Improved Support for Cycle Saddles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug.,
1899
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1900-Accepted, 16th June, 1900
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improved Support for Cycle Saddles.
We, PHILIP MAHONEY, of 3, Frog Lane, Saint Augustine's, Bristol, Fitter,
and ARTHUR MARSHALL HUNT, of 9, Devonshire Road, Bishopston, Bristol,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in an improved elastic or resilient support for cycle
saddles, affording increased ease and comfort in riding.
According to this invention the seat pillar or saddle support carries a flexible
pneumatic cushion on which rides an adjustable carriage on the upper part of
which the saddle is situated. The carriage is furnished with flanges formed
to clip on to the upper portion of the aforesaid cushion. The pneumatic cushion
consists of an air-tight chamber or bag of indiarubber having an outer covering
of canvas or of canvas and rubber or of other suitable material The horizontal
limb of the seat pillar or saddle support is shaped to receive the cushion and
carries a valve for inflation and deflation of the cushion. The outer covering
of the cushion is ridged or has longitudinal ribs provided on its upper portion.
The flanges of the adjustable carriage take over the ridges or ribs of the outer
covering and so clip firmly on the cushion. The adjustable carriage bearing
on the top of the cushion constitutes a resilient support to the saddle and rider.
The degree of resiliency or elasticity is controlled by the extent of inflation.
The carriage may be so arranged that the flanges become gripped under the
ribs or ridges aforesaid as the cushion is inflated; the act of inflation causing the
bind. Or, the carriage may be held in place on the cushion by clamping screws
or the like.
Instead of consisting of an inner chamber with an outer covering, as above
set forth, the cushion may consist of a single chamber of india-rubber, and the
ribs or ridges for the carriage may be formed with the said chamber.
The ribs or longitudinal ridges aforesaid may be formed of or strengthened
by strips of steel or other suitable material attached to the casing or chamber.
To better enable the cushion to resist torsional strain the ribs or ridges may
be extended into sockets or recesses provided for them in the horizontal limb
of the pillar.
Dated this 12th day of August 1899.

page_text: 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;
This invention consists in an improved resilient support for cycle saddles which,
when so mounted, affords increased ease and comfort to riders.
According to this invention the horizontal limb commonly appertaining to
seat pins or saddle pillars of cycles is fitted with a flexible pneumatic cushion
on which rests a carriage or plate which, under one arrangement of this inven-
tion, is turned inwards at the lower edges to form claws which fit over longitudinal
ridges provided on the cushion aforesaid. From this carriage or plate, which
can be slid longitudinally, a screw pin or bolt extends upwards, and to this
pin or bolt the saddle is secured. The cushion consists of an air-tight chamber
or cylindrical bag which may be made of india-rubber only or may consist of
an internal bag of india-rubber having an outer covering of canvas or of canvas
and india-rubber. Or the cushion may be made of other suitable material. The
horizontal limb of the saddle pillar is shaped to receive the cushion which is
fitted with a valve for inflation and deflation.
As aforesaid, the carriage or plate carrying the pin or bolt to which the saddle
is secured can be slid along the ridges of the cushion and adjusted to any position
in the length of the cushion. The degree of tightness with which the plate grips
the cushion depends on the extent of inflation of the cushion. The grip tightens
as the inflation is increased.
According to a modification, the carriage or plate which grips on the cushion
is slotted, and the pin to which the saddle is secured can be slid horizontally
in the slot of the plate.
Under another arrangement, the carriage or plate carrying the pin or bolt
to which the saddle is secured is bolted to the cushion.
In another arrangement the carriage or plate is extended and passed at the
ends into sockets or recesses provided in the horizontal limb or cushion holder.
Horns or tongues are formed on the ends of the plate and these horns or tongues
project through slots provided in the horizontal limb or cushion holder. By
thus extending the plate into sockets and providing horns projecting through slots,
pitching fore-and-aft and rolling motions are restricted, whilst allowing easy
vertical movement.
According to yet another arrangement, the carriage or plate is of channel
section and is placed over a ridge or ridges formed on the cushion. The plate
is extended under the cushion holder, fitting loosely at the sides into the sockets
therein provided.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a side view of our improved
cycle saddle support as arranged according to one of the modes comprised in this
invention. Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line A, B, Fig. 1. The horizontal
arm a of the saddle pillar b is open at the sides so as to form a kind of shoe. It
contains a pneumatic cushion c which is an air-tight chamber or cylindrical bag.
The outer covering of the cushion c has ridges c¹ provided along each side equi-
distant or approximately equidistant from the longitudinal centre line of the
cushion top. On the cushion c is placed a carriage or plate the lower edges of
which are turned in to form claws which fit over the ridges c' aforesaid. A
pin e securely fixed to or formed in one piece with the plate d extends upwards.
It is screw-threaded from the top downwards to a suitable distance. To this pin
is secured the saddle which consequently rides on the resilient cushion c. But
the saddle can be secured to the carriage or plate d by other means than the
pin e.
It may be fitted in or secured to a bracket or jaw provided for it in the
plate d or secured to the plate. The plate d can be slid along on the ridges c¹.
A valve, of the kind usually employed for inflation and deflation of pneumatic
tyres is fitted to the arm a and communicates with the cushion c with is inflated

page_text: and deflated through the said valve. The grip by the plate d over the ridges c¹
of the cushion tightens as the inflation of the cushion is increased.
Fig. 3 shows a side view of a modification of our cycle saddle support in which
the plate d is extended and the arm a is provided with recesses or sockets into
which the ridges of the cushion fit to better enable the cushion to resist torsional
strain. The plate d is slotted and the stem of the pin e to which the saddle is
secured is passed through the slot f in the plate d. Fig. 4 is a plan, Fig. 5 is
a cross section on the line A¹, B¹, Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a cross section on the
line C, D, Fig. 4. By thus extending the plate d rocking motion of the plate
is more restricted and a better grip is obtained of the ridges of the cushion.
Adjustment of the saddle longitudinally is made by means of the pin e in the
slot f.
At Fig. 7 is shown in side view a modification according to which ridges on
the cushion are dispensed with and the plate & carrying the pin e to which
the saddle is bolted is secured to the cushion c by bolts g passed through the
outer covering of the cushion and screwed up by nuts g¹. The plate d is not
adjustable along the cushion c. The casing a is adjustable in the shoe b¹ pro-
vided at the top of the pillar b. An adjusting pin h is provided under the shoe
which is slotted to admit of adjustment. Fig. 8 is a section on the line E, F,
Fig. 7.
A further modification is shown at Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12. Fig. 9 is a side
view, Fig. 10 a plan, Fig. 11 a section on the line G, H, Fig. 9, and Fig. 12 is
a section on the line I, J, Figs. 9 and 10. In this arrangement, the plate d
carrying the pin e to which the saddle is secured is extended below the upper
parts of the casing a, and horns d' formed on the plate d are brought out through
slots in the said casing as shown.
At Fig. 13 is shown in side view an arrangement in which the provision of
the ridges on the cushion c is retained. Fig. 14 is a plan, Fig. 15 a section on
the line K, L, Fig. 13, and Fig. 16 is a section on the line M, N, Fig. 13. In
this arrangement also the plate d fits over the ridges c¹ and is extended at the
ends into sockets provided in the casing a which latter is adjustable in the
shoe b' formed on the saddle pillar b. The plate fits loosely at the sides in the
sockets.
The modifications shown at Figs. 9 to 16 inclusive restrict pitching or fore-
and-aft motion and also control rolling or motion sideways, and so obviate severe
inflation of the cushion, thus allowing of easy vertical movement.
Figs. 13 to 15 illustrate a different attachment for the saddle consisting of
a jaw carried by the plate d and a pin e¹ for securing the saddle in the jaw.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is-
Support for cycle saddles comprising a pneumatic resilient cushion provided
at the top of a saddle pillar or like prop, and a carriage or plate as a base for
the saddle, the said plate bearing upon and held on the said cushion and carrying
a stem, pin, or bolt or other fastening device connecting the saddle to the said base
plate or casing, substantially as hereinabove described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of Mov 1000
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.