Improvements in Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1896-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1896
Improvements in Bicycles.
A communication by HOWARD KEYES BROOKS, of Chicago, in the County of
Cook and State of Illinois, United States of America, Manager of the
American Express Co.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil 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 invention relates to means for relieving the body of a bicycle rider from
vertically active vibrations when riding over rough roads, and its object is to
provide a construction adapted to be fitted for use for either a seat post or handle
bar stem, as is described hereinafter and illustrated in the accompanying drawing
in which-
Figure 1 shows the spring casing, two springs and the adjusting nuts therefor,
together with a leather buffer washer, and the retaining nut therefor, and an
adjusting nut or cap for the top of the spring case, all in axial section, a seat post
stem being shown in elevation.
Figure 1 also shows in broken lines X, the general form of handle bar
adapted to be attached to this device when in use for a handle bar stem.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of a portion of the upper part of a seat
post stem, to illustrate position of a leather buffer attached thereto.
Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the part shown in Figure 2, looking in the
direction indicated by arrow 12, and showing one of the spline channels therein.
Figure 4 is a cross section of the stem shown in Figure 2, on line 13, 13-14, to
show spline channels.
Figure 5 is an axial section of a portion of the top of the spring case with the
adjusting cap removed, and with the stem having the upper enlarged end portion in
axial section, through the spline channels and the lower or reduced portion in
elevation in position within the spring case, as it appears when the stem is forced
inwardly, and shows the manner of forming integral longitudinal splines. which
are adapted to slidingly fit in longitudinal channels in the front and rear sides of
the stem.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the upper end portion of the spring case,
showing a slit at one side thereof to permit the compression of the end of
the case.
Figure 7 is an elevation of the top end of the spring case looking in the direction
indicated by arrow 15, Figure 6, and showing the depression to form a spline for one
of the channels in the stem.
Figure 8 is an axial section of the top of the spring case on line 16-17,
Figure 7.
Figure 9 is an elevation of a counter buffer spring fitted to operate at the lower
end of the device.
Figure 10 is a plan of a lock nut for adjusting the tension of the spring shown in
Figure 9.

page_text: Figure 11 is a plan of the spring case with the screw threaded cap and the stem
removed, to show the oppositely disposed front and rear splines, which slidingly fit
the two channels, Figure 4, in the stem.
Similar letters indicate like parts throughout the several views.
The spring case A forms the main body of the device, which is adapted in size
to take the place of the ordinary rigid seat post or handle bar stem.
Case A is internally screw threaded at the lower end to receive a screw threaded
adjustable abutment B.
The top portion of case A is reduced in size annularly by swaging it inwardly
.until its internal diameter is a sliding fit for stein C, and in this operation a
shoulder is formed to receive the impact of a buffer pad attached to stem C, described
hereinafter.
The swaged top of the case also has the walls thereof again swaged inwardly at
opposite sides, to form splines D and E, integral therewith, which slidingly fit the
two oppositely disposed channels F and G in stem C.
Midway between the splines D and E are slits H and H' in the top portion of
the case, which portion is slightly tapered and is screw threaded exteriorly and fitted
with a nut I through whose top slides stem C.
Nut I when screwed inwardly on the tapered end of case A seems to close the
slits H and H', and thus contract the end of the case and bring the splines D and E
in close sliding contact with channels F and G.
Stem C is axially disposed down through case A, and is supported at the upper
end by the splines D and E, and at the lower end by passing axially through
nut B.
The lower portion of stem C is reduced in size below shoulder C¹, close below
which the stem is screw threaded to receive a leather buffer J, against the shoulder,
and a screw threaded metal nut J' to firmly hold the buffer in place to form a
shoulder which contracts the upper end of the inside of case A, by the pressure
from helical spring K, whose lower end rests on abutment B, while the upper end
rests against nut J.
Stem C is threaded at the lower end to receive a nut L, between which and
abutment B is a contra buffer spring M, having one end N engaged in a hole B
in abutment B, and the other end portion engaged in a shallow depression L' in
nut L so that the nut is yieldingly held from backing off.
It is obvious that by adjusting the tension of spring K, by means of abutment B,
the tension of spring M would be changed, but may be readjusted by means of
nut L.
In devising this means for preventing the communication of annoying vertically
operating vibration to the body of a bicycle rider, eudeavour has been made to
form a structure which is not only neat in appearance, but one which may be
easily made by machinery, and which is durable, adjustable, smooth and noiseless
in action, and which, in addition to these desirable features, entirely obviates the
objectionable sudden termination of upwardly acting vibrations by the introduction.
of the contra buffer spring M, and the leather buffer washer J, which serve to so
gradually ease an upward vibration that its annoying or injurious effect on the body
is reduced to the minimum.
The size of the splines D and E is such that, when made in the ordinary manner
by soldering in, they are very liable to work loose and ruin the whole structure,
especially when used for a handle bar, but when these splines are swaged inwardly
and are integral with the case they are as reliable and durable as the other portion
of the device.
In practice, this device when used as a seat post is adapted to being secured in
the same position, and adjusted for height, the same as the ordinary rigid seat
post.
No alteration is made in the parts when used for a handle bar stem except that,
in place of the T at the top of the stem to which the seat is attached, there is a
handle bar secured, which is of the general type shown in the broken line's X, with

page_text: the handle in such a position that the pressure of the body is almost longitudinally.
downward in line with the motion of stem C.
The spring K is made of a strength to suit a light weight rider, and its resistance
to compression is increased to the desired amount by screwing nut B up into
case A.
In riding over very rough roads with a bicycle provided with this device, large
obstructions causo spring K to be compressed to such an extent that when it is
returning to the normal position, Figure 1, the buffer collar J on stem C would be
brought up against the inside top of the case with great force and a heavy jar,
were it not for the action of the short contra buffer spring M, which serves to
gradually arrest the upward motion of stem C, by being adjusted to such a tension
that the impact of the leather buffer J is very light against the top of the case,
thus insuring both ease of action and durability.
In adjusting the tension of the contra buffer spring M since the top thereof is
engaged in the hole B' in abutment B, which latter is under the strong pressure
of spring K, and not easily turned, the nut L may be easily turned so as to slide
the slight protuberance P at the lower end of spring M out of the shallow notch L',
in the nut, and the latter complete a revolution, before the protuberance again
engages the notch, which combination serves as a means for locking the nut in
some desired position.
By screwing the nut I down hard, the splines D and E will be forced into the
channels with sufficient frictional contact to firmly hold the stem C from longitudinal
movement, thus forming a rigid seat post.
The shoulder formed by the leather buffer washer J and its retaining nut I may
be dispensed with by the use of a spring M of sufficient stiffness to always hold the
stem C against the upward pressure of springs K normally in about the position
shown in Figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a seat or handle bar post for bicycles, the combination comprising an
outer tubular casing having an abutment at one end, a stem disposed and adapted
to slide axially and longitudinally within the casing, a shoulder on the stem inside
the casing, a helical spring bearing upon the said shoulder at one end and against
the abutment at the other end, the said stem projecting at one end of the casing to
receive the bicycle seat or handle bar, and at the other end to receive a nut between
which and the abutment is a counter buffer spring, the whole serving as and for the
purpose substantially as described. .
2. In a seat or handle bar post for bicycles, such as described, in combination a
means for mounting the stem within the tubular casing to slide therein longitudinally,
but not to revolve, comprising channels F and G, disposed longitudinally in the
surface of the stem and serving in combination with integral splines formed by
swaging in the sides of the end of the case to fit the said channels substantially as
shown and described, with means for compressing the ead of the casing and closing
the splines into the channels, for the purpose stated.
3. In a seat or handle bar post for bicycles such as described, a means for
mounting the non-revolvable stem within the tubular casing to slide longitudinally
therein comprising channels F and G, disposed longitudinally in the surface of the
stem, which serve in combination with integral splines formed by swaging in the
sides of the end of the case to fit the said channels and with longitudinal slits in
the tapered screw threaded end of the case adapted to be closed by a nut to adjust
the fit of the splines in the channels, substantially as described.
4. In a seat or handle har post such as described, the top of casing A swaged
annularly inwardly to form an integral shoulder adapted to receive the impact of
buffer pad J, and to receive the stem C as described.
5. In combination with a movable abutment B and a movable nut L, the buffer

page_text: spring M having the ends thereof yieldingly engaged therewith, whereby the said
spring serves as a stop to yieldingly hold the nut and the abutment in some desired
relative position, substantially as described.
Dated this 1st day of Sentember 1806
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.