An Improved Bicycle Saddle.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 4th Apr., 1896
An Improved Bicycle Saddle.
I, ALEXANDER DODDS, of the City of Grand Rapids in the County of Kent
and State of Michigan, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to he performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a bottom plan of the supporting springs.
and cover; and Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same with the covering shown in
section on the line z-z of Fig. 1.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The frame or support of our saddle consists of two spiral coiled springs A, conical
in form, and made from a single wire so bent that the spirals will stand side by
side and the loop will project considerably to one side of, and at right angles.
with the center line zz of the coils to form a support for the pommel of the
saddle.
When forming the spirals I leave a downwardly projecting standard, a, that is.
designed to pass through small apertures in the ends of the supporting bar C for
the purpose of supporting the saddle, in said bar. This bar is, in turn supported
by passing through an aperture in the clip D and secured by a set-screw d, or
other suitable device, so that it may be readily adjusted longitudinally in said clip.
to adjust the saddle laterally with the course of the bicycle. The clip D is secure t
to the standard E, which is an ordinary saddle standard, in the usual manner, as
by the set screw e.
For the seat of our saddle we place, first, a layer or more of felt H and cover
it with leather H', or other suitable material, which covers the entire top of the
saddle, including the pommel, as indicated in Fig. 1.
I do not desire to have it understood that I restrict myself to the particular form
of the loop I have shown in my drawings as other forms will answer the purpose
as well, but I do desire to form my saddle support or spring of a single piece of
spring wire substantially as shown, with the loop so formed that it will constitute
the support for the pommel of the saddle; as with this construction, while each
side of the saddle acts independent of the other, and the pommel, virtually,
independent of the spirals, they are so balanced that all parts of the saddle work
in unison, and each individual spiral, while working independent of the other, is so
balanced by the support C, the pommel supports B and the saddle covers F and H
that its vertical action is uniform, and readily adjusts itself to the weight and
position of the rider. Our sole object in coiling the spirals A outward with the
loop or pommel support B projecting from between them, instead of coiling them.
in with the loop projecting from the opposite direction is to give the greatest
possible degree of flexibility and ease of adjustment to the cover at the points b so
that it will readily adjust itself to the position of the leg of the operator when
working the pedals of a bicycle.
It will be seen that the spirals are supported directly upon their vertical center
and each acts independent of the other and that the pommel support acts equally
independent of the coils.
For the purpose of securing the covers H H' to the spirals so that it may be
readily removed. I form a pocket F to receive the end of the pommel and two-
pockets F F to receive the upper coils of the springs as shown in Fig. 1. By
this means if it is desired to remove the cover from the springs it is simply necessary

page_text: to loosen the set screws el e¹ and remove the springs from the supporting bar C
when they can be sprung together and removed with ease.
For the purpose of securing a more perfect adjustment of the cover at bb I depress
the pommel support or loop B slightly at these points.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In a bicycle saddle, two conical spiral springs formed of a single piece, the
loop between said springs projecting therefrom to form a support for the pommel of
the saddle, and the outer front portion of the upper coils of the springs slightly
depressed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a bicycle saddle, two conical spiral springs formed of a single piece and
the loop between said springs fitted to form a support for the pommel of the saddle,
standards projecting down from the springs, a supporting bar fitted to receive said
standards, and a clip to receive said bar and connect the saddle with the bicycle
standard, and a cover for said saddle, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
3. In a bicycle saddle, two spiral springs formed from a single piece of wire bent
to throw the spirals together side by side and the loop or bent in position to form
the support for the pommel of the saddle, a suitable support for said springs on the
bicycle; in combination with a pliable material, over the pommel of the saddle
and under the springs, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a bicycle saddle, conical spiral springs supported upon a cross bar secured
to the bicycle standard in combination with a cover consisting of leather above and
below with flexible material between and pockets formed in the lower surface to
receive the upper coils of the springs and the end of the pommel support
substantially as set forth.
Signed at Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.A.. January 23rd 1896.
ALEXANDER DODDS.
W. P. Thompson & Co.,
31, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.