Improvements in Bicycle Saddles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1897--Accepted, 18th Sept., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycle Saddles.
I, MARTIN LUTHER DEITZLER, of 631 South Front Street, Harrisburg, Dauphin
County, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Clerk in Holy Orders,
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:-
My invention relates to saddles for bicycles, and more particularly to a saddle
which is adjustable as to width, and a frame therefor, my object being to provide
a construction which is comfortable to the rider, is composed of but few parts,
and is readily adjusted. To these ends my invention consists in the various
matters hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective of the present saddle.
Figure 2 is a bottom view thereof.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the frame; and
Figure 4 is a detail of the clamp by which the seat is attached to the frame.
Referring, now, more particularly to these drawings, it will be seen that the
saddle comprises two parts, viz., a frame A and a seat B mounted thereon. This
frame is made of a single piece of wire or other similar material, and is so bent
that a tongue a, composed of parallel wires, is provided for attachment to the
bicycle frame, while, at the rear of said tongue, each of its sides enters into a
coil a', and then extends to form the rest proper for the seat, the coils thus
giving elasticity. From the coils each wire extends forwardly over the plane of
the tongue for a suitable distance, then extends outwardly at approximately right
angles, then backwardly and across the members near the coils, whereby an
approximately rectangular member a³ is provided upon each side of the frame
for the attachment of the seat. The inside wires of these rectangular members
are, owing to the coils a¹, spaced some distance from each other, whereby (the
seat being in two parts as below specified), an opening is formed in the center
of the saddle, thus relieving the rider from any undue and objectionable pressure.
Furthermore, the rear wire a³ rests upon the inside wires of the rectangular
members, and the rear of the seat is thereby supported.
The seat B is composed of two parts, each of which rests upon one of the
rectangular members aª of the frame, and is suitably secured thereto in such a
manner as to afford lateral adjustment.
In the present instance, this is effected through the clamps B', one of which is
attached to the under side of the seat at points near the corners of the rectangular
members. Each of these clamps comprises a bracket, having a tongue b, pro-
vided with openings or other suitable means by which it can be attached to the
seat, and a head 6, with an opening therethrough, for the passage of the rear
wire a³, of the frame. In this head is provided a threaded opening 62, in which
is seated a set screw, adapted to bear upon the wire a³, and thus retain the seat
in any position in which it may be set.
Of course, these clamps may be formed of a solid piece of metal, but in the

page_text: present instance they are shown as having the head open at one corner b³, and
the tongue formed of two pieces, one of which extends from the head above the
opening at the corner, and the other from the head below the opening at the
Thus, the clamp can be slipped over the wire a³, this wire passing
between the two parts of the tongue, and these two parts are then brought
together and fastened upon the seat.
corner.
It will be noticed that the clamps engage the wire a³ at points inside of
the side wires a, a, of the rectangular members for the support of the seat. In
this way, these clamps act as stops to limit the adjustment of the parts of the
seat, and thus preclude the possibility of moving the parts so far that they would
not be properly supported by the frame, and would consequently break.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present saddle is easily and in-
expensively manufactured of but few parts, which are readily made and assembled,
while, at the same time, the saddle is easily adjusted, and is comfortable to the
rider, this comfort being secured not only by reason of the two-part seat and the
space in the center of the frame, but also by reason of the frame being so con-
structed that it readily yields to adapt itself to any position which the leg of the
rider may assume.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A frame for velocipede seats, comprising the forwardly extending attaching
tongue, coils at opposite sides of the rear ends of the tongue, arms extending
forwardly from said coils parallel with each other and entirely disconnected from
end to end, and open horizontally extending seat-supports at the outer sides, the
said arms terminating in front of said coils, substantially as described.
2. A frame for bicycle seats, comprising a forwardly extending attaching
tongue formed of wire, or similar material, coils at opposite sides of the rear end
of said tongue, independent seat supports formed of wire or similar material, the
inner sides of said supports extending forwardly from the coils and having a
space between them, and a cross or binding wire or rod connecting the indepen-
dent seat-supports and adapted to rest upon the inner sides of said supports,
substantially as described.
3. The combination with the seat-supporting frame, comprising a forwardly-
extending attaching tongue, formed of wire or similar material, coils at opposite
sides of the rear end of said tongue, independent seat-supports formed of wire or
similar material, the inner sides of said supports extending forwardly from the
coils and having a space between them and a cross or binding wire or rod con-
necting the independent seat-supports and adapted to rest upon the inner sides
of said supports, and independent stats adjustably secured on said supports,
substantially as described.
4. A frame for bicycle seats, formed of a single length of wire to form the
horizontal attaching tongue a, terminating at the rear end of its two members
in the outwardly extending forwardly coiled springs a¹, a', the spaced parallel
forwardly projecting arms a³, as, extending from the upper members of said
coils, disconnected throughout their length, the wires at the front ends of said
arms a being bent outwardly, then rearwardly, as at a', a', and then inwardly
toward and across the arms a³ in front of the coils, as at a³, substantially as
described.
5. The combination with the seat support, having a horizontal attaching tongue,
oppositely projecting coil springs integral with the rear ends thereof, and from the
upper ends of the outer coils of which project the spaced parallel, disconnected
members or arms a³, as, and the open rectangular seat supports at the outer sides
of the arms a, a, and terminating in front of said coils, of the separate and
independent seats provided on their under sides with front and rear adjusting

page_text: clamps or retainers engaging the front and rear members of the respective seat
supports, whereby the width of the unobstructed open space in the middle of the
seat may be varied, substantially as described.
6. A frame for velocipede seats, comprising a forwardly extending attaching
tongue, coils at opposite sides of the rear end of the tongue, arms extending
forwardly from the upper ends of said coils parallel with each other and entirely
disconnected from end to end, open horizontally extending seat supports at the
outer sides of said arms terminating in front of said coils, and a separate and
independent seat on each of said supports, each seat being provided on its under
side with front and rear clamps sliding on the front and rear bars or sections of
said supports, and set screws passing through said clamps into engagement with
the bars or sections, substantially as described.
7. A frame for velocipede seats, comprising an attaching tongue, and two in-
dependent spring seat supports upon opposite sides of the central line of the tongue,
and a continuous cross or binding wire extending between said supports and
attached to and forming a part of said seat supports, cach seat being adjustably
clamped upon said continuous cross or binding wire, substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of February 1897.
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.