Improvements in Saddles for Cycles, Motor Cars, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Saddles for Cycles, Motor Cars, and the like.
We, JOHN JAMES SLACK of 32 Roe Street, Derby in the County of Derby,
Mechanic, and WILLIAM HERBERT OUGHTON of 25 Osmaston Road, Derby afore-
said, Engineer, 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:-
The objects of our invention are to minimise the concussion and vibration
experienced in travelling over rough or uneven ground and to provide means
for fixing the saddle on or to the cycle or the like, and for adjusting the same.
In describing our invention reference will be had to the accompanying sheet
of drawings upon which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section on line a a of Figure 2
of a saddle constructed according to our invention.
Figure 2 is an inverted plan of same.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on line 6b of Figure 2.
Although our invention will be mere particularly described herein as relating
to a cycle saddle it will be understood that it may be used for motor cars, mowing
and reaping machines and other analogous purposes.
We will first describe that part of our invention relating to the reduction of
concussion or vibration. As is generally well known a cycle saddle must to a
certain extent be firm otherwise power and consequently speed will be lost; to
ensure this firmness we fix the leather or other covering A of the saddle to a metal
frame B the stays B₁ of which encircle a threaded spindle C at their front or
peak end, the upper part of the spindle terminates in a threaded collar C¹
encircling an adjusting screw D, keyed to this screw is a nut E which works
between two lugs F, F¹, continuations or extensions F2 from which are also
rivetted or otherwise secured to the leather or other covering A of the saddle;
thus by operating the nut E the covering A of the saddle may be tightened and
the saddle generally be made more rigid, a clamping screw V may also be
provided for fixing the screw D to any desired adjustment. Upon the threaded
spindle C is secured by nut and washer or other means one end of a spiral
spring G preferably but not necessarily of square cross section the opposite end
of this spring is secured by similar means round a screw, stud or other pro-
jection H carried at the end of a pair of girders I terminating at their backward
extremities I in ball and socket joints the balls being carried on the ends of
the girders and working in sockets & fixed to or forming part of the back support B
of the saddle, the said sockets being provided with covers L to hold in the ball
ends of the girders; when a lumpy or uneven surface is passed over these balls
work in the sockets and through the medium of the girders and spring G impart
the slight resilience to the saddle that is required to pass over such uneven
surface with ease. Although only two girders are shewn upon the drawings and
described above it is evident that we may use three or more if desired terminating
in ball and socket joints on the back frame B.
To affix the saddle to the cycle or the like a collar or boss N is passed round
the L-shaped pin of the machine (not shewn on the drawings) this collar is

page_text: recessed internally to hold a steel or other band O a stud P being provided to
prevent the said band moving round. When the collar is passed over the L-shaped
pin the bolts Q are turned pressing upon the steel band and causing it to firmly
grip the pin. The collar N carries transversely on its upper side a curved slotted
rack R the teeth on which engage corresponding indents on the cross bars S
carried between the girders I so that by passing the bolt T through the slot in
the curved rack and tightening the nut U the saddle is firmly secured to the
attachment connecting it to the saddle pin of the machine.
The object of having a curved rack is to obtain any desired adjustment of the
peak of the saddle.
The back portion of the frame B is preferably formed with a slight downwardly
projecting flange B2 so that in rivetting or eyeletting the cover B thereto the
rivets or eyelets will not be actually on the seat of the saddle and so prevent
damage to the clothes of the rider.
Should the machine be provided with a vertical saddle pin I may cramp the
neck of the collar until it assumes a horizontal or other position to correspond.
therewith.
The cover A of the saddle may be formed with any suitable opening A¹ or
openings for ventilation and may if desired be formed open from about the centre
right away to the back but we do not wish to lay any claim to novelty in this
respect.
'
The girders I may be jointed at or near the centre if found desirable for
adjusting purposes by forming one end of each with a screwed end to pass
through a lug on its fellow and be adjusted by means of a nut, but we prefer to
adopt the simple form illustrated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. In a saddle for cycles, motor cars and the like a spring G attached at one
end to the adjusting mechanism at the peak of the saddle and at the other to
the junction of two or more girders or stays I the latter terminating at their
rear extremities in ball and socket joints with the after framing of the saddle
substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. The improved means of fixing the saddle to the L or other shaped bar
or pin consisting of a boss or collar N, steel or other band O, stud P or its
equivalent, bolts Q in combination with the curved slotted rack R the teeth of
which are adapted to engage corresponding indents on cross bars S carried by or
between the girders I for longitudinal radial adjustment of the saddle substan-
tially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 1st day of October 1897.
W. SWINDELL
Imperial Chambers, Derby. Agent for the Applicants.