spring in place, the clip
should be placed a little forward of the normal bearing point of the spring.
The construction of spring above described permits of placing the seat in closer
proximity to the back-bone than in that class of machines where the seat is attached
to the middle of a spring having its ends secured to the back-bone, or even in that
kind where two springs are employed.
In case it is desired to place the spring so far back or down the reach or back-
bone that its forward end will not be supported by the shoulder 12, I employ two
clips, one at each end of the spoon shaped bearing 4, for securing the spring to the
reach.
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. The combination of the reach or back-bone of a bicycle, a spring having
upturned ends and secured at or near its middle point to said back-bone, and a seat
secured to said upturned ends, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination of the reach or back-bone of a bicycle, a spring having
upturned ends and secured at or near its middle point to said back-bone and in
such position thereon that its forward end may be supported on a shoulder formed
on the neck of the reach, and a flexible seat having its front and rear ends attached
to the upturned ends of the spring, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination of the reach or back-bone of a bicycle, a C-shaped spring
adjustably secured at or near its middle point to said back-bone, its forward end
being supported by a shoulder formed on the neck of the back-bone, and a flexible
seat having its front and rear ends attached to the ends of the spring, substantially
as set forth.
4. A spring for a bicycle seat having upwardly and inwardly curved ends and
provided with an enlargement near its middle point, adapted to fit the reach or
back-bone of a bicycle, substantially as set forth.
5. A spring for a bicycle seat having upwardly and inwardly curved ends, said
spring being made in two parts adjustable on each other, whereby the spring may
be lengthened or shortened, substantially as set forth.
100K
Witnesses,
R. H. WHITTLESEY.
DARWIN S. WOLCOTT.
CHARLES MARSHELL CLARKE.