IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDE AND OTHER SADDLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN BOULTBEE BROOKS of Great Charles Street, Birmingham in the County
of Warwick Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDE AND OTHER SADDLES," to be as follows:→
My invention relates to the construction and arrangement of saddles principally
for bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes whereby the seats of the said saddles
are rendered more yielding or elastic than saddles of the ordinary_construction;
and my said invention is an improvement upon an application for Letters Patent
made by me on the 2nd day of October 1884 and also Letters Patent granted to me
on the 28th March 1883 in which yielding rubber bearings or pads and jointed
parts, are employed for giving ease, comfort and flexibility to bicycle and other
velocipede saddles in the one, and elasticity by means of leverage in the other.
The seat of the saddle is supported at the back or cantel end, upon a three armed
yielding bracket, while the front end of the saddle is supported by a hanging
bracket which turns upon a pivot or centre connected to the front of the framing;
that is, the skin or seat of the saddle is completely suspended on rubber bearing
springs above a metallic supporting plate, at its back end, upon a three branched
bracket which allows the, saddle to yield or partake of a combined vertical and
lateral horizontal movement, on pressure being exerted upon the seat or skin in the
act of riding. The branches of the bracket consist in the one part of a central
pillar having at its upper end a spherical termination, which works within a socket
like cup or joint made with, or out of the trough framing, which follows the back
skirting of the saddle, and just below the spherical termination described, the
pillar is jointed with the pivot pin in a line with the saddle; and at the lower end
of the central branch of the back support described, a link is jointed with its
fulcrum pin lying in a lateral direction, while the other end of the link is jointed
to a piston like, rod working horizontally through a fixed bracket on the top of
inside of the supporting framing; and threaded upon or surrounding the end of the
piston like rod, on the back side of the bracket, is a rubber cushion with end
supporting washers, and upon the extreme end of the rod is a nut or collar, so that
the compression of the yielding bearing is between the back face of the bracket and
the inside face of the nut with the front connecting link free to move or turn in a
vertical plane.

page_text: The under supporting frame at this end of the saddle, is bent into a loop form
of bracket attachment and terminating in forked arms, which are connected and
pivoted horizontally in a midway position to the central bracket, the joint of the
said connection being made in a transverse direction. The other two branches of
the back supporting bracket, are inclined in oblique directions to the central pillar
of the bracket, which comes between them; that is, the two side tubular branches
of the bracket, take the form of the letter V, which are connected at their lower ends
to the bottom of the middle pillar, while their upper ends are open wherein piston
like rods work. These rods have at their upper ends spherical terminations, which
work within suitable sockets in the back framing; and just below the spherical
terminations, the rods are provided with collars or shoulders and between these
shoulders and the tops of the converging arms, rubber bearings or pads with
supporting washers are disposed.
In consequence of the seat of the saddle being suspended at its back or cantel
end, by diverging and central branch supports, having ball and socket terminations;
and further, the pivotings or jointings being disposed in planes at right angles to
each other, the saddle admits of a swaying, rocking and yielding motion thereby
imparting ease, comfort and elasticity to the seat of the saddle.
The inclined or converging arms herein before referred to, may be made in the
form of pillars of rubber with metal axes or spindles running through their middles,
which said spindles have spherical terminations working in sockets or cups made
both in the back plate and the metallic supporting frame; and instead of the
rubber pad in the former case, being disposed on the under side of the framing, the
said pad may be placed in front of the middle pillar bracket, the latter having
"an eye or opening through which an inclined or bent axis passes. This central
bracket is also jointed by a knuckle joint, to a pivot bracket working in a long
socket or sleeve on the upper side of the supporting framing.
When the saddle is to be a rocking saddle or yielding only laterally, the outer
bracket supports are dispensed with, leaving a middle supporting bracket which is
provided with an incline axis affixed to a socket or cupped cross bar, carried by
the saddle under framing. The lower terminal end of this inclined axis, engages
with a lateral cross bar which slides within guides and is kept in position by
rubber pads or coiled springs placed between the guides and shoulders on the bar;
so that on pressure being applied to one or to the other side of the saddle, the
inclined axis is rocked to or fro and is made to resume its normal position by the
reaction of the springs or yielding pads.
The bag suspending loops at the back of the saddle are provided with a hooked
tongue from which any small article carried by a velocipedist can be hung.
. 1007

page_text: Improvements in Velocipede and other Saddles.
I, JOHN BOULTBEE BROOKS of Great Charles Street, Birmingham in the County
of Warwick Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDE. AND OTHER SADDLES," and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
i
My invention relates to the construction and arrangement of saddles, principally,
for bicycles tricycles and other velocipedes, whereby the seats of the said saddles
are rendered more yielding or elastic than saddles of the ordinary construction;
and ny said invention is an improvement upon two several Letters Patent granted"
to me, and bearing date the 28th day of March 1883, and on the 2nd day of
October 1884, in which yielding rubber bearings or pads and jointed parts, are
employed for giving ease, comfort and flexibility to bicycle and other velocipede
saddles.
Figure 1 represents an equilibrium rocking saddle constructed according to one.
part of my invention, the back end being shown in vertical section. Figure 2
shows partly in vertical section the said back end, with the seat of the saddle in
a neutral or horizontal position, while figure 3 shows the same in a tilted position.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in figures 1, 2 and 3.
a is the seat of the saddle supported at back upon a three armed swivelling
bracket b which is capable of slightly swivelling or twisting upon the pivot cas
a centre. The two outer arms or branches 62 63 of the said bracket are made
tubular or socket like, wherein piston like rods d d having spherical or roller.
upper terminations d² work. The said spherical ends d² move within hanging
sockets e secured by rivetting or otherwise to the underside of the seat of the
saddle a, or rather to the underside of a troughed metallic back frame f. The
middle branch 63 of the three armed bracket, is jointed by a pin 6* to a lug g²
which is an extension of the bushed boss y; and attached to the said 'boss g, is
a rod h connected thereto by a jointed link h²; and surrounding the said rod is
an india rubber pad or yielding cushion i, supported at its ends by plates or
washers 2, which respectively take their abutments upon the inside face of a
nut 23, and the shoulder of a bracket j, which is carried by the upper underside
of the metallic supporting framing k.
The middle jointed branch b³ serves both as a rolling support or prop at the back
of the saddle, and it also forms a coupling link for securing the parts together.
This link bas like the rods d, a spherical termination which fits and works
within a socket f fixed to the back metallic frame f. The pivot c. is jointed at c²
to a bracket arm 2 on the back end of the metallic frame k. The said pivot c is
provided with a T top c³, against which an antifriction roller carried by the
coupling arm b³ works.
The rods d which work within the sockets of the inclined arms b³, are provided
with rollers & d'; these rollers assist in reducing frictional contact on the rods
passing up and down the inclines of the tubes, or sockets, in which they work,
ر

page_text: The front of the saddle is provided with a bushed bracket, which turns upon
a pivot or trunnion end carried by, or secured to the front part of the metallic
supporting frame.
By constructing velocipede saddles as described, an universal motion, or a motion
in every direction is thereby accomplished. Thus a rider in treadling, moves first
on one side, and then on the other; and if the seat of the saddle is allowed to
travel with his motion, then the pressure and twisting exerted by him, keeps the
seat of the saddle in a state of equilibrium.
Figure 4 shows a complete longitudinal vertical section of a velocipede saddle,
constructed according to another form of my invention. Figure 5 is a plan of the
underside, figure 6 is an end. view of the back portion, with the seat of the saddle
in a neutral position. Figure 7 represents the same, tilted or turned on one side
in order to better exhibit the respective positions which the parts assume, on the
working of the saddle.
a is the seat of the saddle supported at back upon a three branched. bracket b,
which is hinged or pivoted horizontally at b' to a bracket arın k³, carried by the
metallic supporting frame 'k. This joint is for the purpose of allowing the
bracket to make a slight angle outwardly 'with the supporting frame, when
pressure is put upon the seat of a saddle; thus the pressure exerted, tends to press
outwards the lower end of the bracket b, and compress the rubber pad or yielding
cushion between the back abutment, in the form of a cross plate ³ with an eye
through its middle, and through which eye the spindle or rod
passes, and around
the near end of which, the yielding cushion encircles. The cushion or pad is
supported laterally by plates 2, the front one of which abuts itself upon the inside
face of the nut i³. The rod h both helps to connect the back end of the frame to
the branched supporting bracket, and also forms a centre upon which the coupling
arın b³ turns. This coupling link is also provided at its upper end with a circular
head 6, through which a centre pin 66 passes, for jointing and securing the link to
the socket f, which latter fixed to the underside of the seat of the saddle.
The outer arms 62 62 of the bracket b are made in the form of incline planes,
upon which antifriction rollers 61 61 depending from the socket bracket f travel,
on the rocking or turning of the saddle. b' is a quadrant bearing surface upon
the top of the bracket b, for giving rigidity and steadiness to the movement of
the parts.
On vertical pressure being applied to the seat by a rider, the link 63 which is
connected to the back of the saddle, is sprüng ontwards at its lower end, and
carrying or pulling with it the spindle or rod h, the movement of which compresses
the india rubber pad or. cushion i between the fixed end and the nut 23. The
side pressure of the rider also at the same time forces the seat aside, and compels
the rollers b¹ b¹, to travel one up, and the other down the inclines of the bracket
arms b² 68.
The vertical thrust combined with a twisting movement of the seat, created by
the motion of a rider, produces such concurrent action, that the saddle is kept at
every point of its motion, in a state of equilibrium, by the resistance offered by the
concussion pads, and the inclined planes on which the rollers b' work.
The use of inclines or spherical terminations, (as in the first arrangement
described) swing seats are made to travel or roll upon their supports in a state of
equilibrium, from the fact that the free motion of the seat is retarded, without
being hindered to the movement or change of position of the rider.
The inclined bracket arms whether made in the form of tubes wherein piston
like rods work, or in the form of inclined planes upon which rollers travel, an
extended bearing surface is in each case obtained; and further, the movements of
the rods within the sockets of the arms or the rollers up the inclines, produce a
kind of buffing action, which is unattainable by ordinary means.
The front of a saddle is provided on its underside with a socket recess mi
wherein a spherical head n of a hollow pivot n works; and within the socket n³
of the latter; a plain axis o works, having upon its outside end a nut p, and at its

page_text: extreme end, a worm which latter screws into a screw box r, situated between
the front part of the framing k; and between the back end of the hollow pivot n
and the nut o, an india rubber or other yielding pad or spring 8 is disposed.
By suspending the front of the seat of a saddle by the means as described, a.
semi-rotation and a twisting action of the seat is thus allowed for.
The hollow pivot n is provided with a quadrant bearing surface marked n*,
which rests and works against a raised face m³ formed with the bracket carrying
the socket m.
Figures 8 and 9 show another form of my invention. Figure 8 is a part
vertical section, and figure 9 is an end view, with one of the supporting bracket
arms in section.
a is the seat of the saddle, b is the middle bracket, which is capable of swivelling
horizontally upon the pivot c as a centre. The two outer supporting arms b² 12
are made in the form of yielding pillars, composed of vulcanite india rubber or.
other yielding inaterial; and passing centrally through the said pillars are rods dd,
the lower ends of which work through the bottom of the metallic supporting
framing k, while the upper parts of the said rods are provided with spherical
terminations d, which work within sockets f' forming a part of the depending
carrying bracket f, which is connected to the end of the frame, by the jointed
connecting link 63; that is, the upper end is made spherical, and works within a
socket f like the other rods, while the lower end is jointed to the forked bracket b
which swivels upon the centre c. i is a horizontal concussion pad, which receives
the thrust or impact of the vertical movement of the saddle, and h is an inclined
axis passing centrally through the said cushion pad, the bent part of which passes
through a free axial hole in the connecting link 63 with spherical top b*. By thus
having the axis inclined, the saddle is allowed to rock or turn in a twisting
manner, instead of in a straight direction which would occur if the axis was not
inclined.
By constructing saddles in the manner as described, the seats are able to swing
or rock in a twisting or swaying manner; and further, all vibration communicated
from the machine is intercepted and concussion and jar prevented, by arranging
the cushion like pads or yielding parts as described.
Figures 10, 11 and 12 show a modification of the forms already described.
Figure 10 is an underside view, figure 11 is a side elevation, partly in section, and
figure 12 is an end view.
a is the seat of the saddle, b is a depending divided bracket with arms bª, 6ª
having open ends b through which axes c carrying rubber concussion pads e pass.
The front ends of the said axes work within the front or forward ends of the said
socket c' carried or situated at the back end of the frame of the saddle, while the .
front ends work loosely within the open bearings 63 in the bracket arms b².
The depending bracket b is jointed at b* to a cranked extension 66 connected to
the back end of the metallic supporting frame by means of the pin c; so that the
downward movement of the seat forces the joint pin e backward, and forcibly
compresses the abutment b6 of the jointed extension 6 upon the front sides of the
concussion pads e, which form a reacting medium for relieving concussion or .
tremor. The bracket is also suspended from an inclined swivelling axis d,
supported and carried by the socket g, secured to the underside of the back of
the saddle.
By mounting the seats of saddles upon supporting brackets, with inclined
swivelling centres, the said seats are capable of rocking in a rolling manner;
similar to the motion a rider makes in treadling, thus allowing the saddle to
travel or move with the rider, without that drag or hanging back, which is
common with ordinary saddles.
The front of the saddle turns upon an axis which may be straight or inclined.
f is a bracket, with an enlarged ended slot f', wherein the necked stud g
engages, which said necked stud carries a depending inclined bush or bracket h,.
wherein an axis or spindle i partially rotates. The back end of this axis or..

page_text: spindle is wormed for tensioning the seat; and between the front end of the
nut ; and the back shoulder h³ a rubber concussion pad or spring is disposed.
By so arranging the parts as described, the front of the saddle as well as the
back of the saddle, rocks or sways in a gyratory manner.
Figure 13 represents a longitudinal vertical section of a saddle provided with an
inclined axis and bearing at its back end, in order to acquire a rolling motion of
the seat of the saddle on rocking. Figure 14 is a plan of the underside, showing
the connection between the metallic framing, and the underside of the seat.
a is the seat of the saddle, & is the metallic framing, c is an inclined axis carried
by the back end of the metallic frame k, and which said axis works within an
inclined axial hole d*, formed in the depending bracket d, secured to the underside
of the back of the seat of the saddle, by ineans of the troughed framing e.
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
First. Making the seats of velocipede and other saddles partake of a semi-
gyratory or swinging motion, combined with a rocking or tilting action, in order.
to follow or partake of the motion of a rider, by suspending the said seat upon
yielding or movable supports, which by their concurrent action, constantly keep
the saddle in a state of equilibrium, substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly. Suspending the back ends of the seats of rocking saddles upon a
three branched support, the middle one of which is jointed and turns at its lower
end upon a pin as a fulcrum carried by a bushed boss to which a link and jointed
rod is connected; and surrounding the rod, and disposed between a nut on its end
and a fixed bracket on the saddle frame, a yielding pad or spring is cushioned, by
the outward movement of the lower end of the middle branch before named, on
downward pressure being applied to the yielding seat, while the other or upper
end of the said middle bracket support is made spherical and works within a
depending socket on the underside of the saddle seat. The other or outward
branched arms partially turn around a pivot as a centre, and which said pivot is
jointed at its upper part to a bracket on the end of the saddle frame; and above
the said centre, a bearing surface is provided against which an antifriction roller
carried by the middle link or branch works, and takes its bearing, and which said
arms are inclined V wise to each other, and are also made socket like or tubular,
wherein rods with or without rollers closed by a bracket, work, while the upper
ends are spherical and work within sockets on the underside of the seat of the
saddle, for the purpose substantially as described and illustrated in figures 1, 2
and 3.
Thirdly. Suspending the back ends of the seats of rocking saddles upon a three
branched support, the middle one of which is jointed at its lower end and turns
upon the end of a rod which passes through the middle of a yielding pad or spring,
confined, and cushioned between a nut on the end of the said rod, and a bracket on
the saddle frame; while the upper end of the said middle branch before named, is
jointed to a bracket depending from the underside of the back of the saddle seat.
The two other or outward branched arms are made in the form of inclined planes,
upon the top edges of which, rollers on the underside of the saddle seat travel or
work; and proceeding upwards from the middle of the inclines, an upright bracket
is disposed, and through which bracket a joint pin passes, to connect the inclined
arms to the bracket on the frame of the saddle. The said upright bracket also
forms a bearing surface for link or middle arm to work against, for the purpose
substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth in figures 4, 5 and 6 of the
Drawings.
Fourthly Employing inclined planes or inclined plane supports for the bearing
surfaces, upon which anti-friction rollers or snugs depending from the underside of
the back of a saddle travel, for the purpose substantially as described and illustrated
in figures 4. 5. 6. and 7. "
11

page_text: Fifthly. Suspending or elevating the rear ends of the seats of rocking saddles
upon a three branched bracket support, the middle branch of which is made in the
form of a connecting link jointed at its lower end to a horizontal pivot, supported
and working within a socket on the saddle supporting frame, and at its upper end,
to the underside of the seat of the saddle; and between the said middle branch,
and a fixed shoulder carried by the pivot, a yielding pad or spring is disposed, and
through which pad, a guide pin passes. The outward bracket arms are made in
the forin of yielding pillars, composed of india rubber, with inclined rod axes
through them, free at their lower ends and connected to the saddle at top ends,
substantially as described and set forth in figures 8 and 9 of the Drawings.
Sixthly. Suspending or supporting the rear ends of the seats of saddles upon a
depending bracket support, connected to the underside of the seat of a saddle by a
swivelling inclined axis, (or by a plain axis) which allows the seat when in use,
to rock in a curvilinear or swaying manner. The respective lower ends of the
branched support are jointed to bent arms carried by fixed rods secured to the
back end of the metallic framing of the saddle; and between the U parts formed
by the branched support and the bent arms aforesaid, yielding pads or springs are
disposed and cushioned, substantially as and for the purpose herein described and
set forth in figures 10, 11 and 12 of the drawings.
Seventhly. Suspending or supporting the rear ends, or both the rear and front
ends of saddle seats, by or upon an inclined axis or inclined axes working within,
or in connection with inclined bearings, substantially as described and . illustrated
in figures 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.
Eighthly. In supporting or suspending the fronts of the seats of saddles.
Making the pivot centres of rocking saddles engage within the hollow or axis of
a secondary pivot, whose forward end is spherical, and engages within the hollow
of a fixed socket, secured on the underside of the seat of a saddle, the proper
bearing of the parts on the rocking of the saddle being secured by contact bearing
surfaces. Or making the pivot centres of rocking saddles turn and gyrate directly
within the hollows of fixed sockets, substantially as described and illustrated in
figures 4 and 5.
Lastly. Supporting the front end of the seat of a velocipede saddle upon an
inclined bearing or bracket h, capable of being readily detached from its supporting
plate f, by making its upper part necked, so as to engage with a narrowed part ƒ
of a slot hole in the said bracket; so that when in use, the said necked part
swivels, substantially as described and illustrated in figure 11.