Improvements in Methods of Making and in the Constructions of Seats or Saddles for Bicycles, Tricyoles, and other like. Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec.. 1898-Accepted, 27th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Methods of Making and in the Constructions
of Seats or Saddles for Bicycles, Tricyoles, and other like.
Vehicles.
I, FRANCIS BURROWS RAY,, Manufacturer, a citizen of the United States,
residing at New York. in the County and State of New York, doing business
at 941 Eighth Avenue, New York City, 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:-.
The invention relates primarily to the construction of a novel bicycle seat or
saddle and appertaius in this respect to the method, through the medium of
which, the said seat or saddle is constructed, and it consists first, in the recognition
of the fact that the body of the rider should be supported in a manner which will
permit the free use of the legs in operating the pedals and at the same time prevent
undue pressure in the crotch, the latter effect being a drawback which obtains
in all of the present forms of bicycle seats; and secondly, the removal of the
eutire weight to those portions intended by nature to constitute the seat when the
body is in the proper upright position.
Specifically, this part of the invention consists in.taking an impression in wax
or other plastic material, of a person's posterior and forming an impression there-
from, the final impression serving as a pattern, in which, or on which, the mould or
matrix is cast, or made. For securing the desired formation or contour in the
pattern it is necessary that the body should be in the position which it assumes
when in the act of propelling the vehicle and in carrying this part of the invention
into effect, this plan is adopted as a part of the procedure. When the body is
thus placed upon the plastic material the legs are operated the same as when a
bicycle is being propelled, suitable pedals being arranged therefor to secure the
proper effect and result.
Also, in carrying this invention into effect and enlarging upon the foregoing
plan, a series of impressions may be taken in the plastic material of different
persons of more or less like build which results in a composite pattern from which
a muuid or matrix, may be made, from which seats or saddles, suitable for persons
of approximately the same size and weight, may be constructed.
The invention consists also, in fashioning bicycle seats or saddles in such a
mauber as to recognize the principles above set forth but at the same time produce
such seats or saddles upon a commercial scale in order to be satisfactory for
general use and by still adhering to the discovery that to obtain the best results
the weight of the rider must be removed from the crotch and placed upon those
portions of the body where the weight should properly come, and to this end, in
the formation of said seat or saddle, a metallic frame is provided having openings
to allow for the tuberosities of the pelvic bone and in connection with said metallic
frame is a suitable cover formed of leather or other desirable material, and an
interposed cushion between the cover and the metallic frame, and immediately
over the openings aforesaid is provided a suitable support for the cushion all of
which parts will be more fully hereinafter explained.

page_text: The invention may be more particularly ascertained by reference to the
accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and in which,
Figure 1 represents the method of carrying the invention into effect.
Figure 2 is a perspective view.
Figures 3 and 4 are respectively longitudinal and cross sections of a seat made by
the method described.
Figure 5 represents a side elevation of the improved bicycle seat in which the
frame is made from one of the forms of moulds such as described or from its
mechanical equivalent.
Figure 6 represents a longitudinal section of the same..
Figure 7 represents a cross section.
Figure 8 is a plan view, and
Figure 9 represents the parts separated before being assembled.
In these drawings, A represents a frame supporting pedals B. C represents a
plate containing wax or other plastic material C and arranged in respect to the
frame as shown; the person to be fitted is seated in the plastic material as shown,
forming thereby a pattern or impression by operating upon the pedals B the same
as if the vehicle were a bicycle and were being propelled in the ordinary manner.
After the pedals have been operated upon for about twelve or fifteen minutes, the
wax pattern impression is removed and upon this is cast, or otherwise formed, a
mould or matrix. From this mould or matrix the seat or saddle is made by
casting or otherwise.
The result is shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, where D¹ represents the main or rear
part of the seat which slopes downwardly and forwardly as shown at E, E and
terminates at the lower front edge in two cut-out portions F, a shank G, running
centrally forward completing the seat. The lines of the curves formed in the
areas designated by E, E and F, F are the result of the method of procedure
herein before recited and can only be secured, so as to provide a natural and
comfortable and non-injurious seat, by this method. An opening is made at H so
that the prostate gland will be entirely relieved of pressure.
The seat may be made of metal by casting it in the mould or matrix produced by
the method described or it may be made of wood to conform to the mould or matrix
or it may be made of any other suitable material or substance and in any other
suitable manner by which the mould or matrix produced in the manner described,
can be utilized to effectively secure the final shape or result aimed at.
A modification of this process is secured by permitting a number of similarly
built people to form the wax impressions modifying the pattern successively by
successive use, from which a mould or matrix representing a type of seat or saddle
may be produced.
In Figures 5 to 9 inclusive, D represents a frame preferably of aluminium, cast
and formed in the manner described. When the frame is formed it is provided
with openings J which are desirable in order to relieve the excess of pressure of the
tuberosities of the pelvic bone upon the saddle. These openings or cut-away
portions are arranged one upon each side of the median line of the saddle and serve,
through the medium of a cushioning device, to relieve this pressure and to throw
the requisite amount of weight upon the surrounding muscles, thus enabling the
rider to more freely and comfortably propel the vehicle.
K represents a bridging lining extending from one edge of the saddle across the
openings to a point indicated forwardly by dotted lines. Above this is placed a
felt packing Land over all is stretched the final and superimposed cover M. The
structure so made forms a comfortable saddle for daily usage, conforms to the
shape of the body as it follows the method above described, relieves the pounding
effect or excessive pressure of the tuberosities of the pelvic bones by means of the
cushioned openings J and provides for other exigencies which constantly appear.
It will be observed also that the frame forms a continuous support for the cover
of the seat or saddle at its periphery or outer edge, thereby preventing any sagging

page_text: at the sides. by reason of the pedal movements and consequent bunching or buckling
of the leather in the middle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved method of making seats or saddles for bicycles, tricycles and
other like vehicles hereinbefore described.
2. Seats or saddles for bicycles, tricycles and other like vehicles, made so as to
remove the pressure on the prostate gland and the tuberosities of the pelvic bone,
as shown and described.
3. Seats or saddles for bicycles, tricycles and other like vehicles, constructed so
as to relieve the weight of the body at the crotch, with cushioned openings.J, as
shown, for the purposes set forth.
4. A seat or saddle for bicycles, tricycles and other like vehicles, consisting of
the frame D extending entirely around the periphery of the seat, and having
enclosed openings J, one upon each side of the median line in the rear part of the
eat or saddle, the bridging lining K arranged as shown, a cover M, and the
nterposed cushion L, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
Dated this 29th day of Decembe- 1900
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.