Improvements in Bicycles whereby a Single Machine may be Transformed into a Tandem.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1898- Accepted, 30th July, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles whereby a Single Machine may be
Transformed into a Tandem.
JOSEF ZARUBA, Merchant, Hamburg, Neuerwall, No. 95, Germany, 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 present invention refers to a new bicycle-model which by a telescopic
drawing out of its frame-tube system may be transformed into a two saddle
tandem or vice versa. The advantage of the new model offers the advantage in
comparison with the ordinary tandems, that without any particular preparation
it can at will be used as one or two saddle-bicycle, this arrangement not in the
least interfering with the elegant shape of the machine and the transformation
being performed easily and in a very short time.
The annexed drawings show the invention in all its details:
Fig. 1 shows the machine as a one seat bicycle;
Fig. 2 shows the telescopic tubes n¹ and b₁ and the telescopic connecting-rod
of the cogged-wheel arrangement located therein.
Fig. 3 the manner of fixing the tube b on the hind-wheel axle-tree.
Fig. 4 the machine drawn out as tandem;
Fig. 5 the manner of fixing the tubes
and b¹.
Fig. 6 a view from below of the drawn-out machine.
The new model in its normal one saddle state resembles very much a common
bicycle. The extraction of the frame requires a horizontal position of the tube a
and b, band for rigidity's sake the fork c is fitted to the hind-frame. With a
view of facilitating the transformation of the one seat machine into a tandem, the
second gear for the hind-wheel, a simple chain-gear d, remains fitted to the
bicycle also in its one seat state. A throwing out of gear device of the axle d¹,
however, (not visible in the drawing), consisting in the chain-wheel being liable
to be moved to and fro on the axle d', by means of levers, in such a way as to
cause the chain-wheel, whose bore is fitted with a groove either to be carried
along by the tongue fixed on the axle-tree or to get rid of it, and consequently
running loose, in consequence of the tongues having been displaced, so as to
allow of the pedale of the second gear, whereof one is taken off from the one
seat bicycle, after loosening a nut f and changed by 180°, remaining in its
position or hooked on the tube leaving room for the revolution of pedal g.
As a one saddle machine the bicyle is driven by the pedals g the shaft of which
carries the cogged wheel h gearing together with the conical wheel ¹ the revolu-
tions of which are transmitted by the axis located in the tubes n¹ and b¹ to the
hind-wheel by the pair of conical wheels .
The axis of the bevel-wheels is composed of two parts ; and j¹ possessed of a
square or hexagonal cross-section and sliding one into the other in a telescopic
manner at both ends this shaft runs in ball-bearings, and the practical disposition
of the bearings causes an uniform impulsion not influenced by the extension of

page_text: the frame. Fig. 2 shows the machine as a tandem, wherein one of the pedals e
is moved back again by 180°. The second saddle k necessitated in this case, remains
always fixed on the rear wheel frame, as shows Fig. 1, and is a little smaller
than the fore saddle, whereunder it is located in the one-seat state. For the
same reasons the handle-bars are likewise small, in order not to incommodate
the single rider on mounting the wheel. The second handle-bar remains always
fixed to the saddle support m of the fore-wheel frame. Figure 4 shows that the
extension tubes in their extended condition still remain sufficiently introduced
into one another for obtaining sufficient rigidity. The rear wheel forked
tubes, and n, are parallel and the large chain-wheel d² is located between
them from practical reasons. In order to get sufficient room for the bevel-
wheel the tube ¹, is connected by means of the bent tube socket o with the
bush of the fore cranks. For securing the tube a in a determined position
a thumb-nut is applied, contracting two cheeks of the slit tube socket thus
effecting a jamming-in. The squeezing ob the tube b, ¹ may be effected in the
same way, applying likewise in a determined position thumb-nuts r, contracting
two cheeks of the slit tube-socket, thus effecting a jamming-in, as shown in the
drawing Fig. 5. All the other not specified parts of the new machine are similar
to those of common bicycles and connected in the same way.
Now if for instance the owner of such a new bicycle meets, when riding, with
a friend or an acquaintance, desirous of joining in the ride, he needs only to
loosen the thumb-screw 7 and the nuts r of the tubes and to expand the
frame and, after securing the tubes by means of the corresponding nuts, to alter
the position of one of the rear pedals by 180°, when after throwing into gear
the chain-wheel the tandem is ready for use.
To re-change the tandem into its original one saddle form one proceeds in the
same way. This new wheel may also be used by porters for transporting persons.
As far as rigidity of the whole would allow, the specified construction might be
extended to three or more saddle wheels.
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 simple seat bicycle changeable into a two saddle so called tandem machine,
characterized by the upper frame-tube a and the lower rear-wheel fork consist-
ing of two parts a, a, b, bl, n, n¹ respectively sliding one in another telescopically
and liable to be rigidly fixed in their end position, the extensible part carrying
the second seat and the second driving gear for the purpose of using the machine
as a one seat bicycle when the tubes are not drawn out and as a two seat tandem
when they are so.
2. An arrangement in the above bicycle by means of which the transmission
of the movement for the hind cyclist remains rigidly connected with the drawn
out tubes, whilst from the cranks for the chief saddle a bevel-wheel transmission
likewise takes place upon the rear driving wheel by means of a shaft extensible
too.
1 IT
2011 f A 1909
CARL O. LANGE,
Agent for Applicant.