Year: 1896

page_text: I, HEINRICH FORCKE, of 35, Hofestrasse, Hanover, in the German Empire, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in frames for bicycles and other
velocipedes.
According to the invention the frames are constructed of fork shaped strips or
bars of wood as hereinafter more particularly described.
In applying the invention to bicycles for use by men the frame is formed of two
fork shaped wooden strips and connected together by means of metal angle pieces
which are provided with slits to receive the rear wheel axle. The upper and lower
forks are secured together at the front by means of a connecting piece slit in the
front and in which the front fork tube is partially sunk and secured by means of
two ring screws. A strut carries at its lower end the crank axle bearing and at
at its upper end the seat pillar or pin and also serves to connect the upper and lower
fork shaped strips, whereby a very strong, light and elegant frame is obtained.
For ladies' bicycles the frame is also formed of two fork shaped strins but the
lower fork is further sapported and strengthened by a strut. The sockets of the
front fork tube are slit on one side and are provided with screws so that the front
fork can always be rigidly secured to the frame. A suitable lower fork for both
ladies and gentlemen's cycles is formed in one piece, the upper end,
to which the front fork is to be secured, being formed on it by bending.
Wooden frames constructed as above described possess advantages over ordinary
steel frames as they are lighter and of cheaper construction and also because they
are entirely free from the unpleasant and damaging vibrations common to steel
frames.
Dated this 4th dor of September 1896.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agent for the Applicant.
I, HEINRICH FORCKE, of 35, Hofestrasse, Hanover, in the German Empire, Manu
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
Price 8d

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in frames for bicycles and other
velocipedes.
According to the invention I form such frames either of wooden bars or strips
provided with forks and connected together and to the other parts of the cycle
frame, or of a main-frame having forked pieces secured to it.
The forked wooden strips as also the strips forming the main-frame are made
either of solid strips of wood or of built, up strips.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe it by reference to
the accompanying drawings; in which:-
Figure 1 is an elevation shewing a bicycle frame, suitable for use by men,
constructed according to my invention.
Figure 2, 2 and 2 are views of details drawn to a larger scale.
Figure 3 and 4 are views similar to Figure 1, shewing a bicycle frame suitable
for use by ladies, and constructed according to my invention.
Figure 5 is an elevation of a bicycle frame constructed of a main-frame and of
forks.
Figure 6 is a plan of the same.
Figure 7 to 10 are elevations of different constructions of main-frame; and,
Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 6 of a modified construction.
Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings shew cycle frames made of forked wooden strips,
the said strips being made either from solid strips of wood by splitting and bending
as in figure 1, or of separate strips as shewn in figures 2 and 2 which are a plan
and cross section respectively of a forked har made of four strips and in figure 2b
which is a section shewing a har composed of five such separate strips. Two solid
or built up wooden forked strips a and b shaped as in figure 1 by any known means
and connected together at the front by a connecting piece d and at their forked
ends by steel angle pieces c, c¹, form a stiff frame in which the forked arms aº, aº
and 60, 60 cannot move relatively with one another as the parts aº, aº are
continuous with the part a and the parts IP, with the part b.
The front fork tube e is connected to the piece d in the front of the frame and
the saddle-post is either adjustably secured to the distance piece al or to a
strut f, the upper and lower ends of which are suitably connected respectively to
the parts a and b or to the distance pieces a¹ and b¹. As the strip b can be made
as broad as is desired, the pedal axle hearing can he arranged most advantageously
in the said part thereby overcoming the well known disadvantage attaching to steel
tube frames, namely, insufficient bearing surface for the pedal axle.
The steel angle pieces e and el form the hearing for the rear wheel. It is to be
noted that the strut f can be dispensed with if desired.
The frame shewn in Figure 1 can, if desired, be made from one piece, the piece d
in this case being continuous with the strips a and b as indicated in dotted lines.
The bicycle may also be arranged for carrying two or more persons by suitably
lengthening the strips a and b and adding the necessary struts f for carrying the
saddle-posts and, if required, additional strengthening strips or struts.
The frame shewn in Figure 3 for ladies' bicycles, is formed by securing a wooden
strip a, which is forked at both ends, to a strip 6 forked at one end, the said strip
being secured to an arm d¹ of the front fork tube e. The rear ends of the forks of
the strips a and b are connected together by the angle pieces c and c¹ whilst both
forks are secured together at a³, a² by screws or the like. The strut g connected
to the socket d of the front fork tube extends through the forks of a and b to both
of which it is connected.
The saddle-post is adjustably fitted in an unforked part of the strip
In the frame shewn in figure 4, which is also designed for use by ladies, the two
wooden strips are forked at one end and connected together by steel angle pieces c 5
and the other end of the strip a being connected with the upper end of the

page_text: unforked strip the other end of which is secured to the unforked end of the
strip b by means of the connecting piece d. In the drawing the pedal axle hearing
is provided between 1 and h¹ in 6 and h which are at this part rigidly secured
together by screws or the like not shewn in the drawing.
The connecting piece d can be dispensed with by making the wooden strip b
sufficiently long to enable its end to be bent upwards as shewn in dotted lines.
In both cases the saddle-post s is secured to the unforked strip h.
In Figures 5 to 10 I have shewn wooden cycle frames each consisting of a main-
frame R having connected to it forked pieces Q and Q. It is immaterial whether
the frame is first made and then connected with the forked pieces or whether the
latter are connected to the respective parts of the frame before the said frame is
put together.
Figures 5 and 6 shew, in side view and plan respectively, a frame consisting of
a main-frame R and forked pieces Q and Q. The frame R is connected on both
sides by glue, nails, screws or the like to the forked pieces Q and Q¹ and the latter
are provided with the steel angle picces c and 'c' which hold them together and
which form the bearing for the rear wheel axle. The frame R can
be made of four separate wooden strips r as shewn in Figure 7, or of two bent
strips or as shewn in Figure 8, or of a strip 2 bent twice and of a straight strip 7-3
as shewn in Figure 9, or of a single strip the ends of which are secured together
at one corner, for instance, at p as shewn in Figure 10.
As hereinbefore described the frame can be made or built up of separate wooden
strips.
The forked pieces Q and Q can be of the same length and breadth as the upper
and lower parts of the main-frame or they can be shorter or narrower. Further-
more the parts Q, Q, and Q', Q¹ can be formed as the arms or legs of forks Q which
are connected to the frame R as shewn in Figure 11. The forked parts, in all
cases are formed with their arms either parallel or converging towards the frame
proper.
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. Cycle frames consisting of solid wood bars or strips split at one end or at both
ends, the split parts being bent to form forks and being suitably connected together
and to the other parts of the frame, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. Cycle frames formed of strips or bars of wood made up of a suitable number
of separate strips which are then forked and suitably connected together and to the
other parts of the frame, substantially as set forth.
3. Cycle frames of wood consisting of a main-frame to which the forks or
forked parts receiving the rear wheel are applied and secured, substantially as
described.
4. The improved cycle frames herein before described and illustrated in
Figures 1 to 11 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 27th day of March 1897.
G. F. REDFERN & CO.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agent for the Applicant.