Improvements in the Springs of Cycle Saddles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Springs of Cycle Saddles.
I, DUNCAN MCKENZIE MCKINLAY Grandsable, Polmont, Stirlingshire, Scotland,
Artist, 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 object of this invention is to make a spring for cycle saddles that will be simple
in construction, and of such a uniformn character that the rear and peak will sink
equally under the riders weight, that it will have no violent recoil, that it will yield
at the peak so as to lower that point in going uphill, that. it will not readily break
and lastly that it will be especially suitable for my improved saddle No. 16,573
A.D. 1896.
In order that my invention be the more clearly understood I append two sheets of
illustrations which I shall refer to in the course of this description. In these the
same letter denotes the same thing throughout.
My improved spring is of two sorts-one with movable, the other with fixed points.
Both are cut out of sheet steel in the form of the letter Y bent to the proper
shape and suitably tempered.
Fig. 15 is a plan and Fig. 14 an elevation of the spring which has movable points
is the spring bent approximately to the arc of a circle with the points bent
back as seen in the elevation; m, is a doubling plate on which the peak of the spring
slides; m is the same on which the rear of the spring slides; w is a bolt which secures
the spring to the frame at the rear, and has a shoulder on it to prevent the nut from
jamming the spring, thus allowing it to slide in the slot a Fig. 15. The doubling
plates are meant to strengthen the frame at the points of contact with the spring,
and also to prevent the sliding motion wearing through it. These plates are brazed
or riveted to the frame.
The other letters in Sheet 1 are n the frame of the saddle, u a layer of felt u, a
leather cover, va ventilating aperature, ta tilting block, y a clipping block, x the
ring for receiving the L pin, p a small pin, and w, a bolt.
Other methods of providing for the movement of the points of the spring are
shown in Sheet 2. Figs. 18 to 20 show the arrangement at the rear for the sliding
movement. Fig. 18 is the same as that already described in Fig. 14. In Fig. 19 the
bolt and nut are dispensed with and the sliding takes place through a hole in the
frame, wa is a small pin for keeping the spring from withdrawing itself. Fig. 20
is a variation of the last in which the sliding takes place through a hole in the
doubling plate m. Fig. 25 shows a cross section of 20.
Figs. 21 & 22 show how the movement at the rear can be provided for by means
of a hinge. In Fig. 21 s is two side plates shewn in a cross view at Fig. 26, the
other letters are as before, viz., n the frame, the spring and m the plate securing
the hinge to the frame.
Fig. 22 is a variation of 21 in which 8, a wire that runs through the doublings
of the securing plates m₁ m. Fig. 27 is a cross section of 22.

page_text: Fig. 28 shows how the sliding motion at the peak may be provided for as an
alternative to Fig. 14. m, is a stamping or casting shaped as shown in section in
Fig. 23, the pin or bolt w, slides.in a slot cut in the stamping or casting.
Fig. 29 is nearly similar to the last, the difference being clearly seen in section in
Fig. 24 where m, is shown as a D tube.
Fig. 30 is practically the same as 20.
Fig. 31 is the same as 21.
Fig. 32 is the same as the last with the retaining plates m and m, doubled.
Figs. 33 to 36 are views of the centre of the spring with clip attached, is the
spring as before in which a square hole is cut for receiving the shoulder of the
receiving ring x, y is the clipping block, 2 is the screw and w, is the nut for keeping
all tight. The only novelty connected with the clip lies in the use of a tilting
block t. This has a slot cut in it so as to move backwards or forwards and so raise or
depress the peak of the saddle. This slot is shown in Fig. 33 in dotted lines.
When the spring is of the form shown in Fig. 14 the tilting block is shaped
concave on its upper surface, when the spring is as shown in Fig. 17 the block
takes the formshown in Fig. 34, i.e., convex.
The ends of the spring having fixed points are bolted to the frame as shown
in Fig. 17, w, is the bolt, the other letters as already described.
The spring shown in Fig. 14 becomes suitable for a racing saddle byimmovably
bolting the points to the frame.
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 herein described springs for cycle saddles.
2. The herein described tilting blocks for adjusting the said springs.