IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS FOR THE SADDLES AND SEATS OF BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES, AND IN ALARM APPARATUS FOR SUCH VEHICLES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Harrington, of Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS FOR THE SADDLES AND SEATS OF
BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES, AND IN ALARM APPARATUS FOR SUCH VEHICLES."
Sealed the 19th March 1880 and dated the 24th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Harrington at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th September 1879.
JOHN HARRINGTON, of Ryde, in the Isle of Wight. "IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRINGS
FOR THE SADDLES AND SEATS OF BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES, AND IN ALARM
APPARATUS FOR SUCH VEHICLES."
The Invention has for its object improvements in springs for the saddles
and seats of bicycles and tricycles. and in alarm apparatus for such vehicles.
I form a spring of steel rod or wire bent into a flattened Z form, and coiled
completely round at each angle so as to form a spring at such parts in addition to
the natural spring of the rod or wire. Each spring is formed of one continuous
piece of rod or wire, and is made with two of such flattened Z parts, separated from
each other by a suitable space, but connected together by the continuous rod or
wire of which they are made, passing over from the one to the other at the outer
end of the upper member of the spring.
In applying the above description of spring to bicycle saddles, it is fixed rigidly
by its lower members to the "spine" of the vehicle, which parts are preferably
formed to the curve of the "spine," and the centre members of such spring are
preferably curved. in the contrary direction. The two halves of the spring pass.
outside the "spine," the latter being intermediate thereof, and the saddle is fixed to
A similar
the upper member of the spring with capability of adjustment thereon.
arrangement is applicable to tricycle saddles, but in that class of tricycles in which
a seat is employed in lieu of a saddle I preferably employ two of the before
mentioned springs to support such seat.
My improved alarm apparatus consists of a gong or bell fixed in convenient'
position, and provided with a hammer operated by a lever mounted on an axis of
motion, the lower end of such lever when the alarm is required to be sounded being
placed in position to be struck by projections fixed to the underside of the felloe of
the wheel, and when not required such lever is held away from such projections by
a suitable key or lever.

page_text: lower members may be formed to the curve of the "spine," or they may be formed
straight as shown in the Drawings, the centre members of such springs are preferably
curved in the contrary direction, whilst the outer connected ends of the upper
members are shaped to fit the saddle.
The two halves of the spring f pass outside the "spine" c, the latter being
intermediate thereof, and the saddle e is fixed to the upper members of the spring f
with capability of adjustment thereon. A similar arrangement is applicable to
tricycle saddles, but in that class of tricycles in which a seat is employed in lieu of
a saddle I preferably employ two of the before mentioned springs ƒ placed side by
side to support each seat.
h is a gong or bell which is fixed to the head d by a bracket i, it is provided
with a hammer, pin jointed at j¹ to the bracket i, and such hammer j has jointed
thereto at 3, a lever j³, capable of moving on its axis in one direction as shown by
the dotted lines, hut rigid in the contrary direction.
The lower end of the lever j³ when an alarm is required to be sounded is by the
rider depressing the key or lever k, allowed to assume the position shown in full lines,
the spring * serving to retain the lever 3 in such a position so long as the key or lever
k is depressed, but when the spring k is allowed to raise the key or lever kas
shown by the dotted lines, in Figure 7 the lever j³ is raised into the position shown
by the dotted lines. When the lever is in the position shown by the full lines,
it is in position to be struck by projections fixed to the underside of the felloe
of the wheel a; I preferably fix about four or six of such projections to the wheel
at equal distances apart, so as to strike the bell or gong a suitable number of
times in lieu of causing it to be struck by each alternate spoke of the wheel as
heretofore.
Having thus described the nature of my said. Invention, and the mode in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is
forming springs for the saddles or seats of bicycles and tricycles, in manner
substantially as herein shown and described, and,
Secondly. I claim operating the hammer lever of alarm apparatus of bicycles
and tricycles, by means of projections fixed to the felloe of the wheel, substantially
as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Harrington, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty third day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
JOHN HARRINGTON.
(L.S.)