Improvements in and relating to Cycle-saddles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 29th Dec., 1894
Improvements in and relating to Cycle-saddles.
I, KARL THOMANN, of Lessingstrasse 35, Halle an der Saale, in the Empire of
Germany, Slater, 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 consists in an improved cycle-saddle, in which the saddle-pan is
either divided and its two constituent parts arranged to move independently in
such a manner as to automatically adjust themselves to the movements of the
thighs of the cyclist when riding or on the other hand the saddle-pan is formed
and shaped in such a manner that it may be adjusted to afford free movement to
the cyclist in pedalling. In both cases the object of the invention is that the
weight of the cyclist is at all times distributed over as large a surface as possible
and thus the pressure upon the respective parts of the body is diminished, whilst
any injurious pressure upon the more sensitive parts of the body of the cyclist is
entirely obviated and a free movability of the legs secured.
The great importance, from the hygienic standpoint, of this feature of the
invention will be apparent.
A further advantage of the improved cycle-saddle consists in the adjustability
of the undivided saddle-pan which for rapid riding may be displaced to about
30° from the horizontal plane. In the divided saddle-pan both of the parts are in
each case automatically returned to their resting position by means of springs or
other resilient devices of caoutchouc or equivalent material.
This invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the cycle saddle with divided saddle-pan.
Fig. 2 a plan view, the divided pan being taken off, and shown in dotted lines
only.
Fig. 3 is a rear-view of the cycle-saddle. Fig. 4 is a plan view with the pan or
pans in place.
Figs. 5 and 6 are cross sections of the pans on the lines A-A and B-B
respectively.
Fig. 7 shows a longitudinal section of the saddle with undivided saddle pan.
Fig. 8 a view of the same from beneath.
Fig. 9 shows a front view of the saddle, and Fig. 10 a plan view of the
saddle-pan.
In Fig. 11 different detail parts are represented and Fig. 12 is a section of the
saddle-pan on the line B-C of Fig. 8.
The following is the constructive arrangement and operation of this improved
cycle-saddle with divided saddle-pan.
The saddle-frame a b is in the usual manner provided with springs c.
Upon the
springs c is arranged the cross-bar e for supporting the pans hg. This support e
is angularly bent in the middle and is connected with the pillar 6 of the frame by
means of the spring connecting bars f. The hinges d on the bar e carry the
seating surfaces or pans 9 h, corresponding in their form to the respective parts of
the body of the cyclist. The front end of each pan is provided with a hook i,
which by means of a caoutchouc band or a suitable spring 1, is connected with one
of the two hooks k on the pillar b, so that the pans are continuously held in or
returned to the horizontal position. The pans are formed in such a manner that
Price Bal

page_text: no uncomfortable and injurious pressure is exerted upon the more delicate parts of
the body of the cyclist when riding and so that the weight of the cyclist is
distributed over as large a surface as possible.
The method of operation of this improved cycle-saddle will be understood from
the following.
When treading on and actuating the pedals alternate up-and-down movement of
the legs of the cyclist takes place, to which movement the pans g h will yield
alternately, while adapting themselves continuously to the seat and thighs of the
cyclist as upward movement of the pedal takes place, to which the legs of the
cyclist yield, the pans g and h are again alternately carried up into the horizontal
position by the arrangement of the caoutchouc bands or springs 1 respectively.
Instead of the hinges d strong springs may be used, so that the movement of the
seating surfaces is not caused or permitted by the arrangement of hinges but by
the yielding quality of the springs on which they rest. Further, instead of the
caout-chouc bands, there may be used spirally shaped or any other pressing or
tension springs beneath or above the pans, to carry back the pans of the saddle
into their horizontal position.
The cycle-saddle with undivided saddle-pan is constructed as follows.
The saddle-springs a 61 are on the one end connected with a cross-piece d' and
at the other end to a U-shaped rail d' and are provided with spiral springs e. On
the U-shaped rail d the saddle-pan is secured by lugs and studs h¹ so that said
saddle-pan is enabled to swing on the studs . The saddle-pan itself is pear-
shaped and provided at its point with a slit or cut away portion it, so as in effect
to end in two prong-shaped portions k¹ l.
The form of the saddle-pan is hollowed in such a manner as to correspond to
the forms of the respective portions of the body. The edges of the saddle-pan
are likewise, as will be seen from the cross-section in Figs. 7 and 12 bent round
downwardly owing to this rounding off of the edges, the prongs k¹ and l' become
horn-shaped and owing to the slit or cut away part the more sensitive portions of
the body of the cyclist when riding are left free so that no injurious pressure can
. be exerted upon them.
The upper surface of the saddle-pan may be covered with a surface layer. The
seating portions of the saddle-pan may also be hollowed like a scale pan and
provided with spiral-springs m over which the upper surface layer is stretched so
that the saddle-pan with its form may better adapt itself to the respective portions
of the body of the cyclist. The horn-shaped portions kl and of the saddle-pan
are provided with lugs & which receive a cross piece to form a pivot. The arm t¹
carried by the latter is provided with screw-thread and is adjustable at will in a
rectangularly bent bearing a by means of nuts. The bearing o is arranged
between and connected to the two saddle-springs a' 6' and provided with safety-
plates p', so that the saddle-springs cannot come away from the bearing.
By means of the latter arrangement the saddle-pan can within certain limits be
displaced to a desired angle from the horizontal plane, according to the respective
purpose in view.
For rapid riding the saddle-pan will be usually displaced to an angle of 30°
against the horizontal plane, so that the rider can use the saddle-pan as a rest
without loss of effective weight in pedalling.
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. An improved saddle for cycles having a movable saddle-pan, consisting of
divided seating surfaces g h movably arranged by means of hinges or springs upon
the saddle frame a b and having caout-chouc bands or springs of any suitable
kind tending to carry said pans severally into the horizontal position whereby the
weight of the rider is distributed over a large surface and the divided seating
surfaces yield at all times to the movements of the legs of the cyclist for the
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page_text: purpose of preventing any injurious pressure upon the respective portions of the
cyclist's body during riding.
2. A cycle saddle having an undivided metallic or other saddle-pan, hinged or
resting upon a support piece, this saddle-pan being arranged so as to swing upon
a transverse horizontal axis, this saddle-pan at its front side running out into two
horn-shaped projections between which a slit or cut away part is made for the
purpose of preventing pressure upon sensitive parts of the cyclist's body said
projections being connected by an adjustable device to the saddle-frame or springs
for angular adjustment of the saddle substantially as set forth.
3. The improvements in cycle saddles consisting in the construction of the
various parts thereof and their combination, in the manner illustrated and
described.
Dated this 29th day of October 1894.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London,
Agents for the Applicant.