Improvements in Internal Fasteners for Telescoping Tubular Parts.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Internal Fasteners for Telescoping Tubular Parts.
I, REGINALD HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co., of 18, Bucking-
ham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention, a communication to me from abroad by George L. Thompson,
of Chicago, in the County of Cook; in the State of Illinois, in the United States
of America, Manufacturer, to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in internal fasteners for tubular tele-
scoping parts, the particular embodiment of the invention shown being a seat or
saddle post fastener for bicycles, but the invention may be otherwise embodied
as for instance in securing bicycle handle bars to the steering head or the
like.
The object of the invention is to provide a device of the character referred
to of simple and economical construction, convenient and positive in operation
and not likely to get out of order under severe and long continued use.
The one sliding member for example saddle post is provided in one side
with a longitudinal slot of a length sufficient to afford the desired extent of
adjustment up and down of the said member and preferably for convenience
of assembling and in order to facilitate expansion although not indispensibly
made open at its lower end or in other words extended to the extreme lower end
of the sliding member.
An expanding device is arranged within the said sliding member by means
of which the latter may be expanded or forced outwardly into frictional engage-
ment with the interior of the other member for example the seat post standard
or frame tube. Said expanding device consists preferably of a spring metal ring
(preferably of spring steel which is cut or made open at one side and is so
conformed as to tend to assume a form slightly smaller in external diameter
than the interior diameter of the sliding member within which it is arranged.
An operating bolt is arranged to extend in through an aperture in the seat post
standard or equivalent member transversely of the latter, through the slot of
the saddle post or equivalent sliding member and between the ends of the afore-
said ring. The inner end of the operating bolt extends into proximity to the
opposite side of the sliding member and is bifurcated or made yoke shaped and
the expanding ring is provided with a reduced portion which is deflected inwardly
toward the centre of the ring and rests between the arms of the yoke thus
serving to hold the expanding ring against rotation and in transverse position
within the sliding member but at the same time permitting free expansion and
contraction of the ring.
The ends of the expanding ring which tend to close together and therefore clasp
the opposite sides of the bolt between them, rest against and have sliding engage-
ment with inwardly diverging or wedge shaped surfaces whereby said ends will
be forced apart and the ring thereby expanded as the bolt is drawn outwardly.
The wedge surfaces are formed within the body of the bolt or depressed below

page_text: the side surfaces thereof so as to form grooves which serve to hold the ends of
the ring in register with the said surfaces.
In order to thus draw the bolt outwardly the outer end thereof is screw threaded
to receive a nut which has bearing engagement with a washer interposed between
the nut and the outer face of the seat post standard or equivalent member. The
inner face of the washer is desirably made concave to conform to the cylindric
exterior of the seat post standard or the like and in order to prevent rotation of
the bolt within its seat that portion of it which passes through the wall of the
seat post standard or equivalent member is flattened or made substantially
angular in cross section and the aperture is correspondingly shaped to receive the
same.
In order to facilitate the entrance of the bolt between the ends of the ring
and into operative engagement with the latter, grooves or channels of suitable
width to receive said ends of the ring are formed in the sides of the bolt which
grooves are made gradually shallower from the extreme inner end of the bolt
toward the opposite end thereof, until they run out near the grooves herein before
.described.
When applied to a seat pillar attachment the parts thus constructed may be
assembled by placing the ring inside of the seat standard with its open side in
register with the bolt aperture therein and then passing the end of the bolt
through the aperture and forcing it into place between the ends of the ring;
the guide channels in the sides of the bolt serving to direct the yoke of the latter
into proper engagement with the reduced portion of the ring. The nut and
washer having been placed upon the outer end of the bolt, the saddle post may
now be telescoped into the seat post standard over the expanding ring and
with its slot straddling the bolt after which it may be clamped in adjusted
position by simply tightening the nut, thereby expanding it into frictional
engagement with the interior of the seat post standard.
In separating the parts, after the saddle post has been released and removed,
the nut will be turned down until the bolt has been drawn outward sufficiently
to disengage its yoke from the reduced part of the ring whereupon the side of
the ring thus disengaged from the yoke may be tilted downwardly or upwardly
as most convenient and the clasping ends thereof slipped laterally out of engage-
ment with the bolt; it being noted that when the bolt has thus been drawn out-
wardly the ends of the ring will rest in engagement with that part of the bolt
between the grooves where the sides of the bolt are smooth.
While I have herein explained a preferred embodiment of the invention, yet
it will be obvious that the details may be varied without departing from the spirit
of the invention and without the exercise of more than ordinary mechanical skill.
It will be further obvious that the device may be applied to various other uses. I
do not, therefore, wish to be limited to the exact details of construction described.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Internal Fasteners for Telescoping Tubular Parts.
I, REGINALD HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co., of 18, Bucking-
ham Street, Strand, W.C., Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention, a communication to me from abroad by George L. Thompson,
of Chicago, in the County of Cook, in the State of Illinois, in the United States

page_text: of America, Manufacturer, and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in internal fasteners for tubular tele-
scoping parts,, the particular embodiment of the invention shown being a seat or
saddle post fastener for bicycles, but the invention may be otherwise embodied,
as for instance, in securing bicycle handle bars to the steering head, or the
like..
The object of the invention is to provide a device of the character. referred
to of simple and economical construction, convenient and positive in operation,
and not likely to get out of order under severe and long continued use.
The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and more particu-
larly pointed out in the appended claims, and will be readily understood from
the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which; Fig. 1 is a view with parts in side elevation and parts in axial
section of the upper portion of a velocipede seat post standard and saddle post
seated therein, equipped with a preferred embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2
is an axial section, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 in a plane at right angles
to the view shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view, taken on
line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view showing the operating
bolt, however, in top plan view. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the several
members of the expander separately.
Referring to the drawings, A designates an upper portion of the seat post
standard of a velocipede, and B a saddle post adapted to be secured therein;
said saddle post being made tubular and arranged to telescope and fit within the
upper end portion of the seat post standard in the usual manner.
The saddle post is provided in one side with a longitudinal slot of a length
sufficient to afford the desired extent of adjustment up and down of the saddle
post and preferably for convenience of assembling and in order to facilitate the
expansion of the saddle post, although not indispensibly, made open at its lower
end or in other wards, extended to the extreme lower end of the saddle post.
C designates an expanding device arranged within the saddle post by means
of which the latter may be expanded or forced upwardly into frictional engage-
ment with the interior of the seat post standard. In the preferred embodiment
shown said expanding device consists of a spring metal ring (preferably of
spring steel) which is cut or made open at one side, as indicated at c, and is
so conformed as to tend to assume a form slightly smaller in external diameter than
the interior diameter of the saddle post within which it is arranged. I desig-
nates an operating bolt arranged to extend in through an aperture a in the seat
post standard transversely of the latter, through the slot of the saddle post and
between the ends of the ring C. The inner end of the operating bolt extends
into proximity to the opposite side of the saddle post and is bifurcated or made
yoke shaped as indicated at d and the expanding ring is provided with a reduced
portion which is deflected inwardly toward the center of the ring and rests
between the arms of the yoke d thus serving to hold the expanding ring against
rotation and in transverse position within the saddle post, but at the same time,
permitting free expansion and contraction of the ring.
The ends of the expanding ring, which tend to close together and therefore
clasp the opposite sides of the bolt between them, rest against,; and have sliding
engagement with, inwardly diverging or wedge shaped surfaces d' whereby said
ends will be forced apart and the ring thereby expanded as the bolt is drawn
outwardly. The cam surfaces are formed within the body of the bolt or
depressed below the side surfaces thereof so as to form grooves & which serve
to hold the ends of the ring in register with the said surfaces.
In order to thus draw the bolt outwardly, the outer end thereof is screw
threaded to receive a nut D' which has bearing engagement with a washer Da
interposed between the nut and the outer face of the seat post standard. The

page_text: inner face d³ of the washer is desirably made concave to conform to the cylindric
exterior of the seat post standard, and in order to prevent rotation of the bolt
within its seat, that portion of which passes through the wall of the seat post
standard is flattened or made substantially angular in cross section and the
aperture a is correspondingly shaped to receive the same.
In order to facilitate the entrance of the bolt between the ends of the ring
and into operative engagement with the latter, grooves or channels d' of suitable
width to receive said ends of the ring are formed in the sides of the bolt, which
grooves are made gradually shallower from the extreme inner end of the bolt
toward the opposite end thereof, until they run out near the grooves herein-
before described.
The parts thus constructed may be assembled by placing the ring inside of
the seat post standard with its open side in register with the bolt aperture therein,
and then passing the end of the bolt through the aperture and forcing it into
place between the ends of the ring; the guide channels in the sides of the bolt
serving to direct the yoke of the latter into proper engagement with the reduced
portion of the ring. The nut and washer having been placed upon the outer end
of the bolt, the saddle post may now be telescoped into the seat post standard
over the expanding ring and with its slot straddling the bolt after which it
may be clamped in adjusted position by simply tightening the nut, thereby
expanding it into frictional engagement with the interior of the seat post
standard.
In separating the parts, after the saddle post has been released and removed,
the nut will be turned down until the bolt has been drawn outward sufficiently
to disengage its yoke from the reduced part of the ring, whereupon the side of
the ring thus disengaged from the yoke may be tilted downwardly or upwardly
as most convenient and the clasping ends thereof slipped laterally out of engage-
ment with the bolt; it being noted that when the bolt has been thus drawn
outwardly the ends of the ring will rest in engagement with that part of the
bolt between the grooves and when the sides of the bolt are smooth.
While I have herein shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, yet it
will be obvious that the details may be varied without departing from the spirit
of the invention, and without the exercise of more than ordinary mechanical
skill. It will be further obvious that by means of suitable adaptation the device
may be applied to various other uses, I do not, therefore, wish to be limited to
the exact details of construction shown except as made the subject of specific
claims.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
--
1. An internal fastener for telescoping tubular parts, comprising a tubular
inner member having wall portions capable of being expanded outwardly, an
outer member within which said tubular member is adapted to telescope, an
expanding device located within the inner tubular member, and means for
operating said expanding device consisting of an operating member provided
with a projection arranged to extend transversely out through
inner tubular member and through a supporting bearing in the outer member,
an opening in the
operative connections between the operating member and expanding device
whereby endwise movement of the operating member effects the expansion or
contraction of the expanding device, and means for effecting the positive end-,
wise movement of said operating member.
2. An internal fastener for telescoping tubular parts, comprising a tubular
inner member having yieldable wall portions capable of being expanded out-
wardly, an outer member within which said tubular member is adapted to tele-
scope, an expanding device located within the inner tubular member consisting
of a metal annulus, and means for expanding said annulus, consisting of an

page_text: operating member provided with a projection arranged to extend transversely
out through an opening in the inner member and through a supporting bearing
in the outer member, operative connections between the operating member and
annulus whereby endwise movement of the operating member effects the expan-
sion of the annulus, and means for effecting the positive endwise movement of
said operating member.
3. An internal fastener for telescoping tubular parts comprising a tubular
inner member having a longitudinally slotted wall, an outer member within
which said tubuular member is adapted to telescope, an expanding device located
within the inner tubular member consisting of a spring metal annulus so con-
structed as to tend to assume an external size less than the internal measure-
ment of the tubular member within which it is located, and means for expanding
said annulus consisting of an operating member provided with a projection
arranged to extend transversely out through the slot in the inner member and
through a supporting bearing in the outer member, operative connections between
the operating member and annulus whereby endwise movement of the operating
member effects the expansion on the annulus, and means for effecting the posi-
tive endwise movement of said operating member.
4. An internal fastener for telescoping tubular parts, comprising a tubular
inner member having yieldable wall portions capable of being expanded out-
wardly, an outer member within which said tubular member is adapted to tele-
scope, an expanding device located within the inner tubular member consisting
of a metal annulus open or interrupted at one side, and means for expanding
said annulus consisting of a movable member provided with a part arranged to
extend transversely out through an opening in the inner member and through
a supporting bearing in the outer member, said movable member being pro-
vided with a part extending through the opening of the annulus and adapted
to force the ends of the annulus apart when the movable member is operated.
5. An internal fastener for telescoping tubular parts comprising a tubular
inner member having a longitudinally slotted wall, an outer member within
which said tubular member is adapted to telescope, an expanding device located
within the inner tubular member consisting of a spring metal annulus open at
one side and so constructed as to tend to assume an external size less than the.
internal measurement of the tubular member within which it is located, and
means for expanding said annulus consisting of a bolt arranged to extend trans-
versely between the ends of said open annulus, out through the slot of the inner
member and through a supporting bearing in the outer member, a cam surface
upon the bolt with which an end of the annulus has yielding engagement and
whereby the annulus will be expanded or permitted to contract upon endwise.
movement of the bolt, and means for effecting the positive endwise movement
of the bolt.
G. An internal fastener for telescoping tubular parts, comprising a tubular
inner member having a longitudinally slotted wall, an outer member within
which said tubular member is adapted to telescope, an expanding device located
within the inner tubular member consisting of a spring metal annulus open at
one side and so constructed as to tend to assume an external size less than the
internal measurement of the tubular member within which it is located, and
means for expanding said annulus consisting of a bolt arranged to extend trans-
versely between the ends of said open annulus, out through the slot of the inner
member and through a supporting bearing in the outer member, supporting
connection between the bolt and the closed side of the ring, a pair of cam surfaces
upon opposite sides of the bolt, and arranged in divergent relation, with which
the ends of the annulus have operative engagement, and means for effecting
the positive endwise movement of the bolt.
7. An internal fastener for telescoping tubular parts, comprising a tubular
inner member having a longitudinally slotted wall. An outer member within
which said tubular member is adapted to telescope, an expanding device located

page_text: within the inner tubular member consisting of a spring metal annulus open at
one side and so constructed as to tend to assume an external size less than the
internal measurement of the tubular member within which it is located, and
means for expanding said annulus consisting of a bolt arranged to extend trans-
versely between the ends of said open annulus, out through the slot of the inner
member and through a supporting bearing in the outer member, a yoke upon
the inner end of the bolt with which the closed side of the annulus is detachably
engaged, a pair of cam surfaces forming the bottom walls of channels upon
opposite sdes of the bolt, said cam surfaces being arranged in inwardly divergent
relation, and with which the ends of the annulus have yielding engagement,
guide channels extending from the the inner end of the bolt toward the cam surfaces
for directing the ends of the annulus into engagement with the latter, and a nut
threaded upon the outer end of the bolt.