Improvements in or relating to Seats or Saddles for Velocipedes and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
· Improvements in or relating to Seats or Saddles for Velocipedes
and the like.
I, FRANCIS GEORGE ARCHIBALD WIEHE, of Littlebourne Lodge, Sandgate, in the
County of Kent, Lieutenant Colonel, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
My invention relates to seats or saddles for velocipedes and the like and has for
its objects to provide a natural, safe and comfortable support which shall not
press on the perineum and sciatic nerves and which shall allow free use of the
legs in pedalling.
To attain my objects I employ a frame somewhat in the shape of an anchor.
This frame may be constructed of metal or other suitable material, but I prefer
to construct it principally of wood, adding metal strengthening pieces on the under-
side; and the ends of the sides or flukes may be connected to the central shaft
by metal supports, depressed so as not to interfere with the yielding anterior
edge and foundation hereinafter referred to. The fore part of the shaft forms a
narrow peak for the saddle and is preferably curved downwards towards the end,
or it may be set down to a lower level than the frame proper. To the underside
of the frame proper is secured a foundation sheet of leather or the like. The
anterior edge of the foundation is preferably somewhat convex, the.centre reaching
a little further forward than the sides. The said edge may be strengthened, if
desired, by a separate strip of leather shrunk on wet on the underside thereof and
secured with it to the frame, or by a strip of spring steel or by other suitable
means, but the yielding nature of the said edge should not be destroyed. The
foundation is secured to the shaft at the apex of the convex anterior edge and to
the ends of the sides of the frame; also along the centre line, as well as around
the back and sides. The peak may be terminated at or about the point where the
apex of the convex anterior edge of the foundation is attached.
On the foundation I build up two raised cushions adapted to support the tuber-
osities of the ischia. These cushions may be constructed in any suitable way.
For instance, I may insert a strip of thick felt on edge around each hollow in the
frame against the shaft, back and sides or flukes and continue the same along the
before mentioned anterior edge. On this wall of felt 1 lay a convex disc of felt
having chamfered edges, and I stuff the hollow enclosed by the felt and foundation
with horsehair or the like. A cover of thin leather or other suitable material is
secured over the whole upper surface of the saddle, and is held down along the
centre between the cushions. A layer of non-conducting material may be inter-
posed between the cover and cushions, if desired. Rubber cushions either, solid,
spongy, hollow or inflated or metal springs, in spiral or other form, may be used
in combination, with or instead of the felt and horsehair. The foundation yields to
a certain extent along each side of the centre line, the anterior edges of the cushion
vield also, while, the pressure of the weight of the body does not cause the root

page_text: of the peak (which I make specially narrow) to widen as is the case with so many
saddles at present in use, so that I quite avoid injurious pressure on the inside of
the thighs. And the cushions rising considerably above the level of the frame
prevent any pressure on or contact with the perineum.
The saddle may be mounted on three spiral springs or other elastic supports
as desired.
A transverse metal spring may be substituted for or used in conjunction with the
leather or other foundation and other modifications may be made without exceed-
ing the fair scope of my invention.
T11: 141.
1000
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18, Hertford Street; Coventry,
75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Seats or Saddles for Velocipedes
and the like.
I, FRANCIS GEORGE ARCHIBALD WIEDE, of Littlebourne Lodge, Sandgate, in the
County of Kent, Lieutenant Colonel, de hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to seats or saddles for velocipedes and the like and has for
its objects to provide a natural, safe and comfortable support which shall not
press on the perineum and sciatic nerves and which shall allow free use of the
legs in pedalling.
And in order that my invention may be properly understood I will describe the
same with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved saddle.
Figure 2 is a plan and Figure 3 is an inverted plan of the same.
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the line - in Fig. 2 and shows two modi-
fications in detail.
Like numerals refer to like parts in all the views.
In carrying out my invention I employ a frame 2 somewhat in the shape of an
anchor. This frame may be constructed of metal or other suitable material of suit-
able section, but I prefer to construct it principally of sound wood such as ash,
adding metal strengthening pieces, preferably in the form of a plate 3, on the
underside according to requirements. The ends of the sides or flukes 4 may be
connected to the central shaft 5 by metal supports, depressed so as not to interfere
with the yielding anterior edge and foundation hereinafter referred to, but in
practice I do not find these necessary. The fore part of the shaft forms a narrow
peak 6 for the saddle and is preferably curved downwards beyond the point of
attachment (10) of the front spring or support, as shown; or it may be set down
to a lower level than the frame proper; or such peak may consist of a separate
piece of metal attached to the under part of the wooden frame.
To the underside of the frame 2 is secured a foundation sheet 7, of leather, thin
spring steel, woven wire or the like. The anterior edge 8 of the foundation is pre-
ferably somewhat convex, the centre 9 reaching a little further forward than the
sides. The said edge S may be strengthened, if desired, by a separate strip of

page_text: leather shrunk on wet on the under side thereof and secured with it to the frame,
or by a strip of spring steel or by other suitable means, but this is not necessary
and in no case should the yielding nature of the said edge 8 be destroyed. The
foundation is secured to the shaft 5 at the apex 9 of the convex anterior edge and
to the ends of the sides 4 of the frame; also along the centre line, as well as
around the back and sides. I find it best to continue the peak beyond the point
of attachment 10 of the front spring or support, which point 10 is in front of that
at which the apex 9 of the edge 8 of the foundation is attached.
"
On the foundation 7 I build up two raised cushions 13 adapted to support the
tuberosities of the ischia. These cushions may be constructed in any suitable
way. For instance, I may insert in each hollow 14 of the frame a pad 15 of felt,
about " thick cut to the contour of the hollow and in front projecting about
beyond the anterior edge of the foundation 7. I make a horizontal incision in
each felt pad at about " from the upper surface entering from the back and
extending to within about " of the other edges. In each pocket so formed I
stuff about a quarter of an ounce of good curled horsehair or other suitable soft
padding material 17 and near the incision I insert a little wool to keep the hair
or the like in place. The front (19) and inner (20) edges of the felt pads are
well sloped off.
A sheet of felt 21, about 4" to " thick, may be secured over the seat of the
frame and over the pads 15 (sec left side of Fig. 4), or instead of or in addition
to this, a sheet of felt 22 may be cut to the shape of the frame with apertures
to receive the pads and be secured to the frame beyond the pads to within an inch
of the centre line, on either side thereof (see right side of Fig. 4). In the latter
case a separate strip of felt 23 is laid along the centre of the frame, extending
to the end of the peak 6 round which the upper edges of the strip 23 are well
chamfered off.
:
A cover 24 of thin leather or other suitable material is secured over the whole
upper surface of the saddle and is fixed down to the edges or under part of the
frame, round the peak, and along the centre, by small brass brads 25 or otherwise.
The leather cover 24 is secured in front by temporary fastenings, such as paper
fasteners 26 passed through the cover 24 and foundation i, so that the pads 15
may be readily got at from the front if and when required. A strip of leather 27
is held down by screws or brads 28 passing into the frame 2 along the centre of
the saddle between the pads 15 to ensure the depression of this part and the
sloping of the inner edges 20 of the cushions, so that their inward bulging is ren-
dered impossible. This strip 27 is fixed in place after the cover has been secured
round the edges. A thin layer of non-conducting material 29, such as rubber or
like composition or brown paper, is preferably interposed between the cover 24
and cushions 15. Cushions of rubber or like composition or other non-conducting
material either solid, spongy, hollow or inflated, or metal springs in spiral or
other form, may be used in combination with or instead of the felt pads and horse-
hair or instead of the upper layer of felt or in conjunction therewith. The
foundation 7 yields to a certain extent along each side of the centre line, at the
anterior elges 8 and in the middle of the hollow 14, the anterior edges and centres
of the cushions 15 yield also, while the pressure of the weight of the body does
not cause the root of the peak (which I make specially narrow) to widen, as is the
case with so many saddles at present in use; so that I quite avoid injurious pres-
sure on the inside of the thighs. And the cushions 15 rising considerably above
the level of the frame 2 prevent any pressure on or contact with the perineum, while
the shape of the anterior edge 8 permits the thighs to move freely and naturally
in pedalling, without shifting the position of the ischial tuberosities on the
cushions, if the saddle be properly adjusted. The said anterior edge S affords
points of resistance from which the rider can exert his force with increased effect
in forward pedalling. The saddle may be mounted on three spiral springs or
other vibration absorbing supports, as desired, and on a clip adapted to permit of
the peak being depressed as required.

page_text: The saddle above described while providing a yielding support for the ischial
tuberosities and legs is rigid fore and aft and has a narrow root to the peak-an
advantageous constructional combination the advantages of which have not, I
believe, been previously obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
is:
-
1. In a velocipede seat or saddle, mounting pads or cushions on a foundation
suspended below the anchor-shaped or like frame and having a yielding anterior
edge.
2. A velocipede seat or saddle comprising a frame of anchor or like shape, a
foundation suspended below the said frame, cushions mounted on the said founda-
tion projecting through the hollows of the frame and above the surface thereof, a
central groove between the cushions, and a narrow, depressed peak, so that the
said seat or saddle provides a yielding support for the tuberosities of the ischia and
legs, is rigid fore and aft and has a narrow root to the peak, substantially, as set
forth.