US2099503A - Saddle and method of making the same - Google Patents

Description

NGV. 16, 1937. w s'w 2,099,503

SADDLE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Filed April 50, 1936 Earle has we w Patented Nov. 16, 1937 PATENT OFFICE SADDLE AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Earl W. Swett, Alma, Mich., assignor to The Lobdell-Emery Manufacturing Company,

Alma,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application April 30, 1936, Serial No. 77,282 1 Claim. (or. 155-523) The present invention relates to saddles for cycles, such as bicycles and motorcycles, and its principal object is'to provide an improved type r of saddle embodying a rigid metallic seating member having a covering of leather or other suitable material, and an improved method or process for securing the covering of sheet mate-' rial to the metallic base of the seating member.

It has heretofore been suggested that cycle saddles might advantageously be made by forming of relatively thick sheet metal the necessarily stiff and rigid supporting member upon which the rider of the cycle is to be seated, which member is in turn to be secured to the cycle itself by suitable means. Such metallic seating members may be conveniently and economically formed of sheet metal by pressing operations and have proven to be eminently practical and successful in use, as well as inexpensive to construct.

Naturally the metal used in the fabrication of the seating member must be of substantial thickness in order that the seating member shall maintain its shape when in use and carrying the weight of a heavy rider. The use of such heavy gauge metal, however, makes it diflicult to adequately secure thereto the usual covering of sheet material, such as natural or artificial leather or fabric, and it is the purpose of the present invention to provide a simple method by which this can be readily and inexpensively done.

Inasmuch as the metal employed in the fabrication of the seating member proper is of such thick gauge that no ordinary sewing or stitching apparatus can be used to sew the marginal edges of the fabric covering to the edges of the seating member, and as furthermore it is highly undesirable to punch holes as a preliminary step along the margins of the seating member through which stitches may subsequently be passed, it is necessary, if the ordinary stitching operation is to be carried out in securing the covering upon the seating member, to employ a different method or process of attachment. In accordance with the present invention an improved process for the attainment of this object is provided.

This process includes the step of fastening, preferably by welding, to the inner surface of the depending skirt of the seating member, a second metallic member in the form of a strip, this member or strip overlapping the free edge of the seating member and having a portion which projects outwardly beyond this edge. The added strip or member is thin as compared with the thickness of the seating member proper and is of such composition as well as thickness that it may be readily penetrated by the needle of an ordinary sewing or stitching apparatus of the type adapted for use in the sewing or stitching of materials such as leather, heavy fabrics or the like. After the application of this relatively thin strip to the relatively thick seating member, any suitable type of natural or artificial leather or fabric, cover may be placed over the seating member and the edges of this covering layer stitched or sewn to the projecting edge of the thin metallic strip previously secured to the seating member. The completed saddle presents an attractive appearance and is very durable in use while at the same time the method pursued in its fabrication, as above set forth, is simple and inexpensive to 15 carry out.

In the accompanying drawing one view shows the completed saddle and other views the seating member and added strip, these members being illustrated singly and after being united. 20

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the metallic seating member;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the strip which is to be afiixed thereto;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the seating mem- 25 ber after the strip has been attached, partly broken away;

Figure 4' is a side elevation of the completed saddle showing the cover and cushioning means applied to the seating member and the securing 30 stitches as applied to the cover;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section through the saddle edge, showing the means for attaching the cover; and

Figure 6 is a section through portion of a saddle construction embodying a slightly different form of added metallic strip.

The seating member H], as has been before pointed out, is formed of sheet metal, being pressed into the shape shown in Figure 1 between 40 suitable dies. The metal of which the seating member is fabricated is preferably mild steel but of such thickness as to insure that the resulting structure has the requisite stiffness and strength. It will be appreciated that seating 45 member I0 will be affixed to a cycle, the usual means for attachment to the cycle including a spring construction secured to the seating mem- I ber, and a longitudinally extending reach member beneath the seating member, which reach 50 member is attached at one point to a saddle post. The seating member must be rigid and stiff even under the weight of the heaviest rider and the minimum thickness of the sheet metal which can be employed in its fabrication is such that no 55 tively thin metallic strip II, this strip being secured, by welding or otherwise, but preferably by welding, to the inner surface of the seating member ID in such a way as to overlap this edge and project outwardly therefrom a slight distance as shown in Figure 3. The added strip II is of such character and thickness as to permit the penetration of an ordinary sewing machine needle of the type employed in the stitching of leather or heavy fabrics. After the strip II has been assembled to the seating member [0 the covering sheet I2 of leather or like material is placed over the seating member, an intermediate layer of cushioning material I3, such as rubber, being interposed if desired, and the edge of the cover l2 brought into close relationship to the projecting edge of the strip ll, preferably being turned around the outer edge of strip I, asshown in Figure 4. The saddle may then be placed upon the ordinary sewing machine of heavy type and the sewing or stitching operation carried out, a series of stitches being indicated at M in Figure 4. The saddle is then ready for use. The cushioning means, reach member, etc. may be attached to the seating member I0 either before or after the application of the cover, as may be found most convenient.

If desired the added strip may be formed with 7 an offset as shown in the fragmentary sectional Figure 6 in order that the outer surface of the added strip may comprise a smooth continuation of the outer surface of the seating member II). It is apparent also that various other slight changes may be made in the process without ingthe stifiness and strength necessary to support the weight of a rider, a strip of metal secured to the said seating member and projecting beyond the free edge thereof, the projecting portion of said strip being relatively thin as compared with the seating member, and a covering of leather or the like extending over theseating member and having its edge stitched to said projecting portion of the strip.

EARL W. SWETT.

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