Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1887
Specification Accepted, 18th Nov., 1887
I VALENTINE HAMILTON MULLER, Artist of 1070 Park Avenue, New York City,
New York, U.S.A. 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 :--
The object of my invention is to provide a tandem bicycle in which both persons
riding on the same can assist in propelling and one can steer.
The invention consists in the combination with two bicycle driving wheels, each
having pedals or driving gearing, of a frame uniting the same all as will be fully
described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved tandem
bicycle.
Fig. 2 is a side view of a modified construction.
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a detail cross sectional view on line x - - - x
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
The two bicycle driving wheels A and A', constructed in any well known manner,
may be of the same size or the rear wheel may be slightly smaller than the front
wheel, both wheels have their axles mounted in forks C. C respectively said forks
being provided with the usual heads D D¹ to which the handle bars E. E' are fastened
in the usual manner and brakes are provided in the ordinary way.
On the end of the axle of each wheel cranks F. F' are fastened the cranks being
provided with the pedals G. G' of any approved construction.
The backbone usually connected with the heads of the forks is detached and the
forks of the two wheels are united by a frame H composed of a tube H¹ curved down
along the rear part of the rim of the front wheel A to a point slightly in front of the
rim of the rear wheel as at H2 where it terminates in the fork H³ at which point H³ a
tube His fastened to the tube H', and extends upwards over the front part of the
rim of the rear wheel A¹ and is fastened at its upper end to the head D' of the fork (¹
of the rear wheel A'.
To the upper end of the tube H* an extension I is fastened which projects beyond
the rear of the head D' and is apertured or slotted or forked so as to permit said head
to pass through it.
A front saddle J is fixed to the upper part of the tube H' directly behind the fork (
and the rear saddle J' is fixed on the extension I. The lower end of the fork H' is
fastened by a bolt to forks K on the lower ends of the shanks of the rear fork (or
to rings mounted on the axle adjacent to the lower ends of said forks. One rider
occupies the front saddle and the other the rear saddle and both operate the pedals of
their wheels.
The front wheel can be turned freely for steering and the rear wheel trails. The
curved tubes H H are united by the downwardly curved tube Hª.

page_text: In the modification shewn in Fig. 2. the tube H¹ is made straight and in line with
the fork H. The upwardly curved bar N is fastened to the tube H' and to the
tube H'.
The fork C¹ of the rear wheel A' is inclined forward while the fork C of the front
wheel is inclined backward. The rear seat is arranged in the manner shewn in Fig. 1.
The front seat is fastened in front of the front head D. on the extension clipped on
the upper end of the tube H¹.
The handle bar P on the front fork C is curved forward to the sides of the front
saddle J and from the handle bar a single or double bar Q extends to the rear so that
it can be grasped by the rider on the rear saddle and both the front and rear rider
may assist in steering but in this case the front wheel only is used for the purpose of
steering the brake being manipulated by the rear rider only.
A luggage carrier of any suitable description can be placed on the machine and in
the construction shewn in Fig. 1. clips S are fastened to the tubes H' H and H* and
hold bars S¹ upon which luggage can be placed and strapped.
The advantage of this bicycle is that there is little danger of headers and luggage
can be carried conveniently.
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. A tandem bicycle having front and rear driving wheels, a frame uniting the
forks of the front and rear driving wheels, the fork of the front wheel being mounted
to turn freely on its pivot, and the rear wheel being mounted between the side pieces
of the frame so as to prevent turning the fork of the rear wheel on its pivot sub-
stantially as shewn and described.
2. In a tandem bicycle the combination with front and rear driving wheels each
having a separate fork of a curved bar or tube fastened to the head of the front fork
and provided at its rear end with a fork connected with the upright fork of the rear
driving wheel and of a tube or bar extending from the top of the rear fork down to
the bar connected with the front fork substantially as herein shewn and described.
3. In a tandem bicycle the combination with front and rear driving wheels each
having a fork of a curved tube or bar fastened to the head of the front fork and
provided at its rear end with a fork connected with the lower ends of the shanks of
the upright fork on the rear driving wheel, a curved bar fastened to the upper end of
the rear fork and having the lower end fastened to the bar or tube connected with the
top of the front fork, and a curved bar or tube connected with the tube fastened to the
front fork and the bar or tube fastened to the rear fork substantially as shewn and
described.
4. In a tandem bicycle the combination with front and rear driving wheels of a
fork on each wheel, a frame fastened to the head of the fork on the front wheel and to
the lower ends of the fork on the rear wheel, a curved bar extending from said frame
up to the head of the fork on the rear wheel and provided with an extension beyond
the head of the rear fork, which extension carries a saddle substantially as herein
shewn and described.
5. In a tandem bicycle the combination with front and rear driving wheels of a
frame uniting them and forked pieces on the axle of the rear wheel for the purpose of
connecting the frame with the fork of the rear wheel substantially as herein shewn
and described.
Dated this 11th day of October 1887
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co..
Agents for the Applicant.