An Arrangement for Altering the Relative Positions of Handle-bar and Saddle of Bicycles when in Motion without Dismounting, and Inclining the Saddle to Suit such Altered Positions of Handles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Arrangement for Altering the Relative Positions of Handle-bar
and Saddle of Bicycles when in Motion without Dismounting,
and Inclining the Saddle to Suit such Altered Positions of
Handles.
ROBERT REID The Buildings Dunmow Essex Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
By raising or depressing the handle bar the saddle is shifted backward or forward,
and at the same time is inclined to an angle suitable to any given position of
handles. This is effected by means of a handle bar working freely in the eye of the
head tube, and having two cranks keyed (one on each side of the head tube eye) to
the handle bar. These cranks engage with a crosshead, or slotted quadrant, into
which one end of a coupling rod works, and the other is fastened to the front of the
saddle or saddle frame. The head carrying the saddle is formed of the arc of a circle,
this allows the proper relative inclination of saddle to any given position of handles.
The handle bar is retained in any given position by means of a spring latch, on
the bar, engaging into corresponding holes on the head of handle tube, or this
spring can be operated upon by the foot, & gearing into a notched quadrant. The
curved slot in the quadrant or crosshead is to allow putting the front wheel about
to either the right hand or the left, & still to allow the connecting rod to remain
in its normal position, or parallel with the top stay tube of bicycle frame.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1896.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Arrangement for Altering the Relative Positions of Handle-bar
and Saddle of Bicycles when in Motion without Dismounting,
and Inclining the Saddle to Suit such Altered Positions of
Handles.
I ROBERT REID The Buildings Dunmow Essex. Civil 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 refers to handle bars and saddles of cycles, and consists in
devices for depressing, raising or retaining the same, by either of the three following
methods:-
A worm and wheel fixed on the bicycle head, a differential screw on the coupling
rod-or a thumb-latch or lever conveniently fixed on the handle bar-as shewn on
accompanying drawings, which said lever is retained in any one of the desired
positions of the handle bar, by means of a stop block having three or more holes
D

page_text: in the same, which holes are suited to the relative positions of the handles. At the
same time the saddle is shifted back or forward, and inclined so as to suit any given
position of handles, all of which results are obtained by the depressing or raising
of the handle bar, while the bicycle is in motion, all as hereinafter particularly
described.
Figure 1. of the accompanying drawing is a side elevation, and Figure 2. a plan
of part of a bicycle illustrating the thumb-latch or lever arrangement, constructed in
accordance with my invention.
The handle bar, instead of being a fixture, is fitted loose into the head tube, which
may either have a single eye, or a forked jaw, for the reception of the handle bar,
and which tube, is capable of adjustment as regards height, in the usual manner.
A stop-block (1) for retaining the handles and saddles in any desired position, is
fixed in the jaw of the head tube as shewn on the accompanying drawing Fig. 1.
Or, if a single eye is employed instead of a forked jaw-a stop block may be fixed on
the side of the head tube for retaining the lever in any desired position. The retaining
lever (2) is shewn fitted on the top of the handle bar, with a flat steel spring (3)
at the fulcrum end, and an additional spiral spring (4) between the jaws of the head
tube for double security in retaining the lever pin in any desired hole. The stop-
block may be provided with any number of holes corresponding to the desired number
of positions of handle-bar and saddle.
Two cranks (5) are keyed on the handle bar as shewn, which cranks engage with
either a slotted quadrant (a) on accompanying drawing (Fig. 2), or are connected
with a rocking crosshead (c) Figs. 3; 4, by means of coupling rods (b), and, in
either case, connection is made between the slotted quadrant, or rocking crosshead,
and the saddle by a coupling rod (d) by means of a stud pin (6) fitted into the front,
of the saddle frame (7) as shewn, or, in any other suitable position. In order to
further adjust the position of the rider, the coupling rod is provided with a right and
left screwed sleeve nut (8). This extra adjustment can also be obtained when the
bicycle or other similar vehicle is in motion, without the rider dismounting.
For double security the saddle frame may be provided with a hand screw (e)
Fig. 2, or with a spring lever or other similar device, engaging with holes in the
saddle head tube (9) corresponding with the relative positions given by the lever on
the handle bar.
In order to obtain the desired inclination of the saddle suited to the relative
positions of the handle bar, the saddle tube head (9) is curved to a suitable radius,
and may be of any desired section, and is capable of adjustment as regards height,
in the usual manner.
A sliding block (f) of brass or other suitable material, is provided, fixed to the
saddle frame (9), and free to slide on the tube head, according to the positions of
handles and saddle desired.
The coupling rod (d) may be tubular for lightness, and is held in its normal
position, or parallel to the top-stay of the bicycle frame, by means of a clip
bracket (h).
The slotted quadrant (a) or rocking crosshead c may be made longer or shorter
according to the desired angle to which the wheel may be put about.
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:-
1. The methods and apparatus for altering the relative positions of handle bars and
saddles of bicycles, when in motion, substantially as shewn and described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In a bicycle, the combination of a handle-bar capable of being partially rotated
in its socket, or eye of the head tube, by depressing or elevating the handles, and
which can be retained in either one of a number of chosen positions, by means of a
pin operated by a lever; two cranks operated by such handle bar; a slotted quadrant
moved by the same; a longitudinally moveable connecting rod moving with the slotted

page_text: quadrant, and itself moving a saddle which is free to slide on a saddle head tube, or
carrier; in the arc of a circle substantially as shewn and described in the accompanying
drawings.
3. In a bicycle, the combination of a handle bar capable of being rotated in its
socket (as above described), and which can be retained in either one of a number of
chosen positions, by means of a pin operated by a lever, two cranks operated by such
handle bar, a rocking crosshead moved by the same, a longitudinally-moveable
connecting rod moving with the crosshead, and itself moving a saddle which is free
to slide on a saddle tube head, or carrier, in the arc of a circle, substantially as
shewn and described in the accompanying drawings. The above devices, retaining
the handle bars and saddle in any desired position, when the bicycle is in motion,
without the rider requiring to dismount.
In witness whereof I, the said ROBERT REID, have hereunto set my hand this
Twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and ninety-six.
ROBERT REID.