Improvements in or connected with Saddles or Seats for Bicycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date claimed for ratent under sect. TUD OF ACT,
being date of first Foreign Application (in (28th Dec., 1896
United States of America),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 25th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 15th May,
1897
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 25th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Saddles or Seats for Bicycles
and other Vehicles.
I, CHARLES SINCLAIR DRUMMOND of 10 Eastcheap in the City of London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner, the
same is to be performed to be, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :--
A known means of supporting or attaching the saddles or seats of bicycles and
other vehicles, consists in a combination of two or more hanging links and two or
more standing links, each hanging link being loosely articulated to at least one
standing link at the lower extremities thereof, and the upper extremity of cach
hanging link being articulated loosely to the L-pin, crutch or other supporting part
of the bicycle or vehicle, whilst the saddle proper is attached in any convenient
manner to the upper extremities of the standing links. In the case of the said
known means the saddle is capable of free longitudinal movement, that is to say,
of free movement fore and aft, but it is incapable of any lateral movement whatever.
In my invention I also employ a similar combination of hanging and standing links,
but I so modify the arrangement and construction of the parts as to enable the saddle
to be capable of a certain lateral oscillatory or rocking motion, in addition to the said
longitudinal or fore and aft motion, and which in some cases is considered desirable.
In order that my invention may be readily understood, I shall now proceed to
describe one form thereof (the said form being one which gives good results in
practice); and for this purpose I shall refer to the accompanying drawing, the first
three figures of which illustrate the said form, and the fourth and fifth figures of
which illustrate modifications thereof.
In the said drawing:
--
Figure I is a part elevation and part longitudinal section of the said form,
Figure II is a rear elevation, and
Figure III is an elevation of the hanging and standing links of the fore part of the
saddle..
Figures IV and V are modifications.
In the drawings similar letters of reference indicate similar or equivalent parts.
Referring now to Figures I, II and III, A is the L-pin for supporting the saddio,
the said L-pin being of the usual well-known form. Upon the said L-pin is the bent
steel strap of well-known shape B. To the ends of the said strap are rivetted the
loops C, D, to which are articulated the upper extremities of the hanging links E, F,
the lower extremities of which are attached to the lower suspension blocks G, H. To
the said blocks G, H, are articulated the lower extremities of the standing links J, K.

page_text: To the upper ends of the standing links the saddle L is attached in any convenient
manner. In the actual case illustrated the saddle is attached to the standing links by
the rivets M. N is a brace or tie connecting the fore and the rear standing links, and
which brace may be employed when desired. O is a clip or binder for affixing the
strap B to the L-pin A
It will be seen that while the articulations at G and H admit of free longitudinal or
fore and aft motion only, the articulations at C and D admit not only of longitudinal
motion, but also of free lateral rocking motion. It will also be seen that in the form
illustrated the rear links are much further apart than the fore links, and that the
diagonal braces N extend downwards, outwards and backwards from the fore to the
rear standing links. e, f, are curved wearing and strengthening pieces which may be
employed when desired, and which protect the curved parts of the standing links
which pass through the loops C, D, from wear. P, P, are friction rollers which may
in some cases be employed if desired. Their function is to take up the friction in
case during lateral swinging the fore hanging links should come in contact with the
top bar Q of the bicycle.
In Figure IV I show a modification in which, instead of employing the loops C, D,
I support the hanging links from the orifices 6 in the vertically flattened ends of
the strap B¹.
It will be obvious that the number of links employed may be varied. Thus, in
some cases only two hanging links may be employed, one in front and one behind.
Or, two hanging links in front and only one behind may be used. Or even only
one hanging and one standing link in front, and one hanging and one standing
link behind may be employed. Care must be taken, however, that the links do
not come in contact with any part of the frame of the bicycle in such a manner
as to prevent free action of the saddle.
In Figure V 1 illustrate a modification of the parts shown in Figure III. Thus,
instead of having two hanging fore links, I have in this modification only one fore
hanging link E', having at its upper end the loop e', which engages with loop C,
and at its lower end the bearing e, which engages the suspension rivet G', to which
the lower ends of the standing links J, J, are connected.
When desired, I may dispense with the strap B (or any equivalent thereof) and
support the hanging links direct from the L-pin or crutch-bar.
It will be seen that by means of this invention an automatic lateral rocking
adjustment of the position of the saddle is obtained, so that the saddle accom-
modates itself to the movement of the rider's legs as they rise and fall in the act
of pedalling; whilst at the same time any straining of the rider's body in passing
round curves is avoided.
Although the invention is illustrated in connection with a bicycle saddle, it is to be
understood that it is applicable to other vehicles, as for example, racing vehicles, and
ploughs and other agricultural machines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In connection with saddles or seats for bicycles and other vehicles, the means
for obtaining lateral rocking motion, as well as free longitudinal motion, substantially
as set forth.
2. In connection with saddles or seats for bicycles and other vehicles, the employ-
ment of hanging links capable of lateral rocking motion, as well as free longitudinal
motion, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination, substantially as set forth, of an L-pin (or other equivalent
part), hanging links capable of longitudinal motion and also of lateral rocking motion,
standing links articulated to the said hanging links, and a saddle attached to the said
standing links in any convenient manner.
4. The combination, substantially as set forth, of an L-pin (or other equivalent
part), a strap B (or other equivalent device), hanging links capable of longitudinal

page_text: motion and also of lateral rocking motion, standing links articulated to the sai
hanging links, and a saddle attached to the said standing links in any convenien
manner.
5. The arrangement and combination of parts substantially as set forth wit
reference to Figures I, II and III.
6. The modification substantially as set forth with reference to Figure IV.
7. The modification substantially as set forth with reference to Figure V.
T
1
I 1000
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.