Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Jan., 1894-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, JULES EMILE SÉNÉCHAL of 42 Rue Réaumur, Paris, Merchant, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in velocipedes and consists in a
special arrangement of the driving gear, a construction of frame which renders the
velocipede convertible so that it may be used either as a bicycle or as a
tricycle as may be desired and means for adjusting and fixing the saddle.
The accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example a velocipede constructed
according to this invention,
Fig. 1 being a vertical longitudinal section thereof and
Fig. 2 a cross section through the driving gear.
In the drawings the velocipede is shown adapted for use as a bicycle. The pedals
are carried by an internally toothed ring b provided with a ring c recessed to receive
antifriction balls d. The ring c is made in two externally screw threaded parts
adapted to screw into the ring b (Fig. 2). The disc a thus constituted rotates on a
fixed circular support e carried by the fork around the periphery of which
support there is cut a recess, the antifriction balls d being contained in the
annular chamber formed by the recess in the support e and the recess in the
ring c.
The motion of the pedals is transmitted by the toothed ring b, to a pinion h keyed
on the axle g (or a sleeve thereon) and mounted in ball bearings.
This above described arrangement of mechanism has obvious advantages,
particularly as regards facility of construction and durability of the parts 3
furthermore the friction and driving surfaces are well protected.
To convert a velocipede according to this invention adapted for use as a bicycle
into one adapted for use as a tricycle it is merely necessary to remove the hind
wheel with its axle, which is located in the forks K of the frame, and to replace
it by two parallel wheels carried by a similar axle the wheels being arranged outside
of the fork.
According to this invention the saddle bar (which is preferably of tubular form)
is mounted-to-slide in a sleeve carried by another tube m which is adapted to work
with slight friction in an upright tube-n-of-corresponding section.
The forward portion of the saddle-bar rests on a support fixed-to-the-upper end
of a rod p working vertically in a guide or sleeve g mounted on the upper part of
the frame. A set screws serves to fix the rod p when the position of the seat has
been determined. The saddle bar having been disengaged from its support o on
which it merely bears, the rod m is caused to slide in the tube n for the purpose of
adjusting the saddle as regards height; then the support o is placed underneath the
rod l, and the rod p fixed firmly in its guide or sleeve by tightening the screw s.
Any other suitable means may be employed for fixing said support.
The herein described mode of mounting the saddle may be used with other
arrangements for adjusting the said saddle and some of my improvements may be
employed without the others.
Dated this 1st day of Anril 1802

page_text: Improvements in Velocipedes.
1, JULES EMILE SÉNÉCHAL, of 42 Rue Réaumur, Paris, Merchant, 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 has reference to improvements in velocipedes and comprises a
special arrangement of the driving gear, a construction of frame which renders the
velocipede convertible so that it may be used either as a bicycle or as a
tricycle as may be desired, and means for adjusting the height of and fixing the
saddle.
The drawings filed with my Provisional Specification illustrate a construction of
velocipede embodying my improvements,
Fig. 1 being a vertical longitudinal section thereof; and Fig. 2 a cross section
through the driving gear.
The velocipede is shown adapted for use as a bicycle. The pedals (not shewn)
are carried by an internally toothed ring b provided with an inner ring c recessed to
receive antifriction balls d.
The ring c is made in two externally screw threaded parts adapted to screw into
the ring 6 (Fig. 2). The disc or wheel a thus constituted rotates on a fixed circular
support e carried by the fork f, around the periphery of which support a recess is
cut, the antifriction balls d being contained in the annular chamber formed by the
recess in the support e and the recess in the ring c.
The motion of the pedals which as above mentioned are carried by the ring b is
transmitted by the said toothed ring b, to a pinion keyed on a tubular axle
surrounding the fixed rod g, ball bearings being interposed between the said axle
and fixed rod as shewn.
The above described arrangement of mechanism has obvious advantages,
particularly as regards facility of construction and durability of the parts;
furthermore the friction and driving surfaces are well protected. To convert
a velocipede according to this invention adapted for use as a bicycle into one adapted
for use as a tricycle it is merely necessary to remove the hind wheel i with its axle,
which is located in the forks k of the frame, and to replace it by two parallel wheels
carried by a similar axle, the wheels being arranged outside of the fork.
According to this invention the saddle bar (which is preferably of tubular form)
is fixed in a sleeve carried by another tube m which is adapted to fit with slight
friction into a tube n of corresponding section in which it is fixed at the desired
height by a locking screw in the ordinary way.
The forward portion of the saddle-bar rests on a support o fixed to the upper end
of a rod p working vertically in a guide or sleeve 9 mounted on the upper part r of
the frame. A set-screws serves to fix the rod p when the position of the seat has
been determined. The saddle-bar / having been disengaged from its support o, on
which it merely bears, the rod m is caused to slide in the tube n for the purpose of
adjusting the saddle as regards height; the support o is then placed underneath the
rod l, and the rod p fixed firmly in its guide or sleeve by tightening the screw s.
Any other suitable means may be employed for fixing the said support.
The herein described mode of mounting the saddle may be used with other
arrangements for adjusting the said saddle, and some of my improvements may be
employed without the others.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a velocipede the arrangement of multiplying gear hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the drawings.
2. In a velocipede the arrangement for adjusting the height of the saddle-bar and
fixing the same, when adjusted, in position, as hereinbefore described and shown in
the drawings.
3. The improved convertible velocipede described and shewn.
Dated this 1st day of January 1894.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.