Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 7th Aug., 1890-Accepted, 13th Sept., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, FRANZ HAMMINGER of Regensburg, in the Empire of Germany, Retired
Lieutenant, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to permit the riders weight to act upon the brake and
with low velocipedes to reach the ground easily by the feet without necessitating
jumping off.
The device is set forth in the first instance for bicycles.
The saddle-carrier is made movable within a tube and prevented from turning by a
groove with a pin to fit or by some other suitable device. By the action of the
steering lever a bolt, connected thereto by a lever connection is withdrawn, whereby
in consequence of the weight of the rider the carrier lowers itself. Thereby the
springs situated within the tube are pressed together and the brake is operated. In
order to prevent a sudden rising of the carrier, the bolt pressed towards the carrier
by a spring, falls into a notch arranged on the carrier.
In order to reinstate the saddle into its original position after the rider has
dismounted, it is only necessary for him to withdraw the bolt when by the action of
the spring the carrier is driven up, and the bolt, influenced by a spring, jumps into
the notch of the carrier and secures the same in its original position. At the same
time by this liberation of the spring the brake is withdrawn from the hind-wheel.
In order to prevent the carrier jumping out from the tube, ribs are arranged at the
lower part of the carrier and the tube is closed by a round plate surrounding the
carrier, which plate upon the jumping up of the carrier is touched by the ribs.
Several notches can be arranged.
In order to rise in the saddle it is necessary to lean both hands on the balance as a
first support and raising point, as a second support the treddles then serve, or during
a down hill run the front-wheel-steps.
If the machine is lowered only as far as the half-brake notch the rider can raise
himself again by elevating by means of the balance and by stepping on the treddles.
With tricycles the falling saddle acts upon a brake-wheel arranged on the axis of
the two hind-wheels either in the shape of a riband-brake or by direct brake-block-
gear.
In a similar manner a brake-device can be arranged on four wheels.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I FRANZ HAMMINGER of Regensburg in the Empire of Germany, Retired
Lieutenant 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 relates to bicycles of the so called safety class and tricycles or other
velocipedes in which the saddle is supported by the framework not directly over a
wheel and it consists principally in making the saddle movable so that the rider's
weight may be brought into action if and when desired to operate a brake and also so
that said rider may lower himself until he can reach the ground with his feet for the
purpose of alighting or for more effectually stopping the machine in case of necessity,
the brake being brought into action by and during the downward position of the
saddle and the machine thus brought to and held at a standstill and in the case of a
bicycle also maintained in an upright position.

page_text: The accompanying drawings illustrate the manner in which this invention is
performed,
Fig. 1 being a side elevation of a
safety" bicycle fitted with the improvements.
Figs. II and III being sectional views on a larger scale showing the mechanism in
two positions.
Fig. IV shows the invention as applied to a tricycle. Fig. V is a side elevation and
Fig. VI a plan view showing the means for supporting the bicycle in an upright
position when at rest.
The saddle carrier a is made movable within a tubular part of the framework and
is prevented from turning by a groove with a pin or feather to fit therein or by any
other known and suitable device. The carrier a is maintained in position by a bolt c.
When, by the action of the steering lever g the bolt c connected thereto by suitable
lever connections t is withdrawn, the weight of the rider causes the saddle carrier to
be lowered in the tube b. The springs situated within the tube bare thus pressed
together and the brake p is brought into action by the pressure of the said springs on
a stop disc on the rod.k.
In order to prevent a sudden rising of the carrier a the bolt c pressed towards
the carrier a by a spring Fig. III falls into one of a series of notches & arranged
on the carrier a.
In order to reinstate the saddle into its original position after the rider has
dismounted it is only necessary for him to withdraw the bolt c, when the carrier a is
lifted up by the action of the spring and the bolt c influenced by its spring falls into
the notch e in the carrier and secures the latter in its original position. At the same
time by this liberation of the spring the brake p is withdrawn from the wheel.
с
In order to prevent the carrier a jumping out from the tube b a flange or ribs h are
arranged on the lower part of the carrier a and the tube b is closed by the round plate
or box surrounding the carrier said plate preventing the flange or ribs / from passing
upward beyond its lower edge..
Several notches can be arranged in the carrier a for instance as shown in the
drawing at i. In this way the brake may be set during movement with greater or less
force.
+
In order to raise the saddle when seated thereon it is necessary to lean with both
hands on the handle bars as a first support and to rise as a second support on the
treddles, or during a downhill run on the front foot rests. If the machine is lowered
only as far as the half brake notch i the rider can raise himself again by the handle
bars and treddles at the same time releasing the saddle carrier bolt.
To provide means for preventing the saddle carrier from being raised to its full
beight-unless-desired and-the-bolt-c-held-disengaged for that purpose, the bolt c is
bevelled at the end as shown so that it will enter into engagement with the teeth d
which will prevent the saddle from rising.
With tricycles, the movable saddle acts upon a brake wheel arranged on the axle of
the two hind wheels or an equivalent axle according to the design of the tricycle
either in the shape of a band brake or by direct brake block gear. In a similar
manner a brake device can be arranged on a four wheeled or other cycle.
In bicycles the above described brake device may be combined with a bar or bars
designed to hold the bicycle in an upright or substantially upright position when at
rest. Such device is shown more particularly in Figs. V and VI it consists of a bar
or fork g the branches of which are slightly spread, pivoted at m to the framework and
having a slot or slots for engaging with a cross head on the rod k. When the rod k
is pressed down the fork g is moved on its pivot m and the sides rest upon the ground
and support the bicycle in an upright position.
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. In a velocipede the combination of the movable saddle with a brake so that the
weight of the rider may, on release of said saddle, operate to bring the brake into action.

page_text: 2. In a velocipede the combination with the saddle of the saddle carrier a the
tubular frame b the bolt c adapted to lock said saddle carrier as set forth the spring or
springs and the brake lever p for cooperation substantially as set forth.
3. The combination in a safety" bicycle with the movable saddle and brake
operated thereby substantially as set forth of the bar or fork g adapted when the
saddle is lowered to support the bicycle in the manner described.
Dated this 7th day of August 1890.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents to Applicant.