Improvement in Velocipedes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 24th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 1701 May,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM ISAAC BUNKER, Manufacturer, residing at La Grange, Cook
County, Illinois, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention, 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 my invention is to provide a simple, economical, and durable
frame for velocipedes, particularly bicycles; and the invention consists in the
features and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle provided with my improved frame;
Fig. 2 an elevation of the head of the frame and spring, the outer portion of the
frame being shown in section ;
Fig. 3 an enlarged sectional view taken in line 3 of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 an enlarged sectional view taken in line 4 of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 5 a broken elevation of the rear portion of the frame, the outer casing
being shown in section.
A is the rear wheel, and A' the front wheel; B the frame, b the head portion ;
the rear portion thereof; 6" a brace-rod connecting the head and rear portions;
C the seat, can adjustable clip connecting the seat with the frame; c¹ a screw
under the seat; D a tube or tubes connected with the frame; E a rod connecting
the tubes when two are used; F rods connecting the tube with the rear wheel;
G sliding rods to regulate elasticity of the seat portion; H a spring connecting
the head of the frame with the front wheel; h a clip connecting the handle-bar
to such spring; and 1 bars connecting the spring with the front wheel.
In constructing my improved frame I prefer to make the head and rear portions
of one piece and to have the parts adjacent to the wheels of suitable form to fit
over reinforcing tubes, rods or bars. The front tube, rod, or bar is preferably
connected to the head of the frame by being screwed into the same, there being
suitable screw-threads on its end and in the frame for this purpose; and the rear
tube, rod, or bar is preferably connected to its part of the frame by bolts or
rivets. In this way the tubes (by which also mean rods or bars) are made rigid
with the frame at their upper ends. A bolt or rod serves to connect them together
at their lower ends when two tubes are used, this connection being rigid in the
sense that it has no elastic or yielding movement, but adjustable in the sense that
it permits the tubes to be brought closer together or further apart; but it may
sometimes be found advisable to use only a single tube having its lower portion
bent, as shown in dotted lines. In either case, whether there be only a single bent
tube or two tubes connected together, the connection of the tube and frame is
such that each may form a brace for the other. If additional bracing be desired,
especially for gentlemen's use, a detachable rod may be used between the rear and
head portions of the frame, this rod being, preferably, capable of adjustment
lengthwise, as desired.

page_text: The rear portion of the frame is connected to the hub of its wheel by rods,
at least one of the rods being preferably secured to the hub or wheel-center in
such way that its upper end may slide on the frame, and thus, taking different
positions, support the frame at different elevations as close to the wheel or as far
therefrom as desired, at the same time regulating the elasticity between the frame
and wheels.
In speaking of the connecting-rods as secured to the wheel-centre I simply mean
that they are to be secured directly or indirectly to the axle without special
regard to the point at which the rods themselves terminate or part to which they
are connected.
The head portion of the frame is connected to its wheel by means of a spring,
rod, or bar, substantially in the form of a quadrant, to which it is secured by a
suitable clip or in any other convenient way. This spring (by which I also mean
rod or bar) is secured to the front wheel by suitable bars extending from the
hub to its respective ends, and the clip securing it to the head portion of the
frame is arranged to allow the spring to slide therein, thus adjusting the elastic
connection between the head portion of the frame and wheel, and a set screw
serves to hold it in any desired position. The extended end of the rear portion of
the frame or tube serves as a guard for the rear wheel, and the spring supporting
the head portion as a guard for the front wheel. In this way separate guards are
'rendered unnecessary.
The seat is preferably mounted on a screw fitting and working in a vertical
portion of the clip which secures it to the frame. The screw is preferably con-
nected with the seat at a point in advance of its center, and its office is to permit
the rider to regulate the height of the seat at pleasure without dismounting and
also to permit a free turning movement, so as to enable the rider to occupy different
positions or look in different directions as desired. Being reversible, the seat can
be turned around at pleasure, so as to change the position of the rider with
reference to the handle-bar. The seat is secured to the frame by a suitable clip
held in place by a set screw or in any other convenient way. As shown, it is
secured by a clip adjustable longitudinally on the frame.
The elasticity of the rear portion of the frame supporting the weight of the
occupant is regulated by rods sliding on the frame and adapted to be secured in
fixed position by set-screws, these rods also serving to support the rear portion of
the frame on its wheel. I prefer to use two of these rods, one connecting with
the frame before the seat and the other behind it; but any number of rods may
be used, and they may be secured in any other way or in any other position
desired.
As already explained, I prefer to have the rear portion of the frame extend
around to form a guard for the wheel, its end being connected to the hub; but this
portion of the frame may in some cases be formed of the re-inforcing tube, the
frame proper terminating at a point short of its connection with the wheel, or both
the frame and tube may be made to extend the full distance. In other words, the
frame may be made to extend clear back, the tube not doing so, or the tube to
extend clear back, the frame not doing so, as desired.
As various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of my
invention, it will of course be understood that I do not intend to limit myself to
special forms or details of construction.
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. In a velocipede, the combination of wheels, a frame comprising front and
rear portions, the rear portion conforming to the periphery of its wheel sufficiently
to form a guard therefor, and connectors uniting the frame and wheels, the
connectors extending from the wheel centers, and at least one of them being
longitudinally adjustable on the frame, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. In a velocipede, the combination of wheels, a frame comprising front and
rear portions, the rear portion conforming to the periphery of its wheel sufficiently
to form a guard therefor and the front portion forming a tubular head for the
handle-bar substantially at right angles to the frame, and connectors uniting
the frame and wheels, the connectors extending from the wheel centers and at
least one of them being longitudinally adjustable on the frame, substantially as
described.
3. In a velocipede, the combination of wheels, a frame comprising front and
rear portions integral with each other, the rear portion conforming to the periphery
of its wheel sufficiently to form a guard therefor and the front portion a tubular
head for the handle-bar, and connectors uniting the frame and wheels, the connectors
extending from the wheel-centers and at least one of them being longitudinally
adjustable on the frame, substantially as described.
4. In combination with the frame of a velocipede, two tubes D D, rigidly
secured to the frame, one to the rear portion and one to the front portion, and
means for rigidly connecting the tubes together at their lower ends, substantially
as described.
5. In a velocipede, a rod extending from the wheel-center and supporting the
rear portion of the frame and adjustable longitudinally thereon, and means for
securing the rod in fixed position, substantially as described.
6. In a velocipede, two rods supporting the rear portion of the frame, one in
front and one in rear of the seat, adjustable longitudinally on the frame, and means
for securing them in fixed position, substantially as described.
7. In a velocipede, a spring secured to one of the wheels at points away from its
hub and to one portion of the frame and serving as an intermediate support for the
frame, the portion of the frame secured to the spring being adjustable thereon,
whereby the elasticity between the frame and wheel may be regulated, substantially
as described.
8. In a velocipede, the combination of a spring secured to one of the wheels by
bars extending from its hub, a frame secured to the spring and adjustable thereon,
and means for holding the frame in fixed position on the spring, whereby
the elasticity between the frame and wheel may be regulated, substantially as
described.
9. In a velocipede, a spring secured to one of the wheels by bars extending
from its hub and to one portion of the frame by a clip adjustable on the spring
and serving as an intermediate support for the frame and as a guard for the wheel,
whereby the elasticity between the frame and wheel may be regulated, substantially
as described.
10. In a velocipede, a seat mounted on a screw secured to the frame by a forked
clip adjustable on a vertically-inclined portion of the frame, whereby the elevation
or inclination of the seat may be regulated, substantially as described.
11. In a velocipede, the combination of a frame, a seat mounted on a screw, a
forked clip connecting the seat and frame, and means for holding the clip in fixed
position, the screw being secured in one portion of the clip and supporting the
seat and the other portion forming the connection with the frame, substantially as
described.
12. In a velocipede, a seat mounted on a screw and secured to the frame by a
clip adjustable on a vertically-inclined portion thereof, the screw being secured in
a vertical portion of the clip and supporting the seat from a point in advance of its
center substantially as described.
Dated this 94th day of March 1892
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.