Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1898
I, HANS LEBER of Homburg v.d. H., in the Empire of Germany, Doctor of
Medicine, 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 an improved cycle saddle and it has for its object to
obviate in every respect the pressure, hitherto experienced, upon the urethra or
urinary passage and bowels &c. and to afford a comfortable and safe seat.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrates this invention:-
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation, and
Figure 2 is an underside view of the same.
In both views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The main advantage of this improved saddle is that the peak is dispensed with
and the saddle is cut out at that place in the form of a semi-circle.
Connected to the saddle a by means of hinges care "leg splints" & adapted to
bear against the underside of the thighs of the rider. These "splints" seen from
above show a slight concavity of surface. The hinge connection are such as to
exclude all possibility of the limbs or garments of the rider becoming pinched or
caught thereby.
Whereas hitherto a cyclist rested by means of his perineum upon the peak of
bis saddle, whereby diseases of the urinary and sexnal organs were frequently
caused, now with this improved saddle the weight of his body is transmitted by his
thighs to the splints b.
In order that the cyclist shall have a firm seat it is further necessary that he
should be able to sit with both ischia or seat-bones upon the saddle. This is also
completely effected by this construction, as shown by Figure 2, in which the
supporting or bearing surface is made with a width corresponding to the anatomical
distance between the two seat-bones; whereas in the narrow saddles at present
made, the seat-bones are either wholly unsupported or at least insufficiently
supported, and the weight of the rider is really borne by the perineum alone.
.
The two splints b are attached to the front part of the saddle in such a manner
that in the position of rest, one splint is inclined downwardly, and the other splint
is approximately horizontal. This is effected by means of the following device on
the underside of the saddle:-The double levers e sliding in guides d are mounted
on a cranked axle in such a manner that when one splint is depressed, the other
splint is moved upwards and vice versu. For this purpose the cranked portions of
the axle are arranged at an angle to each other. Now when the rider begins to
pedal, one of his thighs acts to depress the corresponding splint, whilst the other
splint bears up against his other thigh and acts to press the thigh upwards.
The power exerted in riding remains the same as beforo, because the force which
is used to depress one thigh, acts to press the other thigh up again. The springs i
that support the saddle are now to be arranged to suit the lever mechanism, which
is similarly the case with the saddle pin s.
This improved construction of saddle is designed with a view to properly support
the various parts of the body and by using this saddle there is no liability to cause
diseases of the urinary and sexual organs which are produced by the saddles at
present in use, because the extremely sensitive perineum is no longer affected and
is left entirely free.

page_text: With this saddle the rider mounts his cycle and seats himself upon the saddle in
exactly the same manner as hitherto, and it affords further facility in dismounting
because the splint of that leg which dismounts first and which is therefore always
the most depressed, is also depressed at the moment of disinounting and thereby
allows of the rider gliding off easily from the saddle. This advantage will benefit
ladies in particular, because they will merely slip off the saddle to the side on
which they wish to dismount without being compelled to lift the other leg over the
peak of the saddle as heretofore.
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 improved cycle saddle substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
(2.) A cycle saddle having two splints & movably connected or jointed to the
seat proper a the said splints being positively connected together in such a manner
that as one splint moves upwards the other splint moves downwards, as and for the
purpose set forth.
(3.) A form of construction of the cycle saddle specified in the preceding claim
in which the positive connection of the two splints is effected by means of a lever
mechanism effixed to the underneath part of the saddle, as set forth.
Dated this 17th day of Nov 1900
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Iust. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.