Year: 1896

page_text: Date claimed for Patent under Sect. 103 of Act,
being date of first Foreign Application (in
New Zealand),
18th Mar., 1896.
I, ELLIOTT L'ESTRANGE BARTON, of 54 Lambton Quay, in the City of Wellington,
in the Colony of New Zealand, Solicitor, 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:-
The object of my invention is so to construct a velocipede that the seat and the
pedals may have the same vertical movement or oscillations when the machine is
travelling and more especially when the said machine meets with any obstructions
such as in rolling over stones or inequalities.
Hitherto it has been the practice in most forms of cycles or velocipedes to
arrange the frame and pedals so that the pedal axle revolves in bearings attached
rigidly to the frame and to attach the seat to the framing by means of a spring
or inflated cushion which allows the seat to vibrate vertically. By these means
the riders' seat is to a certain extent freed from vertical shocks, but the feet and
pelals being rigid to the frame the rider is liable to have his feet jerked from
the pedals and the whole shock is received by the frame carrying the weight of
the rider which thus necessitates the frame being made of sufficient strength to
sustain such shocks. Moreover, to prevent the shock to the feet the springs have
been obliged to be made insufficient for ease.
Now by my invention I make the nearly vertical pillar (which forms part of
the framing which carries the pedal shaft bearings) in the form of a hollow tube
and through this tube 1 pass an upright rod to the bottom end of which are
attached the bearings to receive the pedal axle and to the top end I fix rigidly
the seat for the rider. I therefore have an upright rod free to move vertically up
or down and carrying both pedals and seat. Underneath the seat and between
the seat and framing or in any convenient position I place a spring cushion or
steel spring of any convenient form so that the said spring is compressed, released
or vibrated by any vertical shock to which the machine and driver may be
subjected and such vibration acts as a relief equally to the seat and the feet of the
rider, and alse relieves the frame of part of the shock to which it has been
subjected under the old system of manufacture.
My invention admits of variations such as in the form of spring or cushion,

page_text: and the position in which these are placed, indeed my principle may be worked
out in many ways according to the judgment of the maker.
In order that my invention may be most easily understood by one skilled in the
art to which it appertains I have "illustrated the same upon the accompanying
drawings to which I shall now refer and give a detailed description.
Figure 1 is a side view of a bicycle fitted with one form of my invention.
Figure 2 is a front view of the hollow pillar in section, with the springs in
position on the outside of the same.
Figure 3 is a side view of the hollow pillar in section with the spring arranged
in the interior of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts.
In carrying out my invention I place springs (a) and their guide rods (f) on
the outside of pillar (b) and rest their lower ends upon brackets (e) fixed to the
pillar by their clamp (c). and bolt (). The upper ends of these springs take
beneath brackets (d) formed upon or attached to the upright rod () which is
shaped at its upper end in the usual manner as shewn in Figure 1 to receive the
seat (g). The lower end of rod (f) is formed into a bearing (f) and Enclose the
centre portion of the pedal bearing bracket (f) see Figures 2.& 3.
Radial links () are rigidly attached to bearing bracket (f) and are secured
to the rear axle (h) in the usual manner.
The rear forks () & () of the frame () meet at their lower extremities and are
furnished with any ordinary bearing () which will allow the axle (4) to revolve
when required by the movement of the radial links (h).
In operation, the rod (f) rises and falls under the weight of the rider when
passing over inequalities of the ground, and as the seat is attached to the upper
and the pedal bearing bracket to the lower end of such rod, the distance apart of
the seat and pedals will remain constant, and they will rise and fall together.
The radial links (4) move with rod (f) and maintain the distance apart of the
bearing bracket (f) and rear axle () constant; and further, they take the strain
of the driving chain (k) and relieve the lower fork () of such strain. The
"pillar (b) is preferably made oval or nearly so in section to provide room for the
fore and aft movement of the rod (f).
4
In Figure 3 F have shewn the carrying spring (a) in the interior of pillar (b),
and a collar (f) upon rod (f) to bear upon the upper end of the spring, and provide
"a shoulder or ledge (6) upon the inside of the lower end of pillar (6) upon which
shoulder may rest a washer (b). Rod (f) passes freely through the spring and
washer and the lower end of spring (a) rests safely upon the same. The rod (f)
has thus a free vertical movement under the action of spring (a) and at the same
time may have a fore and aft movement within the oval pillar (b) by washer (2)
sliding upon shoulder (b).
At the upper end of pillar (b) I arrange a ball bearing head (63) to reduce
"friction and give a freely sliding motion to rod (f).
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein-
before described as these may be modified in various ways by a skilled person
without departing from the spirit of my invention; as for example, I may
"dispense with washer (b) and its sliding movement by making a spring in shape
corresponding to the interior of pillar (b), which form would permit the rod (f)
to oscillate within the spring; and again I may substitute suitable rollers for the
ball's in head (63).
It will be evident that I may make the pillar (b) circular in shape for nearly
its whole length and of a diameter just large enough to allow rod () to slide freely
"therein, by placing a joint in the said rod near the bottom to allow for the fore
and aft movement of the pedal bearing bracket.
:
It is further evident that I may use curved hornblocks or guides fixed to the
frame and having a radius struck from the centre of the axle in place of the radial
links (h).
From the above description it will be seen that I am able to retain the form of

page_text: the ordinary diamond frame with all its advantages of rigidity and strength and
provide mechanism whereby the comfort and safety of the rider is considerably
increased, and that my invention may be used upon the ordinary bicycle con-
structed for ladies.
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 velocipedes constructed with a diamond frame, a rod having a bearing
spring on each side, and carrying the seat at its upper, and pedal bearings at its
lower end in combination with radial links connecting the pedal bearing bracket
to the axle, substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
2. In velocipedes, a rod passing through an oval pillar and having a bearing
spring on each side and carrying a seat at its upper, and pedal bearings at its
lower end in combination with radial links connecting the pedal bearing bracket
to the axle, substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
3. In velocipedes, a rod passing through an oval pillar and having a bearing
spring enclosed within such pillar, and carrying a seat at its upper end and pedal
bearings at its lower end, in combination with radial links connecting the pedal
bearings bracket to the axle, substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein.
4. In velocipedes, the combination with a rod passing through an oval pillar and
carrying the seat at its upper and pedal bearings at its lower end, of a ball bearing
head at the upper part of such rod, substantially as and for the purposes set forth
herein.
5. The improvements in velocipedes, constructed, arranged and operating,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth herein and illustrated on the accom-
panying drawings.
1900
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents, 321, High Holborn, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.