Velocipedes, Seats of Chairs, Couches, and the like.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1887
Complete Left, 11th May, 1838
Complete Accepted, 15th June, 1888
Velocipedes, Seats of Chairs, Couches, and the like.
I JOHN KEMP STARLEY of the Meteor Works Coventry in the County of Warwick
Velocipede Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in the construction of spring devices
for supporting the seats or saddles of velocipedes or other seats and the like.
As applied to a seat or saddle for a tricycle I arrange a bracket or socket to fit on
the pillar or support and I fit thereon springs made as follows
I take a piece of rod or wire and I place the same in a vertical position and secure
it by a screw or otherwise to the said bracket or socket I then coil the rod or wire
one or more times parallel to each other and continue its extension angularly to the
support of the saddle or seat to which it is jointed by a suitable connection. I may
place four of the aforesaid springs in two following pairs each pair being parallel and
the angular extensions pointing the same way.
On the seat or saddle rising or falling a vertical motion is obtained.
If desired I may use only two rods or wires formed so that they are coiled at two
portions, the angular extensions being still used and clamps or like devices also secure
the portion between the coils to a suitable bracket or socket.
If desired the coils in the spring could be against or towards the support of the
saddle or seat in which case I produce an extension or lug from the bracket or socket
and joint one end of the springs thereto the other being jointed to the support of the
saddle or seat.
For velocipedes other than tricycles using L pillars or like supports or for other
purposes where a seat or the like is supported by a spring the details must necessarily
be varied.
In connecting the angular extensions with the seat I may in some cases arrange
the supporting spring or springs so that the part is supported in a vertical position
instead of an horizontal position.
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Velocipedes, Seats of Chairs, Couches, and the like.
I JOHN KEMP STARLEY of the Meteor Works Coventry in the County of Warwick
Velocipede Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention has for its object improvements in the construction of spring devices
for supporting the seats or saddles of velocipedes or other seats and the like.
As applied to a seat or saddle for a tricycle I arrange a bracket or socket to fit on
the pillar or support and I fit thereon springs made as follows.
I take a piece of rod or wire and I place the same in a vertical position and secure
it by a screw or otherwise to the said bracket or socket.
I then coil the rod or wire one or more times parallel to each other and continue
its extension angularly to the support of the saddle or seat to which it is jointed by
a suitable connection.
I may place four of the aforesaid springs in two following pairs each pair being
parallel and the angular extensions pointing the same way.
On the seat or saddle rising or falling a rising and falling motion is obtained.
If desired I may use only two rods or wires formed so that they are coiled at two
portions, the angular extensions being still used and clamps or like devices also secure
the portion between the coils to a suitable bracket or socket.
If desired the coils in the spring could be against or towards the support of the
saddle or seat in which case I produce an extension or lug from the bracket or socket
and joint one end of the springs thereto the other being jointed to the support of the
saddle or seat.
For velocipedes other than tricycles using L pillars or like supports or for other
purposes where a seat or the like is supported by a spring the details must necessarily
Le varied.
i
In connecting the angular extensions with the seat I may in some cases arrange the
supporting spring or springs so that the part is supported in a vertical position instead
of a horizontal position.
The accompanying Drawings shew various modes of accomplishing my said
invention.
Referring now to Sheet I Figure 1 is a side elevation of a spring suitable for a
tricycle and constructed according to my invention and Figure 2 is a front elevation
of the same.
Figure 3 is a plan of the bracket hereinafter referred to showing the spring on one
side thereof mounted in position the other spring being absent.

page_text: A is the bracket carrying sockets B, B1, B2 B3 into which I insert the vertical ends
of rods or wires C, C₁, C, C and secure them by clamp screws D, D¹, D³, D³.
This bracket can be clamped by its boss E and screw F on the seat pillar G of the
machine or be otherwise affixed thereto.
From the brackets the rods or wires are coiled as at H, H', H' H³ (three coils
are shown though a greater or lesser number may be used)-The wires or
rods C, C, C, C³, then extend after leaving their coiled parts in an angular direction
as at I, I, I, I, when they enter lugs or bosses J, J', (J³, J³, not being seen) which
carry eyes K, K¹, (K³, K³, not being seen) through which pins can pass to lugs or
bosses on the saddle or seat frame to joint the springs thereto. Though four of such
springs are shown placed parallel in following pairs and the angular extensions all
pointing the same way I may only use one pair of springs.
On a velocipede striking an obstruction the seat or saddle and rider carried thereby
will drop at an oblique angle and the shock strikes the rider at such a point as will be
less likely to throw the said rider forward on to the point of the saddle or seat and so
disturb his or her equilibrium.
On Sheet II I show a modification of my invention.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a spring constructed according to my invention.
Figure 5 is a plan of the same.
Figure 6 is a half front elevation of the spring.
As before, A is the bracket in this case carrying angular sockets B, B1, B2, B³, into
which I insert the ends of the rods or wires C, C³, which proceed angularly upward
and are coiled at two portions H', 'H, H, (H' not seen) in a suitable number of coils
(three are shown) and further angular extensions 1, 1, (1, 1', not seen) from the
coils proceed upwards and a clamp (or clamps) or like device L secures the saddle or
seat to the spring. The boss E and screw F as before secure the bracket A to the
seat pillar G.
On Sheet III Figure 7 is a side elevation and Figure 8 a front elevation of a spring
adapted to carry a "tension" saddle.
In this (a modification of the last described arrangement) the lug E carries
clamps M M to connect the angular portions of the rods or wires thereto-The coils
are made twice (in suitable number as in the last described arrangement) and the
ends of the angular extensions enter lugs or bosses J, Jo, J, J', which carry
eyes K, K, pivoted to lugs N, N1, N2, N3, which are clamped on the stretcher-bar of
the tension saddle-1 do not claim any detail or arrangement in regard to the saddle
as shewn.
In will easily be seen that the same action and result can be obtained if the springs
are reversed i.e. the parts now shown as the front being turned to the back or the
saddle or seat supposed to be turned bodily round the springs remaining as shewn in
which case the saddle rises to follow the rider or sitter instead of being forced lower
as it does when placed the other way.
On Sheet IV I shew another modification of my invention Figure 9 being a side
elevation Figure 10 a half back elevation Figure 11 a sectional plan on line a. b.
Figure 9.
The two wires are coiled in two places (in suitable number as before) and are
against or towards the support G¹ of the saddle or seat which has pivoted thereto
at M'M' lugs or bosses E¹, E', E³, E, into which the angular extensions J, J, J10, J¼,
from the coils enter.
N is an extension or lug from a bracket or socket O on the machine to which
I clamp or joint, as at P, that portion of the wires forming the space midway between
the coils.
Thus the support or pillar connected to the angular extensions of the springs is free
to rise and fall as before described on the machine striking obstacles.
In reference to this sheet of drawings it will be easily perceived that the seat pillar
or support G¹ could be placed behind the extension N and the position of the coils
and angular extensions be reversed thus obtaining the same result as when the position
of the other spring is reversed.

page_text: Also the springs need not be made from one continuous piece of wire. They might
be separate as in Figures 1 to 3 and the upper springs might be jointed by a simple
link connection at the bottom to the extension N.
My improved spring also applies to hansoms, cabs, or like wheel carriages (for this
purpose I use two or more on each side and I can place two parallel and two to run
angularly towards the said two, by these means side play or swaying is lessened or
prevented) couches, chairs, sofas, and the like.
I am well aware of Patents granted to John Harrington Nos. 384979 1647584
9055 10094, 110328, 128358 492587; to George Illston No. 547483; to Albert
H. Overman No. 21847, in which springs made of rod or wire coiled in the direction
of their length are used.
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,
In a spring (for the purposes set forth) formed from rod or wire and coiled in
suitable manner in the direction of its length the peculiar means for producing
angular extensions from such coil or coils towards the saddle or seat or towards the
support on which the saddle seat or other supported object is carried or borne and
connecting such angular extensions by suitable joints to such saddle seat or other
supported object or its support whereby the saddle or seat and rider or other supported
object carried thereby can rise or drop at an oblique angle substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Dated this 10th day of May 1888
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
17 & 18, Southampton Buildings, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.