Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 20th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 18th June, 1898
I, SAMUEL BODDIS, of Midland Works, James Street, Heath Town, near
Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Cycle Spring Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In cycle saddles, as heretofore usually constructed, the lower or main frame
which is directly carried by the mounting by which the saddle is fixed to the
seat pillar, and to which the lower ends of the coil springs are directly fixed, is
made up of a number of parts which are formed separately and are riveted together,
with the result that the parts are liable to become loose or unriveted. It has been
usual, also, to form the lower ends of the springs with eyes to receive vertical
bolts by which they are fixed to the lower frame. These bolts are very difficult
of access owing to the fact that the nuts, or heads as the case may be, are inside
the springs; and, moreover, when shallow coil springs, that is springs which have
only a few coils, are employed, it is found that under considerable vibration the nuts,
or heads, of the bolts by which the springs are fixed to the lower frame are liable
to come in contact with the nuts, or heads, of the bolts by which the upper ends
of the springs are fixed to the plate or bar which carries the leather, thus causing
shock to the rider.
Now, this invention has for its object to construct a lower frame of a cycle
saddle, and the lower ends of the coil springs, in a manner which avoids the use of
rivets and enables the bolts by which the springs are attached to the frame to be
passed sideways therethrough, so that the heads and nuts are outside the springs
and consequently readily accessible, and not liable to come in contact with bolts
or nuts by which the upper ends of the springs are attached to the plate or bar
which carries the leather.
According to this invention, the lower frame of a cycle saddle is formed of sheet
or strip metal (preferably steel) in one continuous length (preferably) by bending
the metal so that the frame when complete is of a T-shape as seen on plan with
the main portion of the stalk of the T having its two sides spaced apart
sufficiently to receive between them the mounting by which the frame is fixed
to the seat pillar, with the two portions of the T which project beyond the stalk
each formed with a space between their two thicknesses of metal to receive the
eyes of the coil springs, and with the two sides of the forward end of the stalk,
cranked in towards one another, but sufficiently apart at their outer ends to. receive
the eye of the lower end of the forward spring. The loops or eyes at the lower
ends of the coil springs are formed vertical, and are fixed to the lower frame by
passing them down between the two thicknesses of metal of the frame, and passing
the bolts by which they are fixed thereto transversely through the two thicknesses
of metal, and through the eyes. The bolt by which the forward spring is fixed
to the frame answers the purpose, also, of fixing the two sides of the forward
end of the frame.in relation to one another, thus avoiding the use of a rivet for the
purpose. It is preferred to form the frame from a single length of sheet or strip

page_text: metal, as described, but it will be obvious that the frame may be similarly con-
structed of two or more lengths of sheet or strip metal if desired; for instance,
the outer portion or thickness of the metal which forms the head of the T may be
madé separately from the other portions, in which case the forward end of the
stalk may be closed so that its two sides and the remaining portions of the T are
in one continuous piece with one another. In such case, the bolts by which the
hinder springs are fixed to the frame hold the separate portions of the frame
together and the use of rivets is thereby avoided.
Dated this 20th day of Tul.. 1907
I, SAMUEL BODDIS, of Midland Works, James Street, Heath Town, near
Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Cycle Spring 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:-
--
In cycle saddles, as heretofore usually, or frequently, constructed, the lower or
main frame which is directly carried by the mounting by which the saddle is
fixed to the seat pillar or saddle bar, and to which the lower ends of the coil
springs are directly fixed, is made up of a number of parts which are formed
separately and are riveted together, with the result that the parts are liable to
become loose or unriveted. It has been usual, also, to form the lower ends of the
springs with eyes to receive vertical bolts by which they are fixed to the lower
frame. These bolts are very difficult of access owing to the fact that the nuts, or
heads as the case may be, are inside the springs; and, moreover, when shallow coil
springs, that is springs which have only a few coils, are employed, it is found that
under considerable vibration the nuts, or heads, of the bolts by which the springs
are fixed to the lower frame are liable to come in contact with the nuts, or heads,
of the bolts by which the upper ends of the springs are fixed to the plate or bar
which carries the leather, thus causing shock to the rider.
Now, this invention has for its object to construct a lower or under frame of
a cycle saddle, and the lower ends of the coil springs, in a manner which avoids
the use of rivets and enables the bolts by which the springs are attached to the frame
to be passed sideways therethrough, so that the heads and nuts are outside. the
springs and consequently readily accessible, and not liable to come in contact with
bolts or nuts by which the upper ends of the springs are attached to the plate or
bar which carries the leather.
A lower or under frame of a cycle saddle and the lower ends of the coil springs
which support the upper portion of the saddle are shewn, as constructed according
to this invention, by the drawings herewith. Figure 1 is a longitudinal section.
through the centre of the under frame, and shews a side elevation of the lower
ends of two of the springs. Figure 2 is a view of the underside of the under
frame, and of the coil springs attached thereto; and Figure 3 is a back end view
of the under frame, shewing also the lower ends of the coil springs.
The under frame A is formed of sheet or strip metal (preferably steel) having
its width depthways and is of a T-shape as seen on plan, with the main portion of
the stalk of the T having its two sides a a spaced apart sufficiently to receive

page_text: The
between them the mounting by which the frame is fixed to the saddle bar.
two portions of the frame forming the projecting portions of the T head,
which is at the hinder end of the frame, are each formed with two sides or separate
thicknesses of metal bbwhich are spaced apart as shewn to receive the eyes c
of the hinder coil springs C. The two sides dd of the forward end of the under
frame are brought near to one another, as shewn, but are kept sufficiently apart
to receive the eye e¹ of the lower end of the forward coil spring C. The loops or
eyes ccc, at the lower ends of the coil springs, are formed vertical, and are fixed
to the lower or under frame A by passing them down between the two thicknesses
of metal of the frame and passing bolts e e e transversely through the thicknesses
of metal and through the eyes.
the
one
or
In the particular construction of under frame A illustrated,
frame is formed in two separately made parts only, of which
consists simply of the back or hinder end D, which is conveniently
formed as a flat plate, as shewn, with an upwardly arched portion
bridge at the middle, to clear the saddle bar. The remaining portion is formed
in one piece by bending the metal to the shape shewn, that is to say, with the two
sides a a, with the portions dd which are brought near to one another at the
forward end and joined together at the extreme forward end, with the cranked
portions which join together the sides a and the forward portions d, with the
outward portions b at the hinder end between which and the parts 6' of the
plate D the eyes at the lower ends of the coil springs C are placed, and, preferably,
with short pieces f which are bent back at right angles with the portion bb and
close in the outer sides of the spaces contained between the parts b and the
plate D, and conceal also the ends of such plate. The bolts ec answer the double
purpose of fixing the lower ends of the springs CC to the frame and of fixing the
plate D to the portions bb of the frame. Holes are formed through the
sides a a of the frame, to receive the pins or studs (one of which is shewn by
broken circles Figure 1) by means of which the frame is fixed to the saddle bar;
and it is preferred to form these holes slotted somewhat lengthways, as shewn,
to allow of endway adjustment of the saddle in relation to the mounting by
which it is fixed to the saddle bar. It is preferred, also, to form the holes k through
the parts of the frame, and through the parts b₁ of the plate D thereof, slotted
longitudinally, as shewn, to allow of sideway adjustment of the springs C, C.
The frame A, including the back plate D, may be formed in one piece of metal,
if desired, by being bent to the shape shewn by Figure 2, and the open or unjointed
ends may meet or terminate at the forward end of the frame, or at the end of
one of the parts which form the projecting portions of the T-head, that is to say,
at the end of one of the two parts which is made up of the two sides or thicknesses
of metal b' ; or the frame may be made of three separately formed parts,
namely of the back or hind plate D), and of two separately made side pieces, (each
forming a part b, a, h, d) of which the forward ends meet or terminate at the
forward end of the frame. When the two sides of the frame are not continuous
with one another at their forward ends, the bolt el, by which the spring C¹ is
connected with the forward end of the frame, answers the double purpose of
connecting such spring with the frame and of securely fastening together the
sides of the frame at their forward ends.
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. An under frame of a cycle saddle formed of sheet or strip metal, and having
spaces between two thicknesses of metal to receive vertical eyes of the springs.
which support the upper portion of the saddle, and having holes through such
thicknesses of metal to receive transverse pins for the connection of the springs to
the frame, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. An under-frame of a cycle saddle formed of sheet or strip metal and having
its sides brought near together at the forward end to receive between them the
vertical eye of a spring employed in supporting the upper portion of the saddle,
substantially as described.
3. An under frame of a cycle saddle formed of sheet or strip metal and formed
at its hinder end with sideway portions each constituted of two thicknesses of
metal which when the saddle is put together receive between them the vertical
eye of a spring employed in supporting the upper portion of the saddle,
substantially as described.
4. An under frame of a cycle saddle formed of sheet or strip metal with its width
depthways, and separately made parts thereof or ends of the metal of such frame
fixed together by means of bolts or a transverse bolt, each of which or which
answers the purpose also of fixing to the frame the vertical eye of a spring
employed in supporting the upper portion of the saddle, substantially as
described.
5. An under frame of a cycle saddle constructed substantially as described and
shewn by the drawings herewith, whether the same is formed of a single piece of
metal bent to shape, or in two or more parts as described.
Dated this 19th day of April 1898.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.