Improvements in Bioyoles or Velooipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bioyoles or Velooipedes.
I, REGINALD HADDAN of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co. of
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, in the County of London, Patent Agent do
hereby declare the nature of this invention a communication to me from abroad
by David S. Hitchcock of Cleveland County of Cuyahoga State of Ohio Unitod
States of America Mechanical Engineer and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The invention relates to improvements in bicycles or velocipedes; and it
consists, firstly in the peculiar construction of the socket of the handle-bar in
connection with the upper end of the stem or steering-post whereby the handle
may be adjusted into different positions up or down.
The invention consists, secondly, in an improved construction for securing the
saddle to the saddle-post whereby the saddle, while it, when adjusted, is held
securely in position, can at the same time be quickly and easily moved backwardly
or forwardly, and to any pitch or angle desired by simply loosening a clamp-
screw.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle provided with my improvements.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the upper end of the steering-post having the
handle-bar attached and this figure shows tho central portion of the handle-bar in
section. This figure, in solid lines, shows the handle-bar raised to its highest
position, and in dotted lines, ehows the handle-bar in its first dropped position.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the handle-bar and steering-post's upper end and
shows the handle-bar, in solid lines, in its second elevated "position, and, in dotted
lines shows said bar in its lowest position.
Fig. 4 is a central vertical section taken through the upper portion of the
steering-post and the engaging portion of the handle-bar and shows the manner of
securing the handle-bar to the steering-post, and also the preferred means for
preventing the rotation of the handle-bar around the upper end of the steering-
post.
Fig. 5 illustrates the socket of the handle-bar looking at it either from above
or below.
Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the saddle-post and attached clamp, and showa
also the saddle springs in section.
Fig. 7 is a side elevation, in central vertical section, of the saddle-pust and
attached clamp.
Fig. 8. is an upper end elevation of the saddle post and clamp and shows a
portion of the saddle-springs in dotted lines.
Fig. 9 is a cross-section taken through the saddle-post between the two halves
of the clamp.
Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the saddle-post, a saddle-spring, and the clamp
for securing the saddle-springs, and consequently the saddle, in the desired
adjustmeut.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings A represents the steering
post of the machine. Said post is connected with the forward or steering-wheel
and extends through a tubular bearing at the forward end of the machine's frame
in the usual manner. B designates the handle-bar, that at its connection with the
steering post, is provided with an upright socket Bi. Said socket is so formed or

page_text: constructed as to have two internal opposite conical-shaped seats, which are
counter-parts of each other.
The upper end or head of the steering-post is conical to snugly fit eithe
one of the internal couical seats of socket B' and is preferably formed, as
shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 4 in the shape of the frustum of a cone A
and is provided with an upwardly-projecting externally-screw-threaded member
or stud A that extends above socket B far enough to engage or be engaged by
a nut a'. Between nut a¹ and the annular shoulder a formed upon the upper end
of cone A around the inner end of projection A2 is provided a conical washer C.
The shape of this washer, both in cross-section externally and goneral contour, is
identical with the shape of the upper conical end of the steering-post, and con-
sequently is adapted to fit either one of the seats formed within sockets B'.
Preferably I provide the nut a' at its lower end, with an annular projection a 3
that engages snugly a recess in the upper end of washer C. The object of
said recess and engaging projection is to provide means for steadying the nppor
end of the washer, aud consequently the handle-bar. The lower end of the washer
is sustained by the inner and unthreaded ond of projection A 2. Suitable means
for preventing rotation of the handle-bar around the upper end of the steering
post is provided, and comprises preferably two lugs a 4 a4 formed externally of
opposite sides respectively, of the upper end of cone A', as shown more clearly in
Fig. 4. and engaging slots or recesses 66 provided in the socket of the handle-
bar. I would have it understood, however, that any other form of operative
counection between the handle-bar and steering-post may be provided without
departing from the spirit and purpose of my invention. It will be observed that
in order to accommodate the four different adjustments of the handle-bar illustrated
in the drawings, the conical upper end of the steering-post has its axis arranged
obtusely to the steering-post's axis; that the reversal of the haudle-bar renders
two of the adjustments of said bar attainable when the steuring-post is set with its
upper conical portion projecting forwardly, and that the remaining two adjust
ments of the handle-bar are attainable by the reversal of the bar when the
steering-post is set with its conical portion projecting in the opposite direction.
Referring now to the construction employed in securing the saddle to the
saddle-post, D (see Figs. 1. 6. 7. 8. 9 and 10) designates said post that is tubular.
Tube D at its upper end is provided with lateral openings d'd formed by cutting
away portions at opposite sides and leaving projecting parts d¹ d'. E E' designate
two jaws that are formed just wide enough to fit into the openings d d and between
the projections d' d' at the saddle post's upper end. The jaws E E¹ are formed,
preferably, the one a counterpart of the other, and are provided with grooves e e
at their ends. Said grooves are formed so as to accominodate the spring wires G
of the saddle and the inclination of the saddle-post, but they must also be formed
so as to permit the jaws E E' to clamp the springs when the jaws are brought
toward each other by means of the screw H which extends through a suitable
hele formed in the central part of each of the jaws E E. Said screw, at its
lower end, engages a nut I that is secured within the saddle-post a distance from,
the post's upper and about equal to the length of the screw. A bushing or
reinforcing piece or lining J is inserted between the upper faco of the nnt and the
lower face of the lower jaw E. Said bushing or lining is secured to the saddle-
post in such a manner as to bear upon the upper face of the nut and act as a brace
between the nut and lower face of jaw E. Said bushing or reinforcing piece
may, if desired, extend upwards as at J', to strengthen the projections d' d. By
the herein before described construction of securing the saddle to the saddle-post
economy in time and construction in the manufacture and assembling of parts is
not only attained, but lightness and strength is also attained, inasinuch as the
saddle-post can be made of light tubing, and the reinforcing of the upper end
holds the saddle-post securely in place and accommodates a very secure tightening
of the clamp without displacing the nut. The clamp-jaws being formed the oue a
counterpart of the other and both separate from the saddle-post, are easily inter-

page_text: changeable and if any part is broken, that part only need be replaced, without
necessitating the sending of the machine or the part to a shop for repairs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :--
1. In a bicycle or velocipede, the combination with the socket of the handle-bar
baving reversible bearings adapted to engage the upper end of the steering-post
of the steering post provided with a projection adapted to engage either one of
the bearings of the handle-bar and said projection and bearings having their axis
arranged obtusely to the axis of the steering-post, substantially as shown for the
purpose specified.
2. In a bicycle or velocipede, the combination with a tubular saddle-post.
recessed at its upper end to receive the two clamping jaws that are independent of
the saddle-post, of a screw extending through the clamping-jaws and engaging
with a nut held stationary in the interior of the saddle-post substantially as shown,
for the purpose specified.
3. In a bicycle or velocipede, a device for securing the saddle to the saddle-
post, consisting of a tubular post having its upper end recessed to receive two
clamping-jaws, said post containing a nut adapted to engage a screw extending
through said jaws, and being held from upward displacement by a bushing or
reinforcing piece that extends between the nut and lower jaw of the clamp,
substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 25th d of Aust 1908