Improvements in Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
We, GEORGE PILKINGTON MILLS "The Woodlands" Beeston, in the County
of Nottingham, Civil Engineer, and THEODORE JAMES BIGGS, of 50 Raleigh
Street Nottingham, Mechanical Engineer, 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 our invention is to make improvements in certain parts of bicycles
& other velocipedes. The first part of our invention refers to the construction of
tubular framed saddles which are brazed to or in one with the top of the saddle
pillar or stalk, which said stalk enters into & is held by a suitable clip in the
frame of the cycle. In making this type of saddle it is customary to make no
provision for any adjustment of the angle or tilt of the top of the saddle, but by
our invention we provide an adjustment whereby the height of the back or cantle
of the saddle may be adjusted in relation to the pommel, for the purpose of
allowing the saddle to be tilted to any angle to suit the rider.
In constructing a saddle frame & stalk according to our invention, we braze a
tube to the top of the stalk at a suitable angle & of suitable length to carry the
pommel of the saddle; at or near the junction of this tube with the top of the
stalk we form a clip: to the centre of the member which carries the cantle end of
the leather we braze one end of a short piece of tube, the other end of this tube
enters the clip at the top of the stalk & by sliding this tube up & down in the
said clip the cantle of the saddle is raised & lowered to the required position & is
then secured by screwing up the bolt or screw provided in the clip for the purpose,
or by any other suitable means.
The second part of our invention relates to improvements in the steering lock;
that is, a lock which is used to prevent the steering wheel & its fork with other
parts attached thereto, from turning round or oscillating when the machine is not
in use.
On the lower portion of the clip which secures the handle bar it is customary to
form a collar provided with a ball race which forms a part of the mechanism of
the ball bearing steering head; according to our invention we leave a projection
or lug on this said collar with a suitable hole therein to carry the sliding locking
pin or bolt. On the loop which unites the top tube to the head tube of the cycle
frame we either form a boss with a hole therein to receive the lower end of the
bolt; or we form a web or other suitable projection & cut a slot in the bolt to fit
over the said web. The locking pin which is made to slide up & down in the
projecting lug on the ball race collar is provided with a head, a spiral compression
spring encircles the pin taking a seating on the upper face of the lug & by
applying pressure to the underside of the head of the locking pin it holds the
said pin out of action. At right angles to the hole in which the locking pin
slides a slot is cut in or through the lug to receive a washer, this washer has a
hole in it through which the locking pin slides freely up & down, & the pin has a
groove cut around it in such a position that when the pin is pressed down by the
finger so as to engage with the boss on the lug on the frame the washer may be
slid in the groove & thus prevent the spiral spring from throwing the pin out of
action when the pressure of the finger is released. By using a spring to keep a
side pressure on the washer, the washer slides automatically into the groove in the
pin immediately the groove comes into the correct locking position. We may use

page_text: a continuation of the spiral spring to bring the necessary side pressure on the
washer. By another method we dispense with the washer & use the continuation
of the spring to engage with the groove in the pin for the purpose of holding the
locking pin in action."
With reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figs. 1, 2 & 3 represent a saddle frame constructed according to our invention.
Fig. 1 shows a side view & Fig. 2 a back view & Fig. 3 a plan of the clip.
S is the tubular stalk that is usually held by a clip in the frame of the cycle; to
the top of this stalk. the arm A is brazed to carry the pommel or the saddle P
the cantle end of the saddle leather C is rivetted or otherwise secured to the
curved tube K, the top end of the tube D is brazed to the tube K & the lower
end telescopes into the tube S. It will be seen that by sliding this tube D up or
down in the stalk tube S the cantle end of the saddle may be raised lowered.
whilst the position of the pommel end remains unaltered, when the tube D has
been set in the required position it is secured by tightening up the nut B by the
screw T. The nut B fits inside the tube S. The tube D is provided with a
slot N so that the screw T does not prevent its up & down adjustment. We use
this or any ordinary form of clip that answers the purpose.
Figs. 4 to 18 show steering locks & parts concerning them which are ina le
according to our invention. Figs. 4, 5, 6 & 7 show the clip N with its tightening
bolt B which secures the handle bar stem A, the collar C carries a ball race
belonging to the bearings of the steering head & the lug L is an extension of the
said collar C. This lug L has a hole in it to admit the locking pin P & to allow
it to slide up & down therein, the coil spring S is under compression & exerts an
upward pressure against the underside of the head of the pin P so that when out
of action as in Fig. 6 it bears up against the bolt B which stops further upward
movement. A slot is cut in the lug L to admit the washer W which has a hole
therein & through which the pin P passes, the extension E of the spring S passes
through a hole in the washer W & exerts an outward pressure so that when the
pin P is pressed downwards to the locking position shown in Figs. 4 & 5 the
washer instantly slides into the groove G provided in the pin P & this said washer
holds the pin in this position as shown in Fig. 4 until the washer W is pressed
inwards to the position as shown in Fig. 7 when the washer disengages itself with
the groove & allows the spring S instantly to return the pin P upwards & out of
action to the position shown in Fig. 6.
The loop unites the top tube T of the cycle frame to the head tube H & may
be made of a casting, or forging, or may be formed by pressing sheet metal
to the requisite shape. When made from a casting or forging the boss K is
formed solid thereon & a hole is drilled in it to receive the locking pin P. When
made from sheet metal we fashion the dies to the necessary shape to form the
boss on the loop.
Fig. 8 is a plan of the loop F & shows the manner in which the boss is formed
when the loop F is made from sheet metal, one half being formed on each side of
the joint J so that the two halves come together in a suitable manner to form a
hollow circular boss to receive the end of the locking pin.
The collar C is arranged so as to oscillate with the steering mechanism, & it will
be seen that when the locking pin P is in the position shown in Figs. 4 & 5 the
portion of the pin which projects into the boss K prevents the collar C from
oscillating, & thus locks all the steering mechanism: but when the locking pin is
released & the spring S throws it into the position shown in Fig. 6 the steering
mechanism is allowed to oscillate freely.
Fig. 9 shows an elevation of the locking pin P with the groove G, & a plan of
the washer W.
Fig: is a plan of Fig. 6 & shows the manner of forming the slut for the
washer W. The slot is cut straight through the lug L, but for the sake of
appearance & of hiding the washer as much as possible the piece of thin metal D
is sweated iu, which leaves a cleau finish around the lug.

page_text: Figs. 13 & 14 show a steering lock somewhat similar to the one before described
but instead of using a boss for the locking pin P to engage with, a thin web R is.
formed on the loop F & a slot is cut in the pin P so as to embrace a portion of the
web R & thus prevent the collar from oscillating. When the loop F is made from
sheet metal the web R is formed in a similar mauner to that in which the boss.
shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 & 8 is formed, as before described.
In Fig. 10 the washer W may be slid to & fro by the fingers without the aid of
a spring to operate it, or a spring may be used to exert either an outward pressure-
as shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, & 12, or vice versa an inward pressure, in which.
case the end of the washer which protrudes through the side of the lug opposite-
the extension of the spring is pressed inwards by the finger to release the
locking pin. The slot is cut by a saw & the piece D is soldered in to act as a.
guide.
Figs. 11 & 12 show an arrangement similar in principle to that shown in Figs. 4,.
5, 6 & 7, the main difference being that the washer W is made with a narrow waist.
so as to pass through a smaller aperture in the lug L; instead of cutting a slot for
the washer to work in, a deep recess is made in the underside of the lug L & of
somewhat larger diameter than the body of the washer W. The washer W is
placed in this deep recess, a slut being cut in the lug to admit the waist of the
washer & the circular piece of metal D is soldered in to prevent the washer from
dropping out. The extension E of the spring S causes the washer W to slido.
into the groove in the locking pin P for the purpose of holding the said pin in.
locking action, & by pressing the washer inwards by the finger the pin is release.l
as described in relation to Figs. 4, 5, 6 & 7.
Figs. 13 & 14 show an arrangement by which the washer may be dispensed
with, the continuation E of the spring S being used to enter into the groove G in
the locking pin P to prevent it from being returned out of action by the spring S...
The continuation E is made so as to exert a pressure inwards so that its end
engages with the groove G immediately it comes opposite the hole in the lug L.
which the end of spring E is made to enter; the locking pin is released by drawing.
the spring E outwards, the coil E2. being provided as a convenient portion to be
held in the fingers for the purpose.
Figs. 15 & 16 show another arrangement by means of which the ring E2 on the
extension E of the spring S is used to hold the locking pin in action. The
extension E terminates in the ring E. 2. which encircles the locking pin P & holds
it in action by springing into the groove G as before described, the release being
effected by pressing the extension E inwards & thus causing the ring E. 2. to
disengage with the groove G.
Figs. 17 & 18 show another arrangement by means of which the extension E of
the spring S is used to hold the locking pin in action. The extension E fits into.
the slot in the lug L instead of a washer & exerts a pressure inwards so as to.
engage with the groove in the locking pin P, the release being effected by drawing
the extension E outwards so as to disengage with groove in the locking pin & allow
the spring S to return it out of action.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion & iu what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
Firstly. In a bicycle or similar velocipede the arrangement & construction of
parts herein before described, whereby the height of the cantle end of the saddle-
may be adjusted in relation to the pommel, substantially as herein described with
reference to Figs. 1, 2 & 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Secondly. In the locking pin used to lock the steering mechanism of a bicycle
or similar velocipede, the using of a washer to slide into a groove in the locking
pin to hold the said locking pin in action, substantially as herein described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Thirdly. In the steering lock of a bicycle or similar velocipede the using of an.

page_text: extension of the spring which throws the locking pin out of action, for the purpose
of exerting a pressure so as to cause a washer to automatically engage with a
groove in the locking pin for the purpose of holding the said locking pin in action
substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Fourthly. In the steering lock of a bicycle or similar velocipede which is
provided with a spring for the purpose of throwing the locking pin out of action,
the using of a continuation or extension of the said spring for the purpose of
automatically engaging with a groove in the locking pin for the purpose of holding
the said locking pin in action, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Fifthly. In the loop which unites the top tube to the head tube of the frame of
a bicycle or similar velocipede, & which said loop is made from sheet metal pressed
into the required shape, the forming of a hollow boss in one with the said loop as
& for the purpose herein described with reference to Figs. 4, 5, 6 & 8 of the
accompanying drawings.
Sixthly. In the loop which unites the top tube to the head tube of the frame of
a bicycle or similar velocipede, & which said loop is made from sheet metal pressed
to the required shape, the forming of a web in one with the said loop as and for
the purpose herein described with reference to Figs. 13 & 14 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 21st der of November 1896
GEORGE PILKINGTON MILLS,
THEODORE JAMES BIGGS,
Applicants.