Improvements in Saddles for Velocipedes
Year: 1897

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"Improvements in Saddles for Velocipedes."
I, ADOLF FREIHERR VON ODKOLEK, of I Rathhausstrasse No. 5. Vienna, Austria, Officer
in the Imperial Cavalry, 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 has for its object an improved construction of saddle, whereby the
parts of the human body between the legs are relieved of all pressure and are
consequently in no way injuriously affected. This is effected by constructing the
front part of the saddle of an extended loop-shape which is pivotally connected at
the front end with the spring support, and the sides of which loop are held
at the required distance apart by a curved transverse distance piece, the loop being
connected with the rear part of the saddle frame either directly or through the
longitudinally slotted saddle covering.
My suid improved construction of saddles is shewn in several modifications on the
accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 shews a longitudinal section of one construction,
Fig. 1a plan, and
Fig. 1a cross section at X X, Fig. 1^.
The front part of the saddle consists of an elongated loop A which is pivotally
connected at the front end with a spring support Fig. 1 of any suitable known
kind, by means of a looped or eye piece a, while the rear ends of the loop are held at
the required distance apart by a downwardly curved distance piece a¹. To the
loop A is fixed by means of rivets c, the saddle cover 13, which, in order to enable it to be
properly stretched, is rivetted to the saddle frame-plate 1) supported by the rear
part of the spring support. The saddle covering B has, in the longitudinal
direction of the loop A a long slot E, whereby the free space formed by the loop A
is extended rearwards in such manner that the parts between the legs of the rider are
quite freed from injurious pressure or concussive action.
In the construction shewn at Fig. 1, the loop A is made of rigid material, whereas
in the construction shewn at Fig. 2, it is assumed to be made of twisted wires or
wire cable which may be covered with leather if desired, and to the ends of which
are fixed sockets C for attachment of the saddle covering.
These sockets can also be connected together by a downward curved distance
piece, similar to a, Fig. 1.
The saddle frame plate 1) may also advantageously be made with a downward
curved part a Fig. 2, so that the free space E extends along the entire saddle
dividing the saddle covering B into two halves.
Figs. 3, 3 and 3" shew respectively a longitudinal section, a plan, and a cross
section at Y Fig. 3 of a construction in which the loop A is connected directly tothe
saddle frame plate D, the saddle covering B being either dispensed with, or provided
as in the previous constructions.
In this case, the loop A is formed of an elastic flexible material, such as leather,
caoutchouc, or the like, and its ends are fixed in sockets & of the saddle frame plate,

page_text: a suitably placed curved distance piece a being provided for holding the sides of the
loop at the proper distance apart.
Having now particularly described and
ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A saddle for velocipedes the front part of which consists of a loop A which
relieves the middle parts of the body of all pressure, and which is secured to the
rear or sent part of the saddle, substantially as described.
2. In a saddle such as is referred to in the first claim the combination with the
loop A of a curved distance piece a, a saddle covering B having a longitudinal
slot E, and a saddle frame plate D, the front end of the loop A being connected by a
pivotal device a with the spring support, which is also connected directly with
the rear end of the saddle frame D, substantially as described with reference to
Figs. 1, 1, 1 of the drawings.
3. In n saddle such as is referred to in the first clain constructing the loop A
of bent wire cable, which may be covered with leather substantially as described
with reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings.
4. In a saddle such as is referred to in the first claim, constructing the loop A
of elastic material held at the proper distance apart by a curved distance piece a³
and secured directly to the saddle frame D substantially as described with reference
to Figs. 3, 34, 3" of the drawings.