Year: 1897

page_text: 2510
I, HENRY NEVILL of Aukerwyke, Shirley Warren, Shirley, Southampton, in the
County of Hants, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to bicycles and such like machines, more especially to the seats
or saddles of same.
The main object of my said invention is to minimize the concussion or jolting at the
seat or saddle of bicycles and such like machines, caused by the machine going. over
obstructions on, or the unevenness of the road.
In carrying out my invention, instead of mounting the saddle directly or indirectly
in, or on a rigid seat pillar, as is now usually the case, I first provide a cylinder or
tube with a solid bottom which is made to fit in the head of the seat pillar tube
forming part of the framework of the machine, and to be moved up and down
adjusted, and fixed at any desired height in same.
In this cylinder or tube I fit a piston, hollow or solid as desired which will form
part of the seat pillar when so fitted.
The saddle is mounted on the head of this piston in any suitable manner, or as now
usually adopted.
At the bottom of the aforesaid cylinder I provide and fit a suitable spring adapted
to take the lower end and support the aforesaid piston so that the latter is free to
move up and down in the cylinder riding on the spring.
The spring can be made of any desired strength and elasticity to take the weight
of a rider, and may be of spiral or any suitable form best adapted for the purpose
in view.
Suitable means will be provided for lubricating the piston working in the cylinder,
so as to allow of its free up and down motion when the machine is being ridden and
for preventing the piston from turning in the cylinder, and from being drawn out of
the cylinder, except when it is required to do so, and for the escape of air under
pressure generated in bottom of cylinder by reason of the close fitting of the piston in
the cylinder.
When a machine fitted in accordance with my invention, as hereinbefore described,
is being ridden the saddle, which is mounted on the piston, is free to move up and
down with the latter which rides on the spring at the bottom of the cylinder.
The said spring, in combination with the ordinary saddle springs, will thus take
and thereby relieve the jolting motion at the saddle caused by inequalities in, and
obstructions on the road.
Dated this Sixth day of January 1897.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Bicycles and such like Machines.
1, HENRY NEVILL, of Aukerwyke, Shirley Warren, Shirley, Southampton in the
County of Hants, Gentleman, 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 :-
My invention relates to bicycles and such like machines, more especially to the
seats or saddles of same.
The main object of my said invention is to minimize the concussion or jolting at
the seat or saddle of bicycles, and such like machines, caused by the machine going
over obstructions on, or the unevenness of the road.
The accompanying drawings represent what I consider to be the best means of
fully carrying out my improvements in which :-
Fig. 1. is a central sectional elevation shewing my apparatus as made, and fitted in
the head of the seat pillar tube of a bicycle, or such like machine, according to one
form or modification of my invention.
Fig. 2. a like view shewing my apparatus as made, and fitted in the head of the
seat pillar tube of. a bicycle, or such like machine, according to another form or
modification of my invention.
Fig. 3. is a complete sectional plan taken at a. a.
Fig. 4. a complete sectional plan taken at b. b.
Fig. 5. a complete sectional plan taken at c. c.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
A, represents the head of the seat pillar tube of a bicycle, or such like machine.
B, a cylinder or tube of any convenient desired length.
, a piston or plunger made to fit nicely in the cylinder B, at its lower end, and to
project above the top of cylinder so as to carry the seat or saddle which is mounted on
same directly or indirectly, in manner as now usually adopted.
Between the bottom of the piston C, and the bottom of the cylinder B, I fit a
coil spring E.
Referring more especially to Fig. 1; after inserting the spring E in the cylinder B,
at the bottom of same, I close the bottom by means of a screw plug p, and thus form
a solid bottom to the cylinder B, the bottom of the said spring will then rest on the
bottom of the cylinder, and the bottom of the piston C, will rest on the top of the
spring so that the piston is free to move up and down in the cylinder resting on
the spring.
..
According to another form or modification of my invention I arrange that the said
spring shall embrace a spindle F which will project at its lower end through a hole
provided in the bottom p, of cylinder, in which it, the spindle, is free to move up and
down to a limited extent; a part of the lower end of the spindle is screw threaded as
illustrated for the purpose hereinafter fully described.
The cylinder B, with its contents, namely, the piston C, spring E and other
attachments can be inserted in the head of the seat pillar tube of any bicycle or
such like machine and as easily removed from same at will.
Taking it that the said complete apparatus is fitted in the head of the seat pillar
tube, as shewn in the accompanying drawings, it can be adjusted in same and fixed at
the desired height by means of the clip G, by tightening up same.
The piston C and consequently the saddle it will be seen is supported by the
spring E, directly or indirectly, and the piston is free to reciprocate vertically in
the cylinder B, riding on the spring, thus the weight, at the seat of a rider of a
machine, fitted according to my invention, is taken by the spring which serves to

page_text: minimize the jolting motion or concussion at the seat, due to inequalities in, or
of structions on the road over which the machine is passing.
To limit the upward travel of the piston in the cylinder and its entire disen-
gagement from same, I fit on the top of the cylinder B, a screw cap H, and reduce
the diameter of the head of the piston somewhat so as to form a shoulder which is
covered by the cap.
To assist the reciprocating movement of the piston in the cylinder I may form
a ball race, or ball races J. J. in the piston, lengthways of same, and corresponding
races at the inside of cylinder in which balls are placed the piston thus reciprocates
vertically on balls; I find it convenient to fit two tiers of balls in each race separating
same vertically by studs K, or the like, and I keep the lower tier of balls from
dropping out of the race at the bottom by means of a stud K' or the like, but I may
fit one, two, or more tiers of balls as found most convenient.
The ball race, or races will also serve to prevent the piston, and consequently
the saddle. from swivelling, that is turning horizontally, and to further prevent
same I form or fit feathers K2, K2, on the inside of cylinder B, which engage with
corresponding featherways or grooves formed in the piston lengthways of same.
Further, I split the bottom of the piston at L for a convenient distance lengthways
of same, and fit the tapered screw plug M, in the bottom of piston, lengthways
of same, which upon being screwed up will expand the piston thereby serving to
adjust the balls at the bottom of races where the most wear of balls is likely to occur.
The spring E can be made of any desired strength and elasticity to best take
various weights of riders on the seat, and the spring may be of any suitable form
best adapted for the purpose in view, and, referring to Fig. 2; I can also adjust
a spring to take varying increased initial weights, by compressing same, to do this
it is only necessary to screw up the nut d, on the screw threaded end of the
spindle the nut bearing against the bottom of cylinder-before inserting the
cylinder in the seat pillar head, whereby the spindle F is brought down and the spring
consequently compressed, which will then be capable of supporting a greater initial
weight; the amount of compression of spring required to take a given initial weight
will be indicated on the bottom flat surface k, of spindle F, say in lbs., and at the
top of the piston C, above the cap H, a graduated figured scale of weights being
set off on same, thus a rider finding that there is too much or too little elasticity,
as the case may be, in the spring can adjust same to the extent that he finds will
secure the best riding result.
The nut d, will fix the spindle and spring in the desired position, and the nut e,
forms a lock nut to the nut d.
The head of the tapered screw M, is coned and fits in a corresponding recess in the
head of the spindle F, thereby serving to steady the latter and to secure it in position
parallel with the sides of the cylinder B, and thus keep the spring clear of the sides of
the cylinder.
It will be seen that in the arrangement of my apparatus as illustrated with
reference to Fig. 2. that the screw M, completes the connection between the piston C,
and spring E.
The nut f; is fitted to serve as a lock nut to the screw M.
The spindle can be made hollow or solid as found most convenient; washers 9, of
leather or other suitable material, may be fitted at the bottom of spring, also under the
cap H, and under the bottom of cylinder, all with the view of deadening the concussion
of the parts during movement.
Various modifications may be made in the details of my apparatus without departing
from the nature of my invention.
For instance, referring to Fig. 1, I may sometimes fit a fixed spindle between the
bottom of cylinder and the bottom of piston of any convenient length, for the purpose
of supporting and taking the spring E.
Importance is attached to the portability of the apparatus, whereby the same can be
fitted to the seat pillar tube of existing types of bicycles, and such like machines,
without in any way altering or weakening same.

page_text: Importance is attached to the simplicity of construction of my apparatus, the self-
contained arrangement of the parts forming a complete whole in a cylinder or tube B,
which can be fitted in, and as readily removed from the seat pillar tube of any bicycle
and such like machine.
Importance is attached, in combination with the other parts of my apparatus, to
the means I adopt of adjusting the spring E, at will to take various initial riding
weights.
Importance is attached, in combination with the other parts of my apparatus, to
the use of balls for facilitating the reciprocating movement of the piston or plunger,
and to the method of adjustment of the balls by means of the tapered screw M.
The piston and parts contained in the cylinder may be lubricated by passing oil
or other suitable lubricant down at the top of the cap H, or by any other convenient
means.
I do not confine myself to the use of any particular number of ball races J, or
feathers K², the same will be provided in number that I find will give the best
results.
The improvements are more particularly adapted for velocipedes, but I believe
some of the novel features of this invention can be used to advantage in other
similar carriages.
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 :-
:-
1st. For a bicycle or such like machine, the new or improved apparatus consisting
of the parts constructed, arranged, and combined substantially as herein before described
with reference to the accompanying drawings and operating as, and for the purpose
above specified.
2nd. For a bicycle or such like machine the new or improved apparatus comprising
the cylinder B, the piston or plunger C, the spring E, and other devices, all
constructed and combined substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, and operating as, and for the purpose above specified.
3rd. The new or improved self contained apparatus described, adapted for ready
attachment to, and detachment from a bicycle, or such like machine, for the purpose
above specified.
4th. For a bicycle or such like machine the herein described method of minimizing
the concussion or jolting at the seat or saddle, substantially as described.
5th. The combination with a bicycle or such like machine of my new or improved
apparatus, as and for the purpose above specified.
6th. The combination for a bicycle or such like machine of a cylinder B, adapted
for ready insertion in the head of the seat pillar tube, a piston or plunger C,
working in said cylinder on ball bearings, the said piston being supported and
riding on a coil spring E, substantially as described and shewn for the purpose
specified.
7th. In combination with the other parts of my apparatus the herein described
method of regulating and adjusting the spring E, so as to adapt it, and consequently
the seat or saddle, for carrying riders of varying weights, substantially as described
for the purpose specified.
Dated his ad dave
HENRY NEVILL.
Herbert P. Blake,
70 High Street, Southampton, Agent for the Applicant.