Improvements in or relating to Velocipede Seats.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1895--Accepted, 15th Feb.,
1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Velocipede Seats.
We Colonel ELLSWORTH AMSDEN, WILBUR SHERIDAN BURNS, and
SHEPHERD PHILLIPS FROST all of the City of Grand Rapids, County of Kent.
and State of Michigan, U.S.A. Manufacturers 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 a new and improved seat, for bicycles, and the objects
of the invention are, first to so construct a seat and support the same on a suitable
support that the seat will rock or oscillate on the support, said seat being con-
structed in two parts, each part oscillating independently of the other; second, to
combine with the oscillating seat a spring whereby the same can be returned to.
normal position after being rocked from normal position.
These objects we accomplish by means of the mechanism illustrated in the
accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a seat and seat support constructed in accordance
with our invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of one section of the seat detached.
Figure 3 is a detached front view of the springs used to return the seat to
normal position.
Figure 4 is a detached view of the seat support, with provision for attaching the
same to the seat standard.
Figure 5 is an end view of the seat support.
Figure 6 is an end view of the seat detached.
Figure 7 is an end view of the seat placed upon its support, the dotted lines
showing the position of the seat when tilted or rocked from normal position.
Figure 8 is an end view of the spring attached to the seat support.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
A, A, represents the seat proper. In the example of our invention illustrated
in the drawings, each section of the seat is provided with lugs, shown by E, E,
which lugs are preferably made integral with the seat sections and provided with
boles for the reception of the seat supporting rod or bolt B. However in place
of these lugs any suitable attachment may be used which will allow the seat to
rock or oscillate upon its support. The seat support rod B is provided with a
central support F which is attached in the ordinary manner to the seat standard.
C represents a collar or other suitable device attached to the seat supporting rod B,
and adapted to retain and hold in place the springs D, said springs D, having a
bearing against the seat and being placed in suitable position to return the seat,
when relieved from pressure, to its normal position. F represents the central
support for attaching the seat to the seat standard.
Instead of using a single round opening in the lug E as shown, a ball bearing
or other anti-friction device may be used.
We have shown in the drawings our preferred form of supporting the seat made
in two sections, but other forms and devices for supporting said seats may be used
without departing from the spirit of our invention.
In a seat constructed as shown and described, the same being made in two parts,
when the foot is extended in the downward stroke of the pedal, that section of
the seat on the side of the extended foot will turn, allowing the rider to obtain the
full advantage of the long stroke, and the seat being adjusted to the position of the

page_text: body in making such stroke; while the other side of the seat will remain in its
normal position, and thus the seat made in two parts will adjust itself alternately
to one side and the other side as the rider alternately depresses or moves downward
the right or left pedal.
This construction not only allows the rider to move the feet and limbs with the
greatest freedom but also gives a longer and better stroke to the foot, and always
adapts itself to the position of the body.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a bicycle seat, the combination of two sections supported in a suitable
manner, each section adapted to oscillate or rock independently of the other section,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. In a bicycle seat, the combination of two parts adapted to oscillate indepen-
dently, and a spring with each section adapted to return the section to normal
position, substantially as described.
3. In combination with a bicycle seat made in two sections, a seat support,
suitable means for attaching said seat support to the seat standard, and means for
allowing each section of the seat to oscillate independently of the other section,
substantially as described.
Dated this 5th day of December 1895.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agents to the Applicants.