IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES to be as follows:
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JAMES SIMEON EDGE the younger of Coleshill Street, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES to be as follows:-
"
My invention relates first to a means whereby saddles of bicycles, tricycles and
other velocipedes are made to tip or turn back upon a knuckle or hinge joint
mounted upon the spring or backbone upon which the saddle is supported. The
tilting backwards of the saddle is for the purpose of changing the plane of the seat,
and thereby making the said saddle more easily to mount. The bestriding of the
saddle by the rider, places and fixes the saddle in its right position, the fixing being
effected, by a spring catch. Secondly, in the driving chain which is constructed
and made up of a series of detachable links, and cross bars or pins to facilitate the
putting together without rivetting in the formation of a chain, or to facilitate the
connection or disconnection of the links, for shortening, lengthening or for repair,
in case of breakage; and thirdly, in means whereby the distance between the seat
of the saddle and the driving pedal axis, can be changed to accommodate riders of
varying heights, without changing or lengthening the driving parts of the machine..
In other words, the machine can be made to accommodate itself to riders of varying
statures, by altering or changing the angular position of the pedal axis bracket.
I will describe my improvements in connection with a safety bicycle.
I mount the saddle in the usual way upon a spring elevated above the backbone
of the machine, and to the said spring I connect a clip plate which carries the
saddle. The forward end of the clip plate is provided with a spring catch, while
the latter has knuckles carrying a flap or cross bar which is attached to the
underside of the frame of the saddle; in other words, this clip plate which is
clamped to the spring or backbone of the machine, consists essentially of a fixed
base plate, carrying at its front a spring or snap bolt, and at its back a hinged
connecting plate, the front end of which engages under the shoulder of the bolt,
while the middle part is connected to the underside of the frame of the saddle, so
that the said saddle is capable of tipping or tilting backwards when liberated from
the bolt, in order that the rider can readily mount, without any liability of his legs.
catching the back or cantel end, on bestriding or leaping thereon. Thus when the

page_text: saddle is open, or in a tilted position, the seat is at an angle of about 45 degrees
to the spring or bar upon which it rests; so that a rider in mounting, simply
jumps upon the seat, when the saddle turns forward upon its hinge joint, and
the end of the attachment plate on its underside snaps over the nose of the
bolt and is there firmly held in that position, so long as the locking bolt is not
withdrawn.
The withdrawal of the bolt for the tilting of the saddle, is effected by a head or
enlargement on the forward end of the bolt which comes in front of the bracket;
while the bolt is pressed into position preferably by a coiled spring.
The chain to which my improvements are especially applicable, relates to that
class where parallel links are coupled or connected together by cross pins, rivetted
on their opposite sides; the links being divided by intervening spaces, and around
the cross pins which connect the links together, rollers are situated; these rollers
form the ends of the spaces enclosed by the side links; and my improvements
consist in making the links detachable, or, putting together the links without
rivetting. The axes or joint centres of the links are simply pins having near their
extreme ends, annular grooves or depressions, wherein the edges of the gaps of the
links, hereinafter described, take and engage. The inner links which are threaded
or linked upon the said axial pins are of the ordinary kind; that is, the axial holes
in the ends of the links are of the same diameters as the pins upon which they
turn, while the outer links of the chain are gapped with longitudinal incisions or
openings running nearly through their whole length. These openings are larger at
the middle part than at their extremities. The middle part is made larger for the
purpose of admitting the end of the axial pin in order to connect the end of the link
with the annular groove or recess on the end of each pin which is of smaller
diameter.
The chain is made up from the series of links herein before described in the
following way.
The two inside plain links are threaded upon the pivots or axes with the rollers
dividing the parallel links. The outer slotted links are then connected to each
pair of adjacent axes by passing the gap of larger diameter, over the end of each
pin separately and then drawing the link longitudinally, so as to make the part, or
end of smaller diameter in the gap, engage with the groove or annular depression
on the end of the pin, thereby fixing and holding the links together, so as to
constitute a chain for driving or communicating motion.
When it is wished to disconnect the links of the chain for shortening or other-
wise, it is only necessary to slide the links so as to bring the gap of larger diameter
in front of the ends of the pins, when the parts can be readily disconnected.
The adjustable extension of the fork consists of a depending arm or bracket,
carrying near its end the crank chain wheel and crank axis. This adjustable arm
or crank axis carrier is provided at its boss end with a disc or plate which is of
about the same diameter as the wheel centre, and is situated between the extremity
of the forks and the driving chain wheel; that is, the adjustable depending arm
turns upon the axle of the wheel, between the inside face of the forked termination
and the outside face of the chain wheel. The position of the arm is determined
by two or more fixing screw pins, the heads of which lie within excentric channels
on the inner face of the axial end of the arm and then pass through curved slots in
the said axial end and terminate in screw holes in the axle end of the forks.
The swivelling arm carrying the pedal axis after having been adjusted to the
proper angle can be affixed in any desired position by screwing the nuts or screw
pins which fix the movable arm and fork rigidly together, so that when it is
requisite to change the distance between the crank axis and the seat of the saddle,
it is only necessary to unloosen the nuts or screws, and turn the swivelling arm to
the proper position, and then again affix it rigidly in that position by the screwing
up of the nuts or screw bolts, thereby shortening or lengthening the distance so as
to accommodate riders of varying heights.
[l

page_text: arm,
Instead of a swivelling arm, the same result may be attained by extending the
forks downwards and having at the extremity of each fork a fixed quadrant slotted
the curvature of which strikes upwards and is determined by and struck from
the wheel centre. To lengthen or shorten the distance between the crank axis, and
the seat of the saddle, the crank axle bearing has only to be clamped or fixed in the
slot of the quadrant arm, when the exact position is determined.

page_text: I JAMES SIMEON EDGE the younger of Coleshill Street Birmingham in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES" and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My invention relates first to a means whereby saddles of bicycles, tricycles and
other velocipedes are made to tip or turn back upon a knuckle or hinge joint
mounted upon the spring or backbone upon which the saddle is supported-The
tilting backwards of the saddle is for the purpose of changing the plane of the seat,
and thereby making the said saddle more easily to mount-The bestriding of the
saddle by the rider, places and fixes the saddle in its right position, the fixing
being effected by a spring catch-Secondly, in the driving chain which is con-
structed and made up of a series of detachable links, and cross bars or pins to
facilitate the putting together without rivetting in the formation of a chain, or to
facilitate the connection or disconnection of the links, for shortening, lengthening
or for repair, in case of breakage; And thirdly in means whereby the distance
between the seat of the saddle and the driving pedal axis, can be changed to
accommodate riders of varying heights, without changing or lengthening the driving
parts of the machine-In other words the machine can be made to accommodate
itself to riders of varying statures, by altering or changing the angular position of
the crank axis,
I will describe my improvements in connection with a safety bicycle.
I mount the saddle in the usual way upon a spring elevated above the back
bone of the machine, and to the said spring I connect a clip plate which carries
the saddle-The forward end of the clip plate is provided with a spring catch,
while the latter has knuckles carrying a flap or cross bar which is attached to the
underside of the frame of the saddle; in other words this clip plate which is
clamped to the spring or back bone of the machine, consists essentially of a fixed
base plate, carrying at its front a spring or strap bolt, and at its back a hinged
connecting plate, the front end of which engages under the shoulder of the bolt,
while the middle part is connected to the underside of the frame of the saddle, so
that the said saddle is capable of tipping or tilting backwards when liberated from
the bolt, in order that the rider can readily mount, without any liability of his legs
catching the back or cantel end, on bestriding or leaping thereon-Thus when the
saddle is open, or in a tilted position, the seat is at an angle of about 45 degrees
to the spring or bar upon which it rests; so that a rider in mounting, simply jumps
upon the seat, when the saddle turns forward upon its hinge joint, and the end of
the attachment plate on its underside snaps over the nose of the bolt and is there
firmly held in that position, so long as the locking bolt is not withdrawn.
The withdrawal of the bolt for the tilting of the saddle, is effected by a head or
enlargement on the forward end of the bolt which comes in front of the bracket;
while the bolt is pressed into position preferably by a coiled spring.
The chain to which my improvements are especially applicable, relates to that
class where parallel links are coupled or connected together by cross pins rivetted

page_text: on their opposite sides; the links being divided by intervening spaces, and around
the cross pins which connect the links together, rollers are situated; these rollers
form the ends of the spaces enclosed by the side links; and my improvements
consist in making the links detachable, or putting together the links without
rivetting The axes or joint centres of the links are simply pins having near their
extreme ends, annular grooves or depressions, wherein the edges of the gaps of the
links, herein-after described, take and engage-The inner links which are threaded
or linked upon the said axial pins are of the ordinary kind; that is, the axial holes
in the ends of the links are of the same diameters as the pins upon which they
turn, while the outer links of the chain are gapped with longitudinal incisions or
openings running nearly through their whole length-These openings are larger at
the middle part than at their extremities-The middle part is made much larger
for the purpose of admitting the end of the axial pin in order to connect the end
of the link with the annular groove or recess on the end of each pin which is of
smaller diameter.
The chain is made up from the series of links hereinbefore described in the
following way :-
The two inside plain links are threaded upon the pivots or axes with the rollers
dividing the parallel links-The outer slotted links are then connected to each
pair of adjacent axes by passing the gap of larger diameter, over the end of each
pin separately and then drawing the link longitudinally, so as to make the part, or
end of smaller diameter in the gap engage with the groove or annular depression
on the end of the pin, thereby fixing and holding the links together, so as to
constitute a chain for driving or communicating motion.
When it is wished to disconnect the links of the chain for shortening or other-
wise, it is only necessary to slide the links so as to bring the gap of larger
diameter in front of the ends of the pins, when the parts can be readily dis-
connected.
The means of changing the distance between the seat of the saddle, and the
pedal axis, in order to accommodate riders of varying heights without altering the
seat of the saddle, is accomplished, by extending the forks downwards, and
providing at the extreme lower ends, fixed quadrant slotted arms, which strike
upwards with a radius struck from the wheel centre; and within the quadrant
slots the bearings of the crank axes or spindles are clamped and affixed by screw
nuts or other affixing expedients.
To lengthen or shorten the distance between the crank axis, and the seat of the
saddle, loosen the affixing screw nuts upon the ends of the bearings and remove
the bearing with the crank axis to the desired position within the quadrant slot of
the supporting arm; and on the exact position being determined the said axis
bearing is clamped and fixed by the screwing up of the nuts, thereby shortening or
lengthening the relative distance between the saddle and pedal.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings,
the manner in which the same is to be performed:-
:-
Figure 1 represents in side elevation a tilting or tipping velocipede saddle
constructed according to my invention, the saddle being raised or tilted ready for
the rider to mount-Figure 2 represents the same closed, and fastened in position
upon the bar or spring of a machine after the rider has mounted-Figure 3 is a
longitudinal vertical section of figure 1-Figure 4 is also a longitudinal vertical
section of figure 2--Figure 5 shows a plan of the joint and fastening of the saddle
in its unfastened position-Figure 6 is a front view of the hinge joint and fastener
parts.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in figures 1, 2, 3, 4 5
and 6.
a is a spring upon which the saddle is mounted, the said spring is elevated
above the back bone of the machine, and to the said spring a, I connect a clip or
saddle plate c which carries the saddle b-d is a base plate of a cruciform shape
carrying at one end the knuckles d' and at the other end a cylinder like body d³

page_text: wherein a spring bolt e works-The said spring bolt has a bevilled and over
hanging nose e², ea, the former e is for the purpose of pressing back the bolt on
the end of the attachment plate f coming upon the said bevilled end-The other
end of the bolt has a head et on the withdrawal of which, the attachment plate f
can be liberated, and the saddle turned upon its hinge f³, so as to tilt or raise the
saddle into the position represented in figures 1 and 3-g is a coiled spring
surrounding the stem of the bolt for urging the bolt forward on the saddle being
closed and fastened to the base plate-The plate f is attached to the underside of
the frame of the saddle by a screw pin and nut, the former being affixed to the
metallic framing of the saddle.
Thus when the saddle is open or in a tilted position as represented in figures 1
and 3, the seat of the saddle is at an angle of about 45 degrees to the spring or bar
upon which it rests; so that a rider in mounting, simply jumps upon the seat in
the ordinary way, when the saddle turns forward upon its hinge joint f³ and the
nose end 2 of the attachment plate strikes the bevelled nose e², and snaps under
the shoulder e³ thereby locking the saddle in its horizontal or normal position as
represented in figures 2 and 4.
: The withdrawal of the bolt for the tilting of the saddle is effected by drawing
out the head es compressing the spring g, and bringing the nose of the bolt from in
front of the end f2 of the under plate f, which allows the saddle to be tipped or
tilted upon its joint as represented in figures 1 and 3.
Although I have described that the mechanism or means for fastening and
allowing the saddle to be tilted to facilitate the mounting thereof, as being
attached to the spring situated above the back bone of a bicycle, yet I wish it to
be observed that the said saddle may be affixed to an L bar or to any other part
of the framing of a machine.
Instead of the joint being made of knuckle type as represented, a coil of spring
wire may be substituted therefor, the terminal ends of the coils constituting the
saddle and spring attachments.
Figure 7 represents in side elevation my improvements in chain, made up of
detachable links, and unrivetted joint centres or stud pins--Figure 8 is a plan of
figure 7 shewing the arrangement of the links with respect to the unrivetted joint
centres or stud pins.
Figure 9 is a part horizontal section of figure 7 upon the dotted lines A B, the
intermediate studs being left in elevation; while the alternate rollers are in section.
Figure 10 shews in side elevation one of the detachable links; and figure 11 an
edge view of the same- -Figure 12 is a section on the dotted lines C D.
Figure 13 shows in plan and end elevation one of the joint centres or cross stud
pins separately; and figure 14 the roller separately-Figure 15 is an explanatory
view showing how the links are connected or disconnected with or from the ends
of the studs, or in other words, how the bulbous openings in the middle of the
longitudinal openings are passed over the ends of the studs, in the building up,
or in the separation of the links-Figure 16 is a plan of the last named figure, the
link about to be passed onto the end of the stud or cross pin, is shown in
longitudinal section.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in figures 7 to 26 both
inclusive.
The chain is made up of a series of detachable links a, and a series of cross pins
or studs b, each link has a longitudinal opening a² of a breadth equal to the
diameter of one of the necks 62 of the stud or cross pin b-The longitudinal
opening a² of the link, has at or about its middle part, a bulbous passage or
entrance a³ through which the head 62 of the stud b passes in the making up of a
chain; thus each link has a longitudinal opening or gap made through its side, and
within the middle part thereof, an enlargement is formed, to admit of the passage
of the end of the cross pin or stud; so that the neck or reduced part of the stud
can he introduced into the longitudinal slot―c is a roller or short length of tubing,
which surrounds the middle of the stud, and constitutes as well as a roller a

page_text: distance piece for the keeping apart of the links, when the body of the stud is of
uniform diameter with the necks.
The chain represented in figures 7, 8 and 9 is built up or put together in the
following manner.
After the rollers have been threaded upon the middles of the cross studs or pins,
the inner links of the series of parallel links a a are introduced upon the necks 68
by passing the bulbous enlargement a³ in the middle of the longitudinal opening a
over the ends or heads 62 63 of the studs b, and on the necks of the studs becoming
coincident with or opposite to the longitudinal opening, and when in this position,
the links are drawn longitudinally over the necks until they come to the ends of
the gaps where they rest, the outside links are then introduced upon the necks
exactly in a similar manner, until a continuous length of chain is thereby formed..
To detach or remove any of the links for repair or in case of breakage, is to
simply stack the chain so as to bring the ends or heads 63 of the studs opposite.
to the enlarged openings a³ in the links, when the said links can be readily
detached.
Instead of the stud necks 62 being made angular as represented in the preceding
figures, they may be formed as represented in figures 17, 20 and 22 hereinafter
described.
Figures 17 and 18 represent a side elevation and plan the latter partly in section
of a modification of my chain made up of combined solid and detachable links.
a a are detachable alternate chain links having solid intermediate links d, the
cross pins 6 have depressions 64 on opposite sides as best seen in the cross section
figure 19; that is, nicks or depressions 6 of the exact thickness of a link are
formed near the ends of the cross pins, and when passed into the longitudinal
openings of the links, they are incapable of turning, as the depth across the cut
away part is less in diameter than the pin.
Figure 20 represents another form of chain made up of detachable side links,
necked cross pins, and intermediate inside fixed links.
a a are the alternate detachable links, the same as previously described; and e e
are intermediate fixed links, made up of two side links e; and a bush f rivetted at
its ends, and upon this bush a roller c turns. The cross pin b which connects the
alternate detachable links to the intermediate fixed links passes through and turns
within the bush f as a centre. The cut away parts b' near the ends of the pins is
of the breadth only of a single link. The detachable links a a are connected to
the ends of the pins in the manner previously described.
Figure 21 is a side elevation of the chain figure 20, and figure 22 is the cross pin,
showing the opposite cut away parts or gaps 6' near the ends thereof.
Figures 23 and 24 are front and edge views of the modification of the chain
figures 7 and 8. In this modification, the chain is made up of a series of single
detachable links, with a stud figure 25 whose neck is of the breadth of two links.
When a chain of the type figure 24 is required to be made so as to admit of a
central pull by arranging the links side by side, the necks of the studs are made
proportionally wide to embrace two or more links according to the character of
chain to be made.
The putting together and the detachment of the links is essentially the same as
already described.
In figure 26 the longitudinal aperture or opening in the side of the link is
provided with two enlargements instead of one as previously described.
Figure 264 shows another form of detachable link with two side openings,
instead of a single side opening.
•
Figure 27 represents a bicycle provided with a quadrant slotted fork extension
constructed according to my invention. Figure 28 is the fork extension and the
slotted arm upon an enlarged scale. Figure 29 is the same as figure 28 with the
chain wheels and other parts removed.
g is the fork, g the fork extension, and h is a fixed slotted arm striking upwards,
is the quadrant slot in the said arm, struck from the wheel centre as a
and

page_text: radius. is the crank, and the crank axis. j is the chain wheel keyed on the
axis i³.
© When a person requires to change the distance between the pedal and saddle
seat, it is only necessary to slacken the nut k, when the bearing carrying the chain
wheel and crank axis can be moved within the slot h2, so as to increase or decrease
the relative distance between the pedals and saddle; thus when a crank is in a
position as represented in figure 27, a person with short legs or of diminutive
stature has only to clamp or affix the axis of the chain wheel or crank to the top
of the slot as represented in figure 28, when an ordinary machine may be made to
accommodate itself to the rider, so that by the change of the position of the
bearing of the pedal axis within the slot, an ordinary machine may be made to
accommodate riders of varying statures or proportions, while at the same time
the distance between the centre of the driving wheel and the crank axis remains
.constant.
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
First. A tilting or tipping saddle for bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes;
or a saddle which is capable of turning backwards upon a hinge joint, in order to
change the plane of its seat for the purpose of facilitating or aiding the mounting
thereof by a rider; and when mounted, the saddle is affixed (automatically) in its
normal or riding position, by a spring bolt or other fastener, substantially as
described and illustrated in figures, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
Secondly. Open sided detachable chain links, or chain links having side openings
or gaps with larger openings or enlargements therein, through which latter or
larger openings the head of a pin or stud passes in the formation or putting
together of a rivetless chain, substantially as described and illustrated in figures 10,
11, 12 and 26 of the accompanying drawings.
Thirdly. A rivetless chain made up of open sided detachable links and necked
or headed cross pins or studs with or without rollers surrounding them, as in
figures 7,8 9, 15 and 16 or a chain made up of part detachable links and part
non-detachable links and studs as in figures 17, 18 and 20, or a chain made up
of detachable links and studs arranged in single file, as in figures 23 and 24
substantially as described and illustrated.
Fourthly. Employing fixed quadrant slotted arms at the lower extremities of
the forks, and within the slots, which are struck from the radius of the wheel
centre, the crank axle bearings are fixed in varying positions, in order to change
the distance between the crank axis, and saddle, without altering the length of
chain; substantially as and for the purpose herein described and illustrated in
figures 27, 28, and 29 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Twenty eighth day of October 1905