A New or Improved Fork Crown for Velocipedes and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Fork Crown for Velocipedes and the like.
I, CHARLES BINKS, of the Engineer Cycle Works, Micklegate, in the City and
County of York, Works Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to fork-crowns such as are employed for connecting the
front fork blades with the steering stems of direct steering velocipedes, and it has
for its object to produce a light and strong crown at a small expense.
I construct my improved fork crown all in one piece, its contour in plan corres-
ponding to the contour of the transverse section of the fork blades and steering
stem, except that the middle portion of the crown is comparatively large.
The side portions of the crown are each bored, drifted or otherwise hollowed
up from the underside to within a short distance of the upper surface to receive
and hold the upper ends of the fork blades, which are brazed or otherwise suitably
secured therein. The upper surface of the crown being left entire at the sides
gives a very neat finish to the crown.
The crown is bored through centrally from top to bottom to the size of the steer-
ing stem; but only the ends of the hole are left this size, the intermediate part
is bored out to a considerably larger diameter. By these means the fork blades
may be arranged at a sufficient distance apart without unduly adding to the weight
of the crown. The parts of smaller diameter at the ends of the said hole are made
long enough to provide sufficient surface for brazing the crown and stem together.
The said brazing surface may be partly afforded by an internal or external collar
or sleeve formed at either or both ends of the said central hole. The central
annular chamber formed around the steering stem is itself a source of great
strength and this quality is added to by the general construction of the crown.
The above described fork-crown may be worked up from the solid bar, but I
prefer to bring it more or less nearly to shape by stamping or casting, so as to
reduce the machining and hand labour as far as possible.
Though I have described my improved fork-crown as applied to a front fork,
it will be readily understood that it is also applicable to either the upper or lower
rear forks of a rear driving safety bicycle and to other similar parts.
I do not confine myself exactly to the above description as my invention may be
modified without exceeding its fair limits.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry,
75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: огостренер ади ще нас.
I, CHARLES BINKS, of the Engineer Cycle Works, Micklegate, in the City and
County of York, Works Manager, 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: —
My invention relates to fork crowns such as are employed for connecting the
front fork blades with the steering stems of direct steering velocipedes and it has
for its object to produce a light and strong crown at a small expense.
In order that my invention may be properly understood I will describe the
same with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein,
Figures I, II and III are respectively a front elevation, showing also the under-
side, a vertical section and a plan of the said fork crown.
Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the drawings.
I construct my improved fork crown all in one piece, its contour in plan corres-
ponding to the contour of the transverse section of the fork blades 2, 2 and steer-
ing stem 3, except that the middle portion of the crown is comparatively large.
The side portions of the crown are each bored, drifted or otherwise hollowed
up from the underside to within a short distance of the upper surface to receive
and hold the upper ends of the fork blades 2, 2, which are brazed or otherwise
suitably secured therein. The upper surface 4 of the crown being left entire at
the sides gives a very neat finish to the crown. The crown is bored through
centraily from top to bottom to the size of the steering stem 3; but only the ends
of the hole are left this size, the intermediate part 5 is bored out to a considerably
larger diameter. By these means the fork blades 2, 2 may be arranged at a
sufficient distance apart without unduly adding to the bulk of metal, and hence to
the weight, of the crown. The parts 6, 6 of smaller diameter at the ends of the
hole are made long enough to provide sufficient surface for brazing the crown and
stem together. The said brazing surface may be partly afforded by an internal
or external collar or sleeve formed at either or both ends of the said central hole;
in the drawings an external collar or sleeve 7 is shown at the lower end of the
said hole. The central annular chamber (5) formed around the steering stem 3
is itself a source of great strength and this quality is added to by the general con-
struction of the crown.
The above described fork crown may be worked up from the solid bar, but I
prefer to bring it more or less nearly to shape by stamping or casting, so as to
reduce the machining and hand labour as much as possible.
Though I have described my improved fork crown as applied to a front fork,
it will be readily understood that it is also applicable to either the upper or lower
rear forks of a rear driving safety bicycle and to other similar parts.
I do not confine myself exactly to the above construction as my invention may be
modified without exceeding its fair limits.
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 fork crown for velocipedes or the like constructed, arranged and adapted
to operate substantially as herein described and illustrated.
2. A single piece fork crown for velocipedes or the like bored through centrally
to receive the steering stem or the like, the ends only of the hole being made the

page_text: size of the said steering stem or the like and the intermediate part being made
of considerably larger diameter.
3. Constructing a fork crown of the kind referred to in the preceding claiming
clauses with an internal or external collar or sleeve formed at either or both ends
of the central hole, for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of February 1899
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, M.Cy.E.I.,
ellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry,
Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, and
75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, M.Cy.E.I.,
Hellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry,
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, and
75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.