Improvements in or Connected with the Saddles or Seats and Springs of Velocipedes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Seot., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 6th June, 1889-Accepted, 13th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with the Saddles or Seats and
Springs of Velocipedes.
We, JOHN HARRINGTON of the Enamel and Crade Spring Works, Coventry in
the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, and GEORGE MEADER of 60 Alma Street,
Coventry, aforesaid, Foreman to the said John Harrington, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention, has for its object improvements in or connected with the frames or
supports for the seats or saddles of velocipedes, as also in the method of connecting
them with or supporting them from the springs. For this purpose we form a frame
or support for the seat or saddle with either one or two dependent arms at the
front and two at the back thereof. These arms are bent or spread out, the one
set, forward, the other set, backwards, and they are formed at their lower ends with
eyes carrying cross pins connecting the forward arms (when two are there used)
and the backward arms; these cross pins pass through the bosses and form the
axes of short links standing upwards therefrom, which links, at their upper ends,
are pin jointed to the outer ends of springs connected to the plate or fixing carried
by the pillar or other support.
The frame or support for the seat or saddle may be combined with the saddle
leather, in which case it is provided with screw adjustment for tightening the saddle
leather thereon, or it may carry a plate or support to which the saddle or seat is
fixed.
The springs we employ are of rod-metal formed with vertical coils and with a rod
or arm extending in cach direction from the upper part of the coils, one of such
arms being fixed to the plate or fixing, whilst the other is pin jointed to the upper
ends of the short links before mentioned. According to one arrangement we use
one spring, on one side of the plate or fixing, and extending forward, to carry the
front of the seat or saddle, and another spring on the opposite side and extending
backward, to carry the rear of the seat or saddle, the forward and backward arms
being suitably bent to bring their ends into the central line.
Or, according to our invention, we employ a spring on each side of the plate or
fixing provided with central vertical coils and with two arms, the one extending to
the forward short link, the other to the backward short link, and in this case we form
each spring of one length of rod metal having a double set of central vertical coils, in
the centre of which the rod is so bent or shaped as to enable it to be readily fixed to
the plate or fixing.
By the construction of parts herein described the saddle or seat is rendered
peculiarly easy in both vertical and longitudinal directions, and, in the event of an
obstacle being met in the road, the rider is to a great extent relieved from the shock,
as the seat or saddle is capable of a short longitudinal motion in relation to the
springs.
Dated this 7th day of September 1888
JOHN HARRINGTON.
GEORGE MEADER.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with the Saddles or Seats and
Springs of Velocipedes.
We, JOHN HARRINGTON of The Enamel and Cradle Spring Works, Coventry, in
the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, and GEORGE MEADER, of 60 Alma Street,
Coventry aforesaid, Foreman to the said John Harrington, do hereby declare the
nature of the 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 has for its object improvements in or connected with the frames or
supports for the seats or saddles of velocipedes, as also in the method of connecting
them with, or supporting them from, the springs. For this purpose we form a frame
or support for the seat or saddle with either one or two dependent, arms at the front.
and two at the back thereof. These arms are bent or spread out, the one set, forward,
the other set, backwards, and they are formed at their lower ends with eyes carrying
cross pins, connecting the forward arms, (when two are there used) and the backward
arms; these cross pins pass through the bosses and form the axes of short links
standing upwards therefrom, which links at their upper ends, are pin jointed to the.
outer ends of springs connected to the plate or fixing carried by the L pillar or other
support.
The frame or support for the seat or saddle may be combined with the saddle
leather, in which case it is provided with screw adjustment for tightening the saddle
leather thereon, or it may carry a plate or support to which the saddle or seat is
fixed.
The springs we employ are of rod metal, formed with vertical coils, and with a rod
or arm extending in each direction from the upper part of the coils, one of such arms
being fixed to the plate or fixing whilst the other is pinjointed to the upper ends of
the short links before mentioned. According to one arrangement we use one spring.
on one side of the plate or fixing and extending forward; to carry the front of the seat
or saddle, and another spring on the opposite side and extending backward, to carry
the rear of the seat or saddle, the forward and backward arms being suitably bent to
bring their ends into the central line.
Or, according to our invention, we employ a spring on each side of the plate or
fixing, provided with central vertical coils and with two arms, the one extending to
the forward short link, the other to the backward short link, and in this case we form
each spring of one length of rod metal having a double set of central vertical coils, in
the centre of which the rod is so bent or shaped as to enable it to be readily fixed
to the plate or fixing.
And in order that our said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, we will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a combined saddle and spring constructed according
to our invention. Figure 2 is an underside view thereof, and Figure 3 is a plan
drawn on the line 1. 1. of figure 1, and Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section, and
Figure 5 is an underside view of a combined saddle and spring constructed according
to our invention, but showing a different construction of spring to that shown at
figures 1, 2 and 3.
In all the figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
We will first describe the saddle represented at figures 1, 2, 3.
a is the saddle leather or seat, which is rivetted at the nose or peak to a plate b, and
at the rear to a cantle plate c.
The peak plate is formed as usual with an eye b¹, which fits on a screwed rod ²,
and is adjusted in position thereon by nuts 63, as is well understood. The cantle
plate c is fixed to the rear ends of two rods.c¹, which, at their fore ends, are fixed

page_text: rigidly to the upper end of a pair of dependent arms d, to which also the screwed
rod is rigidly connected. To the cantle plate c two dependent arms e. e. are also
fixed, each of which latter and one of the rods care by preference formed of one
piece of rod metal. The armis d are spread.out forwards, and the arms e backwards,
and they are formed at their lower ends with eyes d', e, carrying cross pins d², e²,
which connect the said arms together in pairs; these cross pins d², e², pass through
the bosses f, g, and form the axes of short links f g standing upwards therefrom,
which links at their upper ends f2, 2 are pin jointed to forks fixed to the outer
arms of springs connected to the plate or fixing i carried by the ✓ pillar or
other support for the saddle. In the construction now being described, each spring
is of rod metal, formed with vertical coils hand with rods or arms ², h² extending,
the one ¹ outwards, and the other h² over the plate or fixing i, to which such arms h³
are fixed by means of screws h passing through eyes formed at the ends of the
arms 2, and screwing into the plate or fixing i. One of these springs is fixed on
each side of the plate or fixing i, and the arms ¹, are suitably bent to bring
their ends into the central line.
:
We will now describe the saddle and spring represented at figures 4 and 5. In
this arrangement there is only one dependent arm d to carry the front of the saddle,
and in this case the screwed rod 6 passes freely through the boss or plate d* at tho
upper end of the arm d, and is adjusted in extension by a nut 63, and is prevented
rotating in its bearing in the boss or plate d* by a set screw 64 acting against a flat b
on the screwed rod 2 or by other suitable means. The rods c¹, c¹, are fixed to the
plate or boss d*, and instead of being formed in one piece with the dependent
arms e, the latter are formed separately, and with eyes e which fit on, and aro
brazed to, the rods c¹, c'.' We also, according to our invention, employ a spring on
each side of the plate or fixing i, which spring is formed with central vertical coils h,
and with two arms ¹, the one extending to the forward short link f, the other to
the backward short link g, and in this case we form each spring of one length of
rod metal, having a double set of central vertical coils h, in the centre of which
the rod is bent or shaped so as to form a short straight length * of rod which
fits in a groove in the plate or fixing i and is secured to the latter by a screw
clip *
Cl
We would here remark that instead of combining the frame or support b, c, c¹,
with the saddle leather as herein shown and described, such frame or support may
carry a plate or support, to which an ordinary saddle or seat is fixed.
We would also remark that the dependent arms d, e, and links f, g may be
combined with other descriptions of saddle supports and springs than those herein
shown and described, and if desired the rear part of the saddle may be supported
by dependent arms e, e, and link g, carried by any suitable construction of spring,
whilst the front of the saddle is supported in any other convenient manner.
By the construction of parts herein described, the saddle or seat is rendered
peculiarly easy in both vertical and longitudinal directions, and in the event of an
obstacle being met in the road, the rider is to a great extent relieved from the shock,
as the seat or saddle is capable of a short longitudinal motion in relation to the
springs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. The combination with the frame or support of a velocipede saddle or seat, of
dependent arms d. e. and links f, g, which latter are pinjointed to the said dependent
arms and to the outer arms of suitable supporting or carrying springs, substantially
as herein shown and described.
2. The combination with the frame or support of a velocipede saddle or seat, of
dependent arms and springs formed with central vertical coils, the said dependent
arms and springs being pinjointed to connecting links, substantially as herein shewn
and described with respect to figures 4 and 5.

page_text: 3. The peculiar arrangement of springs for velocipede saddles or seats formed
with central vertical coils having arms projecting forwards and backwards therefrom
and provided with suitable connecting means, substantially as herein shown and
described.
JOHN HARRINGTON.
GEORGE MEADER.
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, Agents.