Improvements in Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1896-4ccepted, 16th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles.
', PIERRE LOUIS GIRARDET, of 8 Rue Bréguet, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
mnner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for object a folding bicycle the saddle of which is adjustable
ad may be instantly raised or lowered without necessitating the rider's
dismounting from the machine. By this arrangement the advantage is obtained
of being able to mount an easily dismount from the machine and also, in case
of emergency the rider is enabled to lower the saddle and quickly reach the
ground.
My improved bicycle is, besides, rendered portable by being hiuged at two joints
which allow the one wheel to be folded against the other.
Referring to the accompanying drawings for a fuller description of my
invention,
Figure 1, is an elevation and part section of a portion of the frame of the
machine, shewing my improvements applied thereto.
Figure 2, being an enlarged front view of one of the joints of the bicycle.
Figure 3, is a perspective view of the same joint opened.
Figure 4, a perspective and back view of the handle bar and of the two levers
actuating the brake and saddle pillar.
Figure 5 is a modification of the arrangement for working the chain.
Within the tube D, Figure 1, which carries the saddle pillar F, is situated
a strong spiral spring E for the purpose of supporting the said pillar from below.
The ascent of the saddle pillar is limited by a rod h fixed at in tube D; the
upper portion of this rod enters the end of saddle pillar F and is furnished with
a nut m which retains a spring m with the bottom of pillar F; this spring m¹ is
provided in order to modulate the ascent of the saddle when it is freed from the
weight of the rider and from the tongue of bolt L, described hereafter.
The saddle pillar is furnished in front with a number of perforations or indents i
forming a rack, and behind with a longitudinal groove k in which I place
a roller G to preserve the rectilinear course of the saddle pillar F. In the
perforations of this pillar, engages the tongue of the bolt L which has
a shank L; this bolt is situated in tube S which connects the saddle to the
fiont fork of the machine, and the tongue is forced to engage with one of the
perforations or indents by means of the spring M which is enclosed between
a plug O and bolt L.
да
To the shank L' is fixed a flexible shaft or chain R which after proceeding
inside tube S is led out by means of a pulley, passes over a second pulley and
terminates in a rack n provided with a pin n¹ (Figs. 1 and 4). The pin n' fastens
the chain R to a hand lever o pivoted to the arm o' of the handle bar. A similar
haud lever p is likewise fulerumed to the arm p' of the handle bar; this lever
enters the steering column H and operates the brake H' in the usual manner, see
Figure 4.
In operation, the action is as follows:-Upon raising lever o and pressing it
gainst the handle bar, the bolt L will be drawn forward and with it tongue 1,
hereby releasing the seat pillar F. This pillar being then free will ascend by
means of the spring E or descend for a desired portion of its length under the

page_text: weight of the rider, who will then release the lever o thus allowing tongue / to
again enter one of the perforations or indents i of the seat pillar.
It will be seen that this arrangement in no way interferes with the joints which
allow of the folding of the bicycle.
Upon the tubes S S₁ I provide suitable strengthening sockets K, the flanges of
which are in the same vertical plane and consequently the inclination of these
sockets varies according to the kind of frame used. As shewn on Figs. 1, 2, and 3
each of these flanges is composed of two plates a and b joined by a hinge c and
held normally when in working order, one against the other by dowels d entering
corresponding holes e in the opposite plates.
Each plate is fixed to one of the sockets K; the plate a is provided at its
free side with a slot serving to retain a T-headed bolt or catch g, the stem of
which is partly screwed and passing through plate bis provided with a nut x, see
Figure 3.
When it is wished to fold the bicycle, this nute is partly unscrewed so as to
free the head of the bolt g from the shoulders i formed upon plate a; the head
having then described a quarter of a circle, as shewn on Figure 3, and the same
operation performed on the lower joint, the one wheel may be folded back against
the other without being interfered with by the flexible shaft or chain which is
enclosed within the upper tube of the frame, or the saddle which is adjustable.
Or in lieu of the fork and rack at the end of lever o I may attach a pulley s to
the inner end of this lever and fasten by means of a pin or otherwise, the chain or
flexible shaft to a groove in this pulley, as shewn on Figure 5; the pulley may be
prevented from rotating by a screw & fitting into any one of the holes u provided in
the side of the pulley s.
The various parts of my improved bicycle may be made of metal or any other
suitable material, and I may, if desired, use the devices for adjusting the saddle
pillar apart from, or in conjunction with, the joints which allow of the folding of
the bicycle.
Having now particularly ascertained and described the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A folding bicycle having an adjustable seat which may be raised or lowered
without necessitating the rider's dismounting from the machine, as described and
illustrated on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
2. In a folding bicycle, the combination of a seat pillar provided with a rack i
and a spiral spring E supporting the same from below, for the purposes and as
described with reference to Figure 1 of the annexed drawings.
3. In a folding bicycle the combination of a saddle pillar F having a rack i
and supported upon a spring E, with a bolt L having a tongue arranged to
engage with rack by means of a spring M, said bolt being connected to a handle o
by means of a flexible shaft or chain R whereby the same can be operated when
desired, as described.
4. A bicycle having hinged joints situated in the frame of the machine and in
the same vertical plane therein, the flanges of each of which are secured together
by means of a hinge e and bolt g having a nut x, for the purposes and substantially
as set forth.
Dated Linus Tortiera day of March 1890
Date LIS Tornem 08Y OF
aren 1896
For the Applicant,
GEDGE & FEENY,
60 Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agents.