IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SADDLES OF BICYCLES OR SIMILAR VEHICLES, AND IN SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING DEVICES FOR THE SAME
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SADDLES OF BICYCLES OR SIMILAR VEHICLES, AND
IN SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING DEVICES FOR THE SAME." A communication
from abroad by Curtis H. Veeder, of Plattsburg, New York, United States
of America
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th March 1881.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE SADDLES OF BICYCLES
OR SIMILAR VEHICLES, AND IN SUPPORTING AND ADJUSTING DEVICES FOR THE
SAME." A communication from abroad by Curtis H. Veeder, of Plattsburg,
New York, United States of America.
This Invention relates mainly to a new construction of saddle for velocipedes
and the like, whereby the leathern part or seating surface is completely suspended
at or near the ends thereof, and at a considerable distance above the metallic
supporting part, and in such a manner as to have considerable vertical motion and
to constitute itself a part of the "spring" of the seat; the said Invention also
relates to a new construction of saddle-spring or yielding metallic supporting seat;
also to mechanism for stretching the leathern part and taking up the slack occa-
sioned by use; also to clamping devices for holding the seat to that part of the
backbone called the perch of a bicycle or other saddle-carrying machine; also to
devices for adjusting the saddle vertically and longitudinally with reference to such
clamping devices, and allowing for the endwise motion, also to certain modifications
Derematter described.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a portion of a bicycle-perch and one form of my improved seat
in vertical section through the centre thereof.
Figure 2 shows a plan or top view of the same.
Figure 3 shows a side elevation of a portion of the spring with the front take-up
device in the same, and

page_text: Figure 5 shows a segment of a bicycle-perch and another form of improved seat
in vertical section through the centre thereof.
Figure 6 shows a plan of the metallic supporting and spring part of the same
without the leathern seat part.
Figures 7 and 8 show plans of a modification in the construction of a part of the
same.
Figure 9 shows a segment of the perch and a part of the devices represented
in Figure 5 in elevation with a modification of the rear spring and part of the seat
in section.
Figure 10 shows in transverse section one form of clamping device hereinafter
described, and
Figure 11 shows a modification of the same.
Figure 12 shows another form of clamping device upon the perch, and
Figure 13 shows the said clamping device in side elevation.
Figure 14 shows in side elevation on a segment of the perch one form of my
adjusting mechanism.
Figure 15 shows in rear elevation with the backbone or perch and spring in
section another form of my adjusting mechanism and clamping device, and
Figures 16 and 17 show respectively in rear elevation and side elevation
another construction of forward and backward adjusting mechanism and clamping
device.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
A is the perch, and A² the neck or forward end of the same, to which the
spindle for the centres is attached; B is a spring-plate having at the front end the
enlarged part E for a take-up device, and curved upward at its rear end and held
to the perch near the centre by the clamps G; C is a seat which is to be of leather,
or other flexible material of the general form shown in Figure 2, and is secured to
the spring-plate B at its rear end by the rivets c or otherwise, and to the bent arm
extending laterally from the rear end of the spring B, and divided at its front end
by a slit c³ into the two parts C¹ at the point or the small front end of the seat,
which parts C' are fastened by rivets in the holes e¹, e', or otherwise to the roller E¹ ;
this roller has the diametrical slots e, e, and is placed with its central part in the
lug E or enlarged front end of the spring plate B; this lug E not only has a
horizontal cylindrical hole for the roller E¹ but is divided horizontally by the
slot e² so as to form the clamps E, E; the clamp E³ has a plain vertical bore and
the clamp Es a screw-threaded vertical bore adapted to receive the bolt e³, which
is threaded at its lower end; the flexible top C of the seat is secured to the rear of
the spring-plate B and its lateral arms by rivets at c, as above stated, and it is
fastened at its front end to the roller E¹; when the bolt e³ is loosened the roller E¹
may be revolved by means of a screw-driver applied in the slot e or otherwise until
the top C is considerably tightened, when the bolt es is tightened by turning it in
the threaded part Es and pressing the parts E and E³ so as to form a clamp upon
the roller E¹, which prevents it from turning and keeps the flexible seat Ċ from
slacking. As the material of which the seat is made stretches by use, the slack
can be at any time taken up in the same manner by loosening the bolt e³ and
turning the roller E' and then tightening the bolt e³. The spring-plate B is
adjusted to the perch A by means of the clamps G and bolt G¹, as shown in
Figure 10, for instance, where G, G, are metallic clamps having dove-tailed lips g¹, g',
at their upper end, the spring B resting against the bevelled edges b², 63; the said
clamps also have the curved fingers 9, 9, which extend partially around the perch A
and which are set and held in position by means of the bolt G¹ and the nuts 9³,
The flexible seat C may be made of one thickness, of strong leather or other flexible
material, or it may be made of two or more thicknesses of material (see Figure 5),
and the supporting parts may be modified, as shown, in the same Figure, where
instead of the spring-plate B, shown in Figure 1, there is a front spring plate B¹, to
which the point or forward end of the flexible seat C is attached by means of
rivets c, and which has bevelled edges for the clamps G held by a bolt G¹ and

page_text: nuts g³, g², as indicated in Figure 6; this plate B¹ instead of being curved
upwards at its rear end like the plate B in Figure 1 extends upward
nearly straight, or with a slight curvature downward, and is provided with a slot b¹
and a stop 6. Upon this front spring-plate B' is placed the rear spring-plate D
curved upwards at the back part in one, two, or more branches, as shown in
Figures 5,6,7,8, and 9; this plate D has the curved lateral arms d, d, or d', d', in which
are perforations c, c; to these arms the rear end of the flexible seat C is attached
by means of rivets c, c, passing through these perforations or otherwise. The rear
spring plate D may be curved in different forms, for instance, as shown in Figure 5,
or as shown at d³ in Figure 9, and is held and adjusted upon the front spring-
plate B¹ by means of the bolt F in the aforesaid slot 6¹ cut in the rear portion 6 of
the plate B¹. This bolt or adjusting clamp F is screw-threaded at its upper end
and is held in position by a nut f working upon it and if desired upon the washer f¹,
and at its other end it has the lug ƒ with shoulders extending on either side to the
slot b¹ on the lower side of the plate b, and is so constructed that when the bolt or
clamp F is passed upwards through the slot 6' and through the slot or hole d² in the
spring-plate D and is secured by the nut ƒ being screwed tightly upon the washer ƒ¹;
the spring-plates B¹ and D are held firmly together and operate substantially
in the same manner as the spring-plate B, shown in Figure I. The shouldered
lugf of the bolt or clamp F has a threaded bore or hole in which the adjusting
bolt F fits. This bolt F¹ is provided at one end with a rectangular part f³ to
which a wrench may be applied, and its threaded end f* operates against the
stop 63, so that when the plates B¹ and D are in position as described, and it is
desired to tighten or take up the slack in the flexible seat C, the nut fis loosened
and the adjusting bolt F¹ is turned so as to force the bolt or clamp F away from the
stop 6 and along the slot b' carrying with it the plate D until the seat is brought
to considerable tension, when the nut f may be tightened and the whole held firmly
together. This form of tension-mechanism is as effective as the mechanism above
described and enables a closer trimming of the seat to the perch. The object of
dividing the plate D into several branches, as at din Figure 7, is to give greater
flexibility and to allow of more rocking motion to the rear of the seat. I some-
times divide the front spring-plate B or B' into two branches, both uniting with
the enlargement E or at the point or front end of the saddle and also united near
the clamps G but spreading apart and being curved downward so as to give more
elasticity to the front plate and allow it to bend under the weight of the rider
down on either side of the perch A instead of above it; and it is obvious that by
this arrangement where no greater vertical motion of the seat is required than
when constructed, as in Figure 1, a closer build can be secured, that is to say, the
top of the seat can be brought nearer to the perch A. The modified form of
clamps G³, G³, shewn in Figure 11, admits of greater length above the perch
with no addition to the weight of metal as compared with the form shown in
Figure 10.
Figures 12 and 13 show another construction or form of clamping device in
which the clamps H¹, H³, are hinged at h², h³, by means of the rod h¹ to the base-
plate H, fastened to the spring-plate B by the rivets h, h, the said clamps H', H'
depending on each side of the perch A and being slotted at their lower end and
clamped tightly to the said perch by the bolt H.
K, in Figure 14, is a base-plate of metal on which are projections to serve as
hinges k³, to which are hinged the links or arms K, which at *, **, are hinged
to other arms K³ extending above the hinges k³ to the spring-plate B. These
arms K³ may be bent down from a metallic plate on which the spring-plate B rests
and to which it is held by means of a clip and upward projections k³, bolts k*, and
nut k. The plate K is secured to the perch by a clamp K', the nut K³, and nuts ³.
The object of this construction of supporting device for the spring-plate B is to
give it an upward angle with the perch A and a forward and backward motion
thereover.

page_text: In Figure 15 is represented another form of supporting device for the spring-
plate B, to which the latter is secured at the bevilled edges b², b², by means of the
catches O¹, 0', held by the projections o, o, from the supporting plate O and the
bolts of and nuts 06. This supporting plate O is held to a block or rider O*, having
at its lower projecting parts or sides the hinges o¹, o, to which are connected the
clamps 0, 0, which extend partially around the perch A and are secured thereto
by means of the bolt of and nuts o³, os, and to the upper projecting sides of the
block O', are hinged at o³, o², the links 03, 0³, depending therefrom and being
fastened at their lower ends to the hinges o',,o, to which are attached the
arms 0, 0, which project downward from and support the supporting plate O.
This construction of clamping and supporting device also allows a backward and
forward movement of the spring-plate and seat over the perch.
In Figures 16 and 17, M represents another form of supporting plate for the
spring-plate B, to which it is held by means of the bolts m³, nuts m¹, and washer
or plate m, and the hinges me, from which depend the links M³, M³, hinged at their
lower ends m6, me, to the adjusting side plates M². Each side plate M² contains a
slot m*, through which and through a bent clamp M³ passes a bolt M*, and which
by means of a nut m³ tightens the clamp M³, and holds the said plates. M'
within the limits of the slot m*, and at an angle with the perch A. This
contrivance admits the adjustment of the spring-plate B to any desired tilt or
angle with the perch, and allows a backward and forward motion by means of the
links M³, M³, so that the seat may be thrown forward if desired toward the head of
the bicycle, or thrown backward from it to change the position of the rider. In
all these forms the weight of the rider will keep the seat in a position to or from
the head; but in this form of device the springs m³, m³, are coiled around the rod m®,
and fastened at either end to the supporting plate M; and the links M³, M³, serve
to aid this adjustment by holding the supporting plate in its uppermost position,
so that the motion of the rider on the seat determines the forward or backward
position of the seat with respect to the head of the machine.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,-
First. The combination of the flexible seat and its supporting piece with the
means for taking up the slack or tightening the seat, substantially as set forth.
Second. The take-up mechanism, consisting of the roller E, the clamps E³, E³,
and the bolt es, in combination with the spring-plate and flexible seat, substantially
as herein set forth.
Third. A take-up device, consisting of the bolt or clamp F, the shoulders f³, and
nut fin combination with an adjusting bolt F', and spring-plates B¹ and D, slotted
and constructed substantially as herein set forth.
Fourth. The construction for the purpose specified of a spring-plate in two or
more parts, adjustable with reference to each other, so as to tighten the flexible seat
attached thereto, essentially as herein set forth.
Fifth. The improvements relating to the suspension of a seat to the perch of a
velocipede, consisting in constructing the said seat with a curvature from the
bottom upward toward the ends of the flexible part of the seat, and attaching it
with a clamp near its centre, substantially as set forth, and as shewn in the
Drawing.
Sixth. Clamping mechanism constructed and adapted for holding a spring to a
perch, and consisting of two or more clamps with dove-tailed portions at their
upper ends, curved portions at their lower ends, and a bolt between, substantially
as herein set forth, and as shewn in Figures 10 and 11 of the Drawing.
Seventh. A clamping device for a velocipede-spring, consisting of the plate H,
the clamps H³, H', the bolt H2, and the nuts h³, h³, with hinges, substantially as
set forth.
Eighth. The adjustable link-mechanism for supporting a velocipede-seat, and
constructed with the base-plate K, clamp K', links K', arms K³, and mechanism for

page_text: attaching the same to the perch and the spring-plate of the saddle, substantially as
set forth.
Ninth. The adjusting device for a velocipede seat, consisting of the supporting-
plate M, clamp M³, adjusting plate M', links M³, M³, and connecting mechanism
adapted to support and adjust the same upon the perch, and to connect it with the
spring-plate of the seat, substantially as set forth.
Tenth. In such a device for supporting and adjusting the velocipede-seat the
springs m³, arranged to operate substantially as set forth.
Eleventh. In a supporting and adjusting device for a bicycle-seat the plate O,
clamping device O¹, 0¹, arms 0ª, 0³, links O³, O³, block_04, clamps 0³, 0³, bolt 0º,
and connecting and adjusting.parts, substantially as set forth.
Twelfth. The improvements relating to constructing and suspending a velocipede-
seat, consisting in the arrangement of a flexible seat and one or more spring-plates
attached thereto at or near the ends, and so that the ends of the spring-plates to
which the flexible seat is attached are free, and the centre thereof is secured by
suitable mechanism to the perch, substantially as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.