Improvements in Supports for the Saddles of Cycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Supports for the Saddles of Cycles.
I, WILLIAM BASIL WILBERFORCE, of St. Albans, Bognor, in the County of Sussex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of seat pillar or support for
carrying the saddles of cycles, and it consists in forming the horizontal part adapted
to carry the saddle independent of the vertical or approximately vertical part
adapted to be carried by the frame of the machine, and in hinging the two parts
together so that the horizontal part has a free rocking motion in the vertical plane,
the said movement being controlled by means of one or more suitable springs, the
object being, firstly, to cause the position of the saddle to automatically vary to
suit the gradients of the road or the degree of work done by the rider, and secondly,
to absorb vibration.
One method of carrying this invention into practice is to pivot the horizontal arm
to the vertical arm by a transverse pin the joint being so arranged as to limit
the movement of the parts within certain predetermined limits, and to mount
within the horizontal arm a tension spring the forward end of which is connected
by means of a chain, band, or its equivalent with the top of the vertical arm, the
said chain, band, or its equivalent being guided round the forward end of the
horizontal arm by means of a suitable roller or its equivalent.
As an alternative construction the horizontal arm may be pivotted to the vertical
arm slightly in advance thereof and the spring be mounted in the vertical arm,
the connection between the spring and the horizontal arm being made by means of
a suitable rod acting in tension or compression as the spring is arranged to act in
compression or tension.
The controlling spring is preferably so arranged that its strength can be con-
veniently adjusted.
As a further modification the device may be so constructed as to be capable of
being mounted on the horizontal arm of an ordinary seat pillar.
It will be understood that in its normal position, that is, before the rider is
mounted, the saddle slopes forwards and downwards, but that when the rider is
mounted the saddle assumes a more or less horizontal position according to the
amount of work the rider is doing or the gradients of the road, the strength of
the controlling spring being regulated according to the weight of the rider in the
first instance. Therefore the greater the amount of the work being done, or the
steeper the gradient of the road, the nearer the saddle will approach to its normal
position, and consequently the greater the purchase it affords to the rider.
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page_text: Improvements in Supports for the Saddles of Cycles.
I, WILLIAM BASIL WILBERFORCE, formerly of St. Albans, but now of 2 Queens
Square, Bognor, in the County of Sussex, Gentleman, 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 relates to an improved construction of pillar or support for carry-
ing the saddles of cycles, and it consists of two members--one adapted to carry the
saddle and the other adapted to be fixed to the frame of the cycle either directly or
indirectly pivotted together and controlled by one or more suitable springs the
arrangement being such that before the rider is mounted the member carrying the
saddle assumes such a position with respect to the other member that the saddle
tilts or slopes forwards and downwards but when the rider is mounted and is not
exerting any pressure on the pedals the saddle is in an approximately horizontal
position but as soon as the rider commences to exert pressure on the pedals the
saddle commences to automatically assume its inclined position thereby giving a
better purchase or support the reason for the automatic action being that as the
amount of pressure exerted on the pedals increases the weight on the saddle
decreases and vice versa.
In the accompanying drawing which illustrates this invention:-
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation-partly in section-of one form of my
invention, and
Figure 2 is a view in front elevation thereof.
Figure 3 is a view in side elevation showing an alternative construction.
Figure 4 is a view showing how the saddle should be mounted on the support:
Figure 5 is a view in side elevation showing another modification, and
Figure 6 is a view in side elevation showing the application of the invention to
existing seat pillars.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
My improved support consists of two members A and B, both preferably of
tubular form. The member A is adapted to fit in the usual socket in the frame of
the cycle provided for the seat pillar, and the member B is adapted to carry the
saddle. The member B is pivotted to the top of the member A by any suitable
form of joint the movement of the member B with respect to the member A being
controlled by a spring C the strength of which is preferably capable of adjustment.
The spring C may either be arranged to act in tension as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3,
and 6, or in compression as shown in Figure 5.
The spring C may either act directly or indirectly between the two members A
and B. In the former arrangement as shown in Figures 3 and 6 a convénient
method of providing for varying its strength is to so mount the collar c by which
it is connected to the member A on the said member so that it is capable of slid-
ing thereon, and of being fixed thereto-if necessary-whereby its position with
respect to the fulcrum of the member B can be varied as desired. If the spring C
is to act indirectly between the two members A and B a convenient construction
is that shown by Figure 1 in which the spring C is located within the member B
which is of tubular construction and its forward end is connected with the mem-
ber A at a suitable distance from the fulcrum of the member B-by means of a
band, or chain D passing over a roller carried by the forward end of the mem-
ber B. The tension of the spring C is varied by means of a screwed pin E
attached to its other end and passing through a washer collar in the rear end of
the member B. and an adjusting nut E'.

page_text: The construction illustrated by Figures 1, 2 and 4 is a convenient one for the
use of ladies as it enables the peak of the saddle to be tilted well downward, which
materially facilitates mounting, without bringing the controlling spring into play
during the early part of the movement of the member B when assuming a hori
zontal position due to the weight of the rider.
To prevent the member B tilting too much any suitable form of stop may be
provided, a convenient one is formed by the forward edge a of the fork formed at
the top of the part A to receive the member B as shown in Figures 3 and 6, or
by a projection 2 on the member B as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5.
As a modification the spring C may be contained in the member A as shown
by Figure 5 in which case it can be conveniently arranged to act in compression,
the connection between the member B and the spring C being the sliding block
or piston G and the connecting rod H, in which construction the adjustment of
the strength of the spring can conveniently be effected by means of a screw such
as J threaded into the bottom of the part A.
It will be understood that the saddle is so mounted on the member B so that
the weight of the rider when seated is behind the point at which the member B
is pivotted to the member A as shown by Figure 4.
As some riders assume such a forward attitude that it is not possible to keep
the weight of the rider behind the point of pivot when my improved support is
mounted in the usual place provided in the frame to receive it, it becomes necessary
to mount my improved support in advance of that position. This is effected by
providing the member A with a socket clip such as K adapted to be clamped
either on to the horizontal arm a of the ordinary seat pillar X as shown by
Figure 6, or on to the top member of the frame in advance of the socket or its
equivalent provided to carry the ordinary seat pillar.
It will be seen that this improved support places the saddle automatically in
those varying positions which enable the rider to exert his strength to the utmost
advantage, as the gradients of the road, and the degrees of work alter and that it
acts avtomatically because the action depends upon the amount of weight on the
saddle. When the rider works hard (uphill, against the wind, or scorching on
the flat), his weight leaves the saddle and goes into the pedals. The saddle thus
relieved approaches its normal position, the rider moving with it, and so affords
the rider purchase in proportion to the work done.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
(1) The improved supports for the saddles of cycles substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
(2) A support for saddles of velocipedes, consisting of two members, the former
adapted to be fixed directly or indirectly to the frame of the machine, and the
latter which carries the saddle being pivotted to the former so that it lies in
advance thereof and at an obtuse angle therewith, and of a spring connected to
the two members and acting to keep the member carrying the saddle in its normal
position in which the saddle tilts or slopes forwards and downwards, as set forth.
(3) A support for saddles of velocipedes, consisting of two members A and B,
the former adapted to be fixed, directly or indirectly to the frame of the machine
and the latter to receive the saddle, the member B being pivotted at or near its
rear end to the top end of the member A, of a stop a on the part A to limit the
forward and downward slope of the member B and of a spring C acting directly
or indirectly between the two members A and B, as and for the purpose set forth.
(4) A support for the saddles of velocipedes, consisting of a member A adapted
to be fixed to the frame of the machine, of a tubular member B pivotted to the
top of the member A, of a spring C located in the tubular member B, of a band
or chain connecting the front end of the spring C with the member A near its
upper end the said band or chain passing round a roller or its equivalent carried

page_text: by the forward end of the member B, of a screw bolt E connected to the rear end
of the spring C and passing through a washer b₁ closing the rear end of the tubular
member B, and of an adjusting nut E' mounted on the screw bolt E, as set forth.
(5) A support for the saddles of velocipedes, consisting of a member A adapted
to be fixed to the frame of the machine, of a member B pivotted to the top of the
member A, of a spring C connecting the front end of the member B with the
member A, and of a stop a on the member A, as set forth.
(6) A support for the saddles of velocipedes consisting of a member A adapted
to be fixed to the frame of the machine, of a member B pivotted to the top member A
of a spring C connecting the front end of the member B, with a collar c sliding
on the member A, and of a stop a on the member A, as set forth.
(7) A support for the saddles of velocipedes consisting of a member A adapted
to be fixed to the frame of the machine, of a member B pivotted to the top of
the member A, of a spring C located in the member A, of a washer G sliding in the
member A and resting on the top of the spring C, of a rod H connecting the
member B at a point behind its pivot with the washer G, of a screw J threaded
in the lower end of the member A and impinging on the lower end of the spring C,
and of a stop 62 on the member B, as set forth.
(8) A support for the saddles of velocipedes, consisting of a member A adapted
to be fixed to the frame of the machine, of a member B pivotted to the top of the
member A, of a spring C connecting the front end of the member B with the
member A, of a stop a on the member A, and of a socket clip K formed on or
attached to the member A, as set forth.
th day of February 1898.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc.M.Inst.C.E., M.I.Mech. E.
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.