Improvements in Bicycle Saddles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 11th June, 1898
Improvements in Bicycle Saddles.
1, JAMES AINSLEIGH MCLARTY, of 25, Melinda Street, in the City of Toronto,
in the County of York, and Province of Ontario, Pharmacist, 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 relates to that class of bicycle saddle embracing in its construc-
tion a comparatively inflexible seat plate, preferably upholstered.
It is commonly known that a bicycle rider, in order to utilize the full power of
the limbs to the best advantage to propel the wheel, and with the least fatigue,
must be provided with a comparatively rigid seat, and one that is comfortably
fitted to the person, and unless the seat is comparatively rigid and comfortably
fitted the rider cannot maintain, for any considerable length of time, the applica-
tion of the full force of the limbs, nor can he continue his propelling action with-
out experiencing a feeling of soreness.
The object of this invention is, therefore, to construct a bicycle saddle embracing
in its construction two independent seat sections, hinged or pivotally united at
their horn portions, each seat section consisting of a comparatively inflexible seat-
plate, and an upholstered pad secured to the seat-plate; a hinge or pivotal con-
nection for uniting the horn portions of each seat section, so arranged as to permit
of the seat sections being adjusted radially from the centre of the pivotal con-
nection, and means for locking the seat sections in their adjusted position, as herein-
after set forth and more particularly pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle saddle, showing the seat sections closed
together.
Fig. 2 is a corresponding view showing them extended radially.
Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the under construction of the saddle and the
means of locking the seat sections in their adjusted positions.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the lines a-a Fig. 1.
Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the specification and
drawings.
The saddle embraces in its construction two independent seat sections a, a³,
each of which consists of a comparatively inflexible base or seat plate B and an
upholstered cushion C attached to and supported by the seat plate. The seat
sections a, al are so formed that when they are assembled they form a saddle of
the usual shape and have a horn (either truncated or elongated) to prevent the
lateral displacement of the rider. Each of the seat sections a, a¹ is provided with
a horn portion 6 and 6¹ respectively. D, D¹ represent two substantially V-shaped
straps each of which consists of two arms d and d, and an eye di integrally
formed with the arms d and d' at their point of union. The arm d of each strap
is rigidly fastened to the inner side of the body whilst the other arm d¹
is rigidly fastened to the outer side of the horn portion of its respective seat section.
037

page_text: When the straps are assembled on their respective seat sections they each form a
binding g' for the inner side and horn portion and also form a rigid part of the
same. The eyes of the straps D, D are so arranged in relation to each other
that when the straps are connected to their respective seat sections and the seat
sections are assembled to form a saddle, they constitute the hinge members for the
seat sections, the eye d" of the strap D being immediately below and contiguous
to the top of the eye d" of the strap D¹. Frepresents a saddle spring the front
of which is shaped to correspond with the under side of the eye of the strap D
and located immediately below and contiguous to the same. Passing through the
two eyes d and the front of the saddle spring F is a hinge pin G the top of which
is provided with an enlarged head 9 preferably of the same shape and size as the
top of the eye d" of the strap D¹. Fitted on the lower end of the hinge pin G is
a nut H to bind together the eyes and spring. The saddle spring is of any
suitable shape and length and is made preferably of a flat piece of spring metal.
Although I have shown the saddle spring F to be made of a flat piece of spring
metal I do not confine myself to this style of spring as I may make it of a piece of
tubular or bar steel as most convenient for the purpose. I represents a curved
link the curve of which is struck from the centre of the hinge pin G. J represents
a loop integrally formed with or bolted to the link I at the middle to receive the
adjacent end of the saddle spring F. The loop J is located exactly at the middle
of the loop I and corresponds in shape and size with the shape and size of the
end of the saddle spring F, which it is adapted to receive and hold. The link, I
is provided with two curved slots K and K, the curvature of which is concentric
with the curvature of the link. The slots K and K are located one on each side
of the middle of the link and equi-distant from the same. L, L' represent two
cups one connected to the under side of each of the seat sections a and a¹
respectively, the centre of each cup being vertically over the middle of its
respective slot K and K¹. M and M¹ represent two inflatable spheres or bulbs
one located in each of the cups L and L. () and 0¹ represent two cups fitted one
on each of the spheres or bulbs M and M' and located between the spheres and
the link. Each of the inflatable spheres M and M is preferably made of rubber
or other air tight elastic substance and is provided with a valve stem and valve P
which extends through its respective cup () or 0. The valve stem P of the
sphere M projects through the slot K and is fitted with a washer and nut Q by
means of which it is locked to the link in any adjusted position between the ends
of the slot. The valve stem P of the sphere M¹ projects through the slot K¹and is
fitted with a similar washer and nut Q₁ for the same purpose. The cups () and ()
are interposed between their respective spheres and the top of the link and in
addition to holding the inflatable spheres in position prevent any injury to the
spheres by constant use. The top of each of the inflatable spheres M and M¹ is
provided with a screw threaded shank R rigidly connected to its respective sphere
and projecting through its respective cup L, L¹ and into the base plate B of its
respective seat section a or a¹. The top of each shank R is fitted with a nut T
which binds the seat section and sphere firmly together. The nuts Q, Q' are
screwed on their respective valve stems P, P until they bind against the under
side of the link when they rigidly lock the seat sections in their adjusted positions.
If the valve stems are moved to the inner ends of the slots and locked in that
position by the clamping of the nuts against the link the inner faces of the seat
sections will be comparatively close together and the seat sections will form a
comparatively narrow saddle. When the valve stems P, P are moved to the outer
ends of the slots the inner faces of the seat sections will comparatively apart and
the seat sections will form a comparatively wide saddle. The valve stems can be
locked in any adjusted position intermediate the ends of the slots to make the
saddle of any width between the two extremes, By this construction the seat
sections can be adjusted and can be securely locked in their adjusted position to
provide a saddle fitted to the person of the rider. I do not confine myself to any
particular style of saddle, nor do I confine myself to upholstered seat sections,

page_text: nor to any particular style of spring connection between the scat sections and link
as I may use if I so desire an ordinary helical spring for that
purpose.
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:-
-
CLAIMS.
1. A bicycle saddle consisting of two independent seat sections hinged or
pivotally connected together at their front ends and arranged to be adjusted radially
from the centre of the hinge or pivotal connection substantially as specified.
2. A bicycle saddle consisting of two independent seat sections hinged or
pivotally connected together at their front ends and arranged to be adjusted
radially from the centre of the hinge or pivotal connection and means for locking
them in their adjusted positions substantially as specified.
3. A bicycle saddle consisting of two independent seat sections hinged or
pivotally connected together at their front ends and arranged to be adjusted
radially from the centre of the hinge or pivotal connection, a slotted link located
below the seat sections at the rear of the hinge or pivotal connection, a pin extending
from each of the seat sections through the slotted link and a clamping nut to lock
the pins to the link and hold the seat sections in their adjusted position, sub-
stantially as specified.
4. A bicycle saddle consisting of two independent seat sections hinged or
pivotally connected together at their front ends and arranged to be adjusted
radially from the centre of the hinge or pivotted connection, a slotted link located
below the seat sections at the rear of the hinge or pivotal connection, a pin extend-
ing from each of the seat sections through the slotted link, and a clamping nut
to lock the pins to the link and hold the seat sections in their adjusted position,
and a spring support interposed between each section and the link, substantially
as specified.
5. A bicycle saddle consisting of two independent seat sections hinged or
pivotally connected at their front ends and arranged to be adjusted radially from
the centre of the hinge or pivotal connection, a curved link, a curved slot in each
end of the link, a spring connected to each seat section provided with a pin projecting
through its respective slot, and clamping nuts to lock the pins in their adjusted
position in the slots, substantially as specified.
6. A bicycle saddle embracing in its construction two independent seat sections,
the horn portion of each section provided with a hinge member and pin, a curved
link, slots in the curved link, the curvature of the slots being struck from the
centre of the hinge pin, a pneumatic spring for each seat section, a pin projecting
upwardly from the top of the pneumatic spring through the base of its respective
scat section to which it is rigidly clamped, and a corresponding pin projecting
through its respective slot in the link, clamping nuts for cach of the pins to hold
them in their adjusted position along their respective slots, substantially as
specified.
7. A bicycle saddle embracing in its construction two independent seat sections,
the horn portion of each section provided with a hinge member and pin, a curved
link, slots in the curved link, the curvature of the slots being struck from the
centre of the hinge member, a pneumatic spring for each seat section, a pin pro-
jecting upwardly from the top of the pneumatic spring through the base of its
respective seat section to which it is rigidly clamped, and a corresponding pin
projecting through its respective slot in the link, clamping nuts for each of the
pins to hold them in any adjusted position along their respective slots, a saddle
spring, the front end of which is contiguous to the under side of the lower hinge
member and held by the hinge pin, a loop formed on the link to hold the rear
end of the saddle spring, substantially as specified.
8. A bicycle saddle embracing in its construction two independent scat sections,
the horn portion of each section provided with a hinge member and pin, a curved

page_text: link, slots in the curved link, the curvature of the slots being struck from the
centre of the hinge member, a pneumatic spring for each seat section, a pin pro-
jecting upwardly from the top of the pneumatic spring through the base of its
respective seat section to which it is rigidly clamped, and a corresponding pin
projecting through its respective slot in the link, clamping nuts for each of the 5
pins to hold them in any adjusted position along their respective slots, a cup inter-
posed between the top of each of the pneumatic springs and the under side of the
base plate and a corresponding cup interposed between the under side of each of
the pneumatic springs and the top of the link, substantially as specified.
9. The bicycle saddle, herein before described and illustrated in the accompany-
ing drawings.