IMPROVEMENTS IN TWO WHEELED VEHICLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN GARDNER STOCKS, of San Francisco, in the County of San Francisco
and State of California, one of the United States of America, gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TWO WHEELED
VEHICLES," and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to provide an easy-riding two-wheeled vehicle in
which the body and seat are adapted to swing between the shafts in an
independent manner without direct connection with the shafts springs or axle.
I accomplish this object by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings
forming a part of this specification and in which-Figure 1 is a side elevation of a
vehicle embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the same.
Fig. 3. is a rear elevation.
Similar letters of reference are used to indicate like parts throughout the
several figures. A represents the axle of my two-wheeled vehicle, bent as shown,
to which is clipped the lower part or leaves of the elliptic springs B, in the usual
way and manner. Upon these elliptic springs are placed the shafts C, to which
the upper part or leaves of the elliptic springs are also clipped by the bands D.
The usual cross-bars E, connect the shafts together at the front and rear, to the
former of which the whiffletree is attached. Upon the top of each shaft is bolted a
bracket F, and these brackets receive the outwardly-projecting pintles H, H, of the
irons G, which support the seat and body I, of my vehicle; the said pintles having
their bearings in a hole made in the upper part of the brackets. These supporting-
irons extend downward between the shafts, alongside of and under the seat or body
of the vehicle, at which point they are branched or forked and securely bolted to
the vehicle, and thus the body is suspended and made to swing on the two pivotal
points of the brackets above the axle and between the shafts and elliptic springs,
yet independent of them. The body is constructed in the form showo, and is
balanced so that the weight is distributed more nearly upon the pivotal points.
Straps or rods I' may extend from the axle to the cross-bar of the shafts at each
side of the vehicles to limit the upward or downward motion of the shafts caused
by the vibration of the springs in passing over rough places.
In order to keep the body steady and prevent too much swaying thereof,
straps J, J, of leather or india-rubber, extend from the cross-bars and pass under
the body at the four opposite corners, at which points they are confined to the
body, as shown. If found desirable, a central strap may also be employed.

page_text: By the construction above described the body is prevented from receiving the
jar and vibration so incident to vehicles of this class when passing over rough
places, and the whole vehicle is easy-going, easy-riding and very simple in
construction, and entirely destroys the action of the horse upon the body of the
vehicle, as no weight whatever will come or be received upon the back of the
animal engaged.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. In a two-wheeled vehicle the body thereof suspended at two pivotal points
above the axle upon brackets or hangers and adapted to maintain a horizontal
position independent of the shafts of said vehicle as described.
2. In a two-wheeled vehicle the combination of the bent axle A, the elliptic
springs B, B, mounted on said axle, the shafts C, C, mounted on the springs, the
brackets F, F, secured to the shafts, the vehicle-body I, having irons G, G,
provided with pintles H, H, whereby said body is pivotally suspended from said
brackets between the shafts and springs, the cross-bars E, E, for connecting the
shafts at the front and rear of the vehicle-body, and the straps J, J, for connecting
the body and cross-bars, substantially as shown and described.
1 100円