Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, CHARLES CHALLAND, of Geneva, in the Republic of Switzerland, Professor,.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention consists of an improved velocipede the saddle of which is provided
with a back intended to support the cyclists hips with the object of allowing the
said cyclist to act upon a pair of treadles the axis of which is placed at or. about
the same height as the seat of the saddle.
The invention further consists in forming the said saddle-back of a flexible bag:
suspended to a suitably formed curved rigid back.
The advantage of a velocipede of my improved construction is that it allows
the cyclist to sit on his machine and act upon the treadles in such a position of
his body as to ensure a comfortable position of the abdomen and an unimpeded
breathing.
The frame of the machine may be made of wood but the same may of course be
made of steel or other suitable materials whatever.
To the frame of the machine is affixed the bracket of the treadle-axis which
carries the treadles and the chain wheel.
The frame is provided with a projection to which is affixed a curved rigid back-
piece intended to support the flexible bag which may be made of leather or canvas
or of any other suitable flexible material.
The lower end of said bag is affixed to a cross piece fixed to the frame. The
treadle-axis is placed at approximately the same height as the cross-piece
supporting the lower portion of the bag and it will easily be understood that the.
cyclist sitting on the machine has his hips comfortably supported in a substantially
horizontal direction when acting upon the treadles with his legs.
Dated this 27th day of March 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in velocipedes.
I, CHARLES CHALLAND, of Geneva, in the Republic of Switzerland, Professor,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manuer the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in.and by the following.
statement :-
The invention relates to an improved velocipede the saddle of which is provided
with a back intended to support the cyclist's hips with.the object of allowing the
cyclist to act upon a pair of treadles the axis of which is placed at.or about.of.
the height of the seat or saddle, sc. that the cyclist's legs are inclined at an angle:
of about 45° to the horizon.

page_text: The invention further consists in forming the said saddle-back of a flexible bag.
or hammock suspended to a suitably formed curved rigid back, and in providing
means for adjusting the position of said suspended bag or hammock either with
regard to the height of the curved rigid back or with regard to its distance to the
treadle-axis. The invention further comprises a suitable construction of frame
suiting the requirements of this special sort of velocipede that is having the
saddle supported next to the circumference of the driving-wheel and the treadle-
axis placed substantially in line with the saddle and the axis of the steering-
wheel.
The advantage of a velocipede of my improved construction is that it allows the
cyclist to sit on his machine and act upon the treadles in such a position that his
body ensures a comfortable position for the abdomen and unimpeded breathing, and
to allow both his legs to rest on the ground whilst sitting on the saddle, when the
machine is stationary.
The frame of the machine may be made of wood of steel or other suitable
material.
To the frame of the machine is affixed the bracket of the treadle-axis which
carries the treadles and the chain-wheel.
The frame is provided with an adjustable projection to which is affixed a curved
rigid-back-piece intended to support the flexible bag which may be made of
leather or canvas or of any other suitable flexible material.
The lower end of said bag is affixed to an adjustable cross piece fixed to the
frame and bearing a suitable seat proper formed of a cushion of any kind. The
treadle axis is placed at approximately of the height of the cross-piece supporting
the lower portion of the bag and the cyclist sitting on the machine has his hips
comfortably supported in a substantially horizontal direction when acting upon the
treadles with his legs.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown one method of carrying out my
invention but I desire to have it well understood that I do not limit myself to the
precise details of the construction shown.
Referring to the drawings the frame of the machine is formed of tubes A B C
and D all connected to a bracket E in which works the axis of the treadles F.
A tubular connection G connects the ends of the tubes C and D and the tubes B
only one of which is shown in the drawing, are connected to the tube A by means
of a fork H. The axis of the driving wheel I is pivoted to the brackets which
connect, the ends of the said fork H to those of the tubes B.
The tube A bears au adjustable clip a and an adjustable bracket a to the
latter of which is attached a rod J provided with a curved back j, the height of
which may be adjusted by sliding the rod J in the bracket a¹ and fixing the same
in the suitable height by means of the set screw j.
The steering-wheel axis is supported in a fork K the stem of which passes
through the tube G and bears at its upper end a suitable steering-cross-bar K.
Te the curved back j there is suspended a bag or hammock L of canvas, linen,
leather or other suitable material shown by dotted lines in the drawing. The
lower end of said bag or hammock L is fixed to the adjustable clip a which is
provided with a suitable cushion forming the seat proper and which may be
displaced on the tube A and fixed in any desired position on the same by means of
suitable set screws.
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 bicycles the combination of a saddle having a back intended to support
the cyclists hips with a treadle-axis placed so as to allow the cyclist to act upon
the treadles with his legs whilst using the back of the saddle as a point of
support.
2. In bicycles having a saddle provided with a back intended to support the

page_text: cyclists hips, a saddle formed of a bag or hammock of any suitable material,.
suspended to the said back and to a seat proper fixed to a suitable portion of the
frame.
3. In bicycles a saddle formed of an adjustable back intended to support the
cyclists hips, a clip or cross-bar bearing the seat proper and fixed to an adjustable-
bracket fixed to the frame and of a bag or hammock suspended to the said back
and to the said seat proper fixed to the said clip or cross-bar, substantially as.
shown and described.
Deted this 15th day of December 1896
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.