An Improved Saddle for Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Saddle for Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
I, ALEXANDER MCCORMACK, Main Street, Portarlington, Ireland, Commercial
Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An improved saddle for bicycles, tricycles, and other vilocipedes. To be con-
structed after the following manner. The skeleton or frame of this saddle to be
made of steel or other suitable metal and to be hinged near the middle, or at the
portion where it is clamped on to the saddle pillar. The portion extending forward
from the hinge may be round or other shaped steel as required, and in length,
about 9 or 10 inches for a gentleman's saddle, and somewhat shorter for a lady's.
This bar extending forward may be slightly curved and contain a hole at the front
like a buckle hole, through which a strap can slide. The back portion of the
skeleton from the hinge, will be in shape something like a fork, with a stem about
3 or 4 inches long and with two prongs running parallel and horizontal about
3 inches apart. To the ends of these prongs two flat springs of S shape are hinged
so as to work like the wings of a bird. It may not be necessary that the S springs
should be very pliable, so long as they work freely on the hinges.
The above is a description of the skeleton of my improved saddle. It is attached
to the saddle pillar with a clamp consisting of two jaws, held by two bolts and nuts,
one bolt over the saddle pillar and the other under; vice like. The bolt that
joins the hinge over the saddle pillar of the skeleton will answer the double purpose
of hinge and clamp bolt.
The covering of the saddle may be made of leather or other suitable material
cut to the dimensions of the skeleton and in width about 12 to 14 inches at the
seat, and about 24 inches between the legs. The front of the covering will pass
through the buckle shaped hole in the front of the skeleton, and buckled to the
under part of the covering under the seat. The sides of the covering are attached
to the S shaped springs either by rivets or by buckles. The buckles can be
arranged in the same manner as described with the front portion of the skeleton.
The portion of the covering between the legs may be buckled across with a strap so
as to keep the edges of the covering from rubbing against the inside of the legs
when riding.
When a person is mounted on this improved saddle the S springs extend out-
wards and stretch the covering, as they are on hinges. The hinge at the saddle
pillar also allows the front and back portion of the covering to extend in the same
manner, causing ease in the seat. The hinge over the saddle pillar allows the
saddle to lower behind when a cycle comes in contact with an obsticle; thereby
saving the rider from the shock of the back of the saddle. I intend to use a rubber
spring either of solid rubber, or hollow, or inflated, or a rubber ball at the back of
the skeleton of the saddle, to save contact with the end of the saddle pillar and the
back portion of the saddle. This can be done in another way by using a strap to
keep down the front portion of the saddle to the upper tube of the frame of a cycle.
In both cases I may have recourse to springs.
My saddle for ladies will be shorter in the front portion or neak.

page_text: The following are the advantages that I claim for my improved saddle viz.:-
Broad comfortable seat, and at the same time allowing full use of the legs when
riding. Reduction in vibration to the rider. Increased speed on rough roads.
Simplicity in construction. Tilting capacity going up or down hill or on the level.
More power in driving a cycle. Less liability to side slip, as this saddle allows the
body to remain on the centre of gravity. Less friction to the seat and legs of the
rider. And reduction in the price of cycle saddles.
0th Anil 1907
An Improved Saddle for Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
I, ALEXANDER MCCORMACK, of Main Street, Portarlington, Queen's County,
Ireland, Commision Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has reference to an improved saddle for bicycles, tricycles and
other velocipedes which will afford greater case, and comfort than saddles hitherto
in use so far as I am aware
My invention consists of a skeleton or frame composed of a longitudinal plate
of steel or other suitable material, hinged transversely about midway, or near the
part which is usually clamped to the piece of the cycle.
The forward part or pommel of the plate is curved slightly upwards for the
purpose presently described, and the rere portion terminates in a fork, to the
extremities of which are freely pivoted two flat horizontally curved springs or
plates which form the "cantle" of the saddle. These springs or plates are con-
nected in the centre by a hinge bolt passing through lugs so as to be capable of
horizontal oscillation, resembling somewhat the action of the wings of a bird.
Thus we have a cycle saddle capable of a transverse and a longitudinal oscillation
according to the movements of the cycle to which it may be applied.
The accompanying drawings will enable the nature and application of my inveu-
tion to be more readily understood.
Fig. 1 is a plan view of my improved saddle.
Fig. 2 is an inverted view of same.
Fig. 3 is a side view shewing attachment to the piece.
Fig. 4 is an inverted view of a modification, and
Fig. 5 is a side view of same.
Describing the first three figures a is the longitudinal plate of the frame which
is hinged at band terminates in the fork ce the ends being pivotably connected to
the two springs or plates d d which are hinged by a bolt passing through lugs e e
the bolt passing freely through one lug to admit of horizontal oscillation in the
springs.
The pommel of the plate is curved upwards as shewn, and on its lower surface is
arranged a sliding plate e engaging in a longitudinal slot by means of the bolt e
which is connected to the screw carrying an adjusting nut behind the lug e
whereby the sliding plate may be caused to slide backwards and forwards.
This sliding plate carries a buckle f to which the peak of the covering is straped.
The skeleton or frame thus constructed is covered with leather, or other suitable
material the rere portion being secured to the cantle in any suitable manner, and
the peak of which terminates in a strap pierced with holes and being carried round
the curved pommel engages in the buckle f as just described.
By this buckle, as well as by the adjusting screw e³ the tensioning of the cover

page_text: longitudinally may be regulated. Thus it is obvious that longitudinal shortening
will raise the back of the saddle to any required pitch. The cover is maintained in
tension transversely by the extending or falling of the springs or plates d, d,
composing the cantle when a rider's weight is on the saddle.
The transverse hinge allows the rere portion of the saddle to lower in the event
of the cycle coming in contact with an obstacle, thereby saving the rider from the
shock usually experienced in such cases from the hitch of the ordinary saddle
cantle.
A suitable india-rubber pad may be used between the tongue 9 and the plate a
to save contact between these parts.
A modification of my improved saddle frame is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.
Here the rere end fork of the longitudinal plate is dispensed with, and a solid
cantle plate d d is used instead of a divided one as in the first instance.
The rere end of the longitudinal plate in this case is also freely pivoted to the
cantle plate so as to allow the latter to rock transversely to a slight extent.
The cover is stretched on this modified frame as in the case of the first described
frame, the only difference being in the position of the adjusting screw arrange-
ment which in this case is arranged on the under surface of the longitudinal plate
as shewn in Fig. 5.
For ladies use, saddles may be constructed according to my invention with a
shorter pommel or peak to suit requirements.
Amongst other advantages of my improved saddle may be mentioned the
following:-
(1) A broad easy seat, while at the same time allowing free use of the lower limbs
when riding.
(2) Reduction of vibration owing to the capacity of the saddle to bend or yield
slightly both transversely and longitudinally."
(3) Increased speed on rough roads.
(4) Simplicity in construction.
(5) Capacity to longitudinal tilting when ascending and descending hills.
(6) Greater facility in driving owing to the readiness with which the rider's
movements are accommodated.
(7) Economy in price.
(8) Liability to side slip diminished owing to the tendency of the saddle to main-
tain the vertical position of the rider.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I desire to have it
understood that what I claim is :-
First: The use and application of saddles for cycles, the frame of which consists
of a transversely hinged longitudinal plate a provided with a forked rere end c c
the extremities of which are pivotably connected to a divided cantle plate dd, all
arranged, and operating substantially as herein described and illustrated in Figs. 1,
2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Second: The use and application of saddles for cycles, the frame of which con-
sists of a central transversely hinged plate a the rere end of which is pivotably
connected to a solid cantle plate dd, and the front of which is curved upwards to
form the pommel, and carries an adjusting screw arrangement, all for the purpose
substantially as herein described and illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 of accompanying
drawings.
Third In combination with cycles the use and application of saddles constructed,
arranged and operating substantially in the manner herein specified and set forth.
Dated this 10th day of February 1898.
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
9, Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant.