Improvements in Cycle Saddles or Seats.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 26th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 12th June, 1897
Improvements in Cycle Saddles or Seats.
I, JOHN STEPHEN JENNENS, of Burbury Street, Aston Manor, near the City of
Birmingham, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the cycle saddles or seats, and has for its object, a firm seat
with a soft or yielding pummel or front.
Heretofore, saddles, both of the frame type and of the hammock type, have been
supported at the rear upon a back or cantle plate and at the front from a corresponding
rigid bracket or peak plate and between these front and back plates the leather seating
is stretched and tensioned by varying devices, with the opposite sides or flaps of the
body of the seat being left free so that no undue hardness should be presented to the
thighs of a rider.
Although these saddles, on the whole, form good seats, yet there are attendant
drawbacks particularly in those ridden by the female sex, as the hardness of the peak
is hurtful and a source of discomfort which deters many from cycling who would
otherwise ride if a seat without such defects could be had.
According to my improvements, such defects are obviated and a rigid yet comfort-
able saddle produced.
In carrying out one form of my invention, I support the back of a saddle on an
elevated frame, following the contour of the cantle and part of the opposite sides and
then being set-down forwardly into a dropped front bar, which runs first laterally
and then in a diagonal direction inwards towards the underside of the seat where the
wires of the frame terminate in an attachment 'boss, which, at the same time grips &
back supporting wire, thus supporting the framing of the saddle, which has an
absolute clearance at the front, upon three points.
Coming or suspended hammock-wise between the opposite termination of the sides
and crossing the pummel or front is a tensioned or elastic supporting strap which
prevents the front of a seat from sinking unduly when the pressure of a rider comes
upon it, but is sufficient to support the said seat in the required plane, viz., about on a.
level with the back of the frame.
The seat leather is secured to the top of the framing at the back and parts of the
sides, with the front and other parts of the sides being loose or free, so that the said
free parts can yield in obedience to the pressure brought to bear upon them, hence a
resilient-pummelled or peakless saddle with rigid back frame.
This saddle is particularly applicable for female riders, but when a peaked saddle is
required, I make the metal frame as follows:--
I form a half-hoop shaped back and then drop or crank down the wire suddenly on
each side and continue it forwards, so as to give full clearance for the thighs, and again
crank it upwards and inwards to the plane of the back and then drop the fronts of the
wires again so as to form an inverted arch which unites the front ends of the sides
and leaves a clearance at the middle of the peak, which may be laterally bridged by a
hammock strap. The leather is stretched over the whole of this frame and is secured
at the back, free at the sides up to the frame sides of the peak or pummel and with
that part of the seat bridging the inverted arch of the pummel being also free, hence
a soft and pliant pummel, or a saddle soft at the middle, pliant at the sides, and rigid
at the back.

page_text: In carrying out a still further form of my invention, I make the seat framing and
back stay as first described and continue or extend from a block or the boss which
connects the saddle framing to the seat pillar, a tongue shaped piece of wire which is
to form the pummel or peak, into which I drop the rib on the underside of a piece of
wood which comes within a short distance of the block or boss, thus admitting of the
said frame member, which is of a spring organization, yielding.
The leather is stretched over the block of wood and the outer sides are left free, so
that the thighs do not come in contact with any hard substance.
Dated this 25th day of June 1896.
JOHN STEPHEN JENNENS,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
J, JOHN STEPHEN JENNENS of Burbury Street, Aston Manor, near the City of
Birmingham, Manufacturer, 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 cycle saddles or seats, and has for its object, a firm seat
with a soft or yielding pummel or front.
Heretofore, saddles, both of the frame type and of the hammock type, have been
supported at the rear upon a back or cantle plate and at the front from a corresponding
rigid bracket or peak plate and between these front and back plates the leather seating
has been stretched and tensioned by varying devices, the opposite sides or flips of the
body of the seat being left free so that no undue hardness should be presented to the
thighs of a rider.
Although these saddles, on the whole, form good seats, yet there are attendant
drawbacks particularly in those ridden by the female sex and men of mature age,
as the hardness of the peak is hurtful and a source of discomfort which deters
many from cycling who would otherwise ride if a seat without such defects could
be had.
According to my improvements, such defects are obviated and a soft and comfort-
able saddle produced.
In carrying out one form of my invention, I support the back of a saddle on a
frame, following the contour or boundary edges, of the cantle and part of the opposite
sides and then being set-down into, or attached at the front ends to a dropped bar,
which runs preferably in a diagonal direction inwards underneath the seat and
terminate in an attachment boss, which, at the same time grips a back supporting
member, thus supporting the framing of the saddle (which has an absolute clearance
at the front) upon three points.
Coming or suspended hammock-wise between the opposite front termination of the
sides and crossing the pummel or front is a tensioned or elastic supporting strap which
prevents the front of the seat from sinking unduly when the pressure of a rider comes
upon it, but is sufficient to support the said seat in the required plane, viz., about on a
level with the back of the frame.
The seat leather is secured to the top of the framing at the back and parts of the
sides, with the front and other parts of the sides being loose or free, so that the said
front can yield in obedience to the pressure brought to bear upon it, hence a resilient-
pummelled and peakless saddle with rigid back frame.

page_text: Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents an underside pan or a peakless
cycle saddle constructed according to one form of my invention, showing the arrange-
ment of the supporting framing.
Figure 2 is a back elevation of the saddle.
Figure 3 is a topside plan of Figure 1, and
Figure 4 is a transverse section of Figure 2 upon the dotted line x.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of.
the drawing.
a is the leather seating of the saddle, supported at the back and opposite sides by a
frame b,, and secured thereto by rivettings 2, or otherwise. a' is the front of the
said seat, which is unsupported, whilst bridging the opposite sides 1, of the frame b,
at 3, are set-down stretcher members c, preferably directed inwards and connected
to the back framing and back plate b, by a back stretcher member c', made fast
to the said framing and stretcher, at c², c. d is the elastic tensioned front supporting
strap, made fast at the ends d', to the front of the framing and made of leather,,
webbing or other material.
The attachment boss of the saddle is preferably carried from the plate c.
This saddle is particularly applicable for female riders, but when à peaked saddle is:
required, I may make the metal frame as follows:-
I form a half-hoop shaped back and direct therefrom framing wires which drop or
crank down suddenly continue forwards, so as to give full clearance for the thighs,
and again crank upwards to the plane of the back, and the front ends of the sides.
are then connected to the front or peak of the saddle, which may be laterally:
bridged by a supporting strap. The leather is stretched over the whole of this.
frame and is secured at the back, free at the sides up to peak or pummel, hence.
a soft and pliant pummel, or a saddle soft at the middle, pliant at the sides, and.
rigid at the back.
Figure 5 is an underside plan of such a saddle. and Figure 6 a longitudinal.
vertical section of the same.
a is the saddle seat, supported at rear by a cantle plate a', having connected with it,.
a pair of frame rods b, cranked or set down considerably at their middle parts d and
with their fore ends b', connected at two opposite and separated points a, at the peak
end a', of the saddle seat by bolts and nuts a³, made fast to the said points of the seat,..
and in order to prevent the said front part from sagging, a bridging web of tensioned
leather or other material may be directed across the underside of the same and between.
the ends of the wires, as represented by the dotted lines c.
In carrying out a still further form of my invention, in connection with a peaked:
saddle I may support the peak end of the same by a tongue shaped piece of wire.
or length of metal forming a continuation of, or directed from the front of the
saddle into the fore part of the tongue I drop the rib on the underside of a piece
of wood or other like material thus admitting of the said frame member, which is of
a spring organization, yielding.
The leather is stretched over the block of wood and the outer sides are left free, so-
that the thighs do not come in contact with any hard substance.
Figure 7 represents an underside plan of such a saddle, but with the rib of the
peak block and the front end of the seat leather in horizontal section.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal vertical section of Figure 7 upon the dotted line, and
Figure 9 is a cross section of the front end of the seat upon the dotted line :
Figure 7.
a is the leather seat of the saddle, b the back plate, c the underframing, consisting
of a pair of parallel wire sides with the after ends c', connected to the said back plate.
by nuts and bolts c, and with the front ends c³, turned up and formed into a spring
tongue c', fitted with a pummel or block of wood or other material d, dropped between
the sides c, of the said returned spring end, and between which and the back plate-
the leather seating is stretched.
The saddles herein described may be provided with ordinary tensioning appliances..

page_text: 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 1
claim is :-
First. A cycle saddle supported by an underframing which follows the contour of
the back and the whole or parts of the sides of the same, but which leaves the front
unsupported and soft, with or without a tensioned or elastic supporting strap,
substantially as described and set forth in Figures 1 to 4.
Secondly. A cycle saddle, supported by an underframing which follows the contour
of the back and the whole or parts of the sides of the same and leaves the front
unsupported or soft, and which framing is supported at three or more points by legs
or members converging towards a common centre or part to which the securing
boss of the saddle may be attached, substantially as described and set forth in
Figures 1 to 4.
Thirdly. In cycle saddles, supporting the fore part of the seat at two separated
points, at or near the peak, substantially as and for the purpose described and set
forth in Figures 5 and 6.
Fourthly. In cycle saddles, supporting the fore part or peak end upon the end of a
spring tongue or free member, made either as a part of the underframing, or
separately therefrom, substantially as and for the purpose described and set forth in
Figures 7, 8 and 9.
Fifthly. The improvements in the construction and arrangement of cycle saddles,
substantially as and for the purposes described and set forth in the several figures of
the drawings.
Dated this 25th day of Mouch 1007
JOHN STEPHEN JENNENS,
By Henry Skerrett,
24 Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.