IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLES FOR VELOCIPEDES to be as follows:
Year: 1885

page_text: I LOUIS SCHMETZER, doing business under the firm of Louis Schmetzer & Cie,
manufacturer of Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Bavaria, German Empire, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLES FOR
VELOCIPEDES to be as follows:-
"
This invention relates to that class of velocipede saddles provided with air-
cushions.
The air cushioned saddles heretofore used for velocipedes consist of indiarubber
bags of suitable shape covered with cloth and adapted to be inflated in the known
manner, these bags being secured upon saddle-plates of suitable shape.
In use, euch a saddle adapts itself to the body of the rider so perfectly that for
want of ventilation unpleasant consequences frequently result. Moreover, the
rider does not sit firmly upon such a saddle but rocks at every movement of the
body. Such air cushioned saddles are therefore seldom used having been proved
undesirable by reason of the above stated defects.
According to this invention the indiarubber bag is placed between the saddle-
plate, which is suitably shaped, and a leather covering connected with the rim of
the said plate, so that on inflating the said bag, chambers are formed between the
said covering and the saddle plate, which chambers occasion good ventilation when
the saddle is in use. The air-cushion is provided with lateral portions which
prevent the legs of the rider from coming into contact with the saddle-plate and
which follow the movements of the legs in such a manner that friction is completely
obviated.
The saddle-plate serves for uniting the saddle with the frame of the velocipede
and is made so narrow towards the front that the lateral portions of the air-cushion
extend so far beyond these edges that the legs of the rider cannot under any
circumstances, as before stated, come into contact with the said plate.
The indiarubber bag is shaped according to the form of the saddle plate, and is
secured upon it by a leather covering, the edges of which are connected by rivets to
the plate at its front and rear ends.
The saddle plate, as well as the cushion and the covering, is provided in the
middle with holes or with a slit which prevent the passage of the external air and
form open chambers between the plate and covering. The indiarubber bag is
provided in the known manner with means for enabling it to be filled with air.

page_text: The movements of the cushion are regulated during riding by the leather
covering, and by reason of the ventilation no unpleasant consequences result.
In the ascending and descending movements of the rider's legs the air-chambers
between the plate and covering are alternately compressed and expanded again by
the elastic power of the cushion and covering. A'rapid circulation of air through
the holes in the covering is thereby produced, which pleasant for the rider.
The saddle which does not yield to the movements of the rider as easily as when
the indiarubber cushion is placed in direct contact with the body also ensures a
safe and firm seat, whilst the lateral portions prevent, under any circumstances, the
contact of the legs with the edges of the saddle plate and accordingly prevent the
rider from being injured.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: I LOUIS SCHMETZER of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in the Empire of Germany
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SADDLES
FOR VELOCIPEDES 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 that class of velocipede saddles provided with air-
cushions.
The air-cushioned saddles heretofore used for velocipedes consist of india-rubber
bags of suitable shape covered with cloth and adapted to be inflated in the known
manner these bags being secured upon saddle-plates of suitable shape.
In use such saddles adapt themselves to the bodies of riders so perfectly that for
want of ventilation unpleasant consequences frequently result. Moreover riders
do not sit firmly upon such saddles but rock at every movement of the legs. Such
air cushioned saddles are therefore only seldom used not having proved desirable
by reason of the above stated defects.
According to this invention the india-rubber bag or cushion is placed between
the saddle-plate, which is suitably shaped, and a leather covering connected with
the rim of the said plate, so that on inflating the said cushion, chambers are formed
between the said covering and the saddle plate, which chambers occasion good
ventilation when the saddle is in use. The air cushion is provided with laterally
extending portions which prevent the legs of the rider from coming into contact
with the saddle-plate and which follow the movements of the legs in such a manner
that friction is completely obviated.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is side view of a saddle constructed according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same, and,
Figure 3 is a cross-section on the line x, y, Figure 2.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are a side view, plan and sectional view respectively of the air
cushion detached from the other portions of the saddle.
fis the saddle-plate which serves for uniting the saddle with the frame of the
velocipede. This plate is made so narrow towards the front that the laterally
extending portions a of the air cushion b extend so far beyond these edges that
the legs of the rider cannot under any circumstances, as before stated, come into
contact with the said plate f.
The india-rubber cushion b is shaped according to the form of the saddle-plate,
and is secured upon it by a leather covering g, the edges of which are connected by
rivets to the plate fat its front and rear ends.
The saddle plate f as well as the cushion b and the covering g, are provided in
the middle with holes e, or with a slit, which permit the communication of the
external air with the chambers d and h formed between the plate and covering.
The india rubber bag is provided in the known manner with means for enabling it
to be filled with air.
The movements of the cushion are regulated during riding by the leather
covering g; and by reason of the ventilation through the air chambers no

page_text: unpleasant consequences result. In the ascending and descending movements of
the rider's legs the air-chambers of the cushion are alternately compressed and
expanded again by the elastic power of the cushion and covering. A rapid
circulation of air through the holes c in the covering is thereby produced, which is
pleasant for the rider.
The saddle which does not yield to the movements of the rider as easily as when
the air cushion is placed in direct contact with the body also ensures a safe and
firm seat, whilst the laterally extending portions. a prevent under any circumstances
the contact of the legs with the edges of the saddle plate f and accordingly prevent
the rider from being injured.
said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my s
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is
First. A velocipede saddle provided with an air-cushion b which is arranged
between the saddle plate f and a leather covering g connected with the said plate,
and which has chambers d, h formed between the said plate and covering the said
chambers communicating with the atmosphere through perforations in the covering,
substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Second. In the saddle described in the preceding claiming clause the arrange-
ment on the air-cushion 6 of the portions a projecting beyond the edges of the
saddle plate.