IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO BICYCLES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Wallace Ash, of the Leader Bicycle Works,
"
13, Russell Street, Southsea, in the County of Hants, for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO BICYCLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Wallace Ash at
the Office of the Comissioners of Patents on the 22nd February 1881.
GEORGE WALLACE ASH, of the Leader Bicycle Works, 13, Russell Street,
Southsea, in the County of Hants. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO
BICYCLES."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to bicycles, and
consists in the construction and mounting of the springs for supporting the saddle
of bicycles, and in the use of and special construction of apparatus for applying
spring power for holding down the ordinary spoon brake.
Firstly. The springs employed are of the character carriage springs, that is, with
upper and lower bands bolted together at their extremities, so forming the "bow,"
but.according to this Invention the lower half of the spring is forged out to a
shape somewhat of H form, that is, with a cross bar connecting two side bars,
which side bars serve as springs. These bars are bent upward and outward at
their extremities so as to receive horizontal bolts for securing the ends of said bars
to the top bars or springs on to which the saddle will be bolted. By this construction
the cross bar of the H will be bent to and lay upon the backbone, to which it is
securely attached by an under plate and bolts. The ends of the springs in
consequence of their division and bent form will lie conveniently close to and on
either side of the backbone, and well out of the way under the saddle, clear from
the rider, and thus provision for greater length of spring, and consequent ease in
riding, will be secured.
Secondly. I apply pressure to the ordinary spoon or roller front brake by means
of a rack and pinion working in centre of front of the head of the bicycle.
The pinion is attached to revolving handles, and the rack is connected to a spiral
spring or a piece of rubber, or the two combined, working inside a tube, which
tube works loosely inside a collar fastened to the head, and is also connected to a
spoon or roller which acts as the brake.

page_text: On the handles being revolved the rack is pressed downwards by the pinion, and
the pressure is gradually transmitted through the spring or rubber, or both, on to the
spoon or roller brake, which acts on the tyre of front wheel, and thus gradually
stops the machine without the dangerous dead stop as at present.
I also provide a lever bolt worked by a spring on the handle which will act as a
catch on a side rack of the rack bar to prevent the pressure coming off when once
applied and until desired. The said lever bolt will also be used for taking off the
pressure instantly by withdrawing said bolt and so allowing the rack to fall back
far enough in its socket in the head to be free from the pinion of the handle. It
can also be used for preventing the handles from being turned around accidentally
when the pressure is off by the end of said bolt falling into a deep slot provided
at the lower end of the rack, thus fixing the handles and preventing the application
of the brake when not required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Wallace Ash in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd August 1881.
GEORGE WALLACE ASH, of the Leader Bicycle Works, 13, Russell Street,
Southsea, in the County of Hants. " IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO
BICYCLES."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to bicycles, and
consists in the construction and mounting of the springs for supporting the saddle
of bicycles, and in the use of and special construction of apparatus for applying
spring power for actuating the front wheel spoon or ordinary roller brake so as to
prevent same being put or kept on dangerously or when not required.
Firstly. The saddle springs employed are shown in Figs. 1 and 12, and are of the
character of carriage springs, that is, with upper and lower bands bolted together
at their extremities, so forming the "bow," but according to this Invention the
lower half of the spring is forged out to a shape somewhat of H form, or of the
form of the top or bottom part of an H, that is, with a cross bar A connecting two
side bars B, which side bars serve as springs and are bent upward and outward at
their extremities, and terminate in eyes so as to receive horizontal bolts b for
securing the ends of said bars to the arms c at the end of the top bars or saddle
spring C on to which the saddle will be bolted.
The top bar or spring C is fastened at the part D on the backbone E as ordinarily,
but at the head instead of being fixed to the top of the backbone it is fitted to the
front half of the bottom spring by means of the bolts or springs b, so that the
extra amount of front play so necessary for comfort in riding is obtained..
The cross-bar A, according to a modification, may have a second corresponding
pair of arms B at the back part, and the back end D of the spring C be bolted
thereto similarly to the front part, or with a single boss at the tail end of the
spring C through which will pass a single bolt through the tail end of the springs B,
and so the ends of the springs in consequence of their peculiarly bent form will lio
consequently close to and on either side of the backbone, and well out of the way
under the saddle, clear from the rider, and thus provide for greater length of spring,
and consequent ease in riding will be secured. The cross bar A serves with an
additional plate as a clamp for attaching the springs to the backbone. Secondly,
I apply pressure to the ordinary spoon or roller front brake by means of a rack and
pinion or a depression eccentric (pinion shown in the Drawings) working in centre
of front of the head of the bicycle, which improvements are represented in
Figs. 2 to 7.
The pinion or the eccentric is attached to revolving handles, and the rack or
portion to receive the eccentric is connected to a spiral spring or a piece of rubber,
or the two combined, working inside a tube, which tube works loosely inside a
collar fastened to the head, and is also connected to a spoon or roller which acts as
the brake. On the handles being revolved the rack is pressed downwards by
the pinion or eccentric, and the pressure is gradually transmitted through the
spring or rubber, or both, on to the spoon or roller brake which acts on the
tyre of the front wheel, and thus gradually stops the machine without the dangerous
dead stop as at present. I also provide a lever bolt worked by a spring on the
handle which will act as a catch on a slide rack of the rack bar to prevent the
pressure coming off when once applied and until desired.
The said lever bolt will also be used for taking off the pressure by instantly
withdrawing said bolt and so allowing the rack to fall back far enough in its
socket in the head to be freed from the pinion of the handle. It can also be used

page_text: for preventing the handles from being turned around accidently when the pressure
is off by the end of said bolt falling into a deep slot provided at the lower end of
the rack, thus fixing the handles and preventing the application of the brake when
not required.
Fig. 2 is a front view of the brake appliance with the pressure off.
Fig. 3, a detached view with the parts in position for the pressure on the brake.
Fig. 4 is a top view showing the spring lever, bolt, or locking catch, or plunger,
out of gear with the rack of the brake, said plunger being held back by the thumb
of the rider.
Fig. 5 is a like view of the spring locking catch with same in position for holding
the brake rack in contact with the pinion of the handle.
Fig. 6 is a side view showing notches in the brake rack bar for fastening same
down with pressure on.
Fig. 7 represents the scape coils or rack of the brake bar made so as to allow the
brake to go down, but not to rise again until the spring locking plunger is
withdrawn.
Fig. 7a represents lever bolt taking into a deep slot thus fixing the handle and
preventing the application of the brake when not required.
F is the steering handle, carrying thereon in a recess in the head of the steering
fork the pinion G, which pinion is in gear with the rack bar H of brake I here
shown as a spoon brake. K represents the front wheel; L is the spring of the
brake working in a cylinder or guide in the head; M is the spring plunger, which
when introduced as in Fig. 5 acts as a wedge to force and hold the rack bar H in
contact with the pinion G. When plunger M is withdrawn the rack-bar of the
plunger will be out of gear with pinion G. M¹ is the spring boxing of the
plunger M fitting and sliding on the handle bar F. The "set" locking slot for
rake bar H is shown at N, Figs. 6 and 7, with plunger M in gear therewith.
O, Figs. 2 and 6, is a strap fastened under the head of the fork to "stay" the brake
and resist any tendency of the wheel to drag the brake forward. The construction
of the parts will be thoroughly understood from the foregoing description and from
the Drawings.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention I
claim,―
First. The improvements in the saddle springs of bicycles constructed as and for
the purpose herein described in reference to and shown by the Figures 1 and 1 of
the Drawings.
Secondly. The improvements in the head and brake gear and spring brake
locking apparatus constructed and operating as and for the purpose herein set
forth and described in reference to and shown by the respective Figures of the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Wallace Ash, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
GEORGE WALLACE ASH. (TAS.)