Improvements in and relating to Combined Saddles and Springs for Velocipedes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1886
Complete Left, 29th Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 1st Nov., 1887
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Combined Saddles and Springs for
Velocipedes.
We GEORGE TOWNSEND of Hunt End, near Redditch in the County of
Worcestershire, Manufacturer, and CHARLES ANDREW EDWARD TALBOT PALMER
of "Gairlochy" Handsworth Wood, Birmingham in the County of Staffordshire,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
Our invention relates to those saddles in which the seat cover is stretched on, and
supported by, an elastic frame which acts as a spring, so that the saddle and spring
are actually one, in combination. The seat cover we make of leather, woven wire,
perforated zinc, or other suitable material, or of a combination thereof. To the front
end of the cover is rivetted, or otherwise fixed, a hook which engages with a cross pin
carried by a double coil spring bracket forming part of the elastic frame, either fixed
to the neck of the machine by the usual bolt and nut, or clamped to the backbone by
a light clip. This coil spring bracket is preferably formed out of one piece of round
steel wire, bent in the middle of its length to form two equal lengths. The centre of
the length crosses over, and bears on, the backbone, and each end is then coiled and
carried back above the back bone, and terminates in one or more loops to receive the
cross pin, with which the hook on the front of the seat cover engages. By making
more than one loop, a means of adjusting the longitudinal position of the saddle is
provided. On to the rear part of the seat cover is rivetted, or otherwise fixed, a metal
plate shaped to fit the rear part of the cover. In this plate are formed-equidistant
on each side of the centre line of the seat cover-two sockets the holes of which are
in a plane with the seat. In these sockets fit the two ends of a curved spring which
supports the rear end of the seat cover, and forms the other part of the elastic frame.
The spring is preferably made out of one piece of round steel wire, which is bent in
the middle of its length to form two equal lengths. The centre of the length of the
steel wire rests in a transverse slot formed in the rear face of the top of a clip which
embraces the backbone, and is clamped thereto by bolts in the usual manner. The
ends of the spring are then carried forward with a gentle downward curve, and after
following the line of the backbone for a short distance, are curved backwards by a

page_text: onds are brought to the
The ends are then bent
sharp curve; and then by a bold curve forwards again the
proper height for supporting the rear end of the seat cover.
sharply backwards to enter the sockets formed on, or in, the plate fixed to the rear of
the seat cover. Where the rear spring doubles back from the backbone, it is supported
by a cross piece which bears on the backbone. This cross piece may be made
adjustable with respect to the spring if desired.
It will be seen that this construction provides a ready means for detaching the seat
cover from the spring frame when desired, as by pressing the cover forwards the
elasticity of the rear spring will allow it to give sufficiently to permit the hook on the
front of the cover being unshipped from the pin with which it engages.
Dated this 30th day of December 1886
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, 71, & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Combined Saddles and Springs for
Velocipedes.
We, GEORGE TOWNSEND of Hunt End, near Redditch in the county of
Worcestershire, Manufacturer, and CHARLES ANDREW EDWARD TALBOT PALMER
of "Gairlochy" Handsworth Wood, Birmingham in the county of Staffordshire,
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:-
Our invention relates to those saddles in which the seat cover is stretched on, and
supported by, a double elastic frame which acts as a spring, so that the saddle and
spring are actually one, in combination. The seat cover we make of leather, woven
wire, perforated zinc, or other suitable material, or of a combination thereof. To the
front end of the cover is rivetted, or otherwise fixed, a hook which engages either with
a cross pin carried by a double coil spring bracket forming the front part of the
clastic frame, or with eyes formed theroon. The coil spring bracket is either fixed to
the neck of the machine by the usual bolt and nut, or is clamped to the backbone by
a light clip. The coil spring bracket is preferably formed out of one piece of round
steel wire, bent in the middle of its length to form two equal lengths. The centre of
the length crosses over and bears on the backbone, and each end is then coiled and
carried upwards and backwards above the backbone, and terminates in one or more
eyes or loops to receive the cross pin with which the hook on the front of the seat
cover engages, or to receive the hook direct. By making more than one eye or loop
on each side of the spring bracket a means of adjusting the longitudinal position of
the saddle is provided, in case the spring bracket is fixed to the neck of the backbone.
On to the rear part of the seat cover is rivetted, or otherwise fixed a narrow cantle
plate shaped to fix the rear part of the cover. In this plate are formed equidistant
on each side of the centre of the seat cover-two sockets the holes of which are in a
plane with the seat. In these sockets are fixed the two ends of a curved spring which
supports the rear end of the seat cover and forms the other part of the double elastic
frame. This spring is preferably made out of one piece of round steel wire, which is
bent in the middle of its length to form two equal lengths. The centre of the length
of the steel wire rests in a transverse slot formed in the vertical face of the top half of
a clip which embraces the backbone and is clamped thereto by bolts in the usual
manner. The ends of the spring are then carried forward on each side of the back-
bone with a gentle downward curve and after following the line of the backbone for a
short distance, are curved backwards by a sharp curve and then upwards and forwards
to the level of the rear of the saddle by a bold curve. The ends of the spring are then
bent sharply backwards to enter the sockets formed on, or in, the cantle plate fixed to

page_text: the seat cover. Where the rear spring doubles back from the backbone it is supported
by a cross bar or piece which bears on the backbone, this bar may be made adjustable
with respect to the spring so that the plane of the seat cover may be varied.
In order that our invention may be fully understood we will more particularly
describe it making reference to the accompanying drawings throughout the several
views of which similar parts aro marked with like letters of reference.
Figure 1 Sheet No. 1 is a side elevation of the combined saddle and spring as
applied to a bicycle. Figure 2 Sheet No. 1 is a plan of the front coil spring bracket.
Figure 3 Sheet No. 1 is a plan of the double detaching hook. Figure 4 Sheet No. 2
is a plan of the rear spring and cantle plate. Figure 5 Sheet No. 2 is an elevation of
a modified form of back spring. Figure 6 Sheet No. 2 is a plan thereof, and
Figure 7 Sheet No. 2 is an end elevation of the clip for supporting the back spring.
Referring to these figures A designates the seat cover having fixed to its forward
end a hook a which engages with a pin b carried by eyes 61, 61 etc. formed on the
spring bracket B bolted to the neck of the backbone X by a bolt in the usual
manner. To the rear end of the seat cover A is rivetted or otherwise fixed on the
underside thereof, a cantle plate A having two sockets a¹, a¹, formed therein, to
receive the ends of the spring (the lower extremity of which, where it crosses the
backbone, rests in a slot d formed in a clip D fixed to the backbone X by bolts and
nuts, in the well known manner. designates the cross bar connecting the
two sides of the spring C, an 1 forming a support therefor. The cross bar (may be
either fixed to the spring C or may be made adjustable therewith by being mounted
loosely thereon and locked in any desired position by means of set screws or equivalent.
devices, to vary the height of the rear part of the saddle.
Instead of using the cross piece C₁ we sometimes cross each side of the spring C
over the backbone just before it doubles back to commence the bold curve which
carries it rearwards and upwards, as illustrated by Figures 5 and 6 Sheet No. 2 of
the accompanying drawings. This same view also shows an alternative construction
of the spring C which is given one coil on each side as it rises from the backbone to
the cantle plate. We sometimes also find it more convenient to dispense with the
pin b supported by the spring bracket B, and instead of the horizontal hook a to use
a transverse double hook a as shown by Figure 3 Sheet No. 1 of the accompanying
drawings. This hook engages with the eyes 1, 6¹ etc. formed on the spring bracket B,
the clasticity of the arms of the double hook a ensuring its firm grip. The
longitudinal position of the seat may be varied by engaging the hook a with either
pair of the eyes 61, 6¹ etc. on the spring bracket B.
In applying our invention to tricycles and other velocipedes in which the seat is
supported on an adjustable pillar, we provide a suitable foundation plate to carry the
spring bracket B and the spring C, and so take the place of the backbone.
It will be seen that this construction of saddle and spring provides a ready means of
detaching the seat cover and the rear part of the spring frame from the frame of the
machine, which it is found convenient to do for various purposes, as by simply pulling
forward the cover, or pressing forward the rear spring, its elasticity will allow it to
give sufficiently to permit the hook on the front of the cover to be unshipped from the
spring bracket with which it engages, when the cover and rear spring can be removed
from the backbone by disengaging the spring from the clip.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
1. In a velocipede saddle consisting essentially of a flexible seat suspended and
supported by two independant spring brackets, the construction and arrangement of
the spring bracket supporting the rear end of the saddle, as and for the purpose set
forth.
2. In a velocipede saddle consisting essentially of a flexible seat suspended and
supported by two independent spring brackets, the construction and arrangement of
the spring bracket supporting the front end of the seat and providing for a
longitudinal adjustment thereof, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 3. In a velocipede consisting of a piece of leather or other suitable flexible material
stretched between and supported by two independent springs, the adjustable cross bar
on the rear spring for supporting and adjusting the height of the rear end of the
saddle as herein before set forth.
4. In a velocipede saddle consisting of a flexible seat supported by and between,
two independant elastic frames, the combination with the bifurcated spring C, of the
cross bar C and the slotted clip D, all arranged and operating as and for the purpose
hereinbefore set forth.
5. In a combined saddle and spring for velocipedes, the combination of the seat A,
the coil spring bracket B having a series of eyes or loops b³, b¹ etc. formed thereon,
the hook a, the rear supporting spring C, the cantle plate A¹ fixed to the rear of the
seat cover A, the cross bar C, and the clip D having a transverse slot d in its vertical
face, all combined, arranged, and operating, as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a combined and spring and saddle for velocipedes, the construction and
arrangement of the various parts as hereinbefore set forth, whereby the seat and rear
supporting spring can be together instantly detached from, or attached to, the frame
of the machine.
008
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambors,
70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.