Improvements in Saddles for Bicycles and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THE MESINGER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, of
1801-1803 First Avenue, in the City, County and State of New York, United
States of America.]
Improvements in Saddles for Bicycles and similar Vehicles.
I, JOHN WILLIAM MACKENZIE, of the Firm of Wheatley and Mackenzie, Engi-
neers and Patent Agents, of 40, Chancery Lane, in the County of London, 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 saddles for bicycles and similar vehicles, and the object
thereof is to provide an improved device of this class which is simple in construc-
tion and operation, and which is provided with a flexible and yielding or elastic
seat or body portion composed of a flexible strap of leather, canvas or any suitable
woven or braided material.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following Specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which:—
Fig. 1, is a plan view of my improved saddle for bicycles and similar vehicles:
Fig. 2, a longitudinal central section thereof on the line 2, 2, of Fig. 1, with the
bottom cover removed;
Fig. 3, a bottom plan view with the bottom covering removed; and,
Fig. 4, a similar view with the bottom covering in position.
In the drawing forming part of this Specification, the separate parts of my
improvement are designated by the same letters and numerals of reference in each
of the views, and in the practice of my invention, I provide a saddle for the purpose
herein specified the construction of which is as follows:-
The rear portion of the saddle is composed of a cantle 5, which is of the form
shown in Figs. 2, and 3, the front portion thereof being slightly concave as shown
at G, and the rear portion thereof being curved upwardly and backwardly and
being slightly circular in form as shown at 7, and secured to the bottom of the
cantle is a heavy spring wire yoke S, the ends of which are secured in the cantle
at 9, and the head of which is carried forwardly and curved upwardly so as to form
a transverse loop 10, which constitutes the forward portion or frame of the saddle,
and the central portion of the sides of the yoke 8 are curved downwardly as shown
in Fig. 2.
The entire upper portion of the saddle is provided with a cover 11, which is
preferably composed of leather, and the sides thereof over the seat part of the
saddle are raised as shown at 12, and the edges of this cover are bent downwardly
around the entire saddle as shown at 13, and the central portion of the cover is
depressed between the sides 12, and preferably provided with a central longitudinal
opening 14.
I also provide an adjustable fastening device consisting of links D, and G, which
are connected by a bolt g, which is passed through downwardly directed heads g³,
formed on the adjacent sides of said links, and the body portion of the saddle is
composed of a flexible strap B which is preferably composed of canvas or other
... 877

page_text: woven material but which may be composed of leather or any suitable flexible
material. The said strap B is folded centrally so as to form two straps b, and b²,
said straps being passed upwardly through the bottom of the cantle, through
holes a, and a³, formed therein, said holes being also formed in a groove 15 formed
in the bottom of the cantle.
The strap b, is then carried forwardly and passed around the loop 10, and then
through the link G, and then forwardly around the loop 10, and then backwardly
over the cantle and passed through a hole a³, and then around the bottom of the
cantle in the groove 15, and passed upwardly through a hole at, from which point
said strap is carried forwardly and passed through the link D, from which it is
carried backwardly over the cantle, and passed through a hole a, and said strap
is then passed upwardly through a hole a, formed in the cantle, and then again
through the link D, and then backwardly over the cantle, and again downwardly
through the hole a', where it is fastened as shown at 3. The strap 6 is carried
forwardly and passed around the loop 10, then through the link G, then forwardly
around the loop 10, then backwardly over the cantle, and passed downwardly
through a hole a' formed in said cantle, then upwardly through another hole a³,
then forwardly and through the link D, then backwardly over the cantle, and
downwardly through a hole aº, then upwardly through a hole a10, then forwardly
through the loop D, then backwardly over the cantle and downwardly through the
hole as where it is secured as shown at b*.
As above constructed it will be seen that the entire weight of the rider is
supported by the strap B, and it will also be seen that by turning the screw g
the links D, and G may be drawn together or separated and by means of this con-
struction, any sag in the seat can be taken up at any time as will be. readily
understood.
I also provide a bottom covering for the body portion of the saddle which con-
sists of leather or other preferred material, and which is composed of four
parts H, K, K³, and L. The part H of the bottom covering is secured to the bottom
of the cantle, and is exactly of the same shape and the outer edges thereof may be
secured inside the downwardly curved portion of the cover 11, which surrounds
the same, and the inner edge thereof is secured to the inner edge of the cantle by
screws, tacks or other devices h, and the parts K, and K³, are similar in form, and
are secured to the triangular part L by means of a cord or lacing M, the part L,
constituting the central portion of the bottom covering, and being provided with
a central opening L which corresponds with the opening 14, in the top cover 11,
and the outer edges of the parts K, and K³ of the bottom cover of the seat are
passed upwardly between the downwardly curved edges of the top cover 11,
may be secured thereto if desired.
and
The parts H, K, K², and L forming the bottom cover are not absolutely essential
features of my invention, and may or may not be employed. The front portion of the
top cover 11 or the opposite sides thereof are connected by a strap or cord O as
shown on Fig. 4, which is passed therethrough beneath the loop 10 and beneath
the strap B.
By means of this construction I provide a flexible bicycle seat for the saddles of
bicycles and similar vehicles, and means for relaxing or tightening the same when-
ever desired, and my improved saddle is simple in construction, and operation, and
it will be apparent that changes in, and modifications of the construction herein
described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or
sacrificing its advantages.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
-
1. A saddle for bicycles and similar vehicles, consisting of a cantle, the rear
portion of which is higher than the front portion, a strong spring yoke the ends of

page_text: and is directed upwardly to form a loop, an adjusting device consisting of two
links each of which is provided with a downwardly directed head through which a
screw threaded bolt is passed, and a flexible strap which is folded centrally and
passed through the cantle, and the separate ends or sides of which are passed
around the forward loop of said yoke, and through the said links of the adjusting
device, and through the cantle and secured substantially as shown and described.
2. A saddle for bicycles and similar vehicles consisting of a cantle the rear
portion of which is higher than the front portion, a strong spring yoke the ends
of which are secured to the bottom thereof, and the head of which projects for-
wardly and is directed upwardly to form a loop, an adjusting device consisting of
two links each of which is provided with a downwardly directed head through
which a screw threaded bolt is passed, and a flexible strap which is folded centrally
and passed through the cantle, and the separate ends or sides of which are passed
around the forward loop of said yoke, and through the said links of the adjusting
device, and through the cantle and secured, said saddle being provided with a top
covering, and the body portion thereof being provided with a bottom covering,
substantially as shown and described.
3. A saddle for bicycles and similar vehicles consisting of a cantle, the rear
portion of which is higher than the front portion, a spring yoke, the ends and the
sides of which are connected with said cantle, and the head of which is carried
downwardly and forwardly and curved upwardly to form a loop, an adjusting device
consisting of two separate links connected by a screw threaded bolt, said device
being placed between the sides of said yoke near the front thereof, and a flexible
strap which is folded centrally and the separate sides or ends of which are passed
upwardly through said cantle, said ends or sides of said strap being passed around
said loop, and through the links of the adjusting device and through said cantle,
substantially as shown and described.
4. A saddle for bicycles and similar vehicles, said saddle consisting of a cantle, a
strong spring yoke, the ends of the sides of which are connected with the cantle
and the head of which extends forwardly and bent upwardly to form a loop, an
adjustable device mounted between the sides of said yoke, and consisting of two
links connected by a screw threaded bolt, and a strap which is connected with said
cantle, and interwoven around said loop and through said links, substantially as
shown and described.
5. A saddle for bicycles and similar vehicles consisting of a cantle, a strong
spring yoke, the ends of the sides of which are connected with the cantle, and the
head of which is extended forwardly and bent upwardly and backwardly to form
a loop, an adjusting device mounted between the sides of said yoke, and consisting
of two separate links connected by a screw threaded bolt, and a flexible strap inter-
woven through said cantle, and said links and around said loop and the ends of
which are secured, substantially as shown and described.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.