Improvements in Velocipede Saddles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipede Saddles.
We, WILLIAM STARLEY, of the firm of Starley Brothers, of St. John's Works,
Coventry, Cycle Manufacturer, and JULIUS GOODMAN, of Ravenhurst Road, Harborne,
near the City of Birmingham, Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has for its object, the production of a highly elastic, or yielding
saddle seat; and this we accomplish, by making an inflated, or an inflating one,
thereby dispensing with the use of supporting, and elevating framings, and springs,
now commonly employed.
In constructing an inflating saddle, according to our said invention, we take an
outside leather case, of the shape, or configuration of a saddle seat, but made cushion
like, with erect sides; and within this erect sided leather casing, an inflating or an
elastic air bag or sack, of the inside or like configuration of the saddle, or casing, is
placed, which when inflated through a neck, passing through a laced slit in the back
of the saddle, a highly elastic saddle seat is thereby produced.
The neck of the inflating tube of the sack, or inside bag, which is preferably made
of rubber, is fitted with an ordinary check, or other valve."
The neck, or the inflating tube, of the air sack, is covered by a tongue, or flap, at
the entrance of the slit at the back of the saddle.
The said inflating saddle, is supported upon, and connected to, metallic or other
framing, suitably fitted to take upon a bar or other framing of a machine.
When the saddle is not required to be used, the air in the bag is allowed to escape,
by the opening of the valve, thus rendering the saddle collapsible.
To prevent the swaying of an inflated saddle, consequent upon the displacement of
the air within it on the motion of a rider I may make the inside bag or sack, cellular,
or with compartments, provided with air passages, and check valves, if necessary.
Or the leather case enclosing the bag, may be made cellular or in compartments
for the aforesaid purpose.
In constructing an inflated saddle according to our said invention, we take a leather
case of the size and shape required to constitute a saddle, and enclose within the
interior of it, a series of inflated balls, or enclosures, which may be round, square, or
other figure, when square or angular, the inflated enclosures are placed side by side,
and fill up the whole of the interior of the case, or hollow body part.
The saddle is mounted upon the framing as before described.
By confining the air within the limited spaces or cells, swaying and displacement of
the said air thus confined, is prevented.
Dated thin 9th day of Ion 1800
WILLIAM STARLEY.
JULIUS GOODMAN.
By Henry Skerrett,
A cent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipede Saddles.
We, WILLIAM STARLEY, of the firm of Starley Brothers, of St. John's Works,
Coventry, Cycle Manufacturer, and JULIUS GOODMAN of Ravenhurst Road, Harborne,
near the City of Birmingham, Commercial Traveller, 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 :-
Our invention has for its object, the production of a highly elastic, or yielding

page_text: Sauce, or saddle seat, and this we accomplish by inflating, or making the same
inflated.
In constructing an inflating saddle, according to our said invention, we take an
outside skin or leather casing, of the shape or configuration of a saddle seat, with
upright sides to be made; and within this erect sided leather casing, an inflating
rubber bladder or sack, of the inside or like configuration of the saddle, or casing, is
placed, which when inflated, through a neck passing through a laced slit in the back
of the saddle, a highly elastic saddle seat is thereby obtained.
The neck of the inflating bladder or sack, is sealed by a check valve, or by tieing.
The neck of the inflating sack, may be covered by a tongue or flap, at the entrance
of the slit, at the back of the saddle.
The said inflating saddle, is supported upon, and connected to, metallic or other
framing, suitably fitted to take upon a bar, or other framing of a machine.
When the saddle is not required to be used, the air in the bag is allowed to
escape, by the opening of the valve, thus rendering the saddle collapsible.
To prevent the swaying of an inflated saddle, consequent upon the displacement of
the air within it, on the motion of a rider, I may make the inside bladder or sack,
cellular, or with compartments, provided with air passages, and check valves, if
necessary.
Or the leather case enclosing the bladder, may be made cellular, or in compartments.
In an inflated saddle, the interior of a leather casing or seat, is filled with per-
manently inflated block segments.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in longitudinal vertical section,
a pneumatic cycle saddle, constructed, arranged, and inflated, according to one forn of
our invention. It will be seen from this illustration, that the same consists essentially
of a cushion-like leather casing, with an inflated bladder, enclosed within the interior
of it; and which casing, is supported and rests upon a metallic framing, surmounted
at the summit of the boss, wherethrough the bar of a machine, takes, and is there
secured.
Figure 2 represents an inverted plan of the said pneumatic saddle Figure 1.
It may be observed that the said section Figure 1, is taken through the side, out of
the centre of the seat of the saddle, so as to show a full length view of the interior,
which consists essentially of a rubber bag, with neck, wherethrough the same is
inflated.
Figure 3 represents a horizontal section of the said saddle Figures 1 and 2, upon
the dotted lines A B Figure 1, thus exemplifying the outer skin or casing, and the
middle piercing, and how the inflating bag, when inflated, fills up the interior of the
said outer casing, so as to constitute a seat, which is both highly yielding and
comfortable.
Figure 4 represents an inflating saddle, alike unto the others, but mounted upon
rest framing, which is itself supported by springs, disposed between the said framing,
and a base plate, to which the carrying boss is connected.
This illustration, Figure 4, is only for the purpose of showing that the inflating seat,
may be mounted upon supplementary spring framing, instead of resting upon plain
rigid framing, and further, that we do not confine ourselves to any particular form of
spring framing, as it may be changed, according to the requirements of a saddle
or rider.
Figure 5 represents a top side plan of an inflated cycle saddle seat, constructed
according to another form of our invention.
In the inflating saddles, Figures 1, 2, and 3, a, is a leather casing, of the outside
shape of a seat of a saddle, consisting of a top a', bottom a², and upright sides a³,
connected or sewn together, and having a middle piercing at, with upright sides as,
connecting the top side with the bottom. 6 is a bladder or sack, made of india-rubber,
of the shape, when inflated, of the interior of the said casing, 62 a neck for inflating
the said bladder or sack, and which neck may be provided with a valve, or it may be
tied up, which is a common form of sealing.
The cantle end as, of the seat of the saddle, is slit, and closed by lacing, and

page_text: wherethrough the bladder or sack is introduced into the casing. c is the supporting
framing of the saddle, alike unto an open frame, with the boundary edging following the
contour of the underside of the bottom of the saddle casing, and which framing is
supported by, and connected with a boss d, wherethrough the horizontal limb of
the bar of a machine, passes, and is there affixed, by a clamping pin d².
In the inflating saddle, Figure 4, a is the body part of the same, c the framing,
2 the base plate, and c³ the supporting springs, which are immaterial as to construction
or employment.
The framing in this arrangement, is arranged to come under the pummel end of the
saddle, and be there affixed, and also to take and be affixed to, the underside of the
cantle end, with lengths of bearings sufficient to support them.
In the inflated saddle, Figure 5, the bladder or sack is made up of four, or other
number of parts, which when put together, have a shape alike unto the interior of the
saddle casing.
a is a leather casing, with top and bottom parts connected together by upright sides,
so as to give the saddle a cushioned figure, and within the interior of the said leather
casing, permanently inflated segments, 61, 62, 63, and 64, are placed.
By thus providing the interior with segments as described, the saddle seat is made
cellular, which prevents the undue flowing or displacement of the air, and the
consequent swaying of the saddle seat.
Instead of the bladder or sack, or inflating medium, being made up of a series of
angular shaped segments, the bladder, or the sack itself, may be subdivided into
limited spaces or cells, and each one separately inflated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First An inflating saddle, or saddle seat, consisting of a leather or other suitable
casing, having enclosed within it, an inflating bladder or sack, as described and set
forth in Figures 1 to 4.
Secondly-An inflating saddle, or saddle seat, consisting of a leather or other
suitable casing, with upright sides, metallic framing, and with the interior of the
casing, provided with an inflating bladder, or sack, substantially as described and
set forth.
Thirdly-An inflated saddle or saddle seat, consisting of a leather casing or outside
covering, having enclosed within it, permanently inflated segments, or blocks, as set
forth in Figure 5, also the modification described for dividing or partitioning up the
bladders or sacks, into compartments.
Dated the ord day of October 1890.
Dated the ord day of October 18.
WILLIAM STARLEY.
JULIUS GOODMAN.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.