Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other like Vehicles.
Year: 1891

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other like Vehicles.
I FELIX CLÉMENT of Salins (Jura) in the Republic of France Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:―
Cyclists know by experience the fatiguing effect of the vibrations caused by
The vibrations transmitted
unevenness of the road over which they have to travel.
to the seat and to the crank axis by rigid frames such as are usually provided
render a long journey over a rough road as injurious to the vehicle as they are
disagreeable to the rider. The means heretofore employed in order to reduce these
vibrations and which consist generally in arranging helical or other springs under
the seat or saddle may diminish to a certain extent the shocks and jolts felt by the
rider but they in no way diminish the damaging effect on the frame and which the
rigidity of the latter merely tends to intensify.
The present invention consists in certain arrangements hereinafter described
whereby great elasticity is imparted to the frame so that the travelling is rendered
as easy and smooth as in a nicely balanced carriage.
With this object helical springs or equivalent devices are introduced between
the parts of the frame which
made in separate parts hinged together or other-
wise arranged that jolts and vibrations are absorbed or deadened by these springs
before they reach the rider.
In a bicycle of the safety type with a diamond frame for example the frame is
divided according to this invention into two parts of triangular or approximately
triangular form hinged together at the lower angle. The front angle of the front
triangular frame is connected to the head receiving the fork of the steering wheel
in the usual way and the rear angle of the hinder triangular frame receives the
axle of the driving wheel. The front frame also carries the seat which may be
supported upon springs. The crank shaft and chain wheel are carried by the
rear frame. The two upper adjacent angles of the two frames are provided with
sockets and the two extremities of a helical spring placed between the two frames
engage with these sockets. This helical spring or other equivalent elastic
medium constitutes an essential part of the arrangement. The degree of rigidity
of the spring is calculated according to the weight to be carried and the expansion
of the spring tends to force the frames apart. The pressure of the weight upon
the seat tends to compress the spring to a certain extent but not enough to force the
Under these conditions the
sockets into contact at the upper angles of the frames.
jolts are absorbed by the spring.
According to another arrangement suitable for small bicycles and tricycles for
example the main frame is constructed in the usual manner and the spring or
equivalent elastic medium for absorbing the jolts and vibrations is applied to the
fork of the steering wheel. For this purpose the fork is arranged to slide
longitudinally in a vertical or inclined socket on a swivelling frame provided with
a suitable bearing for one end of the spring which at its other extremity bears
on a shoulder on the fork. This frame is constructed with two side plates by which

page_text: it is bolted to a vertical or inclined bar carrying the steering handles and which is
connected to the main frame by a joint or pivots allowing of the movement required
for steering in the usual way the swivelling frame turning bodily with fork.
The holder or bracket for the lamp may be formed on the fore part of this
swivelling frame.
By means of these arrangements the strength of the frame is increased and
the spring arranged at the upper part of the triangular frame or on the fork of
the steering wheel receives all the shocks transmitted by either of the wheels.
The great elasticity thus obtained enables the springs usually employed under
the seat to be dispensed with. This system of suspension is applicable to
sociables or other velocipedes, to mechanical horses and other toys or any vehicles
in which the load is placed on a frame supported at its extremities upon one or
more wheels. India rubber or other elastic washers or the like may be employed
in place of the helical springs hereinbefore described for example.
Dated this 26th day of February 1891.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other like Vehicles.
I FÉLIX CLEMENT of Salins (Jura) in the Republic of France 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 of improvements in bicycles tricycles and other like vehicles
consists in combining the frame with springs arranged as hereinafter described in
order to absorb or deaden the jolts or vibrations resulting from obstructions or
inequalities in the surface of the road.
With this object the springs are arranged to be compressed between two parts
of the frame which are connected together by a joint or hinge and at the same
time are so arranged as present the necessary resistance to lateral strain.
And in order that the said invention may be fully understood I shall now
proceed to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several figures
on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings illustrates in elevation the general
arrangement of a rear driven safety provided with a spring frame according to
this invent.on.
Figures 2 and 3 drawn to a larger scale illustrate details connected with the
head and brake and Figures 4, 5 and 6 illustrate different forms of springs
employed in the body or rear of the frame. In the bicycle illustrated in
Figure 1 the head as well as the rear part of the frame is provided with a
spring but it is evident that cycles may be constructed according to this invention
with one spring placed cither at the head or at the rear. A spring at the head is
arranged as follows.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2-1 represents the fork of the steering wheel
which is attached at its upper part to a hollow cylinder or tube 2 connected to
the spindle 3 of the steering handles by short links 4 so as to form a. jointed
parallelogram capable of a rotary or swivelling motion upon the spindle or pivot 3.
In the interior of the tube 2 there is a coiled spring 5 or other equivalent
compressible or elastic device compressed between the bottom of the tube and a
piston or plunger 6. The latter is connected to the lower end of a rod 7 the
upper extremity of which is jointed to a bracket or lamp holder 8 fixed on the
steering spindle 3. When the fore wheel meets with a stone or other obstacle of

page_text: like nature the resulting shock has the effect of compressing the spring 5 under
the plunger 6 and causing the links 4 to swing upon their centres. The shock is
consequently transmitted in a very subdued form and without any sudden move-
ment to the rider and to the machine after which the several parts are returned to
their original positions by the elasticity of the spring 5.
Attempts have been made to construct cycle frames with heads combined with
jointed parallelograms but in the arrangements heretofore employed the axis of
the steering handle is arranged in the front and partakes of all the vibrations
and tremor received by the fork and which are consequently transmitted through
the steering handle to the arms of the rider.
It is evident that this disadvantage does not exist in cycles suspended according
to the present invention the fork alone being exposed to shocks and the steering
handle being insulated from the said fork as far as vibrations are concerned by
means of the links 4 which connect the fork 1 to the steering spindle 3 without
transmitting any vibratory motion to the latter. This construction constitutes an
important difference between the systems heretofore employed and the one forming
the object of the present invention. The improved arrangement hereinbefore
described is extremely sensitive and compensates for the slightest inequalities in
the ground or the slightest jerk of the front wheel.
This is an important point this wheel having very little weight to support it is
necessary for the antivibration device to be capable of taking up the shocks with
the smallest possible loss from friction. Moreover this sensitiveness in no way
impairs the rigidity of the steering fork.
At a point 9 situated at about the middle part of the lower link 4 there is pivotted
likewise at or near about its middle part a lever 20 connected with the brake
which is worked in the usual manner by means of a rod 11 and a curved brake
lever 12 (Fig. 3). The said lever 20 acts as a compensating lever preventing the
continual movement of the parts 2 and 3 relatively to one another from affecting
the action of the brake and enables the action of the brake lever 12 to transmit a
uniform pressure to a spoon brake 10 by means of the rod 11. The proper action
of the brake is consequently insured independently of the relative positions of the
tube 2 and spindle 3.
In order to absorb the vibrations of the rear wheel the frame of the machine
is made in two parts 13 and 14 Figure 1 forming triangular frames hinged
together on the axis 15 of the pedals. The front frame 13 carries a saddle 16
which may be supported upon springs or otherwise. This frame is supported
on the front wheel by the intervention of an anti-vibration arrangement such as
that hereinbefore described or it may be directly connected to the front wheel
in the ordinary manner in case the machine is constructed without springs in the
front part.
The rear frame 14 being of triangular form is supported at the angle 17 upon
the rear wheel and is hinged at the other lower angle to the front frame 13 by
the spindle or axis 15 of the pedals so that the two frames are capable of moving
relatively to one another on the said axis. The upper angles of the two
frames 13 and 14 are connected by a hinged joint to a V shaped spring 18-19
Figures 1 and 4 composed of steel plates riveted or otherwise rigidly connected
together at their lower extremities.
The various arrangements of springs heretofore employed in combination with
jointed frames present the disadvantage of not retaining the two parts of the
frame in the same plane. The helical springs and the springs formed by bent
steel rods heretofore employed are sufficient to resist the strain of compression
but they have no lateral strength and present no resistance to the tendency to
lateral movements of the parts of the frame relatively to one another these move-
ments invariably taking place after a certain time in consequence of the wear
and vibration to which they are exposed.
In the case of a spring arrangement according to this invention the two
parts 18 and 19 being firmly connected together at their lower extremities

page_text: cannot be deflected except in the direction of the plane of the frame. Acting
in combination with the joint 15 they compel the two parts of the frame to
remain in the same plane and greatly contribute to the strength efficiency and
duration of the machine in a general way. This point is of considerable importance
and constitutes an essential difference between frames constructed according to
this invention and jointed spring frames as heretofore constructed. In place of
employing a V spring with flexible plates as represented in Figures 1 and 4
the same effect may be produced by means of the arrangement illustrated in Figure 5.
In this case the two parts of the frame are connected by two rigid or flexible
plates 18 and 19' made of considerable width and jointed, together at 20 in the
same way as the legs of a pair of compasses. A coiled or helical spring 21 or
other suitable elastic medium is arranged between the plates 18 and 19 as represented
in Figure 5 and imparts the required elasticity to the arrangement.
In place of these V springs an elliptic spring 22 Figure 6 being similar to a
carriage spring may be employed the said spring being placed between the upper
angles of the two frames 13 and 14 to which it is connected by bolts passing through
eyes 23 and 24.
Either the front spring or the rear spring may be employed separately in a
bicycle or tricycle but it is preferable to combine both springs in the same machine
in order to ensure greater elasticity in the vehicle and greater stability when in
motion. In a cycle constructed according to this invention the three points
upon which the rider is chiefly supported namely the saddle the steering handle
and the axis of the cranks are always maintained at the same distance apart being
carried by the same frame 13. The details of the arrangements illustrated in the
accompanying drawings may evidently be modified according to the nature of the
vehicle without affecting the principle of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
1st. In a bicycle or other like vehicle an elastic support or system of suspension
consisting of a jointed parallelogram the front side of which is formed by a
prolongation of the fork of the front or steering wheel the rear side being formed
by the steering axis substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with
reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In a bicycle or other like vehicle having an elastic or spring frame an
arrangement of a V spring constructed with plates rivetted together (Figures 1 and 4)
or an elliptic spring Figure 6. or a compass like arrangement with a helical spring or
other elastic medium compressed between the two legs thereof the said springs
and the said spring compass being so arranged as to impart elasticity to the
frame and at the same time to maintain the rigidity or resistance of the latter
to lateral strains substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
3rd. The combination in one bicycle or other like vehicle of the two systems of
suspension or arrangements for absorbing shocks or vibration at the front and at
the rear thereof respectively and constituting a jointed spring frame combined
and operating substantially as herein before described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings.
4th. The arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the improvements
in bicycles, tricycles and other like vehicles substantially as herein before described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
D 10+1 June of Cantambou 1001
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
Agents.