Improvements in Velocipede Saddles.
Year: 1892

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipede Saddles.
I, WILLIAM DOWNER MCCOY, residing at (no number) Franklin Ave., in the
Township of Belleville, County of Essex, and State of New Jersey, United States of
America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 provide a saddle free from objectionable rigidity
at all points on the seating surface while it will, at the same time, afford a firm
and steady support for the rider.
A further object is to secure a tension in the flexible seat independent of the
supporting spring, whereby the elasticity of the said supporting spring will not
effect the said tension; to prevent the sliding of the rider on his seat when the
vehicle receives a momentary check; to convert the saddle from a swinging
seat to one that does not swing, and to secure other advantages and results
some of which will be more fully referred to in connection with the description of
the working parts.
The invention consists in the improved saddle, and in the arrangements and com-
binations of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter set forth and finally be
embodied in the clauses of the claim.
Referring to the accompanying drawing in which like letters indicate corresponding
parts in each of the several figures:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved saddle;
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the same taken on line ;
Figure 3 is a detail side view of a certain sliding bearing for the spring upon
which the flexible saddle is suspended and Figure 4 is a section of the same on
line
y;
Figure 5 is an inverted plan of the saddle;
Figure
a rear elevation without the seat support;
Figure 7 is an inverted plan showing a modification in construction and Figure 8
is a detail side view of a portion of the same.
In said drawing, a indicates a vertical bar connecting with the frame of the
vehicle and which serves as the foundation or base of the spring support and
b indicates a horizontal portion, which in the ordinary vehicles has been integral
with the vertical bar a, but in the present case is hinged or pivoted to said vertical
bar as at c.
The horizontal portion, b, has thus a pivotal movement and the vibrations, such
for example as are caused by riding over ordinary paving stones, are deadened
before being transmitted to the main centre spring. The parts a and b are each
provided with lateral projections, d and e, for a spring, f, which controls or
governs the vertical play of the portion, b, and holds the same normally in a
horizontal position.
The bearings, d and e, preferably consist of castings or pieces independent of the
portions, a and b, of the rod, said portions a and b being tubular sections, and the
said bearings or pieces d and e being set in said tubes and held therein by brazing,
rivets, bolts or other mechanical means.
The spring, f, takes the weight of the rider, admits of limited vibration and
renders the riding more smooth and easy, as will be understood. It will be noted
that I have shown. two methods of interposing the spring, f, between the bearings d, e,
but I am aware that other constructions varying from those shown may be employed
without departing from this invention.
Upon the bar b, is secured an adjustable seat, g, held by a set screw, h, or other

page_text: suitable means, the upper surface of said seat being grooved or recessed to receive
the main supporting spring, i, in which said spring is held by suitable clamps, j, of
any ordinary construction.
The main saddle spring, i, consists of a heavy wire or rod doubled at or near
the cantle of the saddle, forming what we may term lobes or divisions which lie on
opposite sides of the longer axial centre of the saddle as will be understood upon
examination of Figure 5.
Each of said lobes is given the form of a loop, of oblong shape as shown in
Figure 1, which loops rest on the seat as described. In forming the loops, the
spring wire or rod, after having been bent to form the lobes, extends forward and
downward, as at k, and is then turned backward to provide the base bearing, l, at
which said spring rests upon the clamp or seat. The said base portion 1, is laterally
bent, as at m, to prevent any conflict or engagement with the upper part k of the
spring, when pressure is brought to bear.
Each division of the wire is then bent, as at n upward and forward to receive
Said wire may
means for connecting the extremities with the distending bar t.
here have a rigid relation to said distending bar, but I prefer to allow a little play
of parts. The means preferred for connecting the extremities of the main spring
to or with the distending bar are shown more clearly in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5 and
consist in a perforated block or sliding piece o, through the centre of which the
distending bar passes and at opposite sides of said distending bar, the extremities
of the spring find bearings. As before indicated, I prefer to allow a little play of
said extremities in said block, and, to this end, I form the perforations p, p, as
indicated in Figure 4, so that when the forwardly projecting portions, q, of the
spring change their angle under pressure, there will be little if any binding of parts,
such as will cause an interference with an easy sliding of the bearing block on the
distending bar. A shoulder, r, in the spring serves to limit motion in one direction
and the extremities are upset as at a to prevent detachment.
To secure the swinging effect desired, the bearing block, o, slides on the distending
bar. To prevent such swinging a set screw d', may be employed. At the front
and rear of the flexible saddle seat, e¹, are secured the ordinary horn and cantle
plates, u and v, the former of which is provided with a socket and the latter is
provided with bearings for a bracket a', which extends downwards a short distance
and, at its lower extremities provides bearing for the distending bar and the main
supporting spring, said bracket being provided preferably with an angular perfora-
tion and set screw. The distending bar, t, is preferably formed of a square rod,
although it may have any other shape adapted to prevent turning. It is also,
preferably of steel brought to a spring temper, thus affording a yielding of the seat
under the weight of the rider and relieves the said seat of excessive rigidity of
tension. By making the rod angular, or other than round, or by using two rods,
I am enabled to maintain a substantially horizontal action without lateral or pivotal
play and thus ensuring a positive longitudinal action of the block or sliding piece o,
and maintaining a correct relation of the pommel with the cantle.
When the set screw, ', in the sliding piece, o, is not in contact with the
distending bar, t, the forwardly extending lobe arms, q, are free to push the sliding
bearing forward along the bar, stretcher or tension rod t, and to compress a small
spring on the tension bar. The sliding action of the bearing will take place
whether the construction of the opposite arm k, and its connection with the cantle
plate be of a compound joint, preferred, shown in Figure 1 or a simple hinge con-
struction shown in Figures 7 and 8. But to secure a backward and forward
movement throughout, the whole seat, as a distended body independent of the main
spring, I have provided the double, or compound hinge connection, consisting of a
link c¹, and a swinging rear support ", the said link joining the said spring, at the
union of the portions or arms to the lower end of the said swinging support and
the said support extending upward from the said link to bearings provided on the
cantle plate bracket a', and cantle plate. The said swinging support is bent to
secure a limited though sufficient spring action therein. To control the swinging

page_text: of the seat as described and to cushion the vibrations as will be understood, I have
interposed the sliding bearing block, o, before referred to, to which the extremities q,
are secured, between the springs f¹, 91, the said springs being adjustably held in
place and in proper relation to the sliding bearing block by suitable collars h³, 1.
By these devices and operations, the rider, is relieved of the unpleasant sliding on
the seat, heretofore referred to, when encountering obstacles and inequalities in
and of the roadway. The distending bar at its forward end is bent upward and
forward to enter the socket of the horn or pommel plate, and, at its rear end, it
passes through the perforation in the bracket where it is held by the set screw, b',
to give the desired tension to the flexible saddle seat. The forward end of the
bar, t, is turned as shown, or it may be spirally turned to secure limited but
sufficient spring action.
Thus the main supporting spring at its opposite upturned extremities is connected
with supplemental springs which tend to further reduce unpleasant vibration and
conduce to the ease and comfort of the rider.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is: :-
1. The combination, in a saddle, of a seat, e¹, and means for tensioning the same,
a spring, i, for supporting the same, said spring being connected at one end to
said seat by a slide bearing, independent of said tensioning means and the other
end of said spring having a hinged relation to said seat, substantially as set forth.
2. In combination in a saddle, a rigid or tensioned seat for the rider, a spring
having forward and rearward projections one of which is hinged to said seat and
the other having a sliding relation to said seat, free to slide without effecting the
tension of the seat, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination with a flexible saddle seat and a distending bar, of a spring
providing a support for the seat, the said spring at one of its ends or pair of ends.
having a sliding relation to said bar, substantially as set forth and shown.
4. In combination the flexible saddle, distending bar, supporting spring, i, and
sliding bearing, o, all said parts being arranged and adapted to operate substantially
as set forth.
5. In combination with the bar, a, b, and adjustable spring seat, g, a supporting
spring, i, having oppositely extending arms or parts k, and 9, and a saddle seat
having an independent distending bar supporting said seat and supported at one
end by said arms or parts, 1, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
6. In combination with a saddle, a supporting bar a, and horizontal bar b,
hinged thereto and a spring, f, to cushion the vibration, substantially as described.
7. In combination with a saddle, a support, a, having a bearing d, a horizontal
bar having a bearing, c, and a spring, interposed between said bearings and
cushioning the vibration of said horizontal bar, substantially as set forth.
8. In combination with a saddle, a hinged support comprising the hollow or
tubular bars, a, b, and inserted bearing piece, d, e, and spring, f, arranged and
combined substantially as set forth.
9. In combination with the seat g, a spring, i, bent in the form of a loop with
upwardly and oppositely projecting arms, supplemental spring attached to said
arms and supporting the saddle seat, e¹, and said seat, all arranged and combined
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
10. In combination with the seat g, a central main spring clamped thereon and
having arms, k, and q, extending toward the cantle and pommel respectively,
supplemental springs secured to said arms and supporting said cantle and pommel
substantially as set forth.
11. In combination with a seat e', and a distending bar for giving tension to the
same, of a supporting spring having arms k, and q, one of which is connected with
the cantle and the other with the distending bar and said seat e', having said cantle
substantially as set forth.

page_text: 12. In combination with the supporting spring with upturned arms or extremities
a saddle movable backward and forward independent of said spring, and springs
for cushioning the backward and forward vibrations substantially as set forth.
13. In combination with a seat g, spring i, link a¹ and swinging support d", a
seat, el having cantle and pommel plates and bracket a distending bar, t, and
bearing block, o, all arranged and adapted to operate substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
14. In combination with the seat g, spring i, link c¹, and swinging support d",
a seat el, having cantle and pommel plates and a depending bearing a¹, a distending
bart secured on said bearing, a sliding bearing o, arranged on said distending bar
and receiving the spring, i, all said parts being arranged and adapted to operate
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
15. The combination with the flexible saddle seat and distending bar, of a
supporting spring centrally located under the seat and having an independent
relation to said bar in the matter of tension on the seat so that when the tension is
applied by means of the bar, the said spring is in no way affected thereby, for the
purpose set forth.
16. In combination with a seat e' and a distending bar for giving tension to the
same, of a supporting frame centrally arranged under said seat and admitting of a
downward movement, a slide o provided to admit of said movement of said arm
and a spring f acting as a cushion and limiting the degree of movement to said
arm, substantially as described.
17. The combination with a flexible saddle seat of a tension rod, a bearing o, a
spring, having a hinge connection with one terminal of the seat and passing
thence to the other terminal of the seat and engaging said bearing o, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
18. The combination with a flexible saddle seat of a tension rod t, provided
with a sliding bearing, a spring i, having a hinge connection at one terminal of the
seat and thence extending to the other terminal of the seat and engaging said
slide bearing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 10th day of May 1899
WILLIAM DOWNER MCCOY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.