Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1887
Complete Left, 9th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 24th Feb., 1888
I CHARLES PITT BYRNE of 16, Montagu Street, Portman Square, London, W. do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers to an improved method of suspending the seat and treadles of
velocipedes and more particularly rear-driven bicycles or tricycles.
The seat and treadles are connected to each other by a rod or pillar, which I shall
call the carriage.
The upper end of the carriage carries the seat (or saddle), and the lower end carries
the crank.
To the lower or crank end of the carriage is pivoted a tension rod connecting the
crank pulley with the wheel pulley.
The tension rod moving freely on the spindle of driving wheel, it is clear that the
crank with the carriage and seat can move freely in the plane of the wheel i.e. upwards
and downwards. The upper or seat end of carriage is also free to move backwards.
or forwards.
To prevent lateral movement, the carriage runs between guides, which are also
provided with stops to set a limit the fore and aft movement.
To support the carriage in position, I attach a spring to a point between the seat
and the crank; and suspend the said spring from some rigid part of the velocipede
but in front of the carriage.
The nature of the spring and its attachment are variable provided that it tends to
draw the carriage upwards and forwards, or two or more springs might be used having
the same resultant.

page_text: To the crank is pivoted the tension-rod B. C. connecting it to centre of Driving
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 an improved method of suspending upon springs the seat,
treadles & handles of Velocipedes-more particularly of Rear driven bycycles &
tricycles.
The seat is connected to the crank axle by a rod or pillar A. B. which I shall call
the carriage The end A of the carriage carries the scat or saddle & the end B carries
the crank.
To the crank is pivoted the tension-rod B. C. connecting it to centre of Driving
wheel C.
This tension rod being centred on the spindle C, the crank is free to move upwards
& downwards with the carriage & seat; & the carriage being centred at B, the seat A
is also free to move backwards & forwards.
To prevent lateral movement, the carriage runs between guides at D while steps are
provided to limit the fore & aft movement.
The carriage is supported in position by a suspension rod pivoted at E & F & by a
spring F. G.
A spring similar to a coach spring is inserted in the front steering rod at H above
the front fork & below the steering centre.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said
Invention & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The tension rod with the cranks, being left free to move up & down on wheel
centre, as described & explained.
2. The seat pillar free to move up & down with crank, & also free to move
backwards & forwards on crank centre as described & explained.
3. The suspension rod attatched to a point between the seat & the crank & centred
at E as described & explained.
4. The spring supporting the said suspension rod as described & explained.
5. The balancing of the points A & B upon the centre F from which the seat pillar
is suspended.

page_text: 6. The combination of levers as above, by means of which, pressure applied to the
cranks (as in hill climbing) tends to draw the seat forwards or more over the treadles :
whereas pressure applied to the seat & removed from the treadles tends to bring the
seat automatically backwards thus giving the most advantageous position in each
case or in any intermediate case as shewn.
7. The assistance given by the handles in enabling the rider to maintain or restore
the balance.
8. The combination of all or any of these claims for the purposes above described &
explained.