Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th June, 1894-Accepted, 21st July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
We, JAMES ALFred Lamplugh of No. 135 Great Colmore Street, Birmingham
in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, and HENRY ARTHUR LAMPLUGH, of
No. 1 Charlotte Road, Birmingham, aforesaid Machinist do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates principally to the saddles of bicycles, tricycles and other
velocipedes. We make the under frame of the saddle of two parallel bars of Tiron
the horizontal fins of which are made from the same sheet of metal and are connected
at their front ends. The vertical fins of the T iron have near their middles two
opposed projections. One pair of these projections constitutes the bearing in which
snugs on opposite sides of a ring between the bars take and work, the said snugs
constituting a horizontal axis on which the under frame of the saddle turns to effect
the raising and lowering of the front end of the saddle. The horizontal arm of
the pin passes through the said ring in which ring the said arm is capable
of being adjusted by a horizontal motion. The saddle may thus be adjusted in
a more or less forward position.
The other pair of projections has curved slots in which screwed snugs on opposite
sides of another ring pass. When the inclination of the saddle has been adjusted
screw nuts on the said screwed snugs are tightened and the inclination of the seat
fixed. The said screw nuts at the same time force together half clips situated on
the ring through which ring the horizontal arm of the L pin passes; the tightening
of the half clips fixes the adjusted saddle to the L pin. The adjusted inclination.
may be further secured by screw pins attached by means of eyes on their lower ends
to the snugs described. The upper ends of the said screw pins pass through holes
in the horizontal fin and by screw nuts on the upper sides of the fin the position of
the said screw pins may be fixed. The front end of the horizontal fin is turned up
at right angles and is passed up between the branches of the front supporting
spring and terminates in a cross arm which bears on the upper side of the said spring.
The foundation and spring are thereby kept in line.
We make the plate situated under the rear end of the seat convex on its upper
side and to its concave underside we affix two headed screw pins at a distance apart
equal to the distance apart of the rear ends of the spring frame. The said screw
pins are fixed in the said plate by their heads taking into the concave underside
of the said plate and held therein by ears on the edges of the said plate being
turned down upon them.
In pneumatic saddles we make in the inflated body of the saddle a tube extending
from the front to about the middle of the said body at which part the said tube is
bifurcated, the branches making about a right angle with each other. The said
tube is open at both ends and when the saddle is advancing through the air a strong
current passes through the said tube from front to back and keeps the compressed
air in the saddle cool. In attaching the leather seat to the inflated body of the
saddle we fix a wire spring in the turned under edge of the seat the said spring
being open at front. By opening the said spring at front the leather seat can be
readily passed on to the inflated body to which it fixes itself by allowing the spring
to contract. In order to prevent the air in the inflated body from becoming heated
by the heat of the rider we line the leather seat with a sheet of asbestos fabric or
other imperfect conductor of heat.
We connect the spring foundation of bicycle, tricycle and other velocipede

page_text: saddles to the horizontal branch of the pin by means of a clip constructed as
follows. Two half clips having at their middle opposed faces concavities which
when the said half clips are tightened together by screw pins grasp the pin and
fix the saddle. In the outer ends of the said half clips are smaller concavities of a
size suitable for gripping the strong wire of which the spring foundation is made.
These smaller cavities are curved in a vertical plane, and curves are made in the
spring foundation of a size and shape suited for fitting in the concavities in the half
clips. When the screw pins are tightened the saddle is fixed on the L pin and the
spring foundation at the same time firmly gripped by the clip.
Our invention further relates to the pedals of bicycles, tricycles and other
velocipedes. In order to suit the pedals for persons having different widths in the
tread of the foot as well as to suit riders using at different times shoes of different
breadths we make the cruciform sides of the tread in the following manner. Instead
of making all the branches of the cruciform sides in one plain we crank one of the
said arms so as to bring it into a plane parallel to that of the others, but situated at
say about half an inch further from the crank. The arm so cranked is one of the
arms which is vertical when the pedal is horizontal. When the rider wishes a
broad tread he turns the pedal so that the cranked arm is in its highest position.
When he wishes a narrow tread he turns the pedal so that the cranked arm is in its
lowest position. The said cranking of one of the arms of the side of the pedal may
be applied to one or both sides of the pedal.
Dated the 27th day of September 1893.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
We JAMES ALFRED LAMPLUGH of No. 135 Great Colmore Street,
Birmingham in the County of Warwick Manufacturer and HENRY ARTHUR
LAMPLUGH, of No. 1 Charlotte Road Birmingham aforesaid Machinist, do
hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Our invention relates principally to the saddles of bicycles tricycles, and other
velocipedes. We make the under frame of the saddle of two nearly parallel bars of
Tiron, the horizontal fins of which are made from the same sheet of metal and
are connected at their ends. The vertical fins of the T iron have near their
middles two opposed projections. One pair of these projections constitutes the
bearing in which snugs on opposite sides of a ring between the bars take and work,
the said snugs constituting a horizontal axis on which the under frame of the saddle
turns to effect the raising and lowering of the front end of the saddle. The
horizontal arm of the L pin passes through the said ring in which ring the said
arm is capable of being adjusted by a horizontal motion. The saddle may thus be
adjusted in a more or less forward position. The other pair of projections has
curved slots in which screwed snugs on opposite sides of another ring pass.
the inclination of the saddle has been adjusted, screw nuts on the said screwed
snugs are tightened and the inclination of the seat fixed. The said screw nuts at
the same time force together half clips situated on the ring through which ring the
horizontal arm of the L pin passes, the tightening of the half clips fixes the
adjusted saddle to the pin. The adjusted inclination may be further secured by
screw pins attached by means of eyes on their lower ends to the smugs described.
The upper ends of the said screw pins pass through holes in the horizontal fin and
by screw nuts on the upper sides of the fin the position of the said screw pins may
be fixed. The front end of the horizontal fin is turned up at right angles and is
When

page_text: passed up between the branches of the front supporting spring and terminates in a
cross arm which bears on the upperside of the said spring. The foundation and
spring are thereby kept in line.
We make the plate situated under the rear end of the seat convex on its upper
side and to its concave under side we affix two headed screw pins at a distance
apart equal to the distance apart of the rear ends of the spring frame. The said
screw pins are fixed in the said plate by their heads taking into the concave under-
side of the said plate and held therein by cars on the edges of the said plate being
turned down upon them.
Our invention further relates to the pedals of bicycles, tricycles and other
velocipedes. In order to suit the pedals for persons having different widths in the
tread of the foot as well as to suit riders using at different times shoes of different
breadths, we make the cruciform sides of the tread in the following manner.
Instead of making all the branches of the cruciform sides in one plane, we crank
one of the said arms so as to bring it into a plane parallel to that of the others but
situated at, say, about half an inch further from the crank. The arm so cranked
is one of the arms which is vertical when the pedal is horizontal. When the rider
wishes a broad tread he turns the pedal so that the cranked arm is in its highest
position. When he wishes a narrow tread he turns the pedal so that the cranked
arm is in its lowest position. The said cranking of one of the arms of the side of
the pedal may be applied to one or both sides of the pedal.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in side elevation a bicycle
saddle the underframe and other parts of which are constructed according to our
invention Figure 2 represents the said underframe in plan and Figure 3 represents
a side elevation of a portion of the underframe detached: Figures 4, 5 and 6
represent cross sections taken on the dotted lines x, a; y, y; and 2, z Figure 1
respectively Figure 7 represents in side elevation a modified shape of the
underframe represented in Figures 1 and 2.
a,
The underframe represented consists of the two nearly parallel bars a, b3
the horizontal fins a, a of which are made from the same sheet of metal and
are connected at their ends as will be seen in the plan Figure 2. The vertical
fius b, 6 of the T bars are connected to the horizontal fins a, a by projections 62, 6
on their upper edges passed through and rivetted over holes in the said horizontal
fins a, a. The vertical fins b, b have near their middles two opposed projections &³b.
The opposed projections 6, have holes in which snugs c, c² on opposite sides of
the ring e, situated between the vertical fins b, b, take a bearing. On the tilting
of the saddle as hereinafter described the said snugs constitute the axis of the
underframe.
The other opposed projections 6 have curved slots 65, 6. Through these
curved slots 6, the screwed pins or snugs on opposite sides of the ring d of
the saddle clip arrangement pass. On this ring d and between the vertical fins b, b
of the underframe the halves of the adjustable saddle clip e are situated.
b
C
When the saddle is applied to a velocipede, the rings c and d are passed onto the
horizontal arm of the pin, as represented in Figures 1 and 2, where f represents
the piu. The saddle is tilted into the desired position by raising or lowering the
front end of the saddle, the underframe a, turning on the snugs c³, c³ of the ring c,
the slots 65, 66 in the projections 6, 6 of the underfrane permitting the said under-
frame to turn while the clip on the L pin remains stationary. The saddle is fixed
to the pin in its tilted position by the screw nuts g, g on the screwed pins or
snugs, the advance of which screw nuts forces the projecting parts b, 64
of the vertical fins b, b nearer together and through them the halves of the clip e on
the pin. Thus, by turning the nuts g, g the halves of the clip are made to grip
the pin and at the same time the vertical fins b, b of the underframe are firmly
held between the outer sides of the halves of the said clip and the washers h, h. The
position of the saddle may be still further secured by forming on the upper side of
one of the washers h, h the screw pin 2 the said screw pin passing through a

page_text: hole in a projection a² on the horizontal fin of the underframe and being locked by
the screw nut i. This arrangement for locking the clip may be applied to both
sides of the underframe.
The underframe of the saddle and the front spring k of the same are preserved
in line by the cross arm a³ formed on the front end of the horizontal fin a of the
underframe the arms of the spring & being engaged in the neck part of the said
cross arm a³ as best seen in the cross section Figure 4. The parts of the horizontal
fins a, a at the rear end of the underframe are extended crosswise so as to form
seats or supports a, a on which the rear springs 1, 1 of the saddle are fixed by the
screw bolts 1, 12.
Instead of forming the vertical fins of the underframe, continuous and of the
figure represented they may for the sake of lightness and strength be made of
greatest depth at the middle the said depth gradually diminishing to either end, the
said vertical fins being preferably perforated as represented in Figure 7 or
otherwise perforated.
When the saddle is to be applied to a velocipede having an upright seat pillar
tube instead of to the horizontal arm of an ■ pin, we use in the vertical fins of the
underframe horizontal slots one of which is marked in Figure 7* for the fixing
screwed pins or snugs d², d² of the ring d to pass through, the ring c being omitted.
In this case the clip arrangement has a pair of washers ³, at each side of the
vertical fin of the underframe as represented in Figure 7º the outer washer h³ of
each pair having a cross rib on its inner face for taking into the horizontal slot 68
in the underframe the inner face of the other washer being serrated for engaging
with serrations in the outer face of the half clip for locking the parts together. We
wish it to be understood that the clip arrangement last described constitutes no part
of the present invention.
We will now describe our improved rear or cantle plate which is represented in
dotted lines in the saddle Figure 1, and detached in plan of underside in Figure 8
and cross section in Figure 10, the said cantle plate is also represented unfinished
in plan of underside in Figure and cross section in Figure 11: Figure 12
represents clevations of one of the headed screw pins which we employ with the said
cantle plate.
We form on the edges of the rear or cantle plate m at the parts where the
headed screw pins n are to be attached to the said plate, projections or projecting
flanges m² the said projections or flanges having semi-circular recesses m³ at their
middle. The said screw pins n, by which the rear springs and upper frame are
connected to the cantle plate of the saddle, have semi-circular heads n² for fitting
closely in the trough of the cantle plate. In fixing the headed screw pins n to the
cantle plate after they have been placed in the trough we close the projections or
flanges m², m² on the flat underside of the heads of the said screw pins nas
represented in the plan Figure 8 and cross section Figure 10, the recess m³ in the
said projections or flanges closing upon the cylindrical unscrewed part of the screw
pins. By this means a cantle plate is produced without the projections or
irregularities on its upper or convex side common to ordinary cantle plates which
projections or irregularities produce an objectionable and discomforting unevenness
at the rear of the leather of the finished saddle.
We will now describe our improved pedal for bicycles, tricycles and other
velocipedes.
Figure 13 of the accompanying drawings represents in side elevation and
Figure 14 in plan a rat trap pedal made according to our invention; Figure 15
represents a portion of the same partly in section and Figure 16 represents in end
elevation and side elevation one of the end plates of the said pedal: Figures 17, 18,
19 and 20 represent a modified form of the pedal as hereinafter described.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 13 to 20 both
inclusive.
a, b are the two cruciform shaped side plates of the pedal frame. The side plate
nearest the end screwed to the crank is made in the ordinary way, but one of the

page_text: arms or branches marked c of the other side plate 6 of the pedal frame is made
slightly longer than the opposite other arm d and the said longer arm is cranked or
bent outwards and upwards as represented. The cranked part of the arm c
constitutes a guard for the foot, the said cranked part or guard of the arm
increasing by about half an inch the width of the tread of the pedal at that side on
which it is situated.
There is thus combined in the same pedal a wide tread and a narrow tread.
When the rider wishes to use the broad tread, as when wearing ordinary or walking
boots or shoes, he turns the pedal so that the cranked arm c is in its highest
position as represented in the drawing, and when he wishes to use the narrow tread,
as when wearing cycling shoes, he turns the pedal so that the cranked arm c is in
its lowest position.
In place of making the cranked arm c constituting the guard for the foot in one
piece with the side plate, the side plate may be made with three arins only and a
separate cranked arm be screwed to the side plate. This modification is represented
in end elevation in Figure 17 and in side elevation in Figure 18; Figure 19
represents the end plate without the separate cranked arm and Figure 20 represents
the separate cranked arm.
The separate cranked arm is marked e and is carried by the fixing plate f which
is secured to the side plate of the pedal by screw pins at g, 9.
In addition to rat trap pedals our improvements may be applied to pedals having
india rubber treads, felt treads and other like treads.
The side plates of pedals having india rubber treads, felt treads, cork treads and
the like are constructed and used in the manner hereinbefore described with respect
to the side plates of rat trap pedals.
Both of the side plates of the pedal may be cranked or provided with a guard,
instead of one side plate only as represented.
By this part of our invention pedals are made shorter and consequently lighter in
weight than ordinary pedals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we
claim as
our invention of "Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles and other
Velocipedes
"
First. Making the underframes of saddles for bicycles tricycles and other
velocipedes of two parallel or nearly parallel bars, T shaped in. cross section, the
said bars being connected at their ends and to the spring foundation or upper frame
of the saddle substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
Secondly. The combination of parts hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, 5, 6, and 7 of the accompanying drawings for tilting and fixing the
saddles of bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes; that is to say, the combination
with an underframe consisting principally of parallel vertical bars, of the ring c,
the snugs of which constitute the axis of the underframe, and the adjustable
clip arrangement described and represented by which the saddle is fixed in its
tilted position and to the L pin of the velocipede substantially as hereinbefore
described.
Thirdly. Making the cantle plate with projections or flanges for turning under
and holding the headed screw pins by which the rear springs and upper frame are
connected to the saddle substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings for the purpose of
avoiding the ordinary projections or irregularities on the upper or convex side of
the cantle plate.
Fourthly. In velocipede pedals, the combination with the ordinary cruciform
shaped side plate, of an opposite cranked side plate substantially of the kinds
described and represented, the said cranked side plate increasing the width of the
tread on that face of the pedal on which it is situated; or cranking both side plates

page_text: for the purpose described, whereby there is combined in the same pedal a wide
tread and a narrow tread substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated the Twelfth day of June 1894.
JAMES ALFRED LAMPLUGH.
HENRY ARTHUR LAMPLUGH.