US2347093A - Saddle construction - Google Patents

Description

April 18, 1944. w, FAULHABER I 2,347,093

SADDLE CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 2 0, 195a 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y Y JP H .3 I jg; INVENTOR. v EULA/VD WHOM/136R ATTORNEY.

April 18, 1944.

R. w. FAULHABE R SADDLE CONSTRUCTION"- Filed Jan; 20, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. POAAALD w- FA 01 H1435]? BY 8' ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 18, 1944 SADDLE CONSTRUCTION Roland W. Faulhaber, Monroeville, Ohio, assignor to The Faulhaber Company, Monroeville, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 20, 1938, Serial No. 185,940

22 Claims.

This invention relates to saddles for bicycles or the like and more particularly to an improved spring mounting and resilient cushioning assembly for the seat portion of a saddle.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a saddle construction in which a relatively rigid seat member is resiliently supported with respect to a reach or saddle post truss in a manner conducive to comfort and freedom from shock while in use. More specifically it is among the objects of my invention to provide a saddle in accordance with the preceding object in which the forward end of the saddle is both pivotally and resiliently supported with respect to the reach by a member adapted to simultaneously pivot and flex with respect to the reach. It is a further object of my invention to provide a saddle in which the rear portion of the seat is supported with respect to a reach or truss by threading the convolutions of a spring through spaced apertures in the reach and thence upwardly against the seat. It is a further object of my invention to provide a saddle construction in accordance with the preceding object wherein the springs are provided with reduced lower end convolutions so that the spring may be threaded upwardly through the reach and thereafter secured to the seat portion so that a single anchoring device in the seat portion may function to maintain the spring in operative position. It is a further object of my invention to provide a saddle construction according to the preceding objects in which the truss or reach comprises a unitary strap of metal shaped and arranged in a manner which most efliciently utilizes the stress resisting ability of the metal in the reach or truss. It is a still further object of my invention to provide a new and improved spring assembly for a saddle construction which may be assembled as a unit and thereafter secured to a seat portion. It is a further object of my invention to provide a saddle construction in accordance with the preceding object wherein the resilient mounting of the nose portions and rear portion of the seat are operatively connected to gether independently of the reach member. Further objects and advantages relating to simplicity of construction and economy of manufacture will appear from the following description and the appended drawings wherein:

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional showing of a saddle constructed according to my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view looking from the underside of the saddle shown in Figure l;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the reach illustrating the manner in which a spring is secured to the reach;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the spring wire blank employed to form the spring support for the forward end of the saddle;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the spring wire support made from the blank of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional view with parts broken away showing a modified form of spring support for the rear portion of the saddle;

Figure '7 is a perspective view of a modified spring support assembly for the seat portion of a saddle which may be assembled as a unit independently of the seat portion; the seat portion being omitted; V

Figure 8 is a plan view looking from the underside of the modified construction illustrated in Figure 7.

One form of saddle made in accordance with my invention comprises a reach member extending longitudinally beneath a seat portion, a pair of coil springs interposed between the rear part of the seat portion and the rear portion of the reach, and a pivoted resilient support extending beneath the forward end of the reach and the forward part of the seat portion. With this arrangement of parts briefly described the seat is efficiently supported with respect to the reach so that in response to seat loads flexing the seat, the forward part of the seat may not only pivot or move with respect to the reach, but may also partake of a vertical flexing movement. It will also be understood that with the supporting ar-a rangement I have provided the seat portion may have a limited side to side flexing or floating movement with respect to the reach. Although the flexing capabilities of my saddle COIIStI'IlC'e.

tion above briefly described may not of themselves be new to this art, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the specific spring means and mounting therefor contribute to the flexing capabilities of the seat portion in a manner more" economical and eflicient than those heretofore provided.

Referring specifically to the drawings the reachmember 5- preferably comprises a flat piece of strap iron bent into a generally T-shape with the two free ends 6 thereof terminating beneath the forward part of the seat. the T-shaped reach are preferably rounded as at 1 and said rounded portions are given a diameter, during the bending, corresponding roughly to the inside diameter of the coil springs to be supported on the reach. The central portion-of the reach The return bends of is suitably apertured to receive a clamping bolt H) adapted to extend through the eye II of the saddle post l2. The reach portions bearing against the sides of the saddle post eye may be provided with serrations or notches l3 to cooperate with correspondingly shaped ridges M on the saddle post eye and when relatively adjusted a rigid connection between the reach and the saddle post can be maintained by tightening the clamping bolt ID.

The seat portion of the saddle indicated generally as at l5 preferably includes a sheet metal base I! and a cushioning member It. The cushion member may be suitably covered by leather or the like and secured to the base I! in the manner particularly shown and described in my copending application Serial No. 167,129, filed October 4, 1937, and issued as Patent No. 2,241,250 on May 6, 1941. It will be understood, as the description proceeds, that other seat constructions may be well suited for support by the spring and reach assembly of the instant application.

The forward or nose portion of the saddle according to my invention is supported by a coil spring indicated in its entirety at (Figure 5). The coil spring is made up from a hairpin shaped blank 2| (shown in Figure 4) and the bight portion 22 of the hairpin blank 2| is formed with a single convolution as at 23 so as to embrace a bushing 24 disposed between the free forward end portions 6 of the reach, or is otherwise suitably secured to the bushing. A bolt or rivet 25 extends through the bushing to mount the same on the reach and the bushing is proportioned to turn freely on bolt, rivet or the like 25. The intermediate sections of the sides of the hairpin blank 2| are each provided with a suitable number of coil spring convolutions as at 26 and the free ends 21, in the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5, lead from said convolutions to a point where they may bear against the underside of the sheet metal seat base ll. In this form, a transverse plate 29 is carried by a depending bolt 38 on the base l1 and the outer ends of said plate 25; are proportioned to grip the free ends 27 of the spring and effectively secure them to the base l1. It will be observed from the foregoing description and by reference to Figure 1 that a seat load applied to the forward part of the seat may either flex the coil spring 29 and/or pivot the coil r spring about the pin 25.

To support the rear part of the seat iii with respect to the reach 1 preferably employ, at least for the more inexpensive saddle constructions, a

pair of coiled wire compression springs 32 having, at their lower ends, convolutions 33 of reduced diameter. The rear end of the reach is arranged so that the coil springs may be screwed into position. As shown in Figure 3 opposed perforations 34 and 35 are formed in the rounded parts 1 of the reach and the large diameter free end 36 of the coil spring is threaded through the apertures 34 and 35. As the spring 32 is advanced upwardly through the reach perforations it will be observed that the reduced diameter convolutions 33 grip the embraced part of the reach. The free end of spring 36 may then be secured to the seat base by threading the same through a depending tongue 33 or by securing the same to the base with a bolt, rivet or the like.

From the above described connections between the spring 32, the reach and the seat l7, it will be observed that a single fastening means such as 38 functions not only to secure the spring to the set, but also functions to .secure the spring in its threaded position on the reach. It will also be appreciated that by arranging the strap metal reach with the flat sides thereof in substantially vertical planes, the portions of the reach on each side of its attachment to the saddle post functions as cantilever beams with the greatest volume of the metal most efficiently disposed with respect to the neutral axis of the beam. Among the advantages growing out of the edgewise disposition of the flat parts of the truss is that the central part 3 of the truss on each part of the saddle post eye i may respond readily to a drawing up of the nut l5 and that a more or less resilient grip is maintained on the saddle post eye t during an angular adjustment of the truss or reach. It will be. apparent that these advantages may be obtained with many other specific arrangements permitting screwing of the springs into position.

Where it is desired to support the rear end of the seat with respect to the truss by spring means having both tension and compression action in response to a seat load, I prefer to accomplish this by the means illustrated in Figure 6 wherein a spring 62 is threaded upwardly through each side 1 of the reach. The springs 32 include a compression coil section 43 between the reach and the seat base H and a tension coil section M beneath the reach, A U-shaped bail 45 may be secured to the seat by a clip 45 and the depending legs Ill. of the bail arranged to project downwardly through the coil springs 42 and be secured at their ends to the lower convolutions of the tension section by spaced clamping nuts 48 and washers 49. It will be observed that in the construction of Figure 6 a seat load will cause the upper convolution 50 of the compression section 43 to bear against the seat and will simultaneously occasion a distension of the tension Section 44. The type of spring mounting in this modification while being somewhat more expensive than that of the embodiment first described provides the additional spring action desired par ticularly in larger saddles and will co-operate with the forward seat support 20 in a manner similar to that previously described.

In Figures '7 and 8 there is illustrated a modified form of spring seat assembly embodying the features of the present invention. The saddle of Figures 7 and 8 is similar to that shown in Figure 6 having certain additional features which are particularly desirable in the more expensive types of saddles. The seat supporting means including the reach and springs may be assembled as a complete unit and thereafter easily and simply afiixed to the seat portion. In this modification the free ends 27 of the coil spring 23, supporting the nose portion of the seat, are extended rearwardly and anchored to the legs 47 of the U- shaped bail 45, in any suitable manner, for ex ample, by looping them thereabout as shown at 53 in Figure '7. The bail 45 is thereby maintained in position with respect to the seat without the use of the clips 46 shown in Figure 6. For securing the rear portion of the spring assembly to the corresponding portion of the seat the free end of the upper convolution 53 of each of the springs 42 is formed with an eyelet 5| which is adapted to be secured to the plate I! by means of a bolt 52 carried thereby.

In assembling the saddle construction shown in Figures 7 and 8 the portions 43 of a pair of springs 42 (see Figure 6) are threaded through the apertures 34 and 35 of the rounded portions 1 of the reach 5 until the lower side of the reach engages the upper convolution of each of the compression coil sections 44 of the spring. The coil spring 20 is then mounted on the forward portion of the reach 5, as hereinabove described, the free ends thereof having been previously secured to the legs 41 of the bail 45. The legs 41 of the bail are then projected downwardly through the coil spring 42 and are secured at their ends to the lower convolutions of the tension section by spaced clamping nuts 48 and washers 49. The spring assembly so formed is a substantial unit and may be easily aflixed to a seat portion by securing the eyelets of the springs 42 to the bolts 52 at the rear of the seat and assembling the plate 29 and bolt 30 to secure the forward portion of the ends 21, of the spring 20 to the nose portion of the seat.

While I have shown and described different forms of my invention in considerable detail, it will be observed by those skilled in the art that many variations may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

- I claim:

1. A saddle construction comprising a seat, a pair of coil springs spaced transversely beneath the rear part of said seat and a reach comprising a strap bent upon itself to provide spaced supports for said springs, the width of said strap exceeding the thickness thereof and said width being arranged in a vertical plane normal to the seat, the walls of said reach beneath the rear portion of the seat being apertured, each of said springs having an intermediate convolution extending through certain of said apertures with portions of such convolution disposed inside and other portions disposed outside the Wall of said reach, whereby said springs are secured to the reach.

2. A saddle construction including a reach, a seat and a coil spring interposed between the seat and the reach, means to secure the coil spring to the reach and seat comprising a vertical reach wall portion having spaced perforations receiving and supporting an intermediate convo lution of the spring threaded therethrough with other convolutions of the spring disposed below said reach wall portion and resiliently gripping the same, and a portionof said seat defining an opening to receive and secure the upper end of the coil spring subsequent to its rotation and resulting securement in the reach.

3. In a saddle construction, means to secure a coil spring between a seat and a reach com prising a reach portion bent to provide an arcu ate wall section with the axis thereof extending vertically, spaced apertures formed in said arcuate wall section with one convolution of said spring extending through said apertures and portions of said convolution disposed outside said arcuate wall section.

4. That method of securing a spring intermediate a seat and reach of a bicycle saddle which comprises forming a reach with spaced vertical walls having apertures, forming a coil spring with a free end adapted to be secured to the seat and the other end with convolutions reduced in diameter, introducing said free end through said apertures and rotating the spring and reach with respect to each other to progressively thread the coil spring through said apertures, into engagement with said seat and thereafter securing the free upper end convolution to the seat.

5. That method of securing a spring intermediate a seat and reach of a bicycle saddle which comprises forming a reach with rounded portions of a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of a spring to be secured thereto, providing said portions with apertures for threadedly receiving a spring, forming a coil spring with a tension portion and a compression portion, the former having convolutions reduced in diameter, threading said spring through said apertures and rotating the spring and reach with respect to each other to position said spring on said reach with the compression portion above the reach and the tension portion below the reach and one convolution disposed on both sides of one of said rounded portions and extending through said apertures, and thereafter securing the free end of the spring to the seat.

6. A saddle construction having a seat and a reach with coil springs interposed therebetween. said reach comprising a section of strap iron with the flat sides thereof disposed in a vertical plane and having the strap bent upon itself to provide a transversely extending support section beneath the rear part of the seat with the free ends of the strap iron disposed beneath the forward end of the seat, the bent portions of said transversely extending part of the reach being provided with spaced apertures receiving and supporting an intermediate convolution of a coil spring threaded therethrough, the forward free ends of said reach portion being connected with the forward end of the seat.

7. A saddle construction including a seat and a reach, said reach having a transversely extending part beneath the rear portion of the seat, the end of said part provided with spaced apertures, a coil spring having a compression section formed with spaced convolutions and a tension section terminating in a convolution of reduced diameter, said spring threaded through said spaced apertures and bearing against the underside of said seat, a link secured to said seat at one end and secured to said reduced end convolution of the tension section at the other end whereby seat loads simultaneously compress that part of the spring disposed intermediate the reach and seat and distend that part of the spring disposed beneath the reach.

8. A saddle construction including a seat and a reach, said reach having a transversely extending part beneath the rear portion of the seat, the forward portion of said seat being pivotally secured to the reach by a resilient wire spring, the end of said part provided with spaced apertures, a coil spring having a compression section formed with spaced convolutions and a tension section terminating in a con volution of reduced diameter, said spring threaded through said spaced apertures and bearing against the underside of said seat, a link secured to said seat at one end and secured to said reduced convolution of the tension section at the other end whereby seat loads simultaneously compress that part of the spring disposed intermediate the reach and seat and distend that part of the spring disposed beneaththe reach.

9. A saddle construction including a seat, a reach disposed below the seat and having a vertical Wall portion with spaced perforations therein, a spring having a plurality of coils of substantially uniform diameter and spacing screwed through the spaced perforations in said reach and disposed thereabove, the upper end of the spring being secured to the seat, said spring having a plurality of closely spaced coils of diminishing diameterdisposed below said reach.

10. A saddle construction including a seat and a reach, said reach having spaced vertical walls formed with apertures, a coil spring with a free end secured to the seat and the other end formed with convolutions reduced in diameter, said spring being secured to said reach by introducing said free end, prior to the securement there of to said seat, through said apertures and rotating the spring with respect to said reach to progressively thread the coil spring through said apertures.

11. A saddle for bicycles and the like comprising a pair of combined tension and compression springs mounted on a reach member, a U-shaped bail having its free ends secured to the free ends of the tension parts of said springs, a nose coil secured to the opposite end of the reach and having rearwardly extending ends looped around into engagement with said U-shaped bail whereby said reach, said combined tension and compression springs, said bail and said nose coil provide an assembled unit, and said assembled unit being secured to said seat member.

12. A saddle for bicycles and the like comprising a pair of combined tension and compression springs mounted on a reach member, a U-shaped bail having its free ends secured to the free ends of the tension parts of said springs, a nose coil secured to the opposite end of the reach and having rearwardly extending ends bent into embracing engagement with said U-shaped bail whereby said reach, said combined tension and compression springs, said bail and said nose coil provide an assembled unit, and said assembled unit having the free ends of the compression parts of said first named springs and a portion of said nose coil secured to the seat.

13. In a cycle saddle assembly, a pair of opposing clamping members, a saddle post having an eye at its upper end, said eye adapted to be projected between said opposing clamping members, the confronting faces of said members being indentured and the opposite faces of the eye being likewise indentured, means whereby said post is adapted to be clamped between said clamping members.

14. In a cycle saddle assembly, a pair of opposed clamping members suspended from said saddle and secured thereto, a saddle post comprising a hook end and stem portion, said hook having indentured opposite faces, the confronting faces of said clamping members being pro vided with cooperating indentured portions, said hook end of said post adapted to be projected between said indentured portions and to be clamped therewith.

15. In a cycle saddle assembly, a pair of longitudinally disposed reach members, a saddle post comprising a hook end and stem portion, said hook having indentured opposite faces, the confronting faces of said reach members being provided with cooperating indentured portions, said hook end of said post adapted to be projected between said indentured portions of said reach members and the indentured opposite faces of said post adapted to be clamped therewith.

16. In a cycle saddle assembly, a pair of longitudinally disposed reach members, a saddle post comprising a hook end and stem portion, said hook having indentured opposite faces, the confronting faces of said reach members being provided with cooperating indentured portions, said hook end of said post adapted to be projected between said indentured portions of said reach members and the indentured opposite faces of said post and to be maintained in looking engagement therewith.

17. In a cycle saddle assembly, a pair of opposed clamping members suspended from said saddle and secured thereto, a saddle post comprising a, hook end and stem portion, said hook having indentured opposite faces, the confronting faces of said clamping members being provided with cooperating indentured portions, said hook end of said post adapted to be projected between said indentured portions, means adapted to be projected through aligned perforations disposed in said clamping members and said hook portion and to clamp said members and post together.

18. A saddle construction including a seat, a reach and a saddle post, means including a spring connecting said reach to said seat, an intermediate portion of said reach comprising spaced substantially parallel metallic strips each having a width exceeding its thickness with the width arranged substantially vertically, said strips being formed with aligned openings, said saddle post being disposed between said strips and having a transverse opening therethrough and a fastening member extending through the aligned openings in said strips and the transverse opening in said saddle post and pressing said strips laterally toward each other into clamping engagement with the opposite sides of said saddle post.

19. A saddle construction including a seat, a reach and a saddle post, means including a spring connecting said reach to said seat, an intermediate portion of said reach comprising spaced substantially parallel metallic strips each having a width exceeding its thickness with the width arranged substantially vertically, said strips being formed with aligned openings, said saddle post having an eye at its upper end disposed between said strips and a fastening member extending through the aligned apertures in said strips and through the eye in said saddle post and pressing said strips laterally toward each other into clamping engagement with the eye of said saddle post.

20. A saddle construction including a seat, a reach and a saddle post, means including a spring connecting said reach to said seat, an intermediate portion of said reach comprising spaced substantially parallel metallic strips eachhaving a width exceeding its thickness with the width arranged substantially vertically, said strips being formed with aligned openings, said saddle post having a hook end disposed between said strips and a fastening member extending through the aligned apertures in said strips and through the hook end in said saddle post and clamping said strips laterally against the hook end of said saddle post.

21. A saddle construction including a seat, a reach having a, vertical wall portion with spaced perforations therein disposed below the seat, a spring having a plurality of coils of substantially uniform diameter and spacing screwed through the perforations in said reach and disposed thereabove, the upper end of the spring being secured to the seat, said spring having one coil passing through the perforations in said reach and a plurality of coils disposed below said reach, said last mentioned coils gripping the reach between the same and said one coil and being of such diameter and spacing as to resist their being screwed through said reach.

22. A saddle construction including a seat, a reach extending longitudinally below the seat and having spaced portions formed to support 5 springs, each of said portions being formed with vertical wall portions having perforations therein, a pair of springs each having a plurality of coils of substantially uniform diameter and spacing starting with the upper end of the spring and extending to an intermediate point, said coils being screwed through the perforations in 10 closely spaced coils disposed below said reach.

ROLAND W. FAULl-IABER.

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