Improvements in Bicycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1895-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1895
Improvements in Bicycles.
I, GEORGE G. PRENTICE, of No. 1, West 104 Street, New York, in the County
and State of New York, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, 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:
This invention relates to bicycles, and more particularly to mechanisin on various
parts; whereby the bicycle may be adjusted to occupy the least space for packing in
crates, etc. To accomplish this object the mechanism consists primarily in jointing
the horizontally extending bars of the frame so that the rear wheel may, when
desired, be doubled on the fore wheel. Further features of the invention consist in
means for turning the handle bar to a longitudinal position corresponding with tlie
main body of the bicycle, and a peculiar construction of the pedal bar permitting
the pedals to be turned inward under the frame of the bicycle; all of which will
be more fully described and claimed, with other improvements, in the following
Specification taken in connection with the drawings which form a part thereof; and
in which
invention!
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a bicycle embodying this
Figure 2, a longitudinal vertical section through the sleeve of the horizontal
bars.
Figure 3, a corresponding section through the double joint of the horizontal
bars:
Figure 4, a horizontal section through the upright of the handle bar and the
forward portion of the frame.
Figure 5, side elevation of a portion of the upright of the handle bar.
Figures 6 and 7, a vertical and horizontal section through the pedal' bar,
respectively.
Figures 8 and 9, longitudinal section and detail view respectively of the clamp
for securing together the rear and fore wheels.
The same letters of reference represent like parts in all figures.
In the drawings A represents the frame of a bicycle embodying this invention.
The frame is shown of the more recent style of bicycles for men, but the improve-
ments may be easily applied to any kind of bicycles as well. The horizontal bars,
(two in the bicycle shown), connecting the mechanism of the front and rear wheels,
are shown at a (the upper) and a² (the lower). A short distance in front of the
vertical seat-supporting bar, a³ (as shown in Figure 1), the horizontal bars a 'and a
are divided into two parts, and between them and hinged thereto are short
lengths of solid bars B (Figures 1 and 3). The method of hinging the bar B to
the two parts of horizontal bars a and a¹ may be by hinges b and having
horizontally extending knuckles interlocking and secured together by the pintles b
Any equivalent means for jointing the parts may be employed, such as an eye bolt,
etc.. By means of the short bar B and double joint b and 6 on the horizontal bars,
the rear wheel may be swung about the joint through half of a circle to extend
abreast of and parallel to the front wheel, diminishing the length of the bicycle
in packing: to one-half. The joints are so arranged on the bars a and a that
upon swinging the rear wheel forward abreast the front wheel, the lowest point*
ID 037

page_text: of the rear wheel will be slightly above the lowest point of the front wheel.
Through this arrangement, after the bicycle has been so folded, if the fore
wheel is not secured against revolving it may act as a roller for wheeling the
whole about. When the bicycle is in its normal and extended position, to hold
the horizontal bars rigid sleeves C (Figures 1 and 2) are loosely mounted on
the bars a and a to slide thereon. These sleeves are of sufficient length to
extend over the double joint of the bars, and prevent any movement of the
joint when so placed. The ends of the sleeve C are slit longitudinally at c,
beveled at the extreme ends c² and externally screw-threaded from the beveled
surfaces inward. Internally threaded nuts D (nurled on their outer surfaces),
with internally beveled surfaces to correspond with external beveling on the
sleeves C, are screwed onto the sleeves C, and the beveled surfaces are adapted
to gradually contract the slit ends of the sleeve to securely grip the bars a and a¹
on which it is placed, to prevent any movement of the sleeve on the bar.
When the bicycle is to he folded for packing, the unscrewing of the nuts D will
allow the expansion of the slit ends of the sleeve, which may then be slipped along
the bars clear of the double joints.
The upright of the handle bar E, (Figures 4 and 5), is adapted to slide vertically
in the forward part of the frame a³, and is splined therein to prevent rotation by
the screw e³, which passes through the frame a² and projects into the vertical slot e
of the handle bar E. The screw e³, the head of which is countersunk in the
frame a, acts also as a binding screw to hold the upright E at any desired height.
A transverse slot el extends from the upper end of the vertical slot. and upon the
partial release of the screw e the handle bar may be forced downward and rotated
through a quarter of a circle (the end of screw e³ traveling in the groove e'), until
it extends longitudinally with the body of the bicycle. A supplementary vertical-
groove 2 in the upright E at the end of the transverse slot e', is for adjustment of
the handle bar after it has been turned in the position for packing.
e,
The pedal bar, (Figures 6 and 7), is divided into two parts, H and G, the lower
of which is connected to the pedal F and has a prolongation g entering a hollow h
in the under end of the upper part H. A pin g¹ passes through the upper part H
tangent to the prolongation g fitting in the groove 2 in said prolongation. By this
construction the two parts of the pedal bar are held against longitudinal movement,
but the lower part G with the pedal is permitted to rotate independently of the
upper portion, in a plane at right angles to the line of the bar.
A sleeve K surrounds the pedal bar and is capable of a vertical sliding
movement thereon. A pink with a nurled head at one end is adapted to pass
horizontally through the sleeve K and the hole g³ in the lower part G of the
pedal bar, and with its threaded end engage in the opposite side of the sleeve K.
The bar and sleeve being rectangular in cross section, the rotation of the lower
part of the bar G is prevented as long as the sleeve K extends over both parts,
which it will do while the pin k is in the hole g³. The pin-k-being unscrewed and
withdrawn, and the sleeve K raised or lowered, the pedal F may be turned with
the lower part G of the pedal bar through one-half of a circle. The sleeve K may
be returned to its position and the pin k again inserted. The pedal then extends
under the frame of the bicycle instead of extending laterally therefrom.
A further feature of this invention consists of a device for holding the bicycle in
its folded position. The device is formed of a bar P mounted on the vertical
seat-supporting bar a³ to swing in a vertical plane, having a clamp at one end to
engage with the forward part a² of the frame when the rear wheel is brought
abreast of the fore wheel. A hinge L, consisting of two jaws and united at 1,
formed to fit about the vertical bar a³, has a transverse perforation, through which
projects the ends of a collar M. The end of the collar M is split like a cotter pin
at m and threaded at the end m' for the nut N. The part of the collar M
adjoining the hinge L is beveled and the hinge L at the same point countersunk so
that when the end of the collar M projects through the hinge L, (Figure 8), the
screwing on of the nut N forces the two beveled surfaces together and contracts

page_text: the collar M, forcing it to grip the bar P securely. The unloosening of the nut N
permits the collar M (and with it the bar P) to be turned in the hinge L, and also
allows the bar to be adjusted in the collar M. The unloosening of the nut N
likewise allows the hinge L to be slipped about the bar a³ in a plane at right
angles to the bar. This, with the movements of collar M, makes an universal
joint, so that the bar P may be adjusted in any direction. The free end of the
bar P is divided into two prongs p and p' pivoted together at the point p².
Externally the prongs p and pl are threaded a short distance from their point of
union, and extend in semi-circular shape to their ends, which are adapted to engage
with the frame A. A nut O, internally threaded to engage with the thread on
prongs is adapted to contract and release the ends p and pl.
Normally the bar P extends downward parallel to the bar a³, but when the
bicycle is folded by means of the nuts N and O, the bar is swung upwards and the
clamp engaged with the forward part of the frame a².
Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is :
1. A bicycle having its horizontal bars jointed so that the frame may be folded;
substantially as described.
2. In a bicycle, the combination with the front and rear wheel; of a frame
having the portion connecting said wheel divided into two parts; and a short
length of frame uniting said parts forming double joints therewith; substantially
as described.
3. The combination in a bicycle with the fore and rear wheels; of a frame
uniting said wheels; hinged joints in said frame; and sleeves loosely mounted
on said frame to fit over said joints to hold said frame rigid; substantially as
described.
4. In a bicycle, the combination with the fore and rear wheels; of a frame
uniting said wheels; hinged joints in said frame; sleeves loosely mounted on said
frame to fit over said joints to hold said frame rigid, said sleeves being slit at the
ends; and nuts for contracting the ends of said sleeves to engage with said frame;
substantially as described.
5. In a bicycle, the combination with the frame thereof; of the handle bar; an
upright for said handle bar capable of a vertical movement in said frame and
adapted to rotate in said frame; substantially as described.
6. In a bicycle, the combination with the frame thereof; of a handle bar; an
upright connected to said bar keyed in said frame; and a groove in said upright
for said key, allowing said upright a vertical and a limited rotary movement in said
frame; substantially as described.
7. The combination in a bicycle with the pedals thereof; of pedal bars formed
in two parts so united that the pedals and part of bar connected therewith may be
capable of a circular movement in a plane at right angles to the line of said bar;
substantially as described.
8. In a bicycle, the combination with the pedal, of the pedal bar formed of two
parts, one part having a prolongation entering a hollow in the end of the other
part, said parts being so united that the part connected with the pedal may be
capable of a circular movement in a plane at right angles to the line of the bar;
substantially as described.
9. The combination in a bicycle with a pedal; of a pedal bar formed of two
parts, one of which is connected with the pedal and capable of a circular move-
ment in a plane at right angles to the line of said bar, and a sleeve loosely
mounted on said bar to hold said bar rigid; substantially as described.
10. A bicycle clamp consisting of a bar having a clamp at one end; a hinge
adapted to be attached to the frame of a bicycle; and a collar surrounding said
bar and connecting it with said hinge; substantially as described.
11. The combination in a bicycle, with the fore and rear wheels thereof; of
a frame formed of two parts, linged together, said parts being connected with

page_text: said fore and rear wheels respectively; a hinge on the part of said frame con
nected with the rear wheel; and a bar secured to said hinge having a clamp
adapted to engage with the part of said frame connected with the fore wheel';
substantially as described.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech: E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.