An Improved Frame for Velocipedes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 14th Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Frame for Velocipedes.
I JONATHAN EDWARD HULL of 39 & 40 Bartholomew Close in the City of
London Window Blind Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:
The object of my invention is so to construct and arrange a frame for velocipedes
that the same shall be extremely light though quite as strong as is requisite and
at the same time very easy and comfortable for the rider.
To carry out this object I form of metal or other suitable material a bowed
spring in shape it may be somewhat like the upper part of an elliptical carriage
spring and in cross section of any desired form and style and for a dwarf or safety
bicycle one end of this spring is connected in any usual or convenient manner to
the fork or head of the front steering wheel and in the other end is mounted the
end of the axle of the rear driving wheel by the usual bearing. On this spring is
mounted a saddle in any usual manner and in the proper position and the spindle
that supports this saddle can be extended below the point where it is secured to
the spring downwards until in the end thereof is mounted the crank or pedal axle
the usual stretchers or extension bars being fitted between this axle and the axle
of the driving wheel to keep the desired tension on the driving chain or gear and
this downward extension of the saddle spindle can be made slightly flexible if
necessary.
This bowed spring which constitutes the frame can be extremely light and will
be found very easy and comfortable for the rider as is desired.
The spring may be divided just in front of the rear wheel and be there forked so
that both the ends of the axle of the driving wheel may be mounted therein or
two similar springs may be used both springs being connected in front to the fork
or head as aforesaid the ends of the rear axle being mounted in their other ends
and the saddle can be mounted on a cross bar that could connect these two springs
together.
It may sometimes be desirable to add to this spring aforesaid the other comple-
mentary and inverted bowed spring in which case the downward extension of the
saddle spindle would pass freely therethrough.
For tricycles and other velocipedes this frame would be constructed in a similar
manner but would be arranged therein as may be desirable in each case whether to
the ends or the middles or other parts of the axle of the driving wheel or wheels
and to the forks or heads or other parts of the steering wheel or wheels or
otherwise.
$12000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Frame for Velocipedes.
I JONATHAN EDWARD HULL of 39 & 40 Bartholomew Close in the City of
London Window Blind Manufacturer do hereby declare the rature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
-
The object of this my invention is so to construct and fit and arrange a frame
for velocipedes that the same shall be extremely light although it shall also be
quite as strong as is requisite and at the same time very easy and comfortable for
the rider and this my improved frame shall be applicable to and suitable for use.
no71
'

page_text: with all or nearly all sorts and styles of velocipedes except perhaps the ordinary
bicycles and more especially to and with dwarf or safety bicycles and tricycles.
In order the more clearly to explain this my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I refer to the accompanying drawing wherein I have shewn
a dwarf or safety bicycle as fitted with this my improved frame in one very con-
venient manner.
I form of metal or other suitable material and in any convenient or usual manner
a bowed spring A in shape it may be like or somewhat like the upper part of
an elliptical carriage spring and in cross section of any desired form and style
and one end of this spring A is connected in any usual or convenient manner
and by or through any ordinary or other devices or appliances to the fork or
head B of the front steering wheel and in the other end thereof is or are
mounted or to the other end thereof is or are connected the bearing or bearings
for the end or ends of the axle C of the rear driving wheel and this bowed
spring A constitutes the backbone of the velocipede. On this spring A in any
usual manner and in the proper position the saddle D is or can be mounted on the
usual or other spindle E and this spindle E can be extended downwards below
the point where it is secured to the spring A or as is perhaps preferable a separate
bar F can be attached or connected to the underside of the spring A. in the proper
position in the lower end of which extension or bar is or are mounted or to the
lower end of which extension or bar is or are connected the bearing or bearings for
the crank or pedal axle G and the usual one or more stretchers or extension bars H.
are fitted between this axle C and the axle C of the rear wheel to maintain the
desired tension on the driving chain or gear and when this arrangement herein-
before described is observed and followed it may sometimes be most convenient to
fit all these parts as is shewn in the accompanying drawing that is to say to mount
the bearing or bearings of the axle C in the end or ends of the stretcher or
stretchers H and to connect the end of the spring A to a stud on the side of the
stretcher H as close to this axle C as is reasonably possible as also to mount the
bearing or bearings of the axle G in the other end or ends of the stretcher or
stretchers H and to attach or connect thereto the downward extension of the
spindle E or the bar F which downward extension of the spindle E or which bar F
may be made slightly flexible if and when I should deem it expedient or desirable
so to do to increase or to diminish the comparative flexibility or the comparative
rigidity of the spring A.
This bowed spring backbone A. so fitted as hereinbefore described constitutes my
improved frame for this dwarf or safety bicycle and it can obviously be made
extremely light and it will be found very easy and comfortable for the rider as is
d'esired.
The spring A may be single throughout its length so that it passes on one side
only of the driving wheel or it may be divided as is shewn in the accompanying
drawing and as is perhaps preferable just in front of the rear wheel and be there forked
so that it passes on both sides of the driving wheel or two similar and corresponding
single or non-forked springs may be used and fitted both springs being connected in
front to the fork or head of the steering wheel in manner herein before described or
otherwise and passing on opposite sides of the driving wheel and in this case the
saddle could be mounted if desired on a cross bar that could connect these two
springs together in the proper position.
It may sometimes or perhaps even generally be advisable to add to this spring A
hereinbefore described the other complementary and inverted bowed spring in which
case the downward extension of the saddle spindle E or the bar F would pass freely
therethrough but I preferably divide this inverted bowed spring and use and fit the
same as is shewn in the accompanying drawing according unto which arrangement
the one or more stretchers H form and constitute one part of this inverted bowel
spring while the other part thereof is constituted by a bar K which may if desired
be made slightly flexible and one end of this bar K is connected to the fork
or head B of the front steering wheel it may be in manner as is the sir rg A

page_text: herein before described or otherwise while the other end thereof is connected to the
downward extension of the spindle E or the bar F or to the end or ends of the
stretcher or stretchers H it may be by a bolt M which can be fixed in the one part
and can slide in a longitudinal slot in the other part preferably in the bar K or in
any other usual or convenient manner these two parts that is to say the downward
extension of the spindle E or the bar F or the stretcher or stretchers H and the
bar K can be connected together in such wise that a loose sliding joint may be
provided. When the bar K is connected in manner hereinbefore described to the
underside or undersides of the stretcher or stretchers H in such wise that the
aforesaid sliding joint would act and work in the line of or in line with this bar K
a cuiled or other spring can very conveniently be provided and fitted thereto to
govern the due working of this sliding joint. The sliding joint whether vertical as
is shewn in the drawing or horizontal or inclined provides for and allows the due
required working of these two parts hereinbefore described and renders them fit
substitutes for the inverted bowed spring. The bar K likewise when so fitted as
hereinbefore described and especially as is shewn in the drawing conduces to the
proper and efficient working of the spring A that is to say by maintaining this
working in a vertical direction.
I have thus described this my invention as and when applied and fitted to a dwarf
or safety bicycle and it is sufficiently obvious that in and for tricycles and other
velocipedes this improved frame would be constructed in a similar manner that is to
say the bowed spring backbone A would be formed in manner hereinbefore described
and in each particular case would be, arranged as may be necessary or expedient
and would be fitted to the end or ends or the middle or other parts of the axle of
the driving wheel or wheels and to the fork or head or other parts of the steering
wheel or wheels or otherwise as may be desired and the bar K can whenever
required or desired be provided and would be fitted in manner herein before described
as also can the downward extension of the saddle spindle E or the bar F although
in some sorts and styles of velocipedes and especially tricycles it may be dispensed
with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained 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. For a velocipede the frame consisting of a bowed spring A forming a backbone
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and declared.
2. In a velocipede the combination with a bowed spring backbone A of the
downward extension of the saddle spindle E or the bar F connecting the same with
the stretcher or stretchers H substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In a velocipede the combination with a bowed spring backbone A of the
complementary inverted bowed spring or the stretcher or stretchers H and the
bar K connected together by a sliding joint substantially as herein before described.
4. The improved frame for velocipedes substantially as hereinbefore described and
shewn in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 10th day of January 1891