An Improved Oscillating Seat or Saddle for Bicycles, Tricycles, and other purposes of like kind.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 10th Apr., 1897
An Improved Oscillating Seat or Saddle for Bicycles, Tricycles, and
other purposes of like kind.
WILLIAM JOHN GOODMAN Locksmith No. 83 The Green Bloxwich
Staffordshire do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
First. I build up a center-peice of two metal plates, which I secure firmly
together by pillars, leaving a small space between them, this forms the body to
support the seat.
Secondly. I employ a metal rod or bar, (steel or other metal) which I pass
horizontaly through the back end of the aforesaid metal plates near the top, which
rod or bar is at right angles to the aforesaid metal plates.
The above mentioned rod or bar which I pass through the aforesaid metal
plates; and which is at right angles to the aforesaid metal plates; projects out
from, the aforesaid metal plates on both sides six or more inches; the projecting
parts of the above mentioned rod, forms the pin upon which I hinge the aforesaid
seat.
Thirdly. I make the proposed improved seat of two separate halves (the
material suitable for the purpose) which I hinge upon the aforesaid metal rod
or bar; which is at right angles to; and projects out from the aforesaid metal
plates.
'
My object for hinging the two halves of the aforesaid seat, upon the above-
mentioned projecting metal rod or bar is to allow the two separate halves of
aforesaid seat to move up and down alternatively with the motion of the legs of the
rider when pedaling the mechine.
Forthly. I employ a second metal rod or bar which I pass through the aforesaid
plates, horizontaly, which is at right angles to; and projects out from; on both
sides of; the aforesaid metal plates; about one and a half inches below the first
mentioned metal bar.
This rod or bar is loose so as to allow it to move round when required.
Fifthly. I employ two small metal cranks which I securely fasten to the
projecting ends, of the second mentioned metal bar. The above mentioned metal
cranks are secured fast to the second mentioned metal bar; so as to point in
opposite dirrections, the one front wise, and the other back wise, so that when the
aforesaid bar, to which the cranks are fastened moves round, the one cranks moves
up and the other down.
Sixthly. I also employ two small metal rods (extra) to
connect the above
mentioned cranks to the underside of, the back ends of, the aforesaid parts of the
seat.
These rods are so connected with the cranks and the back ends of the seat, so as
to allow them freedom to move up and down (the above mentioned connecting rods
are made adjustable so as to raise or lower the front parts of the seat as may be
required) so that by the connection of the above mentioned cranks, with the
aforesaid parts (of the seat) at the back, is caused an alternative oscillating action
of the two separate parts of the aforesaid seat, this action corrisponds to that of the
legs of the rider when pedaling the machine.

page_text: Seventhly. I also employ a small wheel or roller, which I affix to the body of
the aforesaid seat. The above mentioned wheel, is affixed at right angles to the
aforesaid metal plates, so that with the upward and downward action of the parts
of the seat, the wheel moves round and back.
This action of the wheel is caused by a cord which I also employ to connect the
several parts of the aforesaid seat to the above mentioned wheel.
The action of the cord on the wheel is equal to that of the cranks under the
back of the scat.
My improved oscillating seat is specialy designed for female cyclests but can be
used by males.
Dated this 18th day of May 1806
An Improved Oscillating Seat or Saddle for Bicycles, Tricycles, and
other purposes of like kind.
1, WILLIAM JOHN GOODMAN, of 57 Harrison Street (formerly of 83 The
Green) Bloxwich in the County of Stafford, Locksmith, 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 :-
According to this invention, a seat or saddle for a bicycle or tricycle, or for
similar purpose, is constructed in such manner that the two halves, of the portion
upon which the rider sits, which are on opposite sides of the longitudinal centre
thereof are capable of being rocked to-and-fro to accommodate themselves to the
movements of the legs in pedalling, and are geared together in such manner that
the movement of either half imparts a movement in the opposite direction to the
other half.
A method of carrying out the invention in practice is illustrated by the drawings
on Sheets 1 and 2.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a saddle taken in a plane indicated by line a
of Figure 3.
Figure 2 is an underside view of the saddle shewn by Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a hinder end view of the saddle shewn by Figure 1; and
Figure 4 is a detached longitudinal sectional view of the part of the saddle which
is for the purpose of connection with the seat pillar bar, and shews a small portion
of one of the rocking frames hereinafter described.
In order to avoid unnecessary obscurity of parts of the framing and mechanism,
the leather portions of the saddle are omitted, except in Figure 1, and in such figure
are indicated only by broken lines.
A double-sided bracket A, having sides a a suitably distanced apart, is provided
with a set-pin 6 through its lower side between the end of which and the undersides
of distance pieces the seat pillar bar is securely gripped. This bracket carries,
in the upper ends of the side plates, a transverse bar c which is rigidly fixed thereto
and projects for a considerable distance on each side, as shewn. A rocking
frame B is mounted on each portion of the bar c which projects from a side of the
bracket A, so as to be an easy turning fit thereon. A transverse spindle dis
carried in bearings formed in the hinder lower ends of the side plates a of the

page_text: bracket A, and projects at each side some distance beyond such plates. An arm e
is fixed on each end of the spindle d and the hinder end of each frame B is
connected with the outer end of the corresponding arm e by means of a link f
One of the arms e extends from the opposite side of the spindle d to that on
which the other arm e extends, and thus as one of the frames B is rocked in
one direction the other frame B is thereby caused to rock in the opposite
direction. Each link fis, preferably, made in two parts, of which one is screwed
into the other so that the length may be readily adjusted for the purpose of
adjusting the position into which the frames B can be tilted forward. Each
frame B is conveniently made of two sides g joined together at their ends by
bars h to which the ends of the leather are screwed or riveted; and the upper
end of each link is conveniently pivotally connected with a transverse rod í which
is fixed to the opposite sides of the corresponding rocking frame. A separate
leather cover C is used for each rocking frame.
A modification of the invention is illustrated by the drawings on Sheet 3
herewith, of which Figure 5 is a side elevation of a cycle saddle, Figure 6 a plan
of the underside thereof, and Figure 7 a detached view of a detail which will be
presently described.
The saddle is fixed to the seat pillar bar, conveniently, by means of a socket A¹
which is provided with a set-pin 6. A bracket arm a is formed out on opposite
sides of the upper portion of the socket. A near to the forward end thereof,
and arms are correspondingly formed out on opposite sides of the lower portion
of the socket A¹ near to the hinder end thereof. Frames D, which are each
somewhat triangular in shape as shewn, are fixed rigidly, each through two of
its angles, to the outer end of one of the bracket arms a¹ and to the outer end
of the corresponding bracket arm e', respectively. The upper hinder ends of the
frames D are riveted to a curved bar to which the hinder end of the leather C'
is riveted. In this modification, the leather C, which covers the two halves of
the saddle, is in one continuous piece, except that it is split for some distance
inwards on the forward side of the middle, and the two sides of the split are joined
together by a loose gusset i which allows the two sides to move vertically in
opposite directions to one another. A rocking lever B' is pivotally connected with
the outer end of each bracket arm a¹ between such arm and the corresponding
frame D. Each lever B' extends both forwards of its turning axis and backwards,
as shewn, and is formed conveniently, as seen in plan view, to the shape shewn by
Figure 6. An arm d¹ is formed to extend both downwardly and outwardly from
near the middle of each lever B'. The forward end of each lever B' is pivotally
connected with a rocking arm el. Each rocking arm el is formed at its upper end
with a transverse portion f¹ which spans across the main width of the forward
portion of the leather on the same side of the saddle, and is formed with ears g
which are riveted to the leather. The portion f¹ of each arm e' is formed to a
concave curve longitudinally at its upper face, to allow the leather to give down
to the shape of the leg. Each rocking arm e' is extended below its fulcrum, and
its lower end is connected, by means of a spiral spring; and link k, with the arm d
of the corresponding rocking lever B. On the forward end of the socket A' is
mounted, between collars /, a flanged wheel which is a turning fit around such
socket, and a leather thong m is connected at its middle with the wheel and at its
opposite ends with the rocking levers B, respectively. The connection of the
thong m with the wheel may be conveniently effected by forming a widened
portion n in the middle of the thong the sides of which fit into notches cut into the
flanges of the wheel. A pair of grooved wheels o are similarly mounted on the
hinder end of the socket A¹, and one of these wheels is connected by means of a
cord with the hinder end of one of the rocking levers B', and the other is similarly
connected with the hindér end of the other rocking lever B', the cords passing in
opposite directions around the wheels. It will now be seen that when the forward
end of one side of the saddle is depressed the forward end of the rocking lever B
on the same side is depressed also and the hinder end raised, and that such binder

page_text: end, operating through the medium of the cords which are connected with the
wheels o, pulls down the hinder end of the other rocking lever B' and raises the
forward end of such lever and consequently the forward end of the other side of
the seat; and that owing to the connection together of the forward portions of the
rocking arms B', by means of the thong m which passes under the pulley,
neither of the forward ends of the rocking arms can rise without ensuring that the
forward end of the other arm will be correspondingly depressed.
Two wheels o, with their corresponding cords, may he substituted for the wheel
and thong m; and if it is desired to adjust the pitch or tilt of the saddle, this may
be readily effected by forming the two wheels o of each of such pair of wheels
separate from one another, so that they may be turned in relation to one another
and then fixed together in any desired position in relation to the points at which
the cords are fixed thereto. The flanges of the wheels which are adjacent to one
another may be formed with a number of holes p, as shewn by Figure 7, and thus
the wheels may be moved in relation to one another the distance between any two
of the holes and be then fixed together by a pin passing through a hole of each.
A wheel such as l' and thong m may be substituted, if desired, for the wheels o;
and, if desired, the wheels and flexible connectors, for preventing either half of the
saddle from moving without ensuring the corresponding movement in the opposite
direction of the other half, may be arranged entirely at one side of the fulcrum axis
of the levers B¹.
It will be seen that, in this modification, the hinder end of the saddle does not
move. The springs j are for the purpose of putting endway tension on the leather,
but they also facilitate the quick return of the sides of the saddle after they have
been pressed down. The flexible connector m prevents the forward ends of the
sides of the saddle from being unduly raised by the springs.
It will be seen that the means of connecting the two rocking portions of
the saddle by flexible connectors and wheels may be adopted also in the
case of the saddle first above described, in lieu of the mechanism shewn for the
purpose.
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 seat or saddle for a bicycle, tricycle or other purpose of a like kiud, in
which the two portions, of the part upon which the rider sits, which are on opposite
sides of a central line running lengthways of the seat or saddle, are capable of
rocking to accommodate themselves to the movements of the legs in pedalling, and
are geared together in such manner that the movement in one direction of either
of such portions imparts a movement in the opposite direction to the other,
substantially as described.
2. A seat or saddle for a bicycle, tricycle or other purpose of a like kind, in
which the two portions, of the part upon which the rider sits, which are on opposite
sides of a central line running lengthways of the seat or saddle, are capable of
rocking to accommodate themselves to the movements of the legs in pedalling, and
are connected with one another through the medium of a rocking spindle, levers
and links, to ensure that the movement in one direction of either of such portions
will impart a movement in the opposite direction to the other, substantially as
described.
3. In seats or saddles for bicycles, tricycles and other purposes of a like kind, in
which the portions, of the parts upon which the riders sit, which are on opposite
sides of the longitudinal centre line are capable of rocking to accommodate
themselves to the movements of the legs in pedalling, the use of wheels and
flexible connectors by means of which the rocking parts of the saddles are connected
together to ensure that the movement in one direction of one of such parts of a
saddle will impart a movement in the opposite direction to the other, substantially
as described.

page_text: 4. Seats or saddles for bicycles, tricycles and other purposes of a like kind,
constructed substantially as described and shewn by the drawings herewith, for
the purpose set forth.
Dated this 19th day of February 1807
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.