Improvements in Seat Supports for Cycles, Vehicles and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1899
Complete Specification Left. 17th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Seat Supports for Cycles, Vehicles and the like.
I, FRED ANDREW, Inventor, of 128, Walnut Street, Watseka, Illinois, U.S.A.,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to cycles, vehicles or the like, such as agricultural imple-
ments in which a seat supported by a post is employed for the driver.
The object of the invention is to provide neat and compact means for ren-
dering the seats resilient, and further, to provide a device of the kind which can
be applied to cycles or the like in which the ordinary seat-post has been used.
A seat-post, constructed in accordance with one form of my invention, is of
the usual angular shape, and is provided with a sleeve slidable over its longer
part or slidable along its entire length if the post be straight. The sleeve has an
annular flange, at one end, adapted to rest over the upper edge of the tubular
support into which the seat-post ordinarily telescopes. The sleeve is adapted to be
secured in the tubular support by means of the usual jamb-nuts or similar means.
A pin or feather projects inwardly into the sleeve and a longitudinal slot in the
seat-post to prevent the post from turning.
The lower end of the seat-post is formed with an eccentric elargement over
which fits a correspondingly shaped aperture in a ring which is held in place on
the seat-post by a collar screwed onto the reduced and screw-threaded extremity
of the post. The ring may have an annular groove in its periphery, in which an
elastic or rubber ring may be fitted. The metal ring is severed so that it is capable
of being expanded. A spiral spring surrounds the post and is compressed between
a collar secured to the post below the lower extremity of the sleeve, and the
metal ring.
When inserting the seat-post and its parts into the tubular support, the post is
passed down the interior of the support a suitable distance and the flange of the
sleeve adjusted onto the upper edge of the support. The post is then turned
partially around, which causes its eccentric lower end to open and expand the
ring and cause it to impinge on the inner surface of the tubular support thus
providing a fixed abutment for the lower end of the spring. Rotation of the post
and sleeve to permit the ring to contract is prevented by tightening the jamb-
nuts to secure the sleeve. The post is, by this construction, capable of reciproca-
tion against the pressure of the spring.
In an alternative form of the invention, a sleeve, having its ends closed with the
exception of a perforation, is inserted and secured within the tubular support. A
rod extends through the coincident perforations and has a spiral spring sur
rounding it and secured thereto in such manner that it is compressed when the
rod is depressed. The upper end of the rod is formed with an eye, or is bifurcated
to accommodate a horizontally arranged tubular bar which is hinged at one
extremity to the cycle or vehicle frame, or to a bracket projecting from the
tubular support, and adapted to have the seat secured to its other end. It will

page_text: be understood that weight on the seat and hinged rod, will compress the vertical
red and spring.
Dated this 14th day of December 1899
P. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicant.
I, FRED ANDREW, of 128, Walnut Street, Watseka, Illinois, U.S.A., Inventor,
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:-
This invention relates to seat supports for cycles, vehicles or the like such as
agricultural implements, in which a seat supported by a post is employed for the
driver.
The object of the invention is to provide neat and compact means for rendering
the seat resilient, and further to provide a device of the kind which can be applied
to cycles or the like in which the ordinary seat-post exists.
Reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which like letters
indicate like parts:-
Figure is a central sectional longitudinal view of one form of my invention;
Fig. 2 a cross sectional view on the line x-x of Fig. 1 looking downwards;
and Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate modified forms of my invention.
The letter A indicates a tubular support for a seat post, split at A¹ as to its
upper extremity, and provided with lugs A2 for the reception of a tightening
bolt. Slidably mounted within the tubular support A is a sleeve B provided at
its upper end with an annular flange B' which restricts its downward movement.
Slidably mounted within the sleeve B is a seat-post C comprising a tubular upper
portion C, and a, preferably solid, lower portion D over which is adapted to move
freely the tubular portion C¹. The latter is provided with a slot into engage-
ment with which enters the head of a pin or feather B2, secured in the sleeve B,
in such manner that the seat post C is free to move vertically within the sleeve B,
but, when desired, the seat-post and sleeve will be rotated together. Around
the portion C¹ of the seat-post a collar E is secured. The portion D of the
seat-post is connected to the portion C¹ by means of pins D₁ secured in
the former and engaging within vertical slots C³ in the latter in such
manner that while the two portions may move vertically with relation to each
other they will, when desired be rotated together. The lower extremity of the
portion D has a head D2 on which rests a split collar F which may be grooved
and provided with a washer F¹ of india rubber or like material forming a tight
sliding fit within the tubular support A. That part of the portion D surrounded
by the collar F at D3 is substantially oval shaped, the hole in the collar being of
corresponding form. A spring G surrounds the seat-post C below the sleeve B
being retained between the collars E and F. In operation, the seat-post, its
constituent parts having been fitted together, is adjusted within the tubular sup-
port to the desired height and rotated half a turn, whereby the collar F is forced
open by the action of the oval part of the portion D within it, and held tightly
within the tubular support, the upper extremity of the tubular support is tigh-
tened around the sleeve B, preventing further rotation, and the portion C¹ of the
seat-post is free to move vertically against the resiliency of the spring G.
In the modification shewn in Fig. 3 a tubular box H is adapted to slide within

page_text: the tubular support A and may be adjusted and fixed to any desired height by
means of a tightening bolt passing through lugs A2. A pin I bifurcated at I³,
passes through openings in the extremities of the box H, and within the said box
is provided with a collar 12 and surrounded by a spiral spring J.
A rod K sup-
ported on a member L rests within the bifurcation of the pin I and supports the
seat or saddle M which reciprocates vertically against the resiliency of the spring J.
In the modification shewn in Fig. 4 the rod K is supported by a bracket N
carried by the tubular support A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
(1) In a cycle, vehicle or the like, the combination of a seat support with a
seat post slidably mounted within the said support and adapted to be secured at
any desired height therein, said seat post comprising a tubular upper member, a,
preferably solid, lower member extending within the tubular member, and a sleeve
surrounding the tubular member, the sleeve having a flange at its upper
extremity and connected to the said tubular member by means of a pin or feather
secured in the sleeve and adapted to move vertically within a slot in the tubular
member, a collar attached to and surrounding the said tubular member, the said
solid member having a head at its lower extremity and a substantially oval part
immediately above said head, a split collar, recessed on its circumferential face for
the reception of a washer and having a substantially oval bore, resting on said
head, the solid member connected to the tubular member by means of pins
secured to the solid member and adapted to move vertically in slots in the
tubular member, and a spring surrounding the tubular and solid members and
retained between the collar on the tubular member and the split collar resting on
the head of the solid member, substantially as described.
(2) In a cycle, vehicle or the like, the combination of a seat support, with a
tubular box adapted to be secured at any desired height within said support, a
pin, bifurcated as to its upper extremity, adapted to reciprocate through the
ends of said box, a spring surrounding said pin within the box its upper end
bearing on a collar on said pin, and a seat carrying member, pivotally attached
to a framing member, resting within the bifurcation of said pin, substantially
as described.
(3) In a cycle, vehicle or the like the combination of a seat support, with a
tubular box adapted to be secured at any desired height within said support, a
pin, bifurcated as to its upper extremity, adapted to reciprocate through the ends
of said box, a spring surrounding said pin within the box its upper end bearing
on a collar on said pin, and a seat carrying member pivotally attached to a
bracket fixed to the said seat support substantially as described.
Dated this 15th day of September 1900.
P. R. J. WILLIS,
Agent for Applicant.