Improvements in Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1896-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1896
Improvements in Bicycles.
I, CHARLES FARLEY WINCH, of No. 15 West 21st Street, New York, County
and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 :-
This invention relates particularly to frames in connection with an improved
manner of steering for bicycles, and the object is to provide a frame embodying a
maximum of strength and a minimum of weight.
I will describe a bicycle frame embodying my invention and then point out the
novel features in the appended claims.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle frame embodying my invention.
Figure 2 is a view of the steering mechanism drawn on an enlarged scale, and
Figure 3 is a top view of the front forks.
Referring to the drawing, A designates the front bar of the frame through
which the shank of the front fork A extends. Secured to the upper portion of
the har A and at the rear side thereof, by means of lips, is a socket A³ for receiving
the saddle or seat post a¹.
On the upper end of the socket A* and adapted to rotate thereon, is a collar a²
having a rearwardly extending arm a³, to which the handle bar B is attached
this handle bar is curved rearward and then forward so as to pass rearward of
the legs of the rider, with the handles at the sides and underneath the seat or
saddle.
To the upper end of the front fork shank is secured a sprocket wheel b, with
which a sprocket chain b' engages, the ends of said chain being attached to arms
on the collar a².
C is the cross bar of the frame in which the pedal shaft is mounted and c is the
rear fork or brace rod extended from the upper lip a to the rear end of the bar C,
and a brace c' extends from said upper lip a to an engagement with the cross bar
at its bracing for the pedal shaft.
As a means for steadying the front wheel and to automatically return it to its
position in alignment with the rear wheel I employ a spring c³ connected at one
end to the bar C and at the other end to a yoke e extended rearward from the
front fork A¹.
It will be seen that the frame is substantially triangular in form and that by the
arrangement of steering mechanism and handles of the handle bar the front or
steering wheel is under complete and easy control of a rider.
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 frame for a bicycle substantially triangular in form, a front fork having
its shank extended through the front bar, a saddle post socket attached to and
rearwards of the frout bar, and steering mechanism, substantially as specified.
2. In a bicycle, a frame substantially triangular in form, a seat post socket
attached to and rearward of the front bar, a rotary collar on said socket, a handle
bar connected therewith, a front fork extended through the front bar, a sprocket

page_text: wheel on the shank portion of said fork and a chain connection between said wheel
and the collar on the socket, substantially as specified.
3. In a bicycle, a frame comprising a front bar, a front fork having its shank
extended through said front bar, a seat post socket attached to the front bar, a
handle mounted to rotate on said socket, and steering mechanism between the
handle bar and front fork, substantially as specified.
4. A bicycle frame comprising a front bar, a front fork connected therewith and
a spring extended from the front fork to the cross bar of the frame, substantially
as specified.
5. A bicycle frame comprising a front bar, the rear fork or brace, the cross bar
and a seat post secured to the front bar between said front bar and rear fork,
substantially as specified.
6. A bicycle comprising a frame having a tubular front bar, a front fork having
a shank portion extended through said bar and a handle bar having its pivotal
point beneath the saddle, substantially as specified.
7. In a bicycle, a frame and a steering or handle bar having its handles at the
side of the saddle and its main portion extended rearward of the seat and then
forward, substantially as specified.
Dated this 31st day of January 1896.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.