Improvements in and relating to Saddle Springs and Mud Guards for Bicycles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 27th June, 1899
Complete Specification Left, 17th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1900
Improvements in and relating to Saddle Springs and Mud Guards for
Bicycles.
I, JOHN SEBASTIAN VOLTZ, of 1710, Niagara Street, Buffalo, County of Erie,
and State of New York, U.S.A., Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a C shaped saddle spring, made preferably of flat bar
steel, terminating at its lower end in a tongue by which it is attached. to an
adjustable bracket clipped onto the vertical tube or saddle post of the bicyclo
frame, and at its upper forward end in a bar or cylindrical saddle stem to which
the saddle is adjustably secured by a clip. The bicycle frame is connected with
the saddle stem by a strap whereby the upward movement of the saddle stem is
limited whilst permitting it free downward deflection. The looped or C portion
of the saddle spring serves as a luggage carrier, and the back outer surface of
the same as a mud guard on ordinary occasions, but for very muddy roads an
extra mud guard is provided in the form of a curved plate which when in use.
for this purpose is clamped to the back of the C spring and when not in use is
attached in a similar way to the inside of the spring and may also be slid round
to cover or partly cover the opening in the spring so as to better adapt the same
to carry luggage. In ladies' bicycles a stem, slotted for the passage of an adjust-
ing strap is attached to the front part of the saddle post.
Dated this 27th day of June 1800.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
15, Tooks Court, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Saddle Springs and Mud Guards for
Bicycles.
I, JOHN SEBASTIAN VOLTZ, of 1710, Niagara Street, Buffalo, County of Erie,
and State of New York, U.S.A., Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this
[Price 8d1

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates a saddle-supporting spring for bicycles and other similar
vehicles, and the object of my invention is to provide a saddle-spring capable
of a maximum downward deflection and which is held against upward deflection
or recoil above a norinal position, whereby all short, jerky, and other injurious
jars and vibrations are practically eliminated and the comfort and safety of the
rider greatly enhanced, also, to provide a practical luggage-carrier and simple
mud-guard, and it consists, to that end, in the peculiar construction and arrange-
ment of the parts, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper rear portion of a bicycle
provided with my improvements.
Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view of the saddle-supporting spring and
connecting parts.
Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section of the clip or yoke, whereby the spring is
attached to the bicycle frame.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section thereof in line X-X, Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of a lady's bicycle provided with my
improved saddle-spring.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the mud-guard detached.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of a slightly-modified form of the spring-supporting clip.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts in each of the figures.
A is the rear wheel, B the upper horizontal tube, C the hanger, D the
vertical tube, extending from the hanger C to the upper tube B, E E the rear
forks of the bicycle frame, extending, respectively, from the hanger C and upper
tube B to the axle of the rear wheel A and G is the saddle, all of which parts
are of ordinary and well known construction.
His the C-shaped saddle-spring, preferably formed of flat bar-steel and pro-
vided at its lower end with a tongue h and terminating at its upper forward end
in a bar or cylindrical saddle-stem i, to which the saddle G is adjustably secured
by the clip k.
L is a semicylindrical yoke or clip embracing the rear side vertical tube
of the bicycle-frame and provided at its upper rear side with a rearwardly and
upwardly projecting spur or bracket 4, to which the tongue of the spring H
is secured by bolts or rivets m, m, or otherwise.
The yoke L is adjustably secured to the tube D by clips n, n, and screw-
bolts n', n¹.
The yoke L and clips n, n, are provided on their inner, sides with a lining
of felt, chamois or other soft material to prevent marring or injury to the tube D.
The spur or bracket is composed of a web o and side cheeks o¹, o¹.
P is a strap supported on the saddle-stem i preferably in rear of the saddle-
clip and which surrounds the upper tube B, and is provided at its free end
with a buckle 2 whereby it can be shortened or lengthened to increase or
diminish the tension of the saddle-spring H in accordance with the weight of
the rider.
It is obvious that the tension of the spring can be materially increased or
diminished by adjusting the saddle backward or forward on the saddle stem i.
The strap P permits the free downward deflection of the spring H, but pre-
vents its recoiling or upward deflection beyond the point of adjustment, and
thereby serves to prevent the rider from losing the pedals by the reaction of
the spring.
The saddle H can be raised or lowered to suit the reach of the rider by simply
raising or lowering the yoke L and then securing same in position and tightening
the bolts n¹, n¹, of the clips n, n.
My improved seat spring dispenses with the usual seat post, thereby per-

page_text: mitting a considerable unobstructed range of deflection to the spring H, and
consequently relieves the rider from undue jars in riding over rough roads and
from the short vibrating and jerking jars or quivering when riding over stone
paved roads.
:
The loop portion R of the spring H serves as a convenient and practical luggage
carrier and the broad flat rear portion of the spring H as a deflector or mud guard
for ordinary purposes.
When my improvement is applied to a lady's wheel, a stem s is attached to the
front portion of the saddle-post. This stem is provided with a loop s¹ through
which the adjusting strap P passes.
T is an adjustable segmental mud spoon or deflector removably attached
to the inner lower side of the spring H by clamps t and a thumb-screw t¹. When
the roads are unusually muddy or slushy and the spring has not sufficient surface
to deflect the mud, the spoon T is detached from the inner side of the spring H
and attached to the rear side thereof, as shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The
thumb screw serves to hold the spoon in any desired position.
The clamps t are preferably stamped in one
are provided with longitudinal depressions which snugly embrace the sides of
piece with the mud guard T and
the spring H and hold the mud guard in any desired position.
The mud guard T can be adjusted, as shewn in dotted lines at r so as to form
a forward and upward continuation of the loop R of the spring H when used as
a luggage carrier.
In the modified construction of the yoke A shewn in Fig. 7 the yoke L and
clips n, n, are provided with transversely elongated openings or seats s which
embrace the rear forks E¹ of the bicycle frame and permit the vertical adjust-
ment of the yoke.
My improved saddle support and mud guard are simple, compact, durable and
light, and greatly add to the appearance of the bicycle.
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 combination with a bicycle-saddle spring H having a downwardly,
rearwardly, upwardly, and forwardly curved, circular or segmental R of flat
cross section, and provided at its free end with a saddle stem of cylindrical
cross section, of a yoke L whereby said spring is adjustably secured to the
bicycle frame, and a strap P connecting the bicycle frame with the saddle-stem,
and whereby the upward movement of the latter is limited, substantially as
described and shewn.
2. The combination with a bicycle saddle spring H having a downwardly,
rearwardly, upwardly and forwardly curved, circular or segmental portion R
of flat cross-section, a plate T coincident curvation clamped inside thereof and
dapted to be slid up and form practically an upward continuation of the lower
forward and upward curved portion of the spring and thereby form a luggage
carrier and adapted to be reversed and clamped on the rear side of the loop R
o form a mud-guard, and a yoke whereby said spring is attached to the bicycle
frame, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 17th day of January 1900
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
15, Tooks Court, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.