Improvements in Spring Supports for Cycle Saddles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 10th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Spring Supports for Cycle Saddles.
I, BERNARD COOPER SWALLOW, Olive Lane, Halesowen, near Birmingham,
Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Instead of the saddle being fixed to the pillar in the usual way, it is clipped
to a cylinder, which slides on the pillar. To keep the saddle upright, grooves
àre made in the pillar, and balls partially imbedded in the cylinder:.run in the
said grooves, and facilitate the sliding of cylinder. To keep the saddle in posi-
tion, a coil or other spring is provided, which yields to the motion of the. rider
and the inequalities of the road surface. A stop is fixed to the end of the pillar
to prevent the cylinder sliding off.
The pillar is made at such an angle that the part on which the cylinder
slides is equidistant (practically) through its whole length from the crank axle.
My arrangement of the spring obviates the objection to vertical (or nearly so)
springs, which alternately throw the rider nearer to and farther from the crank
axle, which produces loss of power.
The saddle moving backwards and forwards with the rider, helps to prevent
"saddle soreness
and reduces vibration with consequent loss of power.
"
Dated this 19th day of March 1898.
Improvements in Spring Supports for Cyc'e Saddles.
I, BERNARD COOPER SWALLOW, of Olive Lane, Halesowen, near Birmingham,
Mechanic, 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:-
1
My invention relates to spring supports for cycle saddles and has for its
objects to reduce vibration and prevent saddle soreness without materially vary-
ing the distance of the rider from the crank axle, thus avoiding the disadvan-
tage attending the use of vertical or nearly vertical springs which waste the
rider's power by throwing him alternately nearer to and further from the crank
axle.. And my invention consists essentially of a spring support so constructed
that all points in the line of movement of the saddle are practically equidistant
from the crank axle.
And in order that my invention may be properly understood I will .describe

page_text: the same with the aid of the accompanying drawings, which snow, several em Doul
ments thereof.
Figure I is a side elevation of one form of my support.
Figure II is a vertical section showing certain details and modifications.
Figure III is a transverse section on the line a-a in Fig. II.
Figure IV. is a side elevation showing two modifications.
Figures V and VI are side elevations showing still further modifications.
Figure VII is a diagrammatic side elevation of a safety bicycle fitted with one
of my spring saddle supports.
Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to Figs. I and VII, the arm 2 of the pillar 3, instead of being
horizontal as usual, is set tangentially to a curve struck from the axis of the
crank axle 1, or in other words is set at right angles to a line drawn from the
said axis to the said arm, so that all points on the said arm are practically equi-
distant from the crank axle. On the arm 2 is threaded a cylinder or sleeve 5
with a sliding fit and on to this sleeve is fixed the saddle by its clip 7, which
may be of any suitable form. The saddle itself is preferably practically spring-
less.
To keep the saddle upright, the sleeve is prevented from twisting on the arm
by any suitable sliding device, but I prefer to employ two grooves 8 formed
along the arm 2*, and seatings 9 to hold antifriction. balls 10 suitably located
in the sleeve 5. The balls 10 are adapted to rotate in the seatings 9 and run
in the grooves 8, and facilitate the sliding of the sleeve along the arm, (Figs. II
and III). The grooves may be made so narrow that the balls quite fill the
same laterally and prevent the sleeve and saddle rocking sideways on the arm 2,
or the said grooves 8 or the seatings may be widened to allow of any desired
degree of side play. Adjustment may be provided for the balls by splitting the
sleeve lengthwise through the seatings 9 and employing clamps 12 adapted to
contract the splits 11 as the seatings wear, (Figs II and III); or by other suit-
able means.
The motion of the saddle along the arm is controlled by a spring or springs,
such as the spiral spring 13 which bears at one end either directly against the
top of the pillar or preferably against an interposed conical washer 14 which
serves to keep the spring concentric with the arm 2 at the back; at the other
end, the spring preferably fits loosely over the end of the sleeve 5 and butts
against the clip 7 (Fig. I), or against the clamp 12 (Fig. II). The washer 14
may be provided with a vertical groove at the back adapting it to bed against the
top of the pillar 3. The spring 13 normally holds the saddle in its forward
position, pressing the sleeve 5 against the buffer 16 interposed between it and
the stop-nut 17. The buffer 16 may consist merely of one or more leather or
rubber washers (Fig. 1), or a short compression spring or the like (Fig. II), or
the spring 13 and buffer 16 may be practically equal (Fig. V).
When the cycle encounters an obstacle the sleeve 5 moves on the arm 2 against
the action of the spring 13, by which the shock is absorbed to a greater or lesser
degree without altering the rider's "reach,' or distance from the saddle to the
pedals.
"
may
As the comfort of the device largely depends on the range of the spring, it is
desirable to use as long a spring as possible. For this purpose, the pillar
be made with a solid top cut away in front as shown at 18 in Fig. II,. thus, in
effect, allowing the spring 13 to be increased in length by the depth of the cut,
in the top of the pillar. Or the spring may be mounted between brackets 19
fixed at the back of the top of the pillar 3 and sleeve 5 as shown in Fig. IV.
Or a tension spring 20 may be arranged between, a stud 21 on the back of the
sleeve 5 and an extension 22 on the front of the arm 2, as shown in the same
Fig. IV.
If a considerable range of position longitudinally be desired for the saddle,
the support may be constructed with the arm 2 at right angles to the pillar 3,

page_text: this will allow the arm to be directed forward or backward as desired without
materially affecting the constancy of the distance from all points on the arm
to the crank axle. When the arm 2 is directed backwards, the buffer 16 is
arranged next the top of the pillar, which acts as a stop, while the sleeve 5
comes next and then the spring 13 which bears against the washer 14 which is
held in place by the nut 17, as shown in Fig. II.
If it be desired to obtain for the saddle à position more nearly over the top
of the pillar 3, a support of the form shown in Fig. V may be employed. In
this case the arm 2 is carried in a yoke 23 fixed to the top of the pillar 3. The
washer 14 bears against the end 24 of the yoke, and the buffer against the
end 25 thereof (as in Fig. I), or these positions may be reversed (as in Fig. II).
If desired the yoke may be made with a hinge 26 at one end, and the other end 25
thereof be made as a divided clip, so that the front end of the arm 2 may be
turned up clear of the end 25 of the yoke to facilitate the attachment and detach-
ment of the sleeve 5 and other parts from the said arm 2.
Or the arm 2 may be adapted to slide in the yoke 23 if it be made of sufficient
length, as shown in Fig. VI. In this case the balls 10 are located in seat-
ings 9 formed in the ends 24, 25 of the yoke, both of which are made as divided
clips, thus providing for the adjustment as well as the introduction of the balls.
The saddle clip 7 may be secured to a divided bush or packing 27 which replaces
the sleeve 5, or the arm itself may be made sufficiently large to fit a saddle clip
of ordinary dimensions.
Though I have described and illustrated several methods of carrying out my
invention I do not confine myself thereto; thus, while I prefer to employ spiral
metal springs, pneumatic or other springs may be substituted therefor, and other
modifications may be made without exceeding the fair scope of my invention.
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;-
1. A spring support for a cycle saddle so constructed that all points in the
line of movement of the saddle are practically equidistant from the crank axle.
2. In a spring support for a cycle saddle, the combination of a pillar, all points
in the arm whereof are practically equidistant from the crank axle, a sleeve
adapted to slide on such arm and carry the saddle, and a spring or springs w
control the movement of the said saddle.
3. In a spring support for a cycle saddle of the kind herein referred to, the
use of one or more longitudinal grooves in the arm and one or more balls mounted
in seatings in the sleeve, the said balls being adapted to work in the said grooves,
for the purpose set forth.
4. A spring support for a cycle saddle constructed, arranged and adapted to
operate substantially as herein described with reference to one or other of the
figures in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 9th day of November 1898.