An Attachment for Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th June, 1896-Accepted. 18th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Attachment for Cycles.
1, ALBERT JAMES SOUTHEY, of Colnbrook near Slough, in the County of Bucks,
Surgeon, 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 :-
This invention relates to a detachable attachment or fitting to be used in connection
with cycles, whereby the saddle or seat may be caused to rise and fall at the will
of the rider, the use of which does not necessitate any alteration or addition to the
cycle frame. By the use of my invention the rider is enabled to mount and dismount
with greater ease and less exertion than at present, and also to stop at any desired
moment and place his or her feet on the ground without dismounting. Referring to
the accompanying sheet of drawings, illustrating my invention,
Figure 1, is an elevation of my attachment ready to be fitted to the frame of a
cycle.
Figure 2, is an elevation shewing my invention attached to the frame of a bicycle
and in position for driving,
Figure 3, being a section of Figure 2.
Figure 4, is a plan of the device for locking and retaining the seat pillar in its
highest or lowest position.
Figure 5, shews tube A in a lower position than that shewn on Figure 2, in down
tube B.
In practice I insert tube A in the down tube B of the frame of a cycle. Tube A
may be fixed at any desired height in the same way as the ordinary saddle pillar
and is partly closed at its lower end. Within this tube I place a strong spiral
spring C which bears upon the inner side of the lower portion of tube A.
A seat pillar D rides upon this spring C said pillar being rather longer than
those in general use and furnished for a portion of its length with a hole d. A rod,
spindle or tube c passes through and is fixed to, the bottom of the tube A, is
continued through the spiral spring C and enters this hole d in the seat pillar D.
Both the spindle c and hole d'are of such a length that some part of the spindle
is always contained within the hole d, when the seat pillar is in use. The end of
spindle c is prevented from being withdrawn unintentionally from hole d by a cottar
pin working in slots, or by a nut; in this latter case however, the hole d must
either be prolonged to the top of the seat pillar to allow of fixing the nut to the
spindle or the bottom of tube A be arranged to be screwed thereon.
At the top of tube A I provide a catch of the special shape and as shewn on
Figure 4. Seat pillar D is formed with one or more flats on its circumference and
collar e is of corresponding section internally this collar e is provided with a spring f
preferably of the shape shewn on the drawing. Spring is bolted, rivetted or
otherwise fastened to one side of the collar e and is bent round so that its other end
will meet the collar preferably diametrically opposite to its point of support, and the
end of the spring is drilled to admit a pin g. Pin g is externally furnished with a
loop or head and its opposite end or point passes through spring f, collar e, and
enters holes or slots in the seat pillar D. The end of spring f is retained
between the head of the pin g and a shoulder or other projection formed upon or
attached to ping and this pin is thus kept in position by the tension of the spring.
A link passes through the loop or head of pin g, connecting the latter with a
chain or cable the opposite end of which is attached to a suitable lever or similar

page_text: device so arranged upon a part of the cycle convenient to the rider that, upon
pulling the chain or cable, the end of pin g is caused to recede from the hole h
or h' in seat pillar D. In operation the action is as follows.
To mount the machine the pin g is withdrawn from its hole in the pillar and the
saddle and seat pillar D are pushed down by hand or otherwise, so that the pin
may, on being released, enter the hole h¹ by the tension of the spring f, as shewn
in dotted lines on Figure 2. The rider then mounts and the machine started after
which by putting his or her weight upon the pedals and releasing the pin g from its
bole the spiral spring will cause the seat pillar D to ascend to its greatest height
whereupon the pin 9 may be allowed to enter the lower hole and the saddle
supported in that position.
When it is wished to suddenly stop or dismount from the cycle, the pin g is withdrawn
by the aforesaid lever and the rider's weight will instantly cause the seat pillar D
to be, lowered until, on releasing the lever before mentioned, the pin g engages in
the hole in the seat pillar D.
The position of the holes h h is so arranged that when pin g is fitting into the
lower hole the saddle is at a convenient height for most advantageously riding
and propelling the cycle and when pin g enters the upper hole the rider's feet
can touch the ground, if desired.
I may make the component parts of my attachment of metal or any other suitable
material and I do not confine myself to the shapes and dimensions of the various
parts, as shewn on the accompanying drawings.
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;
A detachable attachment or fitting for cycles, (capable of being applied directly to
ordinary cycles) comprising a tube A furnished with a collar e and spindle ca second
tube or hollow rod D forming a seat pillar arranged to slide within the tube A and
bearing upon a spiral spring C, and a pin g operated by a spring f engaging with
holes hh formed in or upon the tube or rod D, as and for the purposes described.
Dated this Ninth day of June 1896.
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY,
60 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agents.