IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Josiah Turner and Stephen Martin, both of Coventry, in
the County of Warwick, and James Adams, junior, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, in
the County of Northumberland, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VELOCIPEDES."
Sealed the 4th February 1879, and dated the 8th August 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Josiah Turner, Stephen Martin,
and James Adams at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
8th August 1878.
JOSIAH TURNER and STEPHEN MARTIN, both of Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, and JAMES ADAMS, junior, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the County of
Northumberland. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES."
Our improvements relate, firstly, to the adjusting and fixing of seats of bicycles
and tricycles, the object being to obviate the vibrating motion consequent with the
ordinary mode of fixing seats to the springs of bicycles and tricycles, which is found
so unpleasant on uneven roads and injurious to the rider; and our improvements.
consist in hinging the front part of the saddle to a sliding T or other shaped piece
formed with or connected to the backbone, and to the back end of the saddle frame
is a bracket connected to another bracket (fixed to the backbone) by a spring of
india-rubber or other suitable elastic material. This spring, whilst partially sup-
porting the weight of the rider, and affording the necessary elasticity, at the same
time disconnects all metallic contact with the body of the machine, thereby pre-
venting any injurious vibrating effect passing to the rider.
In some cases, to meet the varying weights of riders, we may find it necessary to
apply to the front hinge joint a single or double coiled spring, the tail ends of which
spring forms the saddle frame. This spiral spring having an upward or lifting
tendency will assist in supporting the weight of the rider.
In applying this part of our Inventions to tricycles, the same principle of sus-

page_text: pending the seat is employed, but the details and arrangements are varied to meet
the different form and construction of the machine.
Secondly. Our improvements more particularly relate to tricycles and four-wheel
velocipedes, and consist in diminishing the length of the pedal rods or bars, thereby
allowing a longer stroke of the crank or cranks, and consequently increasing the
power. This we effect by connecting to the treadle rod or bar a rocking lever or
.its equivalent. To one end of this lever is attached the crank rod, and the other
end is connected to a looped rod, the ends of which are secured to the frame of the
machine. By this rocking lever action we are enabled to bring the crank rod pin
closer to the fulcrum of the treadle rod, thereby increasing the leverage of the
treadle rod and yet decreasing the length of traverse of the rider's foot, and at
the same time admitting of increased length of crank, which also adds to the
power.
-
:
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Josiah Turner, Stephen Martin and James Adams in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 7th February 1879.
JOSIAH TURNER and STEPHEN MARTIN, both of Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, and JAMES ADAMS; junior, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the County of
Northumberland. IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES."
"
Our improvements relate, firstly, to the adjusting and fixing of the springs for
supporting the seats of bicycles and tricycles, the object being to obviate the
vibrating motion consequent with the ordinary mode of fixing seats to the springs,
or backbones, or other parts of bicycles and tricycles, which is not only unpleasant
on uneven roads but absolutely injurious to the rider; and our improvements
consist in hinging or connecting the front part of the saddle to a sliding T or other
shaped piece, formed with or connected to the backbone or other part, and to the
back end of the saddle frame is a bracket or link connected to another bracket
(fixed to the backbone or other part) by a spring of india-rubber or other suitable
elastic material. This spring, whilst partially supporting the weight of the rider,
and affording the necessary elasticity, at the same time disconnects the saddle from
all metallic contact with the body of the machine, thereby preventing any injurious
vibrating effect passing to the rider.
In some cases, to meet the varying weights of riders, or as a modification of the
arrangement described, we may apply to the front hinge or other joint a spring, the
tail end of which spring forms the saddle frame. This spring having an upward
or lifting tendency will assist in supporting the weight of the rider.
..
And as a further modification we may dispense with the T piece and hinge applied
to to the front of the saddle, as previously described, and substitute a somewhat
similar arrangement, as described for the back end of the saddle frame, thereby sup-
porting the saddle completely at front and back by an elastic connection...
3

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a side view of the backbone A and head B of an ordinary
bicycle, sufficient for the illustration of our Invention. To the neck C we fix or
secure the socket D in which the bolt E (partly shown in dotted lines) slides, the
bolt E being secured in any desired position by the screw nut R, and to this bolt E
the saddle frame or spring F supporting the saddle C is connected or hinged. The
bracket H is secured to the backbone A by the nut I or other suitable means, and
the end J of the saddle frame or spring F is connected to the end L of the bracket
H by the elastic block K.of india-rubber (shewn detached at Figure 2), or other
equivalent material or spring may be used for this purpose.
Figure 3 is a top view of the socket D, shewing the mode of attachment to the
spring F or saddle frame by the bolt E.
Figure 4 represents a modification of the arrangement first described, in which
we dispense with the use of the socket D and sliding,bolt E, Figure 1, and so form
the end of the saddle frame or spring F at M that it may be bent over on each side
of the neck C, as shown, and secured by the bolt N in position, thereby affording a
spring connection at the front of the saddle frame or spring.
In this view I have also shewn a different form of bracket H₁ for supporting the
elastic spring connection K³, which may be variously modified according to taste or
design.
Figure 5 represents a further modification, in which we support the saddle and
the frame by the elastic spring connection at both back and front, completely
avoiding all metallic contact with the body of the machine, producing a most
pleasant spring seat for the rider. This we effect by securing the fixed bracket O
to the neck C, and to the backbone A, at P, the swinging link Q is secured. The
end of the bracket O and link Q are connected together by the elastic block or
spring K, and the sadde frame or spring being secured to the swinging link Q
and also to the back spring connection J, K, L, as before described. It will be
seen that in this case the saddle is wholly supported on an elastic bearing at each
end.
Figure 6 represents an end view of Figure 5, showing the straps of the swinging
link on each side, and the means of securing it and the bracket O to the back-
bone of the machine.
Figures 7 and 8 represent in side and front views as much of a tricyle or four-
wheeled velocipede necessary to illustrate our improvements described under the
second head. S is part of the frame of the machine carrying the rods R, R, for
supporting the sent, not shewn. T is the axis for carrying the large wheel, removed
for convenience of space. U is the axis of the small wheel supported by the
bracket V. W and W' are the pedal rods working on the fixed axis X carried by

page_text: the backbone Y supporting the front wheel, broken off for convenience of space,
the backbone being fixed in the bracket J", and on the axis Z and Z' the rocking
levers A and B work. To the ends a, b, of these levers the crank rods C¹¹ and
D are attached, and connected at the other ends to the cranks E¹¹ and F. The
ends c, d, of the rocking levers A and B are attached to loop rods marked G"
and H (seen best at Figure 8), having a chain connection, and secured to the frame-
work S. By this improved combination and arrangement of the rocking levers Al
and B, crank rods C and D, and looped rods G and H", it will be seen that
the crank rod pin can be placed much nearer to the axis X of the pedal rods W
and W¹, increasing their leverage, and at the same time diminishing the length of
stroke or traverse of the rider's feet.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in which
the same may be carried into effect, I wish it understood that we do -not purpose
confining ourselves to the details herein described and exhibited, as the same may
be varied without departing from the spirit of our Invention; but what we claim
and wish to protect by these our in part recited Letters Patent is,-
Firstly. Supporting the springs of the seats or saddles of bicycles and velocipedes
by the spring connection or connections herein described, and exhibited from
Figures 1 to 6, or their equivalents, whereby all direct metallic contact with the
body of the machine is completely obviated and avoided.
Secondly. The improvements in tricycles and four-wheeled velocipedes herein
described and exhibited at Figures 7 and 8, whereby increased leverage is obtained
with a diminished length of stroke or traverse of the rider's feet.
In witness whereof, I, the said Josiah Turner, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixth day of February, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-nine.
Witness,
W*. LOACH.
JOSIAH TURNER. (L.S.)