Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 11th June, 1896-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
We, CHARLES MOREL and HENRY GERARD, both of Doméne near Grenoble
in the Department of Isére, in the Republic of France, Engineers do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in velocipedes.
The lighter a bicycle, the less is the effort or strain required for its operation on
the part of the rider. The weight of a bicycle (with a straight body, frame or
backbone) may only, however, he reduced at the expense of the strength of the
machine, so long as such reduction of weight affects the tubes, which form the
constituent parts of such straight backbone or frame, and, while-where such is
the case-the weight of those tubular parts of the frame is reduced, which connect
the latter to the wheels. The fact is, that the position of the saddle upon the
straight frames of bicycles is such, that the pressure exercised by the weight of
the cyclist acts upon the tubes partly by bending and partly by compression; it
follows, that it is necessary for the said tubes to possess a thickness sufficient to
enable them to resist such strain resulting from the rider's weight; and, therefore,
by reducing their thickness, their strength, too, must necessarily be diminished;
but, obviously, there is, in that direction, a limit which may not be safely
overreached.
Now, if the strain, due to the weight of the rider's body,-instead of being
sustained by tubes extending cantalever-like, as it were, and consequently, instead
of having bending for its effect,-follow the axes of the said tubes, and hence
produce compression, it will be understood that the tubes, offering, as they will do,
their "working" resistance in the direction in which their resisting power is
greatest, need not have nearly as thick walls as tubes worked by bending. By
starting from this principle, then, in the construction of a bicycle frame, the
possibility of considerably reducing the weight of such frame will be acquired,
since the tubes, of which, in this case, the frame will consist, may have the thickness
of their walls brought down to the minimum limit, in view of the fact that they.
will be designed for sustaining solely compressing strains.
Generally speaking, the proposition may be laid down that the main object of
cycling is to secure a means of rapid locomotion, through the agency of rolling
mechanism having the muscular strength of man for its only source of motive power.
The ideal arrangement for attaining this object would be the monocycle, which,
however, is rendered inconvenient by its want of stability. And it is the necessity
of supplying this defect that has suggested the idea of employing a second wheel
to steady the first. The second wheel, thus added, serves, in bicycles of the well-
known construction, both for steering and-owing to the situation of the saddle
upon the straight body or backbone of the machine-for taking up part of the
pressure resulting from the weight of the cyclist's: body; the saddle being, for this
purpose, placed between the two wheels, that is to say in front of the rear or driving
wheel. This, for the reasons stated above, is a drawback, for which an effective.
remedy is embodied in the present invention; and this invention consists in so
improving the construction and arrangement of the backbone- or frame, that the
cyclist's weight is shifted rearwardly so that the direction followed by the
resulting strain coincides with the vertical line supposed to pass through the axis

page_text: have devised a tightening sleeve which is capable of sliding along the said body,
and is adapted to cover over the pivotal joint, so as to render the connection
perfectly rigid and immovable, when once the bicycle has been fitted up for use.
The tightening sleeve is formed of a cylindrical tube which carries a number of
tightening or compressing collars similar to those employed for retaining the handle
bars of existing cycles within the steering tube; the slots of the said rings corre-
sponding to the slots of the tubes.
The flanges of the compressing collars are provided either with screw bolts,
fastened with nuts, or with hand screws, or with set screws having wings or finger
pieces, or fitted with hand wheels, or, indeed, with any suitable tightening or
locking mechanism.
The said tightening sleeve is, as stated, arranged to be movable along the straight
body or frame of the machine, so as, according to requirements, to cover or uncover
the pivot-joint whereby the frame is linked together. When the sleeve covers
such joint, the collars firmly compress the sleeve, and also tightly grip the tube
forming part of the frame or body of the machine, the hand screws, set screws or
other locking device, whatever it may be, being used for the purpose.
The result of such compression of and by the tightening collars, respectively,
upon the straight body of the machine, is that the whole of the inner cylindrical
surface of the sleeve exactly fits the outer surface of the body of the machine, and
that all the closely adhering points of contact, between the said collars and body,
are connected with each other by a strong and rigid part, namely, the tube of the
tightening sleeve itself.
The junction of the two portions of the straight body of the machine by means
of a hinge or pivot-joint is thus completed and made perfectly reliable owing to
the fact that the said hinge or joint is rendered motionless and rigid by the
compression or locking action of the sleeve aforesaid.
In order to limit the extent of possible displacement of the said locking sleeve
stop, rings are brazed to the straight body of the machine, for exposing the joint,
and at the other end, for covering the same; each of which stop rings is provided
with a pin or stud enabling the sleeve to be permanently secured in the situation
deemed most convenient. For this purpose the sleeve has one or more recesses
provided at each end, at points depending upon the position in which it may be
desired to place the sleeve upon the body of the machine (the slot being placed
either upwards, downwards, or sideways, as may be preferred) so that, according
to the desired position, the said stud or pin may be made to correspond with any
one or other of the said recesses.
When it is desired to fold the bicycle the locking sleeve is removed; after
which the front part is swung round from right to left, the movement being,
however, the reverse of that which has to be performed for disjoining the parts of
the frame.
The mode of connection just described offers a number of advantages; its
performance is both ready and rapid, and, inasmuch as the cycle may be easily
disconnected and divided into two halves, this division or disconnection may be
resorted to whenever compactness is desirable with a view to either forwarding
the machine from one place to another, or housing it in a warehouse or store.
Besides, it will readily be understood that, in case of need, or in the event of an
accident, the fore part or "fore-carriage" of one machine may be used in conjunction
with the rear part of another, and vice versa.
And in order to render the improved bicycle still more portable, and its packing
or warehousing still more convenient, an annular arrangement, partaking somewhat
of the nature of a sheath, is fitted to, and extends along, the outside of fork of the
fore wheel, when the machine is folded, the rings then receive the handle bar.
Although, when the improved bicycle is folded as described, it may be conveyed
from place to place with great ease, it may yet be desirable in some cases say,
for campaigning purposes in the army-that the men carrying the cycles should
retain the free use of their arms, this object, as will be understood, may very

page_text: their "working" resistance in the direction in which their resisting power is
greatest, need not have nearly as thick walls as tubes worked by bending. By
starting from this principle, then, in the construction of a bicycle frame, the
possibility of considerably reducing the weight of such frame will be acquired,
since the tubes, of which, in this case, the frame will consist, may have the thickness
of their walls brought down to the minimum limit, in view of the fact that they
will be designed for sustaining solely compressing strains.
Generally speaking, the proposition may be laid down that the main object of
cycling is to secure a means of rapid locomotion, through the agency of rolling
mechanism having the muscular strength of man for its only source of motive
power. The ideal arrangement for attaining this object would be the monocycle,
which, however, is rendered inconvenient by its want of stability. And it is the
necessity of supplying this defect that has suggested the idea of employing a
second wheel to steady the first. The second wheel, thus added, serves, in bicycles
of the well-known construction, both for steering and-owing to the situation of
the saddle upon the straight body or backbone of the machine-for taking up part
of the pressure resulting from the weight of the cyclist's body; the saddle being,
for this purpose, placed between the two wheels, that is to say in front of the rear
or driving wheel. This, for the reasons stated above, is a drawback, for which an
effective remedy is embodied in the present invention; and this invention consists
in so improving the construction and arrangement of the backbone or frame, that
the cyclist's weight is shifted rearwardly; so that the direction followed by the
resulting strain coincides with the vertical line supposed to pass through the axis
of the rear or driving wheel. It follows that practically, the total pressure
produced is sustained by the said driving wheel, whereas the front or steering
wheel is only subjected to the pressure which is necessarily produced by the rider
as he slightly leans upon the handle-bar, and to the strain exercised upon the
pedals by the rider's feet; so that, altogether, the resultant pressure suffices to
ensure the stability of the machine.
With a view to endowing the improved cycle arrangement with the distinguishing
advantages of a monocycle, as regards portability and easy storage, the frame of
the machine, constructed in accordance with this invention, is made up of two
parte, which are so hinged or linked together, that the machine may be doubled
on itself, by bringing up the rear wheel close against the front wheel.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Figure 1 is a general view of a bicycle of the improved construction, complete
and in perfect working order;
Figure 2 is a rear view thereof;
Figure 3 shows the improved bicycle folded up for purposes of transport or
warehousing;
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are detail views of the hinged or pivotal connection of the
parts; and
Figure 4 is a view of the tightening collar or sleeve.
Figure 7 represents a brake-device located within the steering head, so that
it is out of the way when it is desired to fold up the machine.
As indicated in Figure 1 the improved cycle-frame consists of two portions, one
of which A B being neither more nor less than the straight body of an ordinary
cycle; while the other A C D E actually assumes the shape of a frame proper,
extending round the rear or driving wheel.
The frame proper is formed of the following parts;
(1) A tube C E concentric with the rear wheel and having the straight cycle-
body A B secured to it;
(2) Two side frames; C¹ D and CD, the upper parts C₁ C" of which are
connected by a yoke, to the centre of which the back bone tube C E is fixed;
wbile the lower parts of the said frames are connected together by the axle of the
rear wheel; and

page_text: that all the closely adhering points of contact, between the said collars and body,
are connected with each other by a strong and rigid part, namely the tube of the
tightening sleeve itself.
The junction of the two portions of the straight body of the machine by means
of a hinge or pivot-joint is thus completed and made perfectly reliable owing to
the fact that the said hinge or joint is rendered motionless and rigid by the com-
pression or locking action of the sleeve aforesaid. In order to limit the extent of
possible displacement of the said locking sleeve stop rings are brazed to the straight
body of the machine at m, for exposing the joint, and at n, for covering the same;
each of which stop rings is provided with a pin or stud i enabling the sleeve to be.
permanently secured in the situation deemed most convenient. For this purpose-
the sleeve has one or more recesses o provided at each end, at points depending
upon the position in which it may be desired to place the sleeve upon the body of
the machine (the slot being placed either upwards, downwards, or sideways, as may
be preferred; so that, according to the desired position, the said stud or pin i may
be made to correspond with any one or other of the said recesses o.
When it is desired to fold the bicycle the locking sleeve X is removed; after
which the front part B is swung round from right to left, the movement being,
however, the reverse of that which has to be performed for disjoining the parts of
the frame; Figure 6 is an illustration of what is meant.
The mode of connection just described offers a number of advantages; its per-
formance is both ready and rapid, and, inasmuch as the cycle may be easily
disconnected and divided into two halves, this division or disconnection may be
resorted to whenever compactness is desirable with a view to either forwarding the
machine from one place to another, or housing it in a warehouse or store. Besides,
it will readily be understood that, in case of need, or in the event of an accident,.
the fore part or "fore-carriage" of one machine may be used in conjunction with
the rear part of another, and vice versa.
And in order to render the improved bicycle still more portable, and its packing
or warehousing still more convenient, an annular arrangement, such as rr, partaking
somewhat of the nature of a sheath, is fitted to, and extends along, the outside of
fork of the fore wheel, when the machine is folded. The rings then receive
the handle bar in the manner illustrated in Figure 3.
Although, when the mproved bicycle is folded as described, it may be conveyed
from place to place with great ease, it may yet be desirable in some cases-say, for
campaigning purposes in the army-that the men carrying the cycles should retain
the free use of their arms. This object, as will be understood, may very readily be
attained by providing, on side opposite to that visible in Figure 3, a belt or strap.
arrangement, enabling the carrier to tie the machine to his back, not unlike a
knapsack.
To avoid interfering with the folding property of the improved bicycle, it was
desirable to devise a brake arrangement that would be capable of being readily put
out of the way, say, by locating it within the handle-bar supporting tube. A device
of this description is shewn in Figure 7.
The brake consists of the following three essential parts
(a) A lever arm P Q secured to the handle bar O by means of a collar R;
(b) A rod M fitted within the tubular rod N of the handle-bar, wherein it is.
retained by means of a spiral spring K resting upon a fixed base-plute y¹; and
(c) A tube L, also inserted within the steering or handle-bar-supporting tube N,.
wherein it is likewise retained by means of a spiral spring I resting upon a stationary
base y. To the end L' of such tube there is screwed a rod H, which enables the
said tube L to be shortened or extended, as the case may be, when it is desired to
alter or re-adjust the height or level of the handle bar, while to the opposite end of
the said tube, the brake-shoe Pa is fixed.
The brake, arranged as herein described, and the operation of which will be readily
understood from the description given, offers the double advantage of being
concealed from view and of adding no encumbrance to the machine whether open