Improvements in Saddles and Saddle Springs for Velocipedes.
Year: 1889

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Saddles and Saddle Springs for Velocipedes.
I, JOHN BOULTBEE BROOKS of Great Charles Street in the City of Birmingham
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Usually when pillar coiled springs are used, the front part of the seat of a velocipede
saddle, is mounted and supported upon a single pillar coiled spring, which has itself, to
support and take the whole of the weight of a rider upon that said part.
This single yielding support, in having to bear so much weight, has to be made of
stout metal, which is detrimental to the yielding properties desirable to be attained.
The object of my said invention, is to remedy the aforesaid defect, or defects, by
mounting the frame in such a manner, that the weight exerted by a rider, shall be
more evenly distributed and this I do, by mounting and supporting the front of the
seat of the saddle, upon two pillar coiled springs, instead of one viz.:-arranging one
spring behind the other, in the line of the longer direction of the seat.
I will now describe my invention in connection with a velocipede saddle.
The under framing consists preferably of rods, directed from the rear, to the front
underside, and between the fore part of the said framing, or bracket extensions.
directed from them, or from the saddle, two pillar coiled springs are disposed, with
their lower ends fixedly connected to the base plate, or base framing, the said base
framing being constructed, principally for strength and lightness. These springs are
arranged at short distances apart, in the longer direction of the saddle in such a
manner, that the second spring comes behind the first, and preferably resting upon an
inner extension of a rod bracket, carried by, and through a bridge bracket, on the
underside of the said front part and with the front of the said first named bracket,
turned upwardly, through which part, the tensioning screw, passes.
The other end of the tensioning screw, is supported and takes through a
U shaped bracket, attached to the extreme front underside of the said seat of the
saddle.
By employing two springs, which are made from wire of less gauge than that
of the single spring ordinarily used the saddle is made more yielding, the weight
of the rider is more equally distributed, and swaying prevented.
The base framing upon which the said pillar coiled springs are fixedly connected,
is made up of two rods of convex shape in cross section and tapering lengthwise
from their middles for the purpose of lightening the said rods, and yet not
materially reducing their strength.
These rods are connected rigidly together by means of the carrying boss, which
is grooved on its two outer sides, and into these grooves the said rods take, and
are there rigidly secured, by a metal flange on the carrying boss, being closed
over the sides of the said rods, thus holding the said rods in position. These rods
when fixedly connected together, form a base framing of a fork-like construction,
and the forked, or rear ends of the said framing are slightly bent outwards and
fixed to the two springs disposed at the rear part of the saddle, by screws and
nuts or by any other suitable means.
The contracted part of the fork-like base framing, is fixedly connected by any
suitable means, to the two pillar-coiled springs, disposed one behind the other at
the front part of the seat of the saddle, as before described.
In a modification of the tensioning arrangement the framing rods may be extended
to the extreme front part of the saddle, and a secondary bridge bracket may be used,
the first described bracket and the secondary bridge bracket forming bearings for the
lensioning screw, whose screw box is fixedly connected to the underside of the leather

page_text: seat of the saddle, and the outer face of the secondary bridge bracket, forms an abutment
against which the head of the screw works.
DI
C Canta 1980
I, JOHN BOULTBEE BROOKS, of Great Charles Street, in 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, and is founded on an improvement upon two
several Letters Patent granted to me, and bearing date the 19th day of November
1886, No. 15048, and June 13th 18SS No. 8652.
In cycle saddles supported upon pillar coiled springs, the front of the seat thereof,
is only supported upon a single spring, which has itself, to support and take the whole
of the weight of a rider, upon that said part.
This single yielding support, in having to bear so much weight, has to be made of,
or formed from stout metal, and in consequence of which, the yielding properties of
the said springs are greatly impaired.
The object of my said invention, is to utilise the whole elastic properties of the
supporting spring, by mounting the saddle in such a manner, that the weight of a
rider, shall be evenly distributed between both front and rear; and this I accomplish
by mounting, and supporting the front of the seat of the saddle, upon two pillar coiled
springs, (instead of one) arranged one behind the other, in the line of the direction of
the saddle.
I will now describe my invention in connection with a velocipede saddle.
The under framing consists preferably of rods, directed from the rear to the front
underside, and between the fore part of the said framing, or bracket extensions
directed from them, or from the front nnderside of the saddle seat, two pillar coiled
springs are arranged, with their lower and upper ends, connected to the base plate or
base framing, and under framing of the saddle respectively. The said base framing
is made, in form and principle, principally for strength and lightness.
These dual and front supporting springs, are arranged at short distances apart, in
the longer direction of the saddle, with the second spring coming behind the first, and
preferably resting upon an inner extension of a tensioning bracket.
By employing two springs, which are made from wire of less gauge than that of the
single spring, as ordinarily used, the saddle seat, is made more yielding; and further
that the weight of the rider more equally distributed.
The base framing, upon which the said pillar coiled springs, rest, or are connected,
is made up of two convex shaped strips in cross section, and which may taper length-
wise from their middles.
These rods are connected rigidly together, by means of the carrying boss, which is
grooved on its two outer sides, and into these grooves, the said lengths take, and are
there rigidly secured by a metal clamping cap.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing, represents partly in vertical section, and
partly in elevation, a tricycle, or safety bicycle saddle, provided with improvements
made according to my said invention. It will be seen, that the fore part of the saddle,
or the saddle seat, is supported upon two pillar coiled springs, in lieu of a single one,
as, heretofore.
Figure 2 represents an underside view, of the said saddle, figure 1, showing the

page_text: disposition of the springs supporting the saddle seat, and also the stamped up sheet
metal base framing, which is pierced, principally for lightness.
Figure represents a transverse section, on the dotted lines A B figure 1.
az is the seat of the saddle, with the framing rods b, directed from the rear, to the
front underside of it, and with the front ends 6, taking into a socket or boss c³, of a
tension bracket c, whose upwardly turned end, has a screwed hole through it,
wherethrough the inner end of the tension screw d, passes.
The other or outer end, has an abutment shoulder d, and a neck or stalk, which
latter, takes through a hole directed transversely through a hanging U shaped brackete,
secured to the front underside, of the said seat.
The tension bracket c, has an inward extension cl, upon the underside of which, the
upper end of a second pillar coiled spring f, takes its abutment or bearing, and is
affixed thereto by a pin g, taking through the said end. The lower end of the spring f,
is secured by the ping, and takes its bearing upon an inward part of the base
bracket h, which is of the figure of an inverted trough in cross section (see figure 3)
and is stamped up from wrought metal.
The longitudinal figure of the said base plate, is alike unto an inverted bow, whilst
working within the troughed underside of it, is an adjustable boss i, with wings or
extensions, so that the change of position of the said boss 7, 7, creates a greater or
less distance between the top of the saddle seat, whose plane is also changed thereby.
The extreme fore part of the saddle seat, is mounted upon the first coiled spring j,
thus creating a dual support, for the said front, whilst the abutment ends of the
springs, impinge or rest in common against, or upon the tension bracket, and front top
side of base plate, respectively.
The back of the saddle is supported upon two pillar coiled springs, respectively
attached or connected to the underside of the saddle seat and bracket, by pins g², and
so also is the spring j, connected in like manner.
The socket is secured in its adjusted position, upon the underside of the base plate,
by a set screw and washer, and with the stem of the screw taking through a slot /',
directed up, and through the middle of the bracket.
•
Figure 4 represents a cycle saddle, constructed according to another form of my
invention. This saddle, alike unto the last, is mounted at both front and back, upon
yielding dual supports.
Figure 5 is a transverse section, through the dotted lines CD, figure 4.
« is the saddle seat, its front end, and its rear end, f, j. pillar coiled springs,
arranged perpendicularly one behind the other, and disposed between the top side
front end of the base framing h, and the underside of the tension bracket e. with gap e²,
bridge, and closed end c, through a hole in which latter, the shank end of the
tension screw a passes.
The other or middle part of the said screw, takes through a wormed hole e², directed
through the hanging bracketc, affixed and carried by the underside front end of the
saddle seat.
The extreme end of the tension screw, which is marked, takes within a hole.
directed axially within the walls of the bracket c as an extra bearing: so that the
simple rotation of the said tension screw, traverses the bracket, and thereby tensions,
or slackens, the tension of the seat.
The inner extension of the bracket, which is marked e', and upon the underside of
which, the upper end of the second coiled spring, comes, has jointed to its ends,
a stay k, and which said bracket, also carries the frame rods b, which take under
the seat of the saddle, from front to rear, and are connected to the two opposite
sides of the middle of the tension bracket.
are rear coiled springs, and an adjustable bracket. h is a semi-tubular base
framing, upon the top side of which, the coiled springs are supported. This said
framing is made up of two semi-circular halves, disposed upon their sides, with
the edges and concaves presented inwards, and with the rear ends directed out-
wardly into forks, and the front ends brought together. These base framing segments,
are clamped and held together, by a cap of the adjustable socket i, which has

page_text: grooved seats upon its sides, wherein the lower edges of the said segments, take,
whilst the upper ends of the said segments, comic upon the underside of the
cap, which is clamped in position, by a set screw .
The coiled springs are secured in their respective positions, by screw pins g.
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 I
claim is
First. A cycle saddle, supporting or elevating the front underside of the seat of
the saddle, or the front framing thereof, upon two coiled springs, or upon two pillar
coiled springs, arranged one behind the other, in manner, and for the purpose,
substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly. A cycle saddle, providing the tension bracket with an inwardly directed
extension, or extra limb, whereby the upper end of a second or extra coiled spring,
aimits of taking its bearing, substantially as set forth.
Thirdly. Making the base framing of cycle saddles, from stamped up wrought or
sheet metal, and provided with a supporting boss, and which parts are constructed,
arranged, and combined, as and for the purpose as set forth in figure 4 and 5.
Fourthly. The improvements in the tensioning brackets of cycle saddles, and which
parts are constructed, arranged, and operate, substantially as described and set forth
in figure 4, and as indicated by letters c, c², c³, c³, d, d², e, e².
Fifthly. A cycle saddle, the combination with the stamped up base framing h, h²,
of the combined clip and socket i,,, as set forth in figures 4 and 5.
Dated this 24th day of June-1890
JOHN BOULTBEE BROOKS.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.