Improvements in and relating to Adjustable Saddle Pillars and Clips to Attach Saddles to Bicycles, Tricycles, Velocipedes, and similar Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Dec., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1892
Improvements in and relating to Adjustable Saddle Pillars and Clips
to Attach Saddles to Bicycles, Tricycles, Velocipedes, and similar
Machines.
I, THEODORE, JAMES, BIGGS of Market Place, Frome, in the County of
Somerset, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the arrangements for the fixing of
the saddle to bicycles, tricycles, velocipedes, & similar machines, in such a manner
as to admit of adjustment vertically, (by the usual means) horizontally, & at any
angle to a horizontal plane.
This invention consists of a horizontal arm, made on, or attached to the saddle
pillar (hereinafter to be called the "stalk") to which arm the saddle is to be
attached by an adjustable clip or clips, as hereinafter to be described.
In one arrangement the said horizontal arm is provided with a slot running in
the direction of its length, or with a series of independent. holes, the clip carrying
the saddle being placed on the arm & secured by a bolt or bolts, passing through a
suitable hole or holes, or slot or slots, either straight or radial, in the clip, & through
the slot in the arm.
The clip is made so that it can be slid along the whole length of the arm,
& pass right over the place where the stalk, which runs downwards, joins the said
arm, & at the same time may be placed at any angle relatively to the arm &
secured in the required position by suitable means.
I may, instead of slotting the arm, secure the clip to it by means of a set pin or
set pins, pressing against the arm, but not passing through it, or by means of a
bolt, or bolts, or screw or screws passing through the clip and not through the
arm, which shall secure the clip to the arm by causing it to close and grip
the arm.
The arm may be either solid or hollow, and of any convenient shape, it may be
made in one with the stalk, or fixed thereto by any suitable arrangement, and the
arm may be so made or attached, as to join the stalk at any part of its entire
length and at any angle.
The arm may be made hollow, or of tubing, having a slot in it, and a bolt or
bolts with suitably shaped head or heads sliding in the slot, to which bolt or bolts
the saddle may be attached directly, or indirectly with a suitable arrangement
to adjust the relative angle of the saddle with the arm, by fitting to the
said arm, between the arm and the clip, a block, one side of which shall be
curved, and so fitted to another corresponding piece which may be on the saddle
or its frame, or on a part of the clip, as to allow of the said adjustinent of the
angle of the saddle, & be secured by the bolt or bolts aforesaid,

page_text: The adjustment of the angle of the saddle may also be done by means of set
pins.
The clip may be made to surround the arm, or the arm may be made to
surround the clip, & may be attached thereto by a bolt or bolts passing either
vertically or horizontally through the clip & the armn, or part of either, or
through the clip only, or by a set pin or set pins, placed vertically or horizontally.
I may use any or either of the aforesaid arms & clips either with or without
any of the arrangements for the adjustment of the angle herein described, & any
or either of the said angle adjustments may be adapted to any or either of the
forms of clips herein described.
The aforesaid clips may be made in one with the frame of the saddle, or may be
attached thereto by any suitable means.
With reference to the accompanying drawings:-
Figs. 1 & 2 illustrate my improved saddle pillar made in the form of what is
usually known as an shaped pillar; the lower part, or the stalk S, being made
in the usual round section, solid with the horizontal arm A, which is made in the
form of a flat bar A, having a slot D running nearly from end to end, but leaving
sufficient material at either end to hold the upper & lower parts of the arm
together.
Fig. 2 illustrates a section through the arm A, & the clip C, this clip C Figs. 1:
& 2 is made with two ears N N, having just sufficient space between them to receive
the arm A; the clip C is placed on the arm A, with one ear N on either side, &
rests on the curve R. Each ear N has a slot E radially parallel with the curve R,
& the clip C may roll on the curve R to any angle, (within certain limits) &
one part of the slot in the ears N N always comes opposite the slot D in the
arm A, to allow of the free passage of the bolt B through, both the arm A, & the
two ears N N of the clip C, which bolt B secures the clip C to the arm A in
the required position, by closing the two ears N N together till they grip the
arm A securely.
The slot D in the arm A is carried over the centre of the stalk S, so that the
bolt B & the centre of the clip C, may be slid right over the centre of the
stalk S without any obstruction, which cannot be done with the old form of
pillar.
Fig. 3 illustrates my improved saddle pillar, made in the form of what is
commonly known as a T shaped pillar, the stalk S joining the horizontal arm A at
about the centre of its length & at an angle.
The arm A is made similar to the arm A in Fig. 1, with the slot D running
nearly from end to end, but in this arrangement the slot D runs over & past the
stalk S, thus allowing the bolt B & the clip C 1 or C 2 to be slid from end to end,
& over, & past, the stalk S without obstruction, which is impossible with the old
form of T pillar.
Either of the arms A Figs. 1 & 3 may have a series of independent holes instead
of the continuous slot D.
The arm A in Figs. 1 & 3 may be made as shown in Fig. 2, with the upper &
lower part of rectangular section or of any convenient shape.
The clip C 1 Fig. 3 is made similar to C Fig. 1, with the curve R, but with the
addition of a block T, ¡fitted to the curve R in the clip C 1, & the underside of
the block T fitted to the top side of the horizontal arm A. The curve R in the
clip C 1 slides in the block T, & allows the clip C 1 to thus lean over to any
required angle, & is there secured in the required position by the bolt B; this
block T increases the security of the clip when fixed by the bolt B.
The slot E in this clip C 1 is made straight & vertical, instead of radial &
horizontal, as in Fig. 1, & allows of the angle of the clip being altered, by the clip
rolling slightly on the curve R as in Fig. 1, or by sliding in the curved block ↑
as in Fig. 3, & the said slot E allows of the necessary displacement of the ears NN
in so altering the angle of the clip.

page_text: C 2, Fig. 3 shows a plain clip without any angle adjustment, the clip fitting
straight on the edge of the arm A.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of Fig. 1, & is practically common to C1 & C2 in
Fig. 3.
At the top of the clip, where shown broken off, the clip may be made solid with
the frame of the saddle, or attached thereto by suitable means; thus by altering
the angle of the clip, the angle of the whole saddle in relation to the arm is
altered also.
Figs. 4 & 5 illustrate an 7 pillar, the arm A of which, is in the forin of a flat
bar, but without a slot, the clip C being secured to it by means of a set pin B, the
point of which set pin enters the V or U shaped groove D, which keeps it in
position vertically. The angle adjustment in this case being done by means of
the set pins FF, by screwing one pin up & the other down till the required
angle is obtained. This angle adjustment may also be used on any of the other
forms of clip wherever applicable.
Figs. 6 & 7 illustrate an 7 pillar the aim A of which, is made hollow & of
round section, the clip C being made with a round hole to fit the arm, & to
surround it, with the exception of a sufficient space to allow of its passing the
narrow part where the arm A joins the stalk S; & it also has another hole
passing horizontally right through each side of the clip C.
The arm A has a series of independent holes D, corresponding to those in the
clip C, & the clip C is slid, into the required position till the holes in the clip C
come opposite the holes D in the arm A, & then the bolt B is inserted, which
bolt secures the clip in the required position. H is a plug inserted in the arm to
prevent it from being closed in by the bolt B.
The arm A may be made with continuous slots, instead of the independent
holes D, & the clip C may be slid backwards & forwards to any position without
removing the bolt B, & be secured in the required position by the aforesaid
bolt B.
Figs. 8 & 9 show an 7 pillar with the arm A, made in the form of a flat solid
bar, with a dovetail shaped bead on the upper edge & the clip C being made to
fit the dovetail, & secured to the arm A in the required position, by the bolt B,
which passes through the clip C, but not throng the arm A, & which bolt B
closes the clip tightly on to the dovetail & thus secures it in the required position.
The upper edge may also be made with a round, or rectangular shaped bead,
or of any convenient shape to prevent the clip from working off the arm A.
Figs. 10 & 11 illustrate an 7 pillar, the arın A, of which, is made T shape in
section, the clip being made to fit it, & to surround a part of it, & may be slid
to & fro on the top of the arm A, & there be secured in the required position by
the set pin B pressing against the upper side of the arm A, & tightening the
clip C to the underside of the rectangular-shaped beads F.
I may also adjust the angle of this clip by means of fitting curved blocks, as in clip C1
Fig. 3, to the top side of the arm A, & the underside of the aforesaid beads F; or
by using two set pins instead of the one pin B, & placed one to the night & one to
the left of the position of the single set pin B in Fig. 10, & as shown in Fig. 4,
& the clip C would then bear only on one point each side on the underside of
the aforesaid beads F.
Figs. 12 & 13 illustrate an pillar with the arm A made of rectangular shape
with a rectangular hole D running through its entire length, into which hole the
head of the bolt B slides, & there is a slot in the top of the bar to allow of
the free passage of the body of the bolt B, so that the bolt may be slid along the
whole length of the arm A, & the frame of the saddle may be secured direct to
the arin A by bolt B, or indirectly, with the intervention of the angle adjusting
blocks K & L.
The underside of the block L is flat & fits the arm A, & has a hole in it through
which the bolt B passes, the upperside is curved, & fitted to the curved underside
of the block K, which has a slot through which the bolt B pisses, this slot allows

page_text: the block K to slide in the curve in the block L, & thus alter the angle of its
upperside to which the saddle may be attached by bolt B.
Figs. 14 & 15 illustrate a similar arrangement as Figs. 12 & 13. The arm A is
round, & the hole D is made round, & the head of bolt B is made to fit it, & the
body of the bolt B is allowed to slide in the slot in the top of the arın.
The
underside of the block C is made to fit the arm A, & the upperside is curved as L
in Fig. 12, & provided with block K to fit as shown in Fig. 12, or as shown in
Fig. 14, the blocks K & C may be separated & the frame of the saddle may be made
to fit between them, & the angle adjustment be so effected.
It will be noticed that in all the arrangements illustrated in the accompanying
drawings the arms may be made to join the stalks at any part of their entire length,
& at any angle & the clips or bolts, to attach the saddle or its frame to the
arm, may be slid along the whole length of the arm, & past the place where the.
arm joins, or is joined to, the stalk.
The arms may be joined to the stalks by being made solid with them, or by the
common method of brazing, or attached to them by any suitable means.
I wish it to be understood that I do not bind myself to the exact details of
construction herein described, & shown by the accompanying drawings, but hold
myself at liberty to make such alterations & improvements as fairly fall within the
spirit & scope of my invention.
Dated this 26th day of November 1891.
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in and relating to Adjustable Saddle Pillars and Clips
to Attach Saddles to Bicycles, Tricycles, Velocipedes, and similar
Machines.
I, THEODORE, JAMES, BIGGS, of Market Place, Frome, in the County of
Somerset, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in the arrangements for the fixing of the
saddle to bicycles, tricycles, velocipedes, & similar tuachines, in such a manner as
to admit of adjustment vertically, (by the usual means) horizontally, & at any
angle to a horizontal plane.
This invention consists of a horizontal arm, made on, or attached to, the saddle
pillar (hereinafter to be called the "stalk") to which arm the saddle is to be
attached by an adjustable clip or clips, as hereinafter to be described.
In one arrangement the said horizontal arm is provided with a slot running in
the direction of its length, or with a series of independent holes, the clip carrying
the saddle being placed on the arm & secured to it by a bolt or bolts passing
through a suitable hole, or holes, or slot, or slots, either straight or radial in the
clip, & through the slot in the arm.
The clip is so made that it can be slid along the whole length of the arm, &
pass right over the place where the stalk which runs downwards, joins the said arm,
and at the same time may be placed at any angle relatively to the arm, & secured
in the required position by suitable means.
I may instead of slotting the arm, secure the clip to it by means of a set pin or
set pins pressing against the arın but not passing through it, or by means of a bolt
or bolts, or screw, or screws, passing through the clip and not through the arm,
which shall secure the clip to the arm by causing it to close & grip the arm.
The arm may be either solid or hollow & of any convenient shape, it may be
made in one with the stalk, or fixed thereto by any suitable arrangement, & the

page_text: arm may be so made or attached as to join the stalk at any part of its length, & at
any angle.
The arm may be made hollow, or of tubing, having a slot in it, and a bolt, or
bolts with suitably shaped head, or heads, sliding in the slot, by which bolt, or
bolts, the saddle may be attached directly to the arm, or indirectly with a suitable
arrangement to adjust the relative angle of the saddle with the arm, by fitting to
the said arm between the arm & the clip, a block, one side of which shall be curved &
so fitted to another corresponding curved piece, which may be on the saddle or its
frame, or on a part of the clip, as to allow of the said adjustment of the angle of
the saddle, & be secured by the bolt or bolts aforesaid.
The adjustment of the angle of the saddle may also be effected by means of
set pins.
The clip may be made to surround the arm, or the arm may be made to surround
the clip, & may be attached thereto by a bolt, or bolts, or screw, or screws, passing
either vertically, or horizontally, through the arm, or by a set pin or set pins,
placed horizontally or vertically.
I may use any or either of the aforesaid arms and clips, either with, or without
any of the arrangements for the adjustment of the angle, herein described, & any
or either of the said angle adjustinents may be adapted to any or either of the
forms of clip herein described.
The aforesaid clips may be made in one with the frame of the saddle, or may be
attached thereto by any suitable means.
With reference to those drawings left with the Provisional Specification;
Figs. 1 & 2 illustrate my improved saddle pillar, made in the form of what is
generally known as an 7 shaped pillar, the lower part or stalk S being made in the
usual round section, & solid with the horizontal arm A, which is made in the form
of a flat bar, having a long slot D running nearly from end to end, but leaving
sufficient material at either end to hold the upper & lower parts of the arm
together.
Fig. 2 illustrates a cross section through the arm A & the clip C, this clip C
Figs. 1 & 2 is made with two ears N N having just sufficient space between them
to receive the flat arm A; the clip C is placed on the arm A with one ear N on
either side of the arm, & rests on the curve R, & the clip C may roll on the
curve R to any angle, (within certain limits) & one part of the slot E in the
ears N N always comes opposite the slot D in the arm A, to allow of the free
passage of the bolt B through both the arm A & the two ears N N of the clip C,
which bolt B secures the clip C to the arm A in the required position, by closing
the two ears N N together, till they grip the arm A securely.
The slot D in the arm A is carried over the centre of the stalk S, so that the
bolt B & the centre of the clip C may be slid right over & past the centre of the
stalk S, without any obstruction, which cannot be done with the old form of
pillar.
Fig. 3 illustrates my_improved saddle pillar made in the form of what is
commonly known as a T shaped pillar, the stalk S joining the horizontal arm A,
at about the centre of its length & at an angle. The arm A in other respects
is made similar to the arm A in Fig. 1, with the slot D nearly running from
end to end, but in this arrangement the slot D runs over & past the stalk S
thus allowing the bolt B & the clip C 1, or C 2, to be slid from end to end, & over
& past the stalk S without obstruction, which is impossible with the old form of
T pillar.
Either of the arms A Figs. 1 & 3 may have a series of independent holes instead
of the continuous slot D.
The arm A either Figs. 1 or 3 may be made as shown in Fig. 2, with the upper
& lower part of rectangular section, or of any convenient shape.
The clip C1 Fig. 3 is made similar to C Fig. 1, with the curve, R but with the
addition of a block T, the underside of which is straight & fitted to the upper edge
of the arm A, its upper side being curved to fit the curve R in the clip C 1. The

page_text: curve R in the clip C 1 slides in the curve in the block T, & allows the clip to
thus lean over to any required angle, & is there secured in the required position
by the bolt B; this block T increases the security of the clip when fixed by the
bolt B.
The slot E in this clip C 1 is male straight & vertical, instead of radial &
horizontal, as in Fig. 1, & allows of the angle of the clip being altered, by the clip
rolling slightly on the curve R as in Fig. 1, or by sliding in the curve in the
block T as in Fig. 3, & this said slot E accommodates the necessary displacement
of the ears N N in so altering the angle of the clip.
C2 Fig. 3 shows a plain clip without any angle adjustment arrangement, the
clip C2 fitting straight on the upper edge of the arm A.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of Fig. 1 & is practically common to C1 & C2 in Fig. 3.
At the top of the clip where shown broken off, the clip may be made solid with
the frame of the saddle, or may be attached thereto by suitable means, thus by
altering the angle of the clip, the angle of the whole saddle in relation to the arm
is altered also.
Figs. 4 & 5 illustrate an 7 shaped pillar, the arm A of which is in the form of a
flat bar, but without a slot, & the clip C being secured to it by means of a set pin B,
the point of which set pin enters the V or U shaped groove D, which keeps the
said set pin B in its proper position vertically.
This
The angle adjustment shown in this case is done by means of the set pins F F,
by screwing one pin up, & the other down, till the required angle is obtained.
angle adjustment arrangement may also be used on any of the other forms of clip
herein described, wherever applicable.
Figs. 6 & 7 illustrate an pillar, the arm A of which is made hollow, & of
round section, the clip C being made with a round hole through it, to fit the arm A,
which it surrounds, with the exception of an opening sufficient to allow of its
passing the narrow part where the arm A joins the stalk S, the clip C also has
another hole, passing horizontally & at right angles to the aforesaid hole, through
both sides of the clip. The arm A has a series of independent holes D, corre-
sponding to those in the clip C, & the clip C is slid into the required position till
the holes in the clip C come opposite the holes D in the arm A, & then the bolt B
is inserted, which secures the clip C to the arm A in the required position. His
a plug inserted in the hollow arm A, to prevent it from being closed in by the
bolt B.
The arm A may be made with continuous slots, instead of the independent
holes D, & the clip C may then be slid to & fro on the arm A to any position,
without removing the bolt B, & be secured in the position required by the afore-
said bolt B.
•
Figs. 8&9 illustrate an 7 shaped pillar with the arm A made in the form of a
flat solid bar with a dovetail shaped bead on its upper edge, & the clip C is inade
to fit the dovetail, & is secured to it, in the required position by the bolt B, which
passes through the clip C, but not through the arm A, this bolt B closes the
clip C on to the arm A, & thus secures it in the required position.
The upper edge of the arm A may also be made with a round or rectangular
shaped bead or beads, or of any convenient shape to prevent the clip from being
worked off the arm.
Figs. 10 & 11 illustrate an 7 pillar, the arm A of which, is made T shape in
section, the clip C being made to fit it, & to partly surround it, & may slide to &
fro on the top of the said arm A, & may be secured to it in the required position,
by the set pin B pressing against the upper side of the arm A, & tightening the
clip to the undersides of the rectangular beads. I may also adjust the angle of this
clip, by means of fitting curved blocks, as in clip C 1 Fig. 3, to the top side of the
arm A, & the underside of the aforesaid beads; or by using two set pins instead of
the one B, one being placed to the right & one to the left, of the position of the set
pin B in Fig. 10, & as F F in Fig. 4, & the clip C would then bear on one point
only, each side, on the underside of the aforesaid beads,

page_text: Figs. 12 & 13 illustrate an 7 pillar with the arm A, made of rectangular-shape,
with a rectangular shaped-hole D running through its entire length, into which
bole D the head of the bolt-B-slides, & there is a slot in the top of the arm A to
allow of the free passage of the body of the said bolt B, so that the bolt may be
slid along the whole-length of the arm A to any position, & the frame of the saddle
may be secured direct to the arin A by the bolt B, or indirectly with the inter-
vention-of-the angle adjusting blocks-K & L. The underside of the block I, fits
the arm A, & has a hole in it, through-which-the-bolt -B passes, the upperside of
the block-is-curved, & fitted to the curved underside of the block K, which has
a-clot in it, through which the bolt B-passes, this slot allows the curved block K,
to slide in the curve in the block-L, &-thus alter the angle of its upper-side,
to which the saddle-may be attached by the-bolt-B, or by suitable-means.
Figs. 14 & 15-illustrate-a-similar-arrangement as Figs. 12-&-13. In Figs 14 & 15
the arm A is round, & the hole D is made round, & the head of the bolt B is
made to fit the round hole D, & the body of the bolt B is allowed free passage
along a slot in the upperside of the arm A, as in Figs. 12 & 13. The under side
of the block C is made to fit the round arın A, & the upperside is curved as L in
Fig. 12 & provided with block K as in Fig. 12.
It will be noticed that in all the arrangements illustrated in those drawings which
were left with the Provisional Specification, the arms may be made to join the
stalks at any part of their entire length, & at any angle; & the clips or bolts, to
attach the saddle to the arm, may be slid along the whole length of the arm, &
may pass over the part where the arm joins, or is joined to, the stalk.
The arms may be fixed to the stalks by the usual methods of brazing, or may
be made solid with them, or may be fixed thereto by any convenient means.
I wish it to be understood that I do not bind myself to the exact details of
construction herein described, & shown in those drawings left with the Provisional
Specification, but hold myself at liberty to make such alterations & improvements
as fairly fall within the spirit & scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is;
1. In a bicycle, tricycle, velocipede, or similar machine, the arrangement & con-
struction of parts herein before described, whereby the saddle, in addition to the
usual vertical adjustment, may be adjusted along the horizontal arm of the saddle
pillar, in such a way that it can pass over the part where the said arm joins the
part of the saddle pillar which runs downwards (hereinbefore called the "stalk"),
substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with reference to those drawings left with
the Provisional Specification.
2. In a bicycle, tricycle, velocipede, or similar machine, the arrangement & con-
struction of the clip, which secures the frame of the saddle to the horizontal arm
of the saddle pillar hereinbefore described, whereby the said clip may also be so
used as to adjust, or alter, the angle of the saddle relatively with the said arm,
substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with reference to those drawings left with
the Provisional Specification.
1
1001