Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM MCKENZIE, of Waverley House, Durrant's Road, Ponder's End,
London, N.E. Electrical Engineer, 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 improvements in bicycles, tricycles, and other vehicles,
and has for object, in a simple manner, so to construct such machines as to reduce
vibration, and its consequent deleterious results, to a minimum. Moreover, in
accordance with this invention, the weight of the rider is borne equally throughout
the machine, and thus no greater strain is put upon one part than another.
In accordance with this my. invention I carry the saddle upon a rocking arm or
lever brought through or around the backbone or topstay of the machine, and.
pivotted at one end to the front or head, or to the backbone or topstay or other
convenient portion of the machine. To the upper side of the rocking arm or lever
and at the saddle end of same is attached one end of a spring which latter at its
other end is connected to the head or other convenient part of the machine, and
serves to support or hold the saddle in its required position. Or the saddle lever
may, if pivotted to the topstay, be continued downwards, and be connected to a
spring attached to the back stay of the machine. A case of leather or other
suitable material may envelop the spring so as to protect same, if desired. With
the saddle supported as above described the ordinary saddle spring may be
dispensed with, and the saddle be fitted direct upon the end of the rocking arm or
lever; the spring holding same in position affording all the elasticity required.
When thus fitted direct on the rocking lever or arm the saddle may be pivotted
thereto so that irrespective of the angle which the supporting arm assumes the
saddle may be maintained in a horizontal position.
I prefer to form the backbone or topstar of the bicycle, tricycle, or other
machine, bifurcated, and pass the rocking arm or lever therethrough; pins or studs
are passed through froni one side of the fork to the other, one above and
another below the rocking arm or lever, to regulate the play or travel of the
same; and to prevent the saddle descending upon the wheel or wheel-guard. These
pins or studs may be covered or cushioned with india rubber or other suitable
material. But where the backbone or topstay is not bifurcated I form the fork
upon the rocking arm or lever so as to enable same to pass around said backbone
or stay in which case I provide the stay or backbone with projecting pins or studs
to regulate the play of the rocking arm or lever.
And in order that this my invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will now proceed to describe same with reference to the accompanying
drawing and letters of reference marked thereon, that is to say:-
Figure 1 shews in side elevation a bicycle fitted with my improved device, for
carrying the saddle; and in which a represents the rocking arm or lever pivotted
at b to the head of the machine. c is the spring attached at one end to a hook d
upon the saddle end of the rocking arm or lever a. The other end of this spring c
is attached at c¹ to the head of the machine or to the front part of the backbone or
topstay e. As illustrated the rocking arm or lever a passes through the bifurcated
top stay e of the frame, and between the forks of said stay e I place the check
pins. The upper one to prevent the spring e drawing the saddle supporting
arm or lever a too high; and the lower one to prevent same, should the spring
break, or the weight of the rider be too great, falling upon the wheel or the wheel-

page_text: These check pins ff' may as aforesaid be cushioned with india rubber or other
suitable material.
By this invention the saddle springs g may be dispensed with, and the saddle h
then fitted direct upon the end a¹ of the supporting arm a in which case it may be
pivotted at i so that a horizontal position may always be maintained.
Figure 2 is a modification in which is represented the saddle supporting lever a
pivotted at 6 to the topstay of the machine, and having an extension c connected
by spring d to the backstay e of the machine. An arrangement which whilst
accomplishing the same purpose may in some instances be preferred to that shewn
in Figure 1.
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 :-
:-
In bicycles, tricycles, and other vehicles, the saddle supporting rocking arm or
lever pivotted upon the head, topstay, or other convenient portion of the frame,
and suspensary spring attached at one end to the frame of the machine and at the
other to the supporting arm or lever; substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described and shewn in the drawing.
Dated this 6th day of February 1893.
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for Applicant.