IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES
Year: 1886

page_text: I, WARREN LA FAYETTE FISH, of 67 Roseville Avenue, in the City of Newark,
County of Essex and State of New Jersey, United States of America, Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to secure increased ease in riding, to more readily
and accurately readjust the saddle upon the perch or backbone without expending
the time and care required by other allied devices, to secure increased strength
and durability, and a more certain and secure adjustment of parts, and to gain
other results and advantages some of which will be hereinafter given in detail.
The invention consists in the arrangements and combinations of parts sub-
stantially as will be hereinafter set forth and finally embodied in the clauses of
the claim.
Referring to the accompanying drawings in which like letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in each of the several figures, Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a
plan of the improved saddle in connection with the perch or back-bone of the
bicycle, Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same and Figure 3 is a bottom plan of
the seat of the saddle.
Figure 4, Sheet 2, is a detail plan showing the connection and arrangement of
the rear saddle-spring upon a seat or bearing piece attached to the back-bone or
other bearing of the vehicle.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a bearing in detail for the front saddle-spring.
Figure 6 is a view illustrating a cylindrical tool-box or bearing to be used in
connection with the rear spring.
Figure 7 is a plan of the preferred construction of the front spring. Figure 8 is
a sectional view of the seat or bearing plate for the rear spring. Figure 9 is a
sectional view of a hook to be used in connection with an eye formed from the
wire of the front spring, and Figure 10 is a view illustrating a modification in the
construction of the front spring and its bearings.
In said drawings, a indicates the back bone or perch of the bicycle or allied
vehicle, which is of any ordinary construction, being preferably curved over the
large front wheel of the vehicle or arranged or formed in any other way of
manner.

page_text: b is a saddle or seat which is of flexible material such as leather and is suspended
or stretched between front and rear springs c, d, although the front spring may be
dispensed with and the saddle be attached to some other fixture of the said back-
bone or other portion of the frame of the bicycle or tricycle.
The rear spring d, has its lower bearing or base resting on a seat e attached to
or formed on the back-bone, being preferably secured upon said backbone by a
clip f, and nuts f¹ by which the said seat is permanently arranged in place, that
is to say, it is not disturbed when the spring is adjusted in readjusting the saddle.
Said seat is grooved longitudinally on the underside to receive the back-bone,
the groove
el being curved longitudinally or concaved in conformity to the curve
in the backbone. By means of this construction, when the seat is placed in
position on the said back-bone or perch, said seat is prevented from turning
laterally on the curved back-bone as will be apparent.
The upper face or portion of the said seat is provided with suitable conformations
such as the abutments g, g¹, and stays i, i, between which the base of the spring
rests. These prevent the spring from working longitudinally in either 'direction
or laterally on the seat, and enable the spring, when arranged on said seat, to be
brought at once to a correct position without any care in adjusting.
The base h, of the spring, where the latter engages the above described seat, is
preferably held on said seat by a clamping plate which lies over said base as in
Figs. 2, 4 and 8. Said plate is held in place by a bolt or stud k, and nut 7, the
first of which preferably passes up through a perforation in the seat, the head
thereof being held in a recess formed in the underside of said seat. Said bolt
extends up through a perforation in the clamping plate and thus serves as a
pivotal bearing for said plate upon which the said plate may be turned to allow
the removal of the spring without entirely removing the nut. The nut serves as
one means for holding the clamping plate in place. In adjusting the spring d and
saddle attached thereto upon the said seat, the said saddle is first pulled as tight as
possible by the hand and the end of the base h, brought into engagement with the
forward abutment g which then serves as a fulcrum, the rear portions of the base
being raised from the seat. The said forward abutment g, also presents a positive
obstruction to the forward end of the base preventing it from slipping in its
bearings or working forward under the tension or forward pull of the saddle should
a clamping plate or device extending across the base be a little loose.
The clamping plate is then turned so as to cross the base and the nut is screwed
down, this action tending to give increased stiffness to the saddle and render it
more desirable for riding purposes.
The spring d is preferably of peculiar construction and produces peculiar effects
of movement of the saddle so that the action of the latter is more perfectly in
accord with the movement of the body and limbs of the rider in working the
treadle or cranks of the vehicle.
The wire forming said spring is first doubled as shown in Figure 4 to form the
base h. It is then bent to form coils h¹, h¹, the coils lying in a line so as to form a
cylindrical receptacle h which lies at right angles to the line of the perch or back
bone, to receive the cylindrical strengthening block h³ which serves to prevent the
wire of the spring from setting or being bent so as not to return to its proper
position.
Said block ho is preferably of hollow material covered with rubber or similar
elastic material to allow for and assist the spring action of the coil.
The block may be of solid rubber but is preferably hollow sheet metal with the
elastic covering described. In this form it may be and preferably is utilized as a
tool-box or receptacle for other articles.
The box may be of other construction and be placed in the receptacle h¹ and
serve to receive tools, etc. without departing from the invention.
The box in one of its forms is shown in detail in Figure 6 and in outline in
connection with the spring in Figure 4.

page_text: After forming the coils the portions h of the spring extend outwardly or
laterally and forwardly so as to obtain a wide separation of bearings and the ends
are then bent sharply or abruptly or are returned as at he to enter suitable
sockets m formed in the back-plate n of the saddle where the said ends are
preferably permanently fastened, though the tension of the flexible portion of the
said saddle would retain said ends in place.
The plate n holds the flexible portion of the seat in an expanded condition so as
to obtain suitable breadth of supporting surface and ease resulting therefrom.
Said plate is provided at its back edge with a depending perforated flange t, over
which the flexible portions are stretched and riveted in place, the rivets being thus
brought away from the top surface of the seat where they are liable to wear or
otherwise injure the clothing of the rider. Said plate is also provided with
forwardly projecting flanges o, o, with a recess p, between. These flanges serve
as rigid supports against which the body can brace in certain methods or stages of
riding, while the recess p, serves to prevent the plate from bearing upon the
terminal bone of the spine to the riders discomfort.
Between the plate n and the flexible portion of the seat is inserted suitable
padding 9, preferably of a very coarse grade of felting. By this the rider is
relieved of a too close contact with the metal plate.
The front spring c is carried by a bracket r, fastened to and projecting from the
upwardly bent and flattened portion 8, of the backbone.
Said bracket is provided with bifurcations t, t, which extend on each side of said
flattened portion and are fastened by means of a bolt or bolts u or other suitable
means. The seat of the bracket, which projects from the portion 8 at a point
considerably above the backbone to bring the spring up close to the line of the
flexible portion, may be braced by a leg v, which rests upon the backbone. The
said seat is preferably provided with two cylindrical sockets v³, Fig. 5 into which
the opposite ends of the front spring are secured.
By bringing the seat close to the flexible portion, the size of the spring may be
considerably reduced and increased stiffness obtained, the arrangement of parts
being in consequence more compact and sightly.
The spring c is provided with a loop or eye c¹ which may be and preferably is of
one piece with the spring as in Figure 7, though it may be of separate pieces as in
Figure 10. After forming the eye, the wire of the spring is bent into coils c³, c²,
terminating in backwardly extending c³, c³, which enter the cylindrical sockets v², v¹,
as shown in Figure 2.
Said loop or eye receives a hook w, arranged on the supporting straps w¹ w³ of the
flexible saddle and allows a ready detachment of parts. The eye and hook may be
transposed without affecting the invention claimed. Said hook may be provided
with an eye w³ through which the straps, w³ pass, the bar w³ of which is preferably
provided with a roller w³ to secure to the straps a greater freedom of movement.
The flexible portion of the saddle may be of any ordinary construction, the one
shown being preferred.
I have herein referred more particularly to the seat as resting upon the back-
bone of a bicycle, but I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself in any
way to such a combination as the seat may be formed upon or secured to other
perches or saddle supports in the bicycle or tricycle without departing from the .
invention. For example, in that class of bicycles represented by the one known in
the United States under the name of the "Star" bicycle, I may secure the seat
upon the usual saddle-supporting strap found therein.
I am aware that many changes of construction and arrangement of parts may
be made in connection with the other portions of the invention without departing
from the scope of the invention.
By the construction described, the saddle may be removed from the bicycle with
great ease and quickness by simply loosening the nut or its equivalent part, so
that the portion %, may be turned and the base h released, the whole being accom- .
plished without disturbing the seat e. A detachment is effected at the front spring
.

page_text: or the fore part of the saddle by simply unhooking the parts. When the saddle is
subsequently readjusted the guides or conformations in the seat cause the base h,
and the spring and saddle depending thereon for their positions, to enter into their
relative situations automatically or without any special care in securing the said
positions or situations as will be understood.
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, the combination of the saddle, a spring supporting the rear end
thereof, said spring having a forwardly extending base, a seat e having an abutment 9,
engaging the forward end of said base and a suitable plate extending across said
base, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. In combination, in a bicycle, the backbone or perch, a saddle spring having a
base, a seat secured to said backbone having suitable abutments or stays on the
upper face thereof to engage said base, a cross bar or plate j and a bolt and nut,
independent of the means for holding the seat in place on the perch, for holding
said cross bar in position, said parts being arranged and adapted to operate
substantially as set forth.
3. In a bicycle, the combination with the perch, saddle and rear spring, of a seat e
having its upper surface shaped to provide an abutment g, to engage the base of
said spring and prevent forward movement, and side stays to prevent or limit
lateral movement of said base, and a cross-bar, portion or plate j to extend across
said base to prevent or limit the uplifting of said base, all substantially as herein
set forth.
4. In a bicycle or similar vehicle the combination with a perch and saddle-spring
of a perforated seat, a pivotal bolt, a cross piece or plate, and a nut, said parts
being arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein set forth.
5. In a bicycle, or similar vehicle, the combination with the backbone and
saddle, of an intervening spring wire which is doubled as at h to form a base then
coiled as at h¹, h¹, then extended laterally and forwardly to secure wide bearings
as at h, h, and at the extremities returned as at h6, h6, substantially as set forth.
6. In a bicycle, the combination with the backbone having thereon a seat pro-
vided with abutments g, g, to prevent backward and forward longitudinal motion,
and stays to prevent lateral movement of the spring, a plate to hold said seat in
place, and a spring wire doubled as at h, coiled as at h¹, laterally and forwardly
projecting as at h* and returned as at hº, a plate to receive said returned portions,
and the flexible portions of the saddle secured to said plate, all said parts being
arranged and combined substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
7. In a bicycle, the combination with the saddle and spring having the back-
wardly turned upper ends, of a plate provided near the opposite ends with sockets
which extend toward the front and rear of said plate to engage the backwardly
turned extremities, substantially as set forth and shown.
8. In a bicycle, the rear plate for a flexible saddle having a depending flange at
the rear edge thereof to receive the edge of the flexible portions of said saddle and
forwardly projecting flanges with a recess between, said parts being arranged and
combined substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
9. In a bicycle, the supporting plate n having forwardly projecting flanges with
a recess between, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
10. In combination with the flexible portion of the seat of a bicycle, and the
rear spring thereof, of a rear plate seated on said spring and baving forwardly
projecting flanges with a central recess between, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
11. In combination in a bicycle with the flexible portions b, w, and an eye c¹
attached to the frame of the bicycle, a hook having a roller over which the said
flexible portion may be drawn, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 12. In combination with the perch a, a seat permanently formed or arranged
thereon, a spring having its bearings removably secured on said seat and capable
of being adjusted without disturbing said seat, and a flexible saddle carried by said
spring, said parts being arranged and combined substantially as set forth.
13. In combination with a suitable perch and a flexible saddle, a permanent seat
having a fulcrumal bearing such as the bearing g, and a spring having a base to
serve as a lever in producing or giving tension to the saddle, substantially as
set forth.
14. In combination with a perch, a seat provided with a fulcrumal bearing, a
spring having a base, a cross bar and a flexible saddle substantially as set forth.
15. In a bicycle, the combination with the saddle, of a spring having an elastic
block arranged within the coils thereof substantially as set forth.
16. In a bicycle, the combination with the flexible saddle, a spring having a
hollow block or box arranged within the coils thereof, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
17. In a bicycle, the combination with the back-bone or perch and the saddle, a
helical spring having a box provided with an elastic covering arranged in the coils
thereof substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
18. In combination with the backbone and rear saddle-spring, of a seat e grooved
longitudinally on the underside to receive said backbone, a clip fand nuts f¹ and a
plate which lies over the base of said spring, a stud k, and nut l, all said parts
being arranged and combined substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this twenty first day of June AD 1886 at Newark N T II Ċ