Improvements in or relating to Saddles for Cycles and the like.
Year: 1899

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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Saddles for Cycles and the like.
I, ARTHUR CUTIIBERT, of 33, Clarendon Road, in the County of London, Gentle-
man, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
The object of this invention is to provide a saddle or an attachment, which
may be applied to any ordinary suspension saddle, the construction of either
being such that the fore and central parts of the saddle are prevented from
unduly rising when the rear is depressed by the weight of the rider. The rider
thus sits upon the lower bones of the pelvis instead of his weight being thrown
upon the perinæum, as is the case in existing forms of saddles. The attach-
ment or saddle constructed according to this invention also affords means by
which the tension and consequently the configuration of the saddle may be
readily adjusted to suit the requirements of any rider. The attachment may
also increase the width of the saddle to which it may be applied, without involv-
ing the usual dis-advantages of a broad saddle.
A convenient method of carrying out this invention as regards the application
of an attachment to an ordinary suspension saddle is to surmount the ordinary
saddle with a separate leather cover extending out at the sides to give the
additional breadth required. This cover may either completely envelope the
original saddle or be secured at a convenient point in advance of the seat proper,
or enlarged part of the same.
or
In an approximately central position beneath the seat proper is a strut which
may lie at right angles to the central axis of the saddle and preferably parallel
to the cover, and is supported by two pairs of ties. The ties of one pair are
pivotally attached at or near opposite ends of the strut, and their free ends are
pivotted hinged to any convenient part of the rear of the saddle, whilst those
of the other pair are similarly pivotted to the strut, their free ends being secured
to the saddle cover at a point between the strut and the peak. To secure the
forward ties to the saddle cover, a plate is attached beneath the cover by any
convenient means having upon it angle pieces, through which the ends of the
ties may be passed, having a nut on the other side to hold each in place. The
rear ties may be hinged to a suitable lug or pin on the cantle plate, or secured
to the saine by a strap or one or more adjustable links, or, as an alternative, to
any convenient part of the saddle springs, or the material of the seat close to
the rear cantle plate.
In addition to the ties each end of the strut carries pivotted to it a link, pre-
ferably adjustable in its length, the free end of the link being secured by a
joint (such as a ball and socket joint, to one of the projecting ears or flaps of the
cover with which the saddle is surmounted. To secure the link to the ear of
the cover a metal plate may be attached to the underside of the cover in any
well-known manner. The end of the link may be cupped, or hollowed, having a
pin projecting centrally from the cup, and the plate may carry a boss provided

page_text: with a central orifice so that the pin may pass through the orifice within which
it may have free play whilst the boss rests in the cup-shaped end of the link.
To render the links adjustable in length, they may each conveniently com-
prise two parts, one part forming a sleeve for the other which is screwed into
it a greater or smaller amount according to the length that the link is desired to
take.
The operation of a saddle when provided with an attachment of the kind
described above is as follows.
As the weight of the rider falls upon the seat proper the latter, together with
its extending ears or flaps, is depressed thus causing the central strut beneath it
to be lowered and moved slightly to the rear as it swings upon its rear links.
This movement of the strut will pull upon the forward links and so corre-
spondingly depress that part of the saddle cover to which they are secured.
The whole of the seat proper by this means is kept approximately flat, or only
takes a convenient curve instead of the abrupt rise which takes place upon an
ordinary saddle from that point on the seat proper on which the bones of the
pelvis rest up to the peak of the saddle. It is obvious from the above that in a
saddle arranged as described this rise will only take place from that point at
which the forward links are secured up to the saddle peak, and will thus, permit
the rider to rest naturally upon the seat instead of his weight being thrown
upon the perinæum as is the case in a saddle of the ordinary construction.
Further, the ears or side extensions of the saddle, being pivotted freely to the
ends of the links, will oscillate about them, so that the fore-edge of each is
depressed when the rider treads down on that side, rising again during the
upward movement. Also the strut being suspended by ties in the manner de-
scribed above, the ears are free to oscillate about a longitudinal axis of the
saddle, so that the whole ear on one side, as well as its front edge will be
depressed as the rider treads down on that side, the other ear being simul.
taneously raised through the medium of the connecting strut and links.
saddle, although broad, is by the above means, prevented from chafing or ham-
pering the motions of the rider whilst giving additional ease and comfort.
The
It is obvious that the strut and its links strain the cover in a transverse
direction to the longitudinal axis of the saddle from the extremities of the ears,
and also the edges on each side of the ears, so that by adjusting the length of
the links the strain may be regulated and thus the tension of that part of the
saddle adjusted to suit any particular rider. Similarly the links regulate the
strain of the saddle in the direction of its longitudinal axis, and thus regulate
the tension of the centre of the saddle and also control the height of the fore and
central parts of the same, so that by regulating their length by means of any
of the adjusting devices referred to, the tension of the saddle in this direction,
and consequently its surface configuration may be readily adapted to suit the
particular user.
The arrangement of the different ties, links and strut, may be variously
modified without departing from the nature of this invention, for instance, the
forward ties instead of being secured to the plate beneath the saddle cover by
threaded nuts, after the manner of spokes, may be secured to a single nut
carried by a screw pivotted in suitable bearings on the plate in such a manner
that when the screw is revolved the position of its nut is changed and the ties
tightened or slackened. Again, the rear and forward ties may be made sufficiently
stout to permit of dispensing with the central strut, the end links being in
this case attached to the ties at that point where the rear and forward ties meet.
The ties too may obviously take any convenient form, and might be made in the
form of plates, the two forward ties forming one plate whilst the rear ties would
form another, being hinged together where the links are attached and at their
other ends to the rear and front of the saddle, respectively. When it is not
desired that the surmounting cover of the saddle should extend over the whole
length of the saddle, which is unnecessary, the fort-part of the cover may con-

page_text: veniently be secured to the plate, which carries the forward links; or ears, or
flaps only may be sewn or otherwise attached direct to the sides of the ordinary
saddle cover. The extremities of the cantle plate at the rear of the saddle can in
any case be removed should they be found to hinder the free operation of the
ears.
.
It will be understood that although the invention is described above as an
attachment applied to the ordinary cycle saddle it is not limited to this in its
scope, but would also include a saddle constructed upon the same lines, in
which case the cover would, of course, be preferably formed in one piece with
its extending ears.
I, ARTHUR CUTHBERT, of 33, Clarendon Road, in the County of London, Gentle-
man, 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 object of this invention is to provide a saddle or an attachment, which
may be applied to any ordinary suspension saddle, the construction of either
being such that the fore and central parts of the saddle are prevented from
unduly rising when the rear is depressed by the weight of the rider. To effect
this a part of the saddle cover in advance of the seat portion is connected to the
rear of the saddle by a frame member, preferably comprising several parts as
hereinafter described. By the arrangement of the saddle in this manner the
rider sits upon the lower bones of the pelvis instead of his weight being thrown
upon the perinæum, as is the case in existing forms of saddles. The attachment
or saddle constructed according to this invention also affords means by which the
tension, and consequently the configuration of the saddle, may be readily
adjusted to suit the requirements of any rider. The attachment may also
increase the width of the saddle to which it may be applied, without involving
the usual disadvantages of a broad saddle.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one method of carrying out
this invention,
Figure 1 is an underside view of a saddle constructed according to this inven
tion,
Figure 2 is a central vertical section of the saddle on the line 2-2 of Figure 1,
Figures 3, 4 and 5 are details of construction,
Figure 6 is a plan of the saddle with part of the seating removed,
Figure 7 is a central vertical section of the same,
Figure 8 is a transverse section of the saddle on the line 8-8 of Figure 6,
Figure 9 is a plan of a niodified detail and
Figure 10 is a plan view of another modified detail.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In an approximately central position beneath the seat proper of the saddle is
a strut A which lies at right angles to the central axis of the saddle, and is
approximately parallel to the leather cover B. The strut A¹0 is carried on one
side by two forward ties A' secured one at either end of the strut, their free

page_text: ends being held by a strap C made fast to the cover B at a point somewhat in
advance of the seat proper. The strap C is riveted to the saddle cover at C³, its
free end being turned back upon itself and secured by a buckle C9 through
which the fixed end of the strap may be passed before riveting. The ties A¹
for convenience may be made in one piece, the central connecting portion A
being engaged by the strap and arranged to lie approximately parallel to the
strut A10 To prevent wear of the strap at that part against which the part A
of the ties bears, a roller As may be mounted upon the connecting piece A7 so that
the strap passes round the roller and does not bear directly upon the ties. The
strut A is carried on that side opposite to the ties A¹ by rear ties A³.
ties are similarly secured one at each end of the strut Aº, and their free ends
connected to a nut A, common to both, and carried by a bolt A³ passed through
the cantle-plate D of the saddle.
These
To avoid expense in construction the rear ties A3 are also formed in one
piece, the central connecting portion being looped so that it may pass beneath
and partly surround the bolt A. The nut A is provided with an extension A
(Figure 5) which extends beneath the looped portion of the ties A³ so that the
latter is engaged between the nut and the bolt.
The cantle-plate D is made somewhat shorter than usual, as will be seen by
referring to the drawings, so that the sides B1 of the seat are deprived of the
usual support given by the same, and in place of this are supported by adjustable
links Epivotted at E on either side of the strut A10, and to plates E riveted or
otherwise secured to the parts B₁ of the cover. The joints at the end of each
link are preferably so arranged that that at E' permits the link E to swing in
an approximately vertical plane, whilst that between the link E and the plate E²
(Figure 8) allows the link to swing in an approximately horizontal plane.
To secure the forward ties A', rear ties A³ and links E to the strut A10, it is
preferred to employ connecting pieces E7 (Figure 4). Each connecting piece E7
comprises a plate provided with orifices E8 through which the ends of the
different members may be passed and secured by riveting or other convenient
means, and on the lower side is a projection or ear E9 which extends beneath the
strut A10 when the connecting piece is in position and prevents it from rising
when pulled upon by the ties A¹ A³.
To render the links E adjustable they are preferably made in two parts E3E+,
one part having a right-hand screw thread, whilst the other has a left-hand
screw thread, in order that they may be connected by a screw-threaded sleeve E.
Thus by revolving the sleeve the length of each link may be adjusted, and a
lock nut E6 is provided at one end of the sleeve to secure it in position when
the required length of the link has been found. The lock nut E6 is preferably
carried by the part E3 of the link, so that when finally secured against the
sleeve the part E may be free to swivel in the sleeve.
It will be seen that the sides of the saddle are supported by the links E between
them and the strut A10, and that by regulating the length of the links the tension
of the saddle in a transverse direction can be regulated. To regulate the tension
of the same in a longitudinal direction the length of the ties A may be adjusted
by means of the strap C, and the whole strut A1, with its lug A, may be drawn
nearer to or placed further from the cantle-plate D by revolving the bolt A
in one direction or the other. To keep the bolt A5 in-position when adjusted,
it is preferably provided with a hexagonal head which normally rests in a corre-
spondingly shaped orifice in the cantle-plate. So long as the saddle is in use
the bolt is kept firmly down in its place by the weight of the rider but when
there is no weight upon the saddle the bolt is easily pressed backward so as to
disengage its head from the cantle-plate, in order that it may be revolved in one
direction or the other for adjustment.
It will be seen that the system of parts comprising the strut A10 and ties A¹ A³
together form a member hereinafter referred to as a frame member. These
parts could be made in one piece pirotted between and connecting the rear of

page_text: the saddle and a part in advance of the seat portion of the saddle. The letter A
(Figures 1 and 2) indicates the entire system forming the frame member, whether
constructed as shown in these figures or in the figures referred to below or
whether formed as a solid member.
The framing F of the saddle may be of any well-known construction, and
forms no part of this invention, as the strut, ties and links described above may
be applied to any known form of saddle. The operation of this device is as
follows.
As the weight of the rider falls upon the seat portion, the latter, together with
its sides B supported by the links E, is depressed, thus causing the strut A10
beneath it to be lowered and moved slightly to the rear as it swings upon the
bolt A. This movement of the strut A10 will pull upon the forward links A'
and so correspondingly depress that part of the saddle cover to which they are
secured by the plate C. The whole of the seat portion by this means is kept
approximately flat, or only takes a convenient curve instead of the abrupt rise
which takes place upon an ordinary saddle from that point on the seat portion
on which the bones of the pelvis rest up to the peak of the saddle. It is obvious
from the above that in a saddle arranged according to this invention this rise
will only take place from that point at which the forward links A¹ are secured up
to the saddle peak and will thus permit the rider to rest naturally upon the seat
instead of his weight being thrown upon the perineum, as is the case in a saddle
of the ordinary construction.
Further, the sides B' of the saddle being pivotted to the links E and the
links pivotted to the strut A at E¹ in the manner described, will oscillate about
a transverse axis of the saddle so that the fore edges of each is depressed when
the rider treads down on that side rising again during the upward movement.
Also the strut A10, being suspended at the rear by the ties A³, and forward by
the ties A', the sides B are free to oscillate about a longitudinal axis of the
saddlé, so that the whole part B on one side as well as its front edge will be
depressed as the rider treads down on that side, the part B1 on the opposite side
being simultaneously raised through the medium of the connecting strut and
links. By giving this free movement to the sides B' the saddle may be made
broader than usual, without chafing or hampering the motions of the rider,
whilst at the same time giving additional seating room.
It will be understood that the strut A10 and ties A are not rigidly secured to
the connecting pieces E' but are passed loosely through them and held in place by
a head after the manner of wheel spokes. The bolt A is free to oscillate in a
similar manner in the cantle-plate D.
The tension of any part of the seat portion may be regulated to suit the
particular requirements of the individual rider as by lengthening or shortening
the links E, the transverse tension of that part of the seat is adjusted, the longi-
tudinal tension being regulated by screwing the bolt A5 further into or with-
drawing it from the nut A which carries the ties A³. If necessary the ties A¹
may also be adjusted by means of their nuts A³, as described above, though,
under ordinary circumstances, sufficient adjustment may be obtained by means
of the bolt A5.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 illustrate a slightly modified construction of the saddle, the
forward strap by which the ties A are secured to the saddle cover being dis-
pensed with and replaced by a plate C. The ties A¹ in this case are not con-
structed in one piece but their ends are passed through ears C¹ on the plate C and
secured by a nut A2. The forward adjustment of the ties may thus be effected by
revolving the nuts A in one direction or the other so that the strut is either
brought towards the plate C or removed further from the same. The rear ties A¹
may if preferred be dispensed with, the strut A10 being provided with a lug or
projection A adapted to receive the bolt A. The ties A³ may however be
retained in conjunction with the plate C and may be carried by a nut A having

page_text: an extension A as described with reference to Figures 1 to 5, or may be passed
through or secured to a nut as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 6.
The arrangement of the different ties, links and strut may however be variously
modified without departing from the nature of this invention, for instance, the
forward ties may be provided with additional facilities for adjustment by
securing them to a device such as that shown in Figure. 9.of the drawings
attached to the plate C. The plate C is, in this case, formed, with two brackets
or lugs C, which serve as bearings for a screw 3, and on the screw is mounted
a nut C. The nut C is prevented from revolving with the screw by any con-
venient means, and has a projection or lug C through which the ends of the
ties A may be passed and secured each by a head on the opposite side to that at
which they enter, or the ties A may be formed in one piece, bent at an angle
at that part which lies within the lug C. The ties themselves may serve to
prevent the nut C from revolving with the screw C; or the plate Cmay be
made solid or provided with a central portion C, and the nut flattened on that
side which faces the part. C6 so that it bears against the same.
.''}
Again, the ties may be modified by constructing them, as shown in Figure 10,
in the form of a flat strip, so that the frame member A connecting that part of
the saddle just in advance of the seat portion and the cantle-plate D is formed
in two parts hinged together at that point where the links E are attached, the
ties A¹ forming one part and the ties A³ or tie A forming the other. The fore
part of the frame member constructed in this manner may be hinged at CT
to a nut carried in a similar manner to the nut C by the plate. C, and the
links E may be pivotted to the brackets E3 on one of the parts. When the
frame member is formed in two parts in this manner, they may, if preferred;
be made sufficiently stout to permit of the strut A10 being dispensed with.
It will be understood that this invention is not limited to a complete saddle
only in that the parts forming the subject-matter of the invention may be applied
to any existing saddle, and any such saddle may be widened by attaching sides
(preferably of leather) to form the parts B secured to the links E; or the ordinary
saddle may be surmounted by a separate leather or other cover of the desired
width. If it is not desired that this surmounted cover should envelop the whole
saddle it may cover the seat proper only the fore part being conveniently held
down by rivetting to the plate C. Should the cantle-plate of an ordinary
saddle be found to interfere with the action of the saddles B₁ it may obviously
be shortened by cutting off the extending portions.
The strut Aio with its part As may be made to take any convenient form so
as to avoid fouling the parts of any ordinary cycle frame, being in this case
arched as shown clearly in Figure 8 to avoid contact with the central springs of
the particular frame shown in the drawings... The ties and links connected
with the strut may also of course be so disposed as to avoid collision with the
parts of the frame.
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. In a cycle saddle a frame member such as A pivotted at one end to the
rear of the saddle and at the other end to a part of the saddle in advance of the
seat portion for the purpose described.
2. In a cycle saddle the employment of a device such as described by which the
transverse and longitudinal tension of the seat portion of the saddle cover may
be adjusted.
3. In a cycle saddle of the kind described the combination with the frame
member A of pivotted links such as E connecting the edges of the saddle cover
and the frame member substantially as described.
4. In a cycle saddle of the kind described forming the frame member A of two
parts pivotted together at or near the points at which the links E are attached

page_text: relative movement being thus permitted between the saddle portion and frame
member.
5. In a cycle saddle of the kind described the combination with the frame
member A of side links and of a strut such as A10 substantially as described.
6. In a cycle saddle of the kind described the combination with the frame
member A of an adjustable connection between the member and the cantle.
plate of the saddle and between the frame member and the saddle cover sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
7. In a cycle saddle of the kind described the combination with the frame
member A of connecting pieces such as E7 E9 substantially as described.
8. In a cycle saddle of the kind described the combination with the frame
member A of a loop on the rear ties A³ partly surrounding the bolt A and a nut
such as A having an extension A substantially as and for the purpose described.
9. In a cycle saddle of the kind described the employment of links such as E
adjustable in length and so pivotted to plates such as that they may move in
any required direction substantially as and for the purpose described.
10. In a cycle saddle of the kind described the combination with the saddle
cover of flexible ears or side pieces such as B' secured to or integral with the
saddle cover substantially as described.
11. In a cycle saddle of the kind described pivotting the links E to the frame
member A and the saddle cover in such a manner that the ears or sides of the
cover are free to move about longitudinal and transverse axes of the saddle sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
12. The complete saddle or saddle attachment substantially as described or
illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or Figures 6, 7 and 8 of the accompanying draw-
ings.