Improvements in Seat or Saddle Supports for Cycles and other similar Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 20th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Seat or Saddle Supports for Cycles and other
similar Vehicles.
I, PAUL RICHARD GULDEN, of 11, Plagwitzer Strasse, Leipsic, in the Kingdom
of Saxony and German Empire, Manufacturer, 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 improvements in seat or saddle supports in cycles
(bicycles, tricycles and similar vehicles) and its object is to provide improved
means for so mounting the seats or saddles in cycle frames as to allow the same to
freely follow, or yield to, the movements of the rider, to thereby neutralize the
effects of friction and shocks and thus to render the exercise of riding more con-
venient and less fatiguing for the rider.
Bicycle seats or saddles have heretofore in some cases been constructed with
relatively moveable resilient or elastic parts, and in other cases they have been so
mounted in the cycle frames as to be suspended and to swing thereon. Cycle
saddles or seats of this class do not, however, appear to have been adopted to any
great extent and, as regards the suspended swinging saddles, they present several
objections. They cannot be applied to all bicycles, but only to such as have been
specially constructed or arranged for the purpose and, on the other hand, they
present this objection, that they do not afford a sufficient counter-support for the
rider when he wants to put extra pressure on to the pedals, as in racing or riding
up-hill.
According to my present invention I avoid these objections by providing improved
means whereby the seat or saddle may be so mounted on a cycle as to be freely
moveable thereon both longitudinally and laterally on its axis, but wherein the
extent of such movements and more especially the extent of its rearward move-
ment is confined within certain fixed limits, so that the rider, no matter what
pressure he applies in pedalling, will have a fixed counter-support.
My invention, therefore consists in the improved method of mounting the seat or
saddle supports in cycles, as hereinafter more fully described, and it consists also
in a seat or saddle support for cycles having a moveable part constructed and
arranged as hereinafter more fully described and shown in the accompanying
drawing, the said seat or saddle support possessing the additional advantage that
it may be readily applied to any of the usual cycles, and that cycle seats or saddles
of the usual kinds may be attached thereto.
In the accompanying drawing illustrating my invention by way of example,
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in vertical longitudinal section, of my
improved seat or saddle support, the same being here shown as mounted in the
respective tubular portion of a bicycle or other frame, and its attached saddle
being indicated by dotted lines.
Figure 2 is a corresponding vertical transverse section on the line x-x of
Figure 1.
Viure 3 is a similar section of a modification to be referred to

page_text: The improved seat or saddle support, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, consists,
essentially, of a tubular casing A provided with the usual shank B for insertion
into the tubular frame portion C of a bicycle, tricycle or other similar vehicle, and
of a slide E supported within the said casing A on anti-friction balls D, such slide
being capable of both a longitudinal sliding movement and of a lateral rocking
movement to the right and left within the said casing. An arm F provided on top
of the said slide E extends upward through a longitudinal guide slot G of the
casing A. and carries at its upper end a bar H to which the seat or saddle may be
attached in the usual and well known manner. The curvature of the outer sur-
face of the slide E preferably corresponds with that of the adjoining inner portion
of the casing A, whilst the curvature of its inner surface conforms to the outer
curvature of the supporting anti-friction balls D. The said slide is slightly shorter
than the internal length of the casing A and its circumferential development is
less than half that of the interior of such casing. In the lower portion of the
casing A is provided a fixed run or race A¹, for the balls D, forming shoulders H¹
as shown.
This arrangement allows free movement of the slide E, and hence of the attached
seat or saddle, both towards the front and rear as well as to the right and left as
indicated in the drawing; the amount of friction being, at the same time, reduced
to a minimum. The extent of the lateral rocking movement is limited, by the
engagement of the arm F with the respective sides of the guide slot G and also
by the engagement of the edges of the slide E with the shoulders H¹ of the run
or race A provided within the casing A as shown; whereas the forward and rear
ward movement of the said slide is limited by the respective closed ends of the
casing A. Within the latter cushions or pads J of india-rubber or other suitable
material may be provided for the ends of the slide E to act against, the said cushions
or pads being preferably held in place by threaded caps K screwed on to the
respective threaded end portions of the casing, the said caps thus closing the ends
of the casing. It is obvious that for closing the ends of the casing I may also
employ screw threaded plugs entering corresponding threaded openings in the
respective casing ends, or that other suitable means may be employed for the
purpose.
In order to provide for removing the slide E from within the casing A, the one
upper end portion of the latter, adjoining the respective end of the guide slot G,
may be formed as a separate moveable part adapted to slide in suitable guides, as
shown at L in Figure 1, and to be partly or entirely withdrawn. I may also
surround this end portion of the casing with suitable rings to assist in normally
holding the said moveable part in place.
In the modified construction shown in transverse section in Figure 3 the body
portion of the slide within the casing A is made round in transverse section and
is entirely surrounded by anti-friction balls D¹.
It is obvious that the shank B, instead of being connected with the casing A at
or near the longitudinal centre thereof as shown, may be attached at or near one
of the ends of the casing, so as to thereby give the entire seat or saddle support
an L-shape instead of the T-shape shown. I also wish it understood that it
would not be a departure from this invention to substitute anti-friction rollers
for the anti-friction balls shown.
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 method of so mounting the seats or saddles in cycles and other similar
vehicles by means of anti-friction bodies, as to allow of a limited sliding movement,
longitudinally, and of a limited rocking movement, laterally, of the seats or
saddles on the said anti-friction bodies, substantially as described.
2. In a cycle seat or saddle support a tubular casing, a slide moveably supported
therein by anti-friction bodies, an arm on said slide extending through an open-

page_text: ing in said casing and adapted to have a seat or saddle secured thereon, and means
for limiting the extent of movement of the said slide within the said casing, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In a cycle seat or saddle support the combination, with a tubular casing A
having an upper guide slot G and a shank B, of a slide supported on anti-friction
bodies, such as balls, within said casing, an arm F on said slide, projecting through
said guide slot and having an extension for the attachment of a seat or saddle, end
stops, such as J, for limiting the extent of axial movement of the said slide, and
side stops, such as H', for limiting the extent of lateral rocking movement of the
said slide, substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. The details of construction and combination of parts, substantially as shown
in the drawings Figures 1, 2 and 3.
J. C. CHAPMAN, C.P.A.
Associate Agent, 70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.