Year: 1896

page_text: TICS.
Fig. 10 is a plan of an open wire frame.
Fig. 11 is a cross section of Fig. 10.
Fig. 12 is a cross section of Fig. 13.
Fig. 13 is a plan of springs.
The method of arriving at the form is as follows:-A piece of wood about
12" x 12" x 1" is cut to the form of Fig. 1.
The forward part must be made to fit the inner and posterior borders of the legs
when the rider stands with his feet as far apart as the tread of his bicycle. The
sides must be rounded off to meet the forward concave border.
The back may be left square in the meantime. To ascertain that the board so
shaped allows of perfect freedom of motion to the legs, it is placed in the position
of the saddle, care being taken that it occupies the exact position in relation to
the pedals that experience has shown to be the best. Professional and male riders
generally like the centre of the saddle to be over the centre of the pedal when at
its furthest back point. Ladies usually ride with the saddle 2 or more inches
behind that point. The board then is placed accordingly. During the following
operations the bicycle had best be suspended off the floor. The rider now seats
himself on the board and works the pedals.
If the board catches the legs at any point it must be cut away. A layer of clay
is now carefully built up on the board to the depth of 1 to 1 inches.
The best clay is modelling clay and it should be rather softer than that an artist
uses for modelling. The surface of the clay should be tested with a spirit level
and the bicycle with a plumb line. The rider now seats himself on the clay and
works the pedals until he feels the whole surface to be in contact. He then comes
off taking care not to damage the impression, when a very beautiful mould will be
found impressed on the clay. The sides and back are trimmed up keeping some

page_text: distance within the extreme boundaries of the impression, and a slice is taken off
the top of the median ridge, as it is not desirable that this part of the saddle should
be in contact with the body. It will be noticed that the ridge does not extend
to the back of the saddle but gradually diminishes until at that point it appears
as a slightly concave surface in the line forming the boundary of the back of the
saddle.
The slice taken off the ridge begins where the ridge starts and gradually
increases in depth until the highest part of the peak is left level with the highest
part of the back. We have now a perfect mould of a saddle that will satisfy
every demand of physiology and hygiene, support the rider in a perfectly upright
attitude or allow him to lean as far forward as he likes without undue pressure on
any part. The form arrived at is illustrated in Sheets 1 and 2. Sheet 1 refers to
the form obtained from a man ; Sheet 2 from a woman.
It will be noticed that Sheet 2 differs from Sheet 1 just as the pelvis of a
woman differs from that of a man. The median ridge is flatter and wider and the
whole of the saddle is somewhat larger. The peak of the saddle has been
shortened for convenience in mounting and dismounting, but it may be retained
the same length as the man's if desired.
Having got perfect moulds in clay for saddles for both sexes the question is
how are they to be constructed. It is obvious that the usual style of mounting
a piece of leather is of no use, but that there must be a foundation or frame that
will retain the covering of the saddle in its true shape. It will not do to mould
the frame to the same surface as the clay but the frame must be made to fit
the under surface of the covering. I therefore take a plaster of Paris cast
from the clay and in this negative lay a sheet of clay which has been carefully
rolled to an equal thickness throughout. The thickness depends on the
thickness of the cover to be used. If the cover is to be of leather, then the
clay need be just the thickness of the leather. If of leather and felt or pad then
the thickness of these under pressure. The sheet of clay having been rolled
accordingly, a cast is again taken in plaster of Paris.
From this again a negative is taken. This being reproduced in cast iron we
have a block on which the frame may be set. The frame may be of steel,
aluminium, wood or other suitable material. It may be open as of wire, or other
wise as of sheet steel. If of wire it is bent to the shape shown in planing.
Fig. 10 and in section in Fig. 11. If of sheet steel as in Fig. 9 which shows holes
for ventilation and lightness. If of wood as also in Fig. 9 with the holes somewhat
smaller.
The two last materials may most readily be got into shape by making a cast iron
mould less by the thickness of the material used, and pressing the material into the
first mould by means of the second, or the steel may be hammered into shape on
the first mould. The wood would of course require to be steamed. The cover if
of leather is moulded in a similar manner in its own proper mould.
The springs required are illustrated in Figs. 10. 11. 12. & 13 and are of such a
character as to lessen the shock of a rough road and not to jerk the rider out of
the saddle as most springs do, owing to the coil being improperly placed in relation
to the centres of support. The springs shown in Fig. 13 fulfil this condition by
having a coil both before and after the centres of support. The other springs
illustrated, by being placed under the centres of support.
Dated this the 23rd day of July 1896.

page_text: I, DUNCAN MCKENZIE MCKINLAY Grandsable, Polmont, Stirlingshire,
Scotland, Artist, 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 has for its object the construction of a saddle for velocipedes that
will be more comfortable to the rider than those now in use.
The first part of this specification deals with the method of arriving at the form
required, and the second with its construction.
Figs. 1 2 & 3 are respectively elevation, plan, and cross sections of the surface
form of a male racing saddle.
Figs. 4, 5, & 6 are respectively elevation, plan and cross sections of the surface
form of a male roadster saddle.
Figs. 78 & 9 are respectively elevation, plan and cross sections of the surface
form of a female roadster saddle.
Figs. 10, 11, 12, & 13 are plans showing various methods of framing such
saddles.
In the illustrations the same letter refers to the same thing throughout.
I. The method of arriving at the form required is as follows:-Two pieces of
wood about 11 long x 10" broad x 1" thick are fastened together, with the grain.
of the one running across that of the other.
A central line is drawn and at one end the width of the peak of the saddle is '
marked off by two parallel lines.
The width of the peak should not be guessed at, but measured from a person with
well formed legs sitting in the position occupied when riding. The curve (i)
in Fig. 5 corresponds with a horizontal section of the leg, when the thigh occupies
the position nearest to the perpendicular in the course of a revolution of the
pedal.
This curve should be found with great care, either mechanically or geometrically.
The curve joining this curve with the sides can only be found experimentally in the
following manner. Continue the curve (i) in the direction shown by the dotted
line (1). Now saw the board to the shape described by these lines and place it in
the position of the saddle on the bicycle. The bicycle should be suspended or
supported off the floor to facilitate the succeeding operations, being stayed to retain
it in a fixed vertical position. The position of the saddle varies according to the
purpose of the rider. The racing man likes the saddle so placed that the line (a)
in Fig. 1 is plumb with the pedal when at its furthest back point. The tourist so
that the line (6) in Fig. 4 is plumb with that point.
Ladies have hitherto kept their saddles somewhat behind these, but are now
adopting them as the easiest and most comfortable positions. The position of the
handles should also be attended to-racing men using the handles 4 or 5 inches.
below the level of their saddle, male tourists 1 to two inches above, while ladies.
owing to the relative shortness of their arms require the handles 3 or 4 inches
bigher than their saddle. The stretch of leg, governing as it does the height of the
saddle, should also be attended to.
Tourists male & female should be able to touch the pedal with the hollow of the
sole when the same is at its most distant point. Racing men ride with 1 to 2 inches
Jess stretch-the reason being that tourists ride with the flat of the toes on the
pedal, and racing men with the foot a little further forward. All these points
having been attended to, and the saddle, represented at present by the board, placed
accordingly, the rider seats himself thereon and drives the pedals. He will feel at.

page_text: once that the legs are caught all along the dotted line (i) as marked in Fig. 5.
He comes off and the corner is rounded off. The form arrived at will be found to
be that shown in Fig. 5 at i. The back of the board may be left square. Upon
the board a layer of modelling clay or other suitable plastic material is now built
up, taking care that the clay is of equal density throughout, and neither too stiff
nor too soft-a condition which only experience can determine. The rider now
seats himself on the clay aud drives the pedals.
Sooner or later, according to the condition of the clay, the whole surface will be
in contact with the rider. The boundary of the back is now defined with the point
of the finger, and, on the rider coming off, a perfect mould of the surface form of
the saddle required for the position adopted will be the result, requiring only the
correction hereafter described. Should the clay not have been of the right
consistency the operation will require to be repeated. To test the correctness of
the mould the clay should be slightly furrowed all over and the rider repeat the
driving of the pedals. If on again coming off, these furrows are equally obliterated
all over, the shape may be assumed to be right. We have now a mould in contact
with every part of the hips and perinæum ; but it is not desirable that the apex of
the central ridge should touch the body. A slice is therefore taken off here.
In Fig. 4 the part taken off started about (a) and gradually deepened as it
approached the peak. Fig. 7 has been treated in a similar manner. In Fig. 1 the
part taken off has been behind (b). It is not easy to describe all the differences in
the moulds illustrated; but the more important differences are apparent at
a glance. Referring to the two male moalls the racing saddle in Sheet 1 differs
from the roadster-in Sheet 2 very strikingly in the outline of the central ridge as
séen in elevation. In Fig. 1 the dotted line represents the horizontal line
ascertained by a spirit level. It will be seen that the ridge (h) starting from this
line descends in a concave line and after passing the line (6) continues parallel with
the horizontal line.
In Fig. 4 the ridge (h) starting below the horizontal line gradually rises to that
line.
When it is borne in mind that the slice taken off has had the effect of modifying
these differences it is apparent that the original difference was very great.
In Fig. 2 the line (d) is considerably shorter than the same line in Fig. 5, showing
that the area for supporting the hips is less. The differences in the width of the
ridges are well shown by the line in these figures. The line (d) in Fig. 1 is more
concave than the same line in Fig. 4. The principal difference between the male
and female forms as shown in Sheets 2 & 3 lies in the ridge which is wider and
flatter in the female.
The features common to all are the concavities for receiving the hips, the
concave lines for receiving the inner and posterior borders of the thighs, the
contours at the sides and back as defined by the natural contours of the hips and
the concavity in the back border carrying the outline clear of the os coccyx.
This last feature is of importance in a roadster saddle if the rider is deficient
in fat.
From the clay moulds obtained as described, replicas are made in plaster of Paris
and being supported on a wooden hase are attached to the bicycle and tested on the
road. Though made of such inelastic material they are found to be more
comfortable than many a saddle. If any point catches the rider it is reduced with
a modellers tool. In riding up-hill the flexor muscles at the back of the thigh may
touch the cast, as our moulds have been made without them coming much into action.
If so the mould should be reduced.
At the beginning of this specification stated that two pieces of wood about
11 in. long x 10 in. broad x 1 in. thick are fastened together with the grain of the
one running across the other. The object of this is to prevent the wood fron
warping from being in contact with the clay. The sizes of the boards are greater
than the resulting shape of the saddle as room must be allowed for a margin of clay
at the back and sides. If then 3 sizes of riders say of 8, 10 & 12 stones for females,

page_text: and 10, 12, & 14 stones for males be chosen and moulds made from each I shall have
a series of moulds which will fit all normally formed persons; and further I have
the means of finding the shape for any individual rider."
2. The question now is how are such saddles to be constructed? The ordinary
saddle consists of a cantle made of steel and a tension catch at the peak with a
covering of leather stretched between. Sometimes these points are kept separate
by the spring and sometimes by a separate frame of wire.
The cantle makes no pretension to be moulded to the correct form as here
shown, nor does the cover, in either a racing saddle or a roadster. The surface
of the saddle is either flat or convex and too narrow.
Yet sometimes such a saddle after being ridden on for a month or two becomes
fairly comfortable, if set on suitable springs; but this state of affairs is only
transitory and by-and-by the cover sags down on to the frame or springs.
If the saddle in this state be examined it will be seen that the cantle is altogether
out of sympathy with the leather.
The ends of the cantle will be seen as abrupt prominences which seen designed
for the special purpose of goading on the rider. This is seen at its worst when the
rider has been riding with low handles. A reference to Fig. 1 will make it clear
why this is so. The cantle should be in sympathy with the line i. The cover is
perhaps now in a more comfortable condition than ever it has been before, having
been moulded into shape by the rider as far as the unsympathetic nature of the
frame will allow, yet the saddle is useless. The tension screw sometimes provided
is of no use as it pulls the central line taut before the sides are much affected, and
the central line should always be concave as may be seen in any of the elevations.
If then I mould a piece of leather so that its upper surface is identical with that
shown in these illustratious and stretch this cover between a cantle shaped to fit
the under side of the cover (as hereafter described) and a tension plate at the peak
and keep these separate in the usual manner, and set the whole un suitable springs,
1 have a saddle which will be comfortable at the outset and remain so for a longer
period than the ordinary one. If I line the underside of the leather with saddlers
web or canvas, I will prolong the period of comfort. If instead of using only a
cantle and tension plate I make a skeleton frame all round (of a material as
hereafter specified) I still further prolong the period of comfort. By connecting
the peak and cantle with a similar support along the ridge I yet further prolong
this period and finally if I support the whole of the cover with a close or entire
frame the saddle will last longer than the bicycle. These various styles of frames
are shown in Sheet 4 where Fig. 13 represents the first mentioned Fig. 10 the 2nd
Fig. 11 the 3rd and Fig. 12 the 4th. The letter (a) in each case denotes the
frame and the dotted lines in Fig. 13 the saddlers web. Where I use a skeleton
frame, I may place a layer of felt or rubber between the frame and the cover.
Where I use an entire frame I may make the cover simply of felt as in Fig. 10
where u is the felt; or I may cover this felt with thin leather.
Instead of felt I may use cork or a composition of cork and elastic glue.
The cork or felt must be used of sufficient thickness to prevent the frame being
felt. The advantages of felt for a cover are; the creases and seams of the dress
of the rider are not imbedded into his or her flesh as they must be on an
ordinary saddle. The dress is not glazed, it is not slippery, and any degree of
softuess may be attained. Where it is used of extra thickness it must be tapered
at the peak.
The question now is how is the true shape of the frame to be found, so that the
upper surface of the cover will be identical with the shape arrived at by means of
the clay. The first thing I do is to take a cast in plaster of Paris from the clay.
This will be a negative. In this I lay a sheet of clay which has been rolled to the
same thickness as the cover I intend using and again take a plaster of Paris cast
These casts being reproduced in cast iron form moulds for shaping the cover. The
moulds for the frame are made in a similar manner by taking a negative from the
positive, representing the under surface of the cover and in this laying clay or lead,

page_text: to represent the frame, skeleton or entire, and taking another cast. These two
casts form patterns for making dies for stamping or moulding the frame. The
frame may be of sheet steel, aluminium or other suitable material, each being
treated according to the requirements of the material used.
Reference has been made to the use of a tension screw when describing the
condition of an ordinary saddle which has been in use for some time. It is not
meant that a tension screw is of no use whatever; but that it is of little use under
the circumstances. If the cantle were made of the right shape it would be of great
use as the rider could then tighten the cover with advantage as it got too slack;
but so long as cantles are made too high in the centre any tightening of the cover
raises the central line too much at the back and the rider is more supported on a
ridge than before. If reference be made to Sheets 2 & 3 it will be seen that the
centre of the boundary line of the back is a concavity.
In adapting my improvements to the ordinary style of making a saddle I have
said that the cover is to be moulded identically to the forms found by means of
the clay and then stretched on the frame. It should be stretched with a force
equal to the weight of the rider. The rider's weight will then bring it back to the
correct shape.
It is evident that the surface forms described and illustrated can be given to any
sort of saddle, wire-woven pneumatic or otherwise and I do not limit myself to the
constructions herein described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1st. The herein described method of finding the surface form of a cycle saddle
for any rider in any attitude.
2nd. The construction of cycle saddles having the surface form so found,
substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 26th day of April 1897.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Patent Agents.