Improvements in Saddles for Cycles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Saddles for Cycles.
I, CYRUS WELLINGTON SALADEE, of 63 Franklin Street, Cleveland, in the
County of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, United States of America, 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 :-
The first part of my present invention relates to a novel organization of a seat-
sustaining spring and a post supported clamp designed to throw or bring the
weight of the rider on the seat in rear of said clamp, to effect a downward motion
of the hind end of the spring and compel a rearward motion of the front end of the
spring which acts in unison with such downward and rearward motion, and these
actions of the front and rear parts of the spring serve to keep the seat or top
properly stretched and under due tension whereby the objectionable "sagging
down or hammock motion" of the seat in the middle is practically overcome.
To the accomplishment of these ends, the first part of the invention consists in
the combination with a seat or top and a post, of a spring adapted to suspend the
seat at its opposite terminal ends and having its front end or member made approxi-
mately C shape, and a clamp for fastening the spring on the post and arranged at a
point about midway between the vertical centre of the saddle and the front or
pommel end of the seat, thus bringing the weight of the rider on the seat in rear of
the vertical line of the clamp to compel the downward and backward action of the
hind end of the spring and the rearward action of the front end of the spring.
I am aware that heretofore a saddle spring has been held on a post by a clamp
arranged a short distance either in front or rear of the vertical line of the saddle,
but all such prior devices known to me are not constructed with a view to having
the weight of the rider sustained in the rear of the clasp, whereby to secure requisite
resiliency to the hind end of the spring and thereby compel, the opposite ends of the
spring to act in unison with each other and obviate the "sagging" of the seat in
the middle thereof.
My invention is distinguished from such prior devices in that the spring is made
in the peculiar form stated and the clamp is arranged in the novel manner
described so that I am able to secure the desirable results herein before mentioned.
The second part of my invention relates to the combination with a seat and a
clamp of a spring adapted to support the opposite terminal ends of the seat or top,
said spring being composed of two flat members arranged to have their meeting
ends overlap each other so that the inner end of each member serves to reinforce
the main body of the other member and automatically adjust the spring to the
weight of the rider and said overlapped ends are fastened or united directly together
so as to be immovable longitudinally on each other and to adapt the spring to be
adjusted lengthwise in the clamp to tilt or cant the seat or top and accommodate the
same to the convenience of the rider.
The invention further consists in a novel construction of the seat or top of the
saddle which enables me to effectually overcome the objectionable longitudinal
stretch in the seat and to prevent expansion of the sides at the pommel end thereof;
whereby the seat is prevented from having the sagging down or hammock motion
in the middle thereof and from chafing the legs of the rider when they come in
contact with the sides of the seat while in the act of operating the pedal cranks of
the machine.
The invention further consists in an improved means for pivotally connecting
the front terminal end of the spring to the pommel of the saddle to secure a better
action of the parts and increased strength and durability at the joint; also, in a.
clamp of improved construction which unites the seat spring to the saddle-post

page_text: or rod in a very rigid and secure manner also, in the improved construction
of the cantle-bar which braces the rear end of the seat or top and in the improved
means for adjustably securing the rear end of the spring thereto.
And finally the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of
parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.
To enable others to more readily understand my invention. I have illustrated
the same in the accompanying drawings, referring to which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a saddle embodying my invention, with the seat or
top in longitudinal section, and showing my improved clamp between the seat
spring and the saddle post. The spring in this case being made of one continuous
piece of steel and bent to the form shown.
Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are detached views of the improved form of clamp shown by
Fig. 1; Fig. 2 being a front view of the clamp in its entirety and with the saddle
post and spring in cross section, Fig. 3 a detail plan view of the yoke plate, and
Fig. 4 a. like view of the intermediate plate between the yoke clip and the spring.
Fig. 5 is a side view with the seat top in longitudinal section, of my preferred
form of spring which comprises two members (a front and rear member) arranged
and connected together for the automatic adjustment of support or the weight on
the seat or top.
Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the seat or top, more clearly illustrating the
construction thereof.
Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the front or pommel end of the seat or top shown
in Figs. 1, 5, and 6.
Fig. 8 is a detail front view of a part of the cantle-bar, showing the rear end of
the spring in cross section.
Fig. 9 is a detail elevation of the front end of the spring shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 10 is a detail front view illustrating the preferred pivotal connection between
the front end of the spring and the pommel hook shown in Fig. 5.
Fig. 11 represents a side elevation of my saddle wherein the spring is made of
one piece and bent to the peculiar form seen, whereby to secure the automatic
adjustment of the weight when placed on the hind end of the saddle, the same being
a modification of Fig. 5.
Like letters of reference denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.
L is the usual saddle post or "L rod" of a bicycle, tricycle, or other form of
saddle vehicle, preferably provided with the rearward horizontal arm to which the
seat spring is fastened by the clamp H.
A is the seat or top of the saddle, preferably made of leather as is usual, and
B, C, is the spring.
The generic leading features of my present invention consist in the spring having
its front end C made approximately "C shape" in longitudinal form and arranging
the clamp H at a point about midway between the front end of the seat and the
vertical centre thereof, the latter being indicated by the dotted line X X of Figs. 1,
5, and 11, the vertical line of the clamp being at X'X' in said figures.
By this peculiar form of the spring which suspends the seat or top A from its
opposite terminal ends, as shown, and the arrangement of the clamp at the point
described and shown, I am enabled to throw the weight or load on the seat at a
point in rear of the vertical line X'X' of the clamp H; and thus the spring is
made to have a downward motion at its rear end Band a rearward motion of the
front end C, the seat or top A acting as an intermediate connection between such
ends B, C, of the spring and the backward motion of the front end C acting in
unison with the downward motion at the rear end B, whereby the seat A is kept
under the proper degree of tension and is prevented from sagging in the middle
and is free from the "hammock motion "
so frequently complained of by riders of
cycle vehicles.
I will now proceed to a detailed description of the construction of the
embodiment of my invention illustrated by Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 9 of the drawings.
The spring B, C, of Fig. 1 is made of a single continuous piece of flat metal,

page_text: bent into nearly "C shape" at its front end and then curved upward and backward
at its rear end, as at B; and around the lower or depressed portion of the spring
is fitted the clamp H. The upper extremity of the front end C of the spring is
pierced with a transverse slot D¹ in which is fitted the hook of the pommel plate D
rigidly fastened to the pommel of the seat A, thus pivotally connecting the front
end of the spring and the seat pommel together. The rear end of the spring is
rigidly and adjustably fastened to the cantle of the saddle, which connection is
effected by fitting said rear extremity in the forwardly extending socket E* rigid
or integral with the front side of the cantle bar, and providing the two set screws FF,
which work in suitable threaded bearings in the wall of the socket and operate
against the end of the spring to hold the same in the socket, as indicated very
clearly in Figures 1, 5, 6 and 8 of the drawings.
The clamp H is made in the form of a yoke or clip, U-shaped, as seen in
Fig. 2, and this clip-yoke is arranged to straddle the spring and the "L-rod,
the lower threaded prongs of said clip-yoke being provided with the nuts K, K,
so that the yoke has a binding action on the spring and the L-rod equivalent
to the effect of two set screws, whereas it has heretofore been customary to use
a single screw to hold the clamp and spring on the L-rod. The lower ends of
the clip-yoke are passed through apertures H', H', pierced near the ends of a
clip-plate J, fitted or arranged against the lower side of the L-rod, and between
the upper side of the L-rod and the seat spring is fitted an intermediate bearing
plate I on which rests the seat spring as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the
drawings. In the opposing faces of the clip-plate J and the bearing plate I of the
clamp are formed longitudinal central recesses or grooves which conform to the
contour of the L-rod and which adapt said plates to fit snugly thereon, and the
bearing plate is held against displacement within the yoke-clip by means of the
ears or lugs II', formed in its side edges by recessing the same sufficiently to
receive the arm of the yoke-clip, see Figures 2 and 4. As the nuts are turned up
on the threaded arms of the yoke, the clip-plate J is forced against the lower
side of the L-rod and the yoke is drawn down so that its head bears firmly on
the spring and the latter depresses the bearing plate I on the upper side of the
L-rod, whereby the L-rod is clamped very securely between the plates I, J, and
the spring is held between the head of the clip-yoke and the bearing plate, the
whole presenting a substantial and secure connection for the seat spring on the
L-rod or saddle post.
6;
Referring now more particularly to Fig. 5 my preferred form of spring is made or
composed of two members B, C, the former being the rear member and the latter the
C shaped "front member; and these two members are united or secured regidly
together so as to be immovable longitudinally upon each other and form practically
one continuous spring. The meeting united ends of the two members are extended
beyond the fastening H2 indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5 and these extended
ends B', C, of the front and rear members B, C, of the spring are arranged out of
lateral contact cr engagement with the bodies of the members to form the openings
or spaces indicated by the arrows 1, 2, in Fig. 5. As shown, the end B₁ of the
rear member B is arranged above and is curved out of the line of the body of the
front member C, and the rear extended end C' of the front member C, is arranged
below and curved in like manner relative to the body of the rear member B;
and when the load or weight is imposed on the saddle, the members B, C, are
moved downward and rearward, respectively, in the manner herein before described,
so that the ends B', C', of the members are in contact with the main portions
of the spring, whereby the latter is reinforced by the ends B, C, and it is
stiffened in proportion to the weight or load on the seat or top A.
I do not,
however confine myself to arranging the bearing ends B, C, of the members
out of lateral contact with the main portions of the spring in order to secure
the openings 1, 2, and accommodate the spring to the load on the seat; and
said ends B, C, of the members may be curved so as to lie against the main
portion of the members as indicated at 3, +, by the dotted lines in Fig. 5, which

page_text: ends of the members act to reinforce and stiffen the spring. Again, the spring
can be made to accommodate itself to the load by means of the bearing C shown
in dotted lines in Fig. 1, which bearing is preferably made of a separate pièce
from the spring, arranged in the path of one of the members or parts of the
spring, and secured rigidly to the saddle clamp H. However, I prefer the con-
struction and arrangement of the bearing ends shown by Fig. 5.
The rear end B of the spring is secured to the cantle-bar in the same way as the
spring in Fig. 1, but the front end C of the spring in Fig. 5 is connected to the
pommel hook D by the improved joint illustrated by Figs. 5 and 10, which joint is
adapted to permit the seat and front end of the spring to have a better action and
which affords increased strength and durability. The upper extremity of the spring
is turned or bent over into the eye or loop D³, and this eye shaped end is recessed
or notched centrally at to separate or divide the eyes D³, D³, and enable the eye
on the pommel plate to fit between the spring eyes D2 and coincide therewith.
Through these aligned eyes of the pommel plate and the spring is passed a pivotal
bolt D2, which pivotally unites the front end of the spring to the plate on the
pommel of the saddle.
The cantle bar E is preferably of cast metal and extends nearly or quite around
the cantle of the top or seat A, and the vertical flange E' of said cantle bar is rigidly
united to the top by rivets or in any other suitable way. In the horizontal flange
of the canule bar I provide longitudinal slots P, P, adapted to receive the straps or
loops by which the usual "tool bag" can be attached to the cantle of the saddle.
This cantle bar serves to reinforce and stiffen the cantle of the seat or top. A,
provides for the convenient attachment of the tool bag, and also enables the rear
end of the seat spring to be rigidly attached thereto and the seat to be adjusted
or stretched longitudinally to keep the same taut and convenient to the rider."
The saddle having the spring constructed as in Fig. 1 is more especially adapted
for use on that class of cycles which are provided with pneumatic tires and in which
it is not essential that the spring shall have so much elasticity or resiliency as is
required in the ordinary kinds of cycles; but the spring shown in Fig. 5 is designed
for use on the ordinary wheels equipped with solid or "cushion" tires, as such
springs are capable of giving an easy resilient carriage.
I will now proceed to describe my improved seat or top shown in Figs. 1, 5, 6
and 7. It is usual in this art to construct the seat or top of a continuous piece of
leather or equivalent material which is pressed or formed by dies into the proper
shape, with depending sides at the narrowed pommel thereof; but the ordinary
saddle is open to the serious objections, first, that it sags down in the middle
owing to the peculiar action of the springs in general use and the longitudinal
stretching of the seat and thus producing a
hammock motion," and, second,
the depending sides adjacent to the pommel, or between the pommel and the
divergent part of the seat, are liable to spread or expand and thereby tending to
chafe the legs or parts of the rider which come in contact with the same while in
the act of working the pedal cranks of the machine.
I overcome the first objection named by reinforcing the seat or top, said reinforce
consisting of a single continuous piece of any suitable material applied or fitted
against the lower side of the seat, at the middle thereof, and extending longitudinally
throughout its whole length from the pommel to the cantle of said seat.
This reinforce may consist of a piece of woven fabric of such nature as to resist,
as far as possible, any tendency to stretch when under longitudinal or any other
tension or said reinforce may be made of a thin flexion piece of metal.
The reinforce or support is rigidly united to the longitudinal centre of the seat or
top in any suitable way that will answer the purpose, and in any application of the
reinforce or support to the seat it should be made of sufficient width to answer the
purpose, and preferably the front thereof should have its sides turned down at A'
within the sides of the seat or top to conform to the shape of the same.
The sides are prevented from spreading apart or expanding at the front end or
pommel of the seat or top by any suitable transverse fastening devices, and in the

page_text: preferred embodiment of my invention I employ a lacing S in the form of a cord or
thong which is passed across the narrow end of the seat and through the apertures s
which are pierced near the lower edges of the depending sides of the seat. A seat
thus constructed can have its sides drawn together for any suitable distance in rear
of the pommel thereof; whereby not only the shape of the front end of the sent may
be regulated to the fancy of the rider, and the chafing of the legs prevented, as
already described, but radially confining the opposite edges of the depending sides.
as described tends to stiffen the top against a "hammock" depression or motion.
The longitudinal reinforce of the seat may be provided with vertical openings N
which align with like openings in the seat or top A. for the purpose of ventilating
the seat, but I prefer to omit perforations of any kind in the top or seat A.
The front member C of the spring may be made of a piece of flat metal or from
a single piece of round wire of the proper strength which is bent to the necessary
shape.
In the modification of my invention shown in Fig. 11 my improved saddle top or
seat A is suspended or supported from its pommel and rear end between the
terminal ends or extremities of the spring or from the terminals of the members A¹C
of the spring, and said members A' C are so arranged that they mutually contribute:
to effect a downward and rearward motion of the seat or top A when the downward
pressure is exerted thereon. The front member C of the spring extends or is
curved forward beyond the pommel of the saddle, as indicated by the curve or
bend 1. From thence said spring is curved or bent downward at 2, and thence the
spring is curved rearward and downward at 3 to the point where it joins either of
the two rear members A or B of the spring. The rear member A¹ of the spring
is curved downward and forward from its point of connection with or attachment to
the rear end of the seat or top A, the forward extremity of said member A¹
terminating at a point between the ends of the seat or top about the middle of the
latter, and the rear member B extends rearwardly and downwardly at 4 from its
point of juncture with the rear member A¹, and thence is curved downward and
rearward at 5 in rear of its point of attachment of the saddle post L and is then
bent or recurved upon itself at 6 and extended forward to form a horizontal arm, 7,.
adapted for attachment to the bearing or clamp of the saddle post L. The rear
member A¹ of the spring is situated above the other rear member B of said spring
the two rear members being arranged in substantially the same vertical plane, and
the connected ends of said members occupy such relative positions to each other
that the contiguous or adjacent faces thereof are out of contact when the spring is
in its normal condition or free from the weight of the rider. When the rider
occupies the seat, the members of the spring are compressed to an extent propor--
tionate to the weight imposed upon the seat or saddle, and if a heavy rider occupies
the seat the members A' B of the spring are compressed to a greater extent than
when a lighter rider is seated on the saddle, the connected ends of the members A¹ B
being forced into contact along their contiguous faces. The upper member A¹ of
the spring thus has a bearing on the lower member B of said spring and as the
connected ends of the two members are reversely curved away from the central
line Z Z drawn between the members the extent of the contact or bearing of the-
upper member on the lower member varies in proportion to the weight of the rider
on the seat or top of the saddle.
I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and details of
construction of the devices herein shown and described as an embodiment of my
invention can be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the-
advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as
fairly fall within the scope of the same.
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: ·
i In a sodale for ovale vehiolas the combination with
seat and
Q nost
of a

page_text: spring having its front end approximately C shape, and a clamp for holding the
spring on the post, and arranged about midway between the front end of the seat
and its vertical centre, as and for the purpose described.
2. In a saddle for cycle vehicles, the combination with a seat and a post, of a
spring which suspends the seat from its opposite terminal ends and having its front
part approximately C-shape and a clamp connecting the spring to the post at a
point sufficiently in advance of the vertical centre of the seat to throw the weight
or load on the seat in rear of the vertical line of the clamp, whereby the front
end of the spring is adapted to move rearward in unison with the downward
motion of the rear end of the spring, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
3. In a saddle for cycle vehicles, the combination with a seat and a post, of a
spring connected by a clamp to the post, and a bearing arranged normally out of
contact with said spring and adapted to be brought against said spring on the
downward and rearward motion of the seat, substantially as described.
4. In a saddle for cycle vehicles, the combination with a seat and a post clamp,
of a spring, and a bearing arranged in the path of the movable part of the spring
and adapted to contact with the same when the spring is depressed under the weight
or load on the saddle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a saddle for cycle vehicles, the combination with a seat and a post clamp,
of the spring having its terminal ends connected to the pommel and cantle of the
seat, and the duplex bearing having its parts or members situated above and below
the spring, on opposite sides of the clamp, and adapted to contact with the spring
when the seat is depressed, as and for the purpose described.
6. The combination with a seat and post clamp, of a spring consisting of two
members with their inner ends overlapping each other, as and for the purpose
described.
7. In a saddle for cycle vehicles, the combination with the seat and a post
supported clamp, of the spring consisting of two members united together at their
inner ends said inner ends of the members being extended beyond the fastening
means to reinforce the body of the spring, as and for the purpose described.
8. In a saddle for cycle vehicles, the combination with a spring and a post, of
the yoke which straddles said spring and post, a clip-plate through which the
threaded ends of the yoke are passed and the nuts bearing against the clip-plate, as
and for the purpose described.
9. In a saddle for cycle vehicles, the combination of a spring, a post, a clip or
yoke arranged to straddle the spring and post and having the clip-plate and the
nuts on its lower end, and a bearing plate fitted between the post and the spring, as
and for the purpose described.
10. In a saddle for cycle vehicles, the combination with a spring and a post, of
the clip or yoke which straddles the spring and post, the clip plate fitted on the
lower ends of the yoke and bearing against the lower side of the post, and a bearing
plate confined between the arms of the yoke to be held from displacement thereby,
and fitted intermediate of the spring and the upper side of the post, as and for the
purpose described.
11. A saddle seat provided with a longitudinal central reinforce, as and for the
purpose described.
12. A seat for saddles having its pliable top braced against longitudinal
stretching by a longitudinal reinforce which extends from end to end of the top
and is united rigidly thereto, as and for the purpose described.
13. A seat for saddles having the rigid reinforce extending centrally thereof,
from end to end, and with the side edges of said reinforce curved to conform to the
downturned edges of the pliable top at the front or pommel end of the saddle, as
and for the purpose described.
14. A seat for saddles having the depending sides at the front thereof, and
means for preventing the sides from spreading, as and for the purpose described.
15. A seat for saddles having the depending sides at the front thereof, connected

page_text: together by transverse fastening means adapted to prevent the sides from spreading
laterally, as and for the purpose described.
16. A seat for saddles having the downturned perforated sides, and a lacer
extending transversely across the saddle and through the perforations in said sides
thereof, as and for the purpose described.
17. The combination, with a seat or top of the spring having its upper extremity
at the front thereof, provided with the spaced eyes, a plate rigidly secured to the
seat and having an eye which fits between and aligns with the eyes of the spring,
and a transverse pivotal bolt fitted in said aligned eyes, as and for the purpose
described.
18. The combination, with a top or seat, and a spring, of the cantle bar rigidly
secured to the hind end of the saddle and provided with a socket on its front side
which receives the rear end of the spring, and the duplex clamping screws for
holding said spring in the socket, as and for the purpose described.
19. In a saddle for cycle vehicles, the combination with a seat and a post, of a
spring connected at its opposite terminal ends to the seat and having the inner ends
of the members overlapping each other and united together, and a clamp fitted
around the united parts of the spring members, to connect the spring to the post,
as and for the purpose described.
20. In a saddle for cycle vehicles, the combination with a seat and a post, of the
spring having its front part curved approximately C-shape and with the adjacent
ends of the members thereof overlapping each other, and a clamp fitted around the
lapped parts of the spring and arranged in a vertical line between the front end of
the saddle and its vertical centre, as and for the purpose described.
21. In a saddle for cycle vehicles, a spring bent from a single piece of metal, its
front end approximately C-shape and its rear end curved reversely upon itself
whereby to afford an automatic adjustment to the weight imposed on the rear end
of the seat, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 11th dox of Aurmet 1809
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.