Improvements in Folding Frames for Bicycles and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Frames for Bicycles and similar Vehicles.
1, FRANK ARTHUR REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at
650 Main Street, of Lewiston, in the County of Androscoggin, and State of
Maine, U.S.A. Mechanic, 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 the frame of bicycles and similar vehicles, and the
object thereof, is to provide a frame for vehicles of this class which is adapted to
be folded laterally, so that the front part thereof, may be turned or folded adjacent
to the rear part; and with this and other objects in view, the invention consists in
the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and
claimed.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which :-
Fig. 1, is a side view of a bicycle, the frame of which is made according to my
invention;
Fig. 2, a similar view, showing the parts of the frame folded according to my
invention;
Fig. 3, a sectional detail of the construction which I employ; and,
Fig. 4, a plan view thereof.
In the drawing forming part of this specification reference being made to Fig. 1,
I have shown a bicycle of the usual form, the forward upright rod A, and the rear
upright rod B, being connected by a top horizontal rod D, and a bottom rod M
which extends from the support of the pedal shaft upwardly, and forwardly, to the
rod A, and in the practice of my invention, the rod D, and M, are composed of two
parts or sections, the sections or the rod D, being designated by the letters d,
and d2, and the section of the rod M by the letters m, and m 2.
The separate section of each of these rods are united by means of a novel
coupling or joint, whereby the forward and rear parts of the frame are adapted to
be folded together as shown in Fig. 2, and in couplings or connecting these separate
section I employ a coupling device consisting of two separate parts, one of which
is composed of a shaft G, having a cylindrical head g, on which is formed a disk g 2,
and the other consists of a jaw H, having a cylindrical head h, on which is formed
two circular side jaws h2, and the disk or jaw g 2, on the shaft G, is inserted
between the jaws h2, on the shaft H, and said jaws are pivotally connected by
means of a pin or bolt E, which is passed therethrough said pin or bolt in the case
of the coupling of the separate section of the rod D, being eccentrically arranged
in said disks or jaws as shown in Fig. 1 and 3.
The shanks G, H, are inserted into tubular plugs K, which are mounted in and
secured to the inner ends of the sections of the rod, and the inner ends of said
shafts are provided with annular grooves k, which are adapted to receive pins or
plugs L, which are passed through said sections, and through said tubular plugs
and into said grooves, and by means of this construction the shafts G, and H, are
each free to revolve in the ends of respective sections of the rod or rods, and as

page_text: will be readily understood, the separate sections of said rod or rods may be revolve l'
on the coupling pin E.
The coupling device employed in connecting the separate sections m, and m 2,
of the rod M, is of precisely the same construction as that hereinbefore described,
and shown in Fig. 3, and 4, with the exception that the coupling pin E, is
preferably passed centrally through the jaws of the coupling device as indicated in
Fig. 1.
It will be understood that the coupling devices are free to revolve in the separate
section of the rods which are coupled together thereby, and when the frame is in
the position shown in Fig. 1, the said coupling devices, or the jaws thereof, are in
the vertical position and when said coupling devices are in this position, the frame
will be rigid, and may be operated in the usual manner. When it is desired to
fold the front and rear portions of the frame together as shown in Fig. 2, the
coupling devices must be turned so that the jaws thereof, will be in a horizontal
position or the flat surfaces be directed upwardly and downwardly and in this position
of the coupling devices, the front and back portions of the frame may be folded as
shown in Fig. 2.
This device is simple in construction and operation and perfectly adapted to
accomplish the result for which it is intended, and it will be found of great surface
in packing bicycles and similar vehicles for shipment, and other purposes, and in
storing the same, only about half the space being required for this purpose which
is ordinarily required, or when the frames of such vehicles are made rigid as at
present time.
It is evident that changes in, and modifications of the construction herein
described, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or
sacrificing its advantages, and I reserve the right to make all such alterations
therein, and modifications thereof, as fairly come within the scope of the
invention.
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. A bicycle or similar vehicle, in which the rods which connect the forward
upright portion of the frame, with the rear portion, are composed of sections
which are united by universal coupling devices, whereby the front and rear portions
of the frame may be folded together, substantially as shown and described.
2. A bicycle or similar vehicle, in which the upper horizontal rod and the lower
rod which extends from the support of the pedal shaft, upwardly and forwardly,
to the forward upright rod, are composed of separate sections, said sections being
united by universal coupling devices, whereby the front and rear portions of the
frame may be folded together, substantially as shown and described.
3. A bicycle or similar vehicle, in which the upper horizontal rod and the
lower rod which extends from the support of the pedal shaft, upwardly and
forwardly to the forward upright rod are composed of separate sections, said
sections being united by universal coupling devices, whereby the front and rear
portions of the frame may be folded together, said coupling devices being so
constructed and connected with the separate sections of said rods, that they may be
revolved therein, and being adapted in one position to hold the separate portions of
the frame, in a rigid and natural position, and in another position, to permit of the
separate portions or the front and rear ends thereof, to be folded together,
substantially as shown and described.
4. A bicycle or similar vehicle, in which the rods which connect the forward
upright rod of the frame, with the rear portion thereof, are composed of sections,
said sections being united by universal coupling devices, said coupling devices each
consisting of two parts, and each of which comprises a shaft, on the outer end of
one of which is formed two circular jaws, and on the outer end of the other, a

page_text: single central jaw or disk, said jaws or disks being connected by a coupling pin.
which is passed therethrough and said shafts being free to revolve in the separate
sections of the rod or rods, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 12th day of May 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.