IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF RENDERING THE SEATS OR SADDLES OF VELOCIPEDES ADJUSTABLE
Year: 1884

page_text: I HENRY JOHN HUDSON of 227 Blackfriars Road in the county of Surrey
Designer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE METHOD OF RENDERING THE SEATS OR SADDLES OF VELOCIPEDES ADJUSTABLE
to be as follows:-
The present usual method of rendering the seats or saddles of velocipedes adjust-
able in a vertical direction is the mounting of the seat or saddle or the spring or
springs that support the same on a vertical rod which passes through and can be
clamped in a socket attached to the frame or backbone of the velocipede and in a
lateral direction the securing the said seat or saddle or the said spring or springs
or the said socket to the said frame or backbone in the proper position generally
through holes tapped in the said frame or backbone.
Now the object of this my invention is to simplify this method and so to fit the
seat or saddle or the spring or springs that support the same that it can be quickly
easily and rigidly secured to the frame or backbone in the desired position without
the necessity of tapping any holes in the said frame or backbone by which the
same is so objectionably weakened and also as quickly and easily adjusted or altered
in position both in a vertical and lateral direction.
I will describe my invention as applied to what is known as the cradle spring for
supporting the seats or saddles of velocipedes.
The two ends of this spring instead of lying horizontally as is usual are according
to my invention bent downwards in a vertical direction or thereabouts. I make a
suitable hinged or other band to fit the frame or backbone and on this band in
suitable positions are formed two sockets preferably vertical or thereabouts through
which the ends of the spring can pass. These sockets have a small piece cut out of
them in the proper position in their length so as to expose parts of the springs and
round these parts so exposed are fitted rings formed with stems or shanks on which
stems or shanks are cut right and left handed screw threads one being on each
stem or shank which screw threads may be of different pitches. A sleeve with internal
corresponding screw threads engages these two shanks and by turning this sleeve
the exposed parts of the spring are drawn together and tightly clamped in position
whereby the seat or saddle thereon is supported at the desired height and by
loosening this sleeve the height of the seat or saddle can be altered or the band
slipped or moved to another position on the frame or backbone.
All

page_text: When the rider is seated across the frame or backbone as is the case in bicycles
or in tricycles of the type known as the Humber pattern and others the sockets are
formed on each side of the band and the ends of the spring pass down on each side
of the frame or backbone while the screw sleeve is at right angles to the said frame
or backbone and just below the same but when the rider is seated at right angles
to the frame as is the case in ordinary tricycles the band can either be fitted in the
same manner allowing one end of the spring to pass down before the frame while
the other end passes down behind the same and the two parts are clamped together
by the screw sleeve as before described or both sockets can be fitted on one side of
the band which band would then be made with Hanges and secured in position by
a screw bolt or bolts through these flanges while the screw sleeve would be parallel
with the frame and clamp the spring in position in the same manner.
In like manner I can apply my invention to other springs or if I should so desire
directly to the seat or saddle. In this case if two vertical rods are used to support
the seat or saddle the band and the clamping apparatus would be formed and fitted
ás before described but when it is desired to use only one supporting rod the sleeve
would be pivotted or otherwise secured to the band on one side while the rod
would pass down the socket on the other side and be clamped by the sleeve in the
same manner as before described.

page_text: I HENRY JOHN HUDSON of 227 Blackfriars Road in the county of Surrey
Designer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE METHOD OF RENDERING THE SEATS OR SADDLES OF VELOCIPEDES ADJUSTABLE
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
At the present time an ordinary method of rendering the seats or saddles of
velocipedes adjustable in a vertical direction is the mounting of the seat or saddle
or the spring or springs that support the same on a vertical rod which passes
through and can be clamped in a socket attached to the frame or backbone of the
velocipede or a hole tapped therefor through the said frame or backbone and in a
lateral direction the securing the said seat or saddle or the said spring or springs
or the said socket to the said frame or backbone in the proper position generally
through holes tapped in the said frame or backbone or as is very frequently and
usually the case the mounting of the said seat or saddle or the said spring or
springs that support the same on an L pin inverted the shank of which L pin
passes through a hole tapped therefor in the said frame or backbone wherein the
said L pin is clamped by a screw or otherwise while the said seat or saddle can
slide along the horizontal portion of the said L pin and be secured thereon where
desired.
Now the object of this my invention is to simplify and render more acceptable
and suitable these methods or any others that may be used and so to fit the seat or
saddle or the spring or springs that support the same that the said seat or saddle
can be quickly easily and rigidly secured on the frame or backbone of the velocipede
in the desired position without the necessity of tapping any holes in the said fraine
or backbone by which the same is so objectionably weakened and also as quickly
and easily adjusted or altered in position both in a vertical and in a lateral
direction.
In order clearly to explain this my invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed I refer to the accompanying drawing in which I have shewn the
same as applied to what is known as the cradle spring for supporting the seats or
saddles of velocipedes to which style of spring my said invention is particularly
suitable.
Figure 1 is an elevation in perspective of a cradle spring fitted in accordance
with this my invention on the frame or backbone of a velocipede. Figure 2 is a
side elevation of the band hereinafter described in and by which the saddle is
supported. Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same.
A is the cradle spring the two ends of which instead of lying horizontally as is
usual are bent downwards in a vertical direction or thereabouts as shewn to form
and constitute the required supporting rods of the seat or saddle. A suitable
hinged or other band B is made to fit the frame or backbone C of the velocipede
and on the said band B in the desired positions are formed two sockets D prefer-
ably vertical or thereabouts through which the ends of the spring A can pass,

page_text: Small pieces are cut out of these sockets D or transverse apertures are made there-
through in the proper positions in their lengths preferably just below the level of
or outside of the band B and corresponding to each other as shewn at E whereby
parts of the ends of the spring A are exposed and round these said parts so exposed
are fitted rings F formed with stems or shanks on which stems or shanks are cut right
handed and left handed screw threads one of the said screw threads being so cut as
aforesaid on each stem or shank which screw threads also may be of different
pitches if required. A sleeve G with internal or female corresponding screw threads
receives and engages these two shanks and when the said sleeve G is turned in one
direction the exposed parts of the spring A are drawn together by the rings F and
tightly clamped in position in the sockets D and the band B is also tightly clamped
on the frame or backbone C whereby the seat or saddle on the said spring A is
supported and fixed firmly in position both vertically and laterally but when the
sleeve G is turned in the other direction the said exposed parts of the spring A are
released and the said band B is loosened whereby the height of the said seat or
saddle on the said spring A can be altered and adjusted and the said band B with
the said seat or saddle can be slipped or moved to another position on the said
frame or backbone C as may be desired and required.
In Figure 4 I shew an alternative method of fitting the aforesaid clamping
apparatus in and according unto which instead of a sleeve engaging the shanks of
two rings as herein before described a bolt H on the two ends of which are respec-
tively a right handed and a left handed screw thread engages sockets with internal
or female corresponding screw threads formed on the sides of the two rings F¹ and
the turning of this said bolt H clamps or releases and loosens the spring A and the
band B in manner as hereinbefore described. According to a modification of this
method this bolt can obviously have a screw thread on one of its ends only the
other or plain end passing through a plain socket on one of the rings and being
secured therein by a pin or a screw nut and washer or otherwise so that this said
plain end of the bolt can freely revolve in the said plain socket the required
clamping being effected in manner as herein before described by the screw thread
on the other end of the said bolt working in the screw threaded socket on the
other ring.
When the rider is seated across the frame or backbone as is the case in bicycles
and in tricycles of the type known as the Humber pattern and others the sockets
berein before described are formed on each side of the band and the ends of the
spring pass down on each side of the said frame or backbone through the said
sockets while the screw sleeve or the screw bolt is at right angles to the said frame
or backbone or thereabouts and just below the same as shewn in the drawing but
when the rider is seated at right angles to the frame as is the case in many types
of ordinary tricycles the band aforesaid can either be fitted in the same manner
allowing one end of the said spring to pass down before the said frame while the
other end passes down behind the same and the two parts are clamped together by
the said screw sleeve or the said screw bolt in manner as herein before described or
both of the said sockets can be formed on one and the same side of the said band
which band would then be made with flanges and be secured in position on the
said frame by a screw bolt or bolts through these said flanges or otherwise while
the said screw sleeve or the said screw bolt would be parallel with the said frame
or thereabouts and would clamp the said spring in position in the said sockets in
manner as hereinbefore described.
As is hereinbefore stated this my invention is particularly suitable for applica-
tion to and use with the cradle spring aforesaid for the spring itself in and according
to this method of treatment as described furnishes and forms and constitutes the
necessary supporting rods but my said invention can obviously also be applied to
other springs or if I should so desire as for example in racing bicycles in which no
springs are usually fitted directly to the seat or saddle by using separate and
-independent rods to support the said springs or the said saddles,

page_text: In all these cases if two vertical rods are used to support the spring or springs or
the seat or saddle the band and the clamping apparatus would be formed and fitted
and used as is herein before described but when it is desired to use only one sup-
porting rod the screw sleeve or the screw bolt aforesaid would be pivotted or
other wise secured to the band at one end and only one socket would be formed on
the said band through which socket the said rod would pass and be securely clamped
therein by the ring actuated by the said screw sleeve or the said screw bolt in
manner as herein before described.
I have shewn in the drawing an extremely simple and yet highly effective
method of carrying out this my invention and I have herein before described fully
and in detail the said method and the adaptations thereof to the different kinds or
types of velocipedes and to the different springs or seats or saddles thereof but
I would have it clearly understood that I do not limit myself to the exact details
and methods of construction and to the exact shapes and forms of the several parts
of my apparatus or to the relative positions thereof as so shewn and described for
the same may be made of such shapes and forms and such details and obvious or
usual methods of construction may be observed and followed and the said several
parts may be placed in such relative positions as may be necessary or suitable or
desirable or expedient in each particular case.
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. The method of and apparatus for rendering the seats or saddles of velocipedes
adjustable substantially as herein before described and shewn in the accompanying
drawing.
2. The sockets on the bands within which the supporting rods are clamped by
rings actuated by screw sleeves or screw bolts substantially as herein before described
and set forth.
3. The combination of the rod or rods A the band B the socket or sockets D the
ring or rings F and the sleeve G substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and declared.
4. The combination of the rod or rods A the band B the socket or sockets D the
ring or rings F¹ and the bolt H substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and declared.