US293725A - Chaeles e - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) v l C. B. DURYEA.

V BIGYGLEASADDLB. 'No.293x725- Patented Peb. 19, 1884.

. UNITED STATES a-PNTENT Orrrcn.

CHARLES n. rDmitri/3A, or sT. LoUIsMIss'oURI, Assrcnon or ONE-HALF To RICHARD ennvnv, on SAME PLAGE.

BICYCLE-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 293,725, dated February 19, 1884.

Application tiled December 3, 1883. gNo model.) Y

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that l, CHARLEs E. DURYEA,

of St. Louis, in the county of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain Improvements in Bicycle-Saddles, of which the following is a specification.v

rIfhe object of this invention is to provide a light and elastic saddle the tension of which may be readily controlled, and which may be applied with facility to existing machines and adjusted forward and backward thereon at pleasure.

It is also a further object of the invention to produce a saddle which shall be free from f' the ordinary liability, which exists in adjustable saddles, of the parts becoming loosened by the vibration of the machine so as to move out of position.

To this end it consists, essentially, in a iiexible seat or saddle having its two extremities attached to an elastic supporting-frame composed, essentially, of two' longitudinal parallel springs arrangedl in such. manner as to admit of their passing downward on opposite sides of the backbone or reach, andI of their maintaining a longitudinal strain or tension to the seat.

It also consists in the frame constructed of a single piece of metal doubled or bent into the form hereinafter described.

It also consists in clips or fastening'devices of peculiar construction, adapted to secure the elastic frame to the backbone.

backbone or reach, the forward end of which is swiveled or journaled to the fork, as shown, while the rear end is adapted to receive the rear wheel. All of the Vforegoing parts are constructed in the ordinary manner, and constitute no part of my invention, which'relates solely to the construction of the saddle and fastening devices.

My saddle consists, as most plainly represented in Fig. 2, of a iiexible seat or saddle proper, D, and of the supporting-spring E,

attached to the two extremities thereof.

The seat or saddle proper consists of a sheet of leather, canvas, or equivalent pliable material, which may be given, as represented in the drawings, essentially the same form or outline as saddles now in common use--that is to say, a decreasing Vwidth from the rear end to the front, or modified at will.

The supporting-spring E is preferably constructed, as represented, of a single rod or bar of steel, doubled or bent into the peculiar form shown. At its forward 'end the spring has a horizontal portion, a to receive and sustain the forward end or neck of the seat, which is preferably looped around the same and se cured by rivets, as shown. From the two ends of the portion athe spring is extended downward, forming the upright arms b, and bent thence backward in a substantially horizontal direction to a point near the rear end of the saddle, Where they are curved upward and attached to the under side of a plate, c, riveted or otherwise secured firmly to the under side of the seat. rlhis plate e is made of a form corresponding with that ofthe rear end of the saddie, whatever it may be. The ends of the spring may be attached to the plate, and the plate attached to the seat in any suitable man- Ilel. the spring upward in a horizontal direction, .to give them a broad and firm bearing against the under side of the plate and to pass the rivets downward through the seat, the plate, and the arms, as shown, one set of rivets thus servingl to hold the three parts firmly together.l

It is preferred to bend'the rear ends of In making use of my saddle, the spring-arms Y are dropped downward on opposite4 sides of steering-head, as required. The springs may be attached firmly to the backbone in any suit able manner; but for various reasons I prefer to make use of the fastening-clips represented in the drawings. These fastenings consist of U-shaped clips or stirrnps f, adapted to fit transversely on the upper side ofthe backbone, with their ends turned outward to engage be iieath the two springs to give support thereto, and of corresponding clips, g, adapted to fit transversely upon the under side of the backbone, with their ends extended laterally above the spring-arms and provided with set-screws h, to bear on said arms. There may be any desired nulnber of the clips, and they may be located at any suitable points in the length of the springs, their location being adjustable at the will of the user, in order to regulate the tension of the springs or the position of the saddle. By adjusting the screws the springs may be drawn tightly upon the backbone and caused to engage firmly upon the spring-arms, so as to hold the saddle securely in position.

It will be observed that the spring-arms exert a longitudinal strain or tension upon the seat, which is permitted, however, to yield in a vertical direction when a weight is applied sufficient to overcome the tension of Jthe rear ends of the arms. The short upright portions b are practically rigid, and, consequently, the seat is without any tendency to move in a for ward or backward direction, its yielding movenient being confined practically to a vertical direction. By shifting the clips forward and backward with respect to the spring-arms the seat may be given more or less elasticity. XVhen thee-lips are all located near the forward end of the spring-arms, it will be seen that the rear ends ofthe arms are free to rise and fall bodily, thus permitting the saddle to yield without the flexion of the seat. The adjustment of the clips toward the forward end of the arms also has the effect of increasing the length of the flexible portion, or portion which is free to yield,'aiid thus to permit the seat to sink beneath a lighter weight.

It is to be observed as a peeuliarity of my saddle that it may be adjusted forward and backward to and from the head of the machine without affecting its tension, and that, on the other hand, its location may be modified without varying its tension, these two independent adjustments being highly advantageous, in that they admit of the saddle being adjusted to riders of different weights and to tastes of different riders, some of whom prefer to have the saddle nearer the head than others.

It is manifest that the clips bearing screws may be applied to the top of the backbone and the others applied to the under side. If one set of clips be longer than the other, this reversibility will be found to be of advantage, in that it admits of the saddle being raised or lowered. It is also manifest that the screws may be applied to both the upper and the lower clips, as represented in dotted lines, and in this manner provision made for raising and lowering the saddle bodily.

I am aware that a flexible seat has been combined with a' single supportingspring, exert; ing a longitudinal strain thereon; but my construction differs therefrom and is superior thereto, in that my double spring may be applied to the two sides of the backbone, thus allowing the scatto be placed in close proximity to the backbone, instead of heilig raised an objectionable distance therefrom. rlhe employinent of the double springs is also advantageous, in that it enables me to secure the saddle the more firmly against lateral movement, and in that it admits of the saddle being raised and lowered upon the machine.

W'hile it is preferred, as before stated, to construct the entire spring E of a single piece of metal, it is manifest that two spring-arms applied in the same relative positions may be connected at the forward end by a device of any suitable character adapted to sustain the forward end of the seat.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The improved saddle for a bicycle, consisting of a fiexible seat or saddle proper, and a supporting-spring having two substantially parallel arms with upturiied ends attached to the seat, and adapted, as described, to apply a longitudinal tension thereto.

2. In combination with the flexible seat of diminishing width toward its front end or neck, the supporting-spring consisting of a single elastic rod doubled and bent upon itself, and having its ends upturned and connected to the extremities of the seat, substantially as described. 4

3. In a bicycle-saddle, the combination of a flexible seat having a widened reai' end, and a supporting-plate attached to the rear edge of the seat, and two parallel spring-arms attached to the plate, and extended thence downward and forward to the forward extremity of the seat.

4. In combination with the backbone of a bicycle, a fiexible seat or saddle, two longitudinal springs located on opposite sides of the backbone and connected to the extremity of the, seat, to maintain a longitudinal tension thereof, and means, substantially as described, connecting said springs with the backbone.

IOO

IIO

5. In combination with the backbone of a bicycle, a flexible seat or saddle, two spring-arms extending lengthwise of the saddle on'opposite sides of the backbone and acting, as described, to strain the scat longitudinally, and clips or fastening devices adjustable longitudinally with respect to the backbone, whereby the saddle may be adj usted forward and backward without affecting its tension.

6. In combination with the backbone of a bicycle, clips or fastening devices applied thereto, and a saddle having two longitudinal springs connected to the extremities of the seat and adapted to strain the same longitudinally, said springs being adjustable longitudinally with respect to the clips, whereby the saddle may IZO 'be adj usted forward andbackward and its tenof, clips applied to the top of the backbone 1o sion or stiffness modified at the same time. and engaging at their endsA beneath the arms, 7. In combination with the backbone and l and secondary clips applied beneath the backtwo saddle-supporting arms on opposite sides l bone and engaging at their ends above the 5 thereof, the clips applied to the upper and arms,as described.

lower sides of the backbone, and the adjust- CHARLES E. DURYEA. ingscrews, applied substantially as shown.- Witnesses:

8. In combination with a backbone and two C. S. DRURY,

saddle-supporting arms onoppositesidesthere- HARRY SHIPLEY.

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