Year: 1898

page_text: I, JOHN JONES, of 197, Princes Street, Dundee, in the County of Forfar, Scot-
land, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to cycles, the object being to improve their construction
and action.
The first part of my invention relates to the saddle, the object being to permit
of its height being readily adjustable and thus allow of the machine being easily
mounted or dismounted. The saddle is preferably of wood in three or more
ply crossed, or of wood and leather, or wood and metal in combination, though
it may be of papier-maché or any metal or other substance and shaped to suit
the rider. It is firmly attached to the saddle or pin, and springs of ordinary
type can be dispensed with. The saddle pin is an easy fit in the pillar tube and
is supported by a pneumatic cushion or cylinder so arranged that the weight
of the rider is supported by such. When there is little or no air in the pneu-
matic cushion or cylinder the saddle is fully down and can be kept in that position
by means of a catch so that when the cylinder is filled with air or gas at a
considerable pressure it cannot rise. The rider can at that time, in some types
stand bestride the machine with his feet on the ground, thus easily mounting,
and after he has commenced to move along he can touch a spring, or otherwise
release the catch, thus permitting the saddle to rise to its predetermined position.
The valve or valves for the admission or emission of air to the cylinder are
situated convenient to the rider's hand so that he can at will make the air enter
or escape when he is on the machine and thus cause the saddle to rise or fall to
its proper position and so allow of his actuating the machine or coming off easily
and safely, or he can operate the valve or valves from any point by a pneumatic,
magnetic or mechanical push. The admission valve may be designed to act as
a safety valve as well, that is to say it may be designed to allow of the admission
and emission of the air, such emission automatically taking place when the
pressure attains to a given intensity. An adjustable clip may be used to deter:
mine the height of the saddle when the gas is in the cylinder and the former
rises to the proper position.
combination
The elastic force of the air acts as a cushion instead of the usual springs
used in
between
the L pin or may be
the saddle and
with air to
therewith. Springs may be used in combination
support
the weight of the rider or may be made to act in the pillar tube, similarly
to the pneumatic cushion. In its simplest form for dismounting I require only
a slit in the pillar tube and a catch on the saddle pin. The frame of the
machine may be altered to suit the adjustable saddle. For example:--The

page_text: pillar tube may be vertical or nearly so and the top tube may terminate, in the
bottom instead of the top of the steering head, a second diagonal tube being intro-
duced stretching from the pillar tube to the top of the steering head. The afore-
said frame may be applied to the ordinary safety bicycle or to the geared front
drivers. These machines can be made to readily separate into three or more
parts namely the frame in one part and the wheels in others. The fork which
carries the front wheel is made detachable and is bolted to the steering tube,
each tube having suitable flanges for this purpose. The rear fork may be detach-
able in the same manner if desired. The pump for inflating the air cylinder for
the saddle may be carried on the pillar tube, the lower holder consisting of a
cup and the upper of a ring so that the pump can be shipped or unshipped with
the least possible trouble or it may be carried inside one of the tubes of the
frame. Sometimes I may attach a reservoir containing compressed gas to the
machine and connect it by means of suitable valves and pipes with the saddle
cylinder and thus do away with the need for employing the air pump, or I may
generate and employ ascetylene gas for the purpose. Provision may also be
made, by means of a spindle and screw acting at the base of the pillar tube, for
varying and adjusting the pressure of the air or spring under the rider.
Provision may be made on the upright portion of the handle bar and steering
head for carrying or supporting an umbrella. One method is to
drop the handle of the umbrella into the upright tubes which are
left open for that purpose. Another method is to apply short tubes or tubular
clips to the steering head. The umbrella when extended may be used for adver-
tising purposes by printing the advertisements on its surface.
In the tyres, between the inner air tube and the outer cover, and preferably
attached to such outer cover I may interpose a band whose purpose is to lessen
the liability to puncture. It is made of hard elastic fibre which is contained
between quilted cloth covers.
All the tubes that admit of an end being open may be made open in order
to be utilized for carrying sundries. Screwed or other caps may be fitted over
the ends.
Another part of my invention relates to tandem and multiple cycles. The front
wheel is driven by a rider in a manner similar to that which obtains with the
geared front driver, and the back wheel or wheels driven in the usual way by
the other rider or riders by means of chains or other suitable gear, that is to
say the tandem or multiple cycle consists of a front driven wheel, and a rear
driven wheel or wheels in combination.
The driving gears may be so arranged by means of pauls and ratchet wheels
that, while permitting of braking or back pedalling, the pedals become stationary
should the riders stop pedalling. In doing this they need not remove their feet
from the pedals, that is to say a paul and ratchet wheel may be used to com-
municate the motion of the crank to the driving wheel and another and opposite
paul and ratchet wheel to actuate the brake. Instead of using chains and toothed
wheels for the rear driving I may use bands and grooved wheels, which latter
may be made of wood, metal or other material. The band may be of leather, steel
wire or a combination of these or of any other suitable material or materials. The
wheels are grooved circumferentially to receive the band.
To the ordinary spoon and similar brakes I may apply a cross piece so arranged
that the feet can operate the brake.
Electric batteries and magnets may be employed to operate the brake and
the bell. I may use any suitable electric bell in common use and to prevent
unnecessary jingling muffle the bell when the current is not switched on by a
mechanical or other device. An extra electro-magnet may release the muffle.
In the construction of the wheels of my cycles I may use semitubular spokes
made of steel or any suitable metal or alloy.
I may use magnetized pedals and toe clips to prevent the rider losing the
pedals and to enable them to be instantly released or found. The toe clips are

page_text: attached to the riders boots or shoes, and in their simplest form are flattened
pieces of soft iron or magnetized steel, attached to the sole of the boot.
Dated this 4th day of November 1898.
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
41, Reform Street, Dundee, Agents for Applicant.
es in and relating to Cycles.
I, JOHN JONES, of 197, Princes Street, Dundee, in the County of Forfar, Scot-
land, Merchant, 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:―
This invention relates to cycles, the object being to improve their construction
and action.
The first part of my invention relates to the saddle, the object being to permit
of its height being readily adjustable and thus allow of the machine being easily
mounted or dismounted. The saddle is preferably of wood in three or more
ply crossed, or of wood and leather, or wood and metal in combination, though
it may be of papier-maché or any metal or other substance and shaped to suit
the rider. It is firmly attached to the saddle or L pin, and springs of ordinary
type can be dispensed with. The saddle pin is an easy fit in the pillar tube and
is supported by a pneumatic cushion or cylinder so arranged that the weight
of the rider is supported by such. When there is little or no air in the pneu-
matic cushion or cylinder the saddle is fully down and can be kept in that position
by means of a catch so that when the cylinder is fitted with air or gas at a
considerable pressure it cannot rise. The rider can at that time, in some types
stand bestride the machine with his feet on the ground, thus easily mounting,
and after he has commenced to move along he can touch a spring, or otherwise
release the catch, thus permitting the saddle to rise to its predetermined position.
The valve or valves for the admission or emission of air to the cylinder are
situated convenient to the rider's hand so that he can at will make the air enter
or escape when he is on the machine and thus cause the saddle to rise or fall to
its proper position and so allow of his actuating the machine or coming off easily
and safely, or he can operate the valve or valves from any point by a pneumatic,
magnetic or mechanical push. The admission valve may be designed to act as
a safety valve as well, that is to say it may be designed to allow of the admission
and emission of the air, such emission automatically taking place when the
pressure attains to a given intensity. An adjustable clip may be used to deter-
mine the height of the saddle when the gas is in the cylinder and the former
rises to the proper position.
The elastic force of the air acts as a cushion instead of the usual springs
between the saddle and the L pin or
therewith.
in
may be used
combination
Springs may be used in combination with air to support
the weight of the rider or may be made to act in the pillar tube, similarly
to the pneumatic cushion. In its simplest form for dismounting I require only
a slit in the pillar tube and a catch on the saddle pin. The frame of the
machine may be altered to suit the adjustable saddle. Sometimes I may attach
a reservoir containing compressed gas to the machine and connect it by means
of suitable valves and pipes with the saddle cylinder and thus do away with the
need for employing the air pump.

page_text: Another part of my invention relates to tandem and multiple cycles. The
front wheel is driven by a rider in a manner similar to that which obtains
with the geared front driver and the back wheel or wheels driven in the usual
way by the other rider or riders by means of chains or other suitable gear, that
is to say the tandem or multiple cycle consists of a front driven wheel, and a
rear driven wheel or wheels in combination..
The driving gears may be so arranged by means of pauls and ratchets that,
while permitting of breaking or back pedalling, the pedals become stationery
should the riders stop pedalling. In doing this they need not remove their
feet from the pedals.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect, I have hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings in the
several figures of which corresponding parts are marked with the same numerals
of reference.
Figure 1, is an elevation of a tandem cycle fitted with my improvements.
Figure 2, is a diagrammatic face view showing how the front pedals may not
rotate and yet allow the wheel to freely rotate when desired.
Figure 3, is a section at A, A, (Figure 2)..
The saddles 10, are mounted on guides 11, and are free to rise or fall unless
otherwise constrained. Underneath each saddle is a closed air chamber 12, con-
structed somewhat after the principle of the concertina. It can expand or con-
tract longitudinally, according to the amount of air within it. 13, is a com-
pressible air pump similar to that used to actuate pneumatic brakes, and 14,
is the tubing which connects such air pump with the air reservoirs 12. By allow-
ing the air to escape, the saddle will be lowered and the rider can bestride the
machine, and after he has started he can pump or otherwise force air into the
reservoirs 12, and so raise the saddle the required distance. Should he wish
to dismount he can allow the air to escape and thus let the saddle come down.
Another part of my invention relates to tandem and multiple cycles. The
front wheel 15, is driven independently of the rear wheel by means of geared
front driving mechanism 16, reference to which is made later. The back wheel
is driven by means of a chain and gear wheels in the usual way. Figures 2,
and 3, show how the pedals may become stationary should the rider stop pedalling.
17, is a circular plate actuated by the pedals and on it are mounted the four
pinions 18. 19, is the external ratchet and internally toothed wheel which can
only rotate backwards. The arrows indicate the direction of rotation of the
various parts. 20, is a paul which gears into teeth 21, on the exterior of the
wheel 19. Equivalent mechanism may be used instead of and for the purpose
of the paul and ratchet. As long as the pedals move forward in the direction
of the arrow, the wheel 15, is caused to rotate in a forward direction, by means
of the spur wheel 22, on its hub. Should the rotation of the pedals be stopped,
the forward motion of such wheel 15, will then, through the wheel 22 and the
pinions 18, cause the wheel 19, to rotate backwards as indicated by the dotted
arrow.
I am aware that gearing made such as has been described is in use, but in such
cases the wheel 19, is fixed, whereas in my arrangement such wheel is only
fixed in one direction. In a cycle for more than one rider I may actuate all
the wheels by the mechanism described in connection with the front driven
wheel.
The advantages of being able to drive each wheel independently is that either
rider may cease working and that there are no dead points.
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:-
:
(1) In cycles, the use of saddles which can be made to rise or fall at the
will of the rider, as described and illustrated on the annexed drawings.

page_text: (2) In cycles, the combination of a reservoir containing compressed gas with
erectile saddles, as described.
(3) In cycles, the combination of a geared front driver with a back wheel or
wheels driven by means of chains or other suitable gear, the front wheel being
quite independent of the rear wheel or wheels substantially as described.
(4) In cycles, the combination of a geared front driver with a back wheel or
wheels driven by means of chains or other suitable gear, the front wheel being
"
free and quite independent of the rear wheel or wheels, substantially as
described and illustrated on the annexed drawings.
66
(5) In cycles, the combination of a paul 20, and a ratchet 21, or equivalent
mechanism, with a wheel 19, substantially as described and illustrated.
(6) In cycles, for more than one rider, the driving of all the wheels by means
of mechanism similar to that used for actuating the front wheel, as described.
(7) In multiple cycles, the combination and arrangement of driving gears so
that there may be no dead" "points" in the movements.
"
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 41, Reform Street, Dundee,
Agents for the Applicant.