Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Dec., 1894-Accepted, 26th Jan., 1895
Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes.
I, BRUCE GREEN, of Nos. 65 and 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as follows:—
This invention relates to improvements in or connected with velocipedes and has
for its object to provide an air buffer or cushion between the frame and wheels in
order to obviate or modify the jolting or vibration usually conveyed to the rider
when passing over an uneven surface.
For this purpose, according to one arrangement, I divide the steering post
horizontally at some convenient part of its length, and I form one part to fit
telescopically within the other, and, upon the outer part at or near the division,
I provide a flange or seat, and upon the inner part, a short distance from the
division, I provide a corresponding flange, whilst, between the two flanges and
around the steering post, I arrange a bollow inflated india rubber cushion,
preferably spherical in form or approximately so, and formed with a tubular way
therethrough to receive the steering post.
The two parts of the steering post may be formed of an oval or other suitable
section, in order to prevent the rotation of the parts one upon the other, or I form
a groove or slot in one part, and provide a feather or stud upon the other part to
engage the groove or slot with the same object, and, by means of this stud or
feather, or by any other suitable device, I prevent the actual separation of the
parts.
According to another arrangement, in lieu of forming the steering post in two
parts, as hereinbefore described, I form the steering post in one piece, and I
provide beneath the steering head a flange which is fixed with the steering post,
whilst I form a corresponding flange upon the bottom of the head and arrange the
head with capability of slight vertical movement with relation to the steering post
and I place my air cushion between the flanges, whilst, if desired, I provide the
india rubber cushion with a tubular projecting bush.
Although I bave described the application of my cushion device to the steering
post of a velocipede, it will be understood that it may be arranged in other parts
of the frame of the velocipede in lieu of, or in addition to, placing it on the
steering post.
By the means hereinbefore described, I avoid the unpleasant sharp vibrations
which usually are conveyed to the rider in passing over an ordinary or extra rough

page_text: surface, the air cushion device absorbing and intercepting most or all of the
vibrations imparted to the wheel or wheels.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1894.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, BRUCE GREEN, of Nos. 65, and 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My said invention relates to improvements in or connected with velocipedes and
has for its object to provide an air buffer or cushion between the frame and wheels
in order to obviate or modify the jolting or vibration usually conveyed to the rider
when passing over an uneven surface.
For this purpose, according to one arrangement I divide the steering post
horizontally at some convenient part of its length, and I form one part to fit
telescopically within the other and upon the one part at or near the division
I provide a flange and upon the other part a short distance from the division,
I provide a corresponding flange, whilst, between the two flanges and around the
steering post, I arrange a hollow inflated india rubber cushion preferably spherical
in form or approximately so, and formed with a tubular way therethrough to receive
the steering post.
The two parts of the steering post may be formed of an oval or other suitable
section in order to prevent the rotation of the parts one upon the other, or, I form
a groove or slot in one part, and provide a feather or stud upon the other part to
engage the groove or slot with the same object and by means of this stud or
feather, or, by any other suitable device, 1 prevent the actual separation or
independent turning of the parts.
Although I have described the application of my cushion device to the steering
post of a velocipede, it will be understood that it may be arranged in other parts of
the frame of the velocipede in lieu of, or in addition to, placing it on the steering
post.
And, in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1. is a vertical section taken above the fork of a velocipede steering post
and head having the present invention applied thereto.
Figure 2. is a vertical transverse section representing a modified form of india-
rubber cushion.
Figure 3. is a horizontal section, taken through a velocipede head and steering
post, representing a modified section of steering post.
Figure 5. is a rear elevation of part of a velocipede representing the application
of the invention to the rear driving wheel thereof, and,
Figure 6. is a side elevation thereof, partly in section.
Figure 7. is a vertical section representing a further modification.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Referring to Figures 1, 2, and 3, a. represents the frame of the machine,
represents the crown of the fork, b. represents that part of the steering post

page_text: which is fixed with the fork whilst c. represents that part of the steering post which
moves with relation to the fork and o represents the handle bar which is fixed with
the part c. by means of a clip c
The steering post is thus divided into two parts b. and c. and the part b. is made
to fit telescopically within the part c. and upon the one part c. at or near the
division is provided a flauge c and upon the other part b. at a short distance from
the division is provided a corresponding flange or seat 6' whilst between the two
flanges and around that part b. of the steering post is arranged a hollow
inflated india rubber cushion d. which is in the form of a flattened ring or it might
be of spherical form, as represented at Figure 2, that is to say, the cushion d.
is formed with a tubular way therethrough to receive the part b. of the steering
post.
The independent rotation of the parts b. and c. of the steering post is prevented
by means of studs screwed into the part b. and by their heads engaging vertical
slots in the part c. so that whilst the parts b. and c. are capable of a certain
vertical movement they are fixed together as regards rotation whilst the studs b
at the same time prevent the actual separation of the parts b. and c. of the
steering post.
Instead of employing the studs 6' fixed with the part b. of the steering post and
the slots formed in the part c. the parts b. c. of the steering post might be formed
of an oval section as represented at Figure 3.
The head a¹ is at its upper part formed with a ball race and the upper part c. of
the steering post has fixed therewith a flange formed with a corresponding race a
number of balls c* being interposed between the parts whilst the lower end of the
head is similarly formed to act in conjunction with a corresponding race formed in
the top of the flange c³ of the part c. and by these means the steering post is efficiently
mounted on ball bearings, whilst at the same time permitting the necessary vertical
movement of one part with relation to the other.
In the example given at Figures 5. and 6., which represent the application of the
invention to the rear driving wheel of a velocipede, the arrangement of the parts is
very similar to that represented at Figure 1. except that in this case the flange or
disc b is fixed with a part of the frame a. adjacent to the rear wheel through the
intervention of a web 68* and the limbs of the fork c. are divided in a similar
manner to the steering post herein before described with respect to the previous
figures, that is to say, a part b. is fixed with the flange or disc and a tubular
part c. telescopes thereon and has fixed therewith the flange and the weight
borne by the rear part of the frame is thus supported upon cushions d. in a similar
manner to that hereinbefore described with respect to the front part of the
velocipede.
Although the cushion device is hereinbefore shown applied to the steering post
and to the fork of the rear wheel of a velocipede it will be understood that it
may be arranged in other parts of the frame of the velocipede with beneficial
results.
In the example given at Figure 7 the device is shown in the simplest form it is
capable of assuming but it will be understood that the shapes of the parts will vary
according to the particular position upon a velocipede in which the device is to be
placed.
Advantage is taken of this example to illustrate the application of an auxiliary
cushioning device consisting of a C spring f. at its ends fixed to the discs or
flanges be respectively and having for its object to supplement the power of
resistance of the india rubber cushion.
By the means hereinbefore described, the unpleasant sharp vibrations which
usually are conveyed to the rider in passing over an ordinary or extra rough
surface are avoided, the air cushion device absorbing and intercepting most or all
of the vibrations imparted to the wheel or wheels or frame.
It will be understood that the air cushions are provided with suitable valves to
facilitate the inflation thereof as is now well known.

page_text: '
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 :-
In a velocipede, the combination of a steering post or other post divided into
two parts fitted together telescopically, a flange upon each of such parts, an inflated
india rubber ring or cushion arranged around one of such parts and between the
flanges and means for preventing the separation of the parts, substantially as herein
-shown and described and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1894.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.