Improvement in Bicycles and Tricycles, Rendering them Convertible for either Male or Female Riders.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 4th Apr.. 1900-Accepted, 5th May, 1900
Improvement in Bicycles and Tricycles, Rendering them Convertible
for either Male or Female Riders.
HENRY DAVIES, Halwyn, Barry, Glam., Gentleman. I do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In mens bicyles the top horizontal bar or pipe of the frame is made removable
or movable whilst attached to one or both of the side bars or pipes. In womens
bicycles a removable top horizontal bar or pipe is applied or the strengthening
bar or pipe from the front upright bar or pipe to the lower bar or pipe of frame
is made movable so as to form a top horizontal bar or pipe or its equivalent.
Each bar or pipe is provided with the necessary arrangements to secure rigidity
in its altered position and adapted in shape as convenient-other minor altera-
tions may be made if required to ensure efficient working of the machines in
their convertible form. Similar arrangements will apply to tricycles.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1899.
Improvement in Bicycles and Tricycles, Rendering them Convertible
for either Male or Female Riders.
I, HENRY DAVIES, Halwyn, Barry, Glamorganshire, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object and effect of my invention is to render bicyles and tricycles and all
such like machines convertible for use by either male or female riders as required.
And that my invention and the manner of performing and carrying the same
into effect may be understood I have appended four sheets of drawings numbered
respectively No. 1, 2, 3 and 4 illustrative thereof.
My invention may be applied to most of the bicycles, tricycles and the like in
ordinary use both for males and females and is intended to render a mans
bicycle suitable for a lady and a lady's bicycle suitable for a man as occasion may
require. All alterations in the raising or depressing of saddle or handle bars-
the application of dress guards or other arrangements necessary. to adapt a
machine to the particular service desired are provided for by existing arrange-
ments.
Plans Nos. 1, 2 and 3 show different methods by which mens bicycles and such

page_text: like machines are rendered suitable for female use. Each of these methods may
be used separately but any part of either method may be used in conjunction with
or interchangeably with the whole or any part of either or both of the other
two plans..
PLAN 1.
Attached to the handle or head tube B is a solid spur (d) having a round per-
foration to receive pin which forms the pivot or hinge on which top frame tube A
works. This spur (d) in its solid part between the end (a) of tube A and the
handle or head tube B is as thick as the split end (a) of tube A. The tongue
is the thickness of the distance between the forks of split end (a) and on either
side of the tongue the metal is hollowed out to suit end (a) of tube A so that in
addition to the pin the split ends (a) of tube A will be working against the
hollowed out portion of solid spur (4) thus the entire strain will not fall upon the
hinge but will be shared by rounded ends (a) of tube A working in the concave
formations in the solid part of spur (d).
Two strengthening tubes C carry spur (d).
Attached to seat tube D and just below the saddlepin is another spur E formed
of a strong tube supported by an open bracket H and having a solid piece (g) at
the back of cup or socket (e) which receives the solid end (1) of tube A when
used for male rider.
The bracket H is composed of a flat or half round metal band starting from
one side of tube I), passing over end of spur E saddle ways, and down to the
other side of tube D thus forming an open way through which the solid end (al)
of tube A may pass in or out of cup or socket (e).
The tube of spur E has at the bottom a slot cut in it the width of cup or
socket (e) so as to allow passage of solid end (a 1) of tube A as it travels in or out
of cup or socket (e).
A shoulder is formed on each side in open bracket H which engages with the
edges of tube E where the slot has been cut out the width of cup or socket (e).
The interior of cup. or socket (e) is made exactly the size of solid end (1) of
tube A, with square holes on each side corresponding to square hole in solid
end (al) of tube A other methods may be used for strengthening spur E. In-
stead of an open bracket a tube may be carried from tube D to spur E and
secured under solid piece (g) so as not to interfere in any way with passage of
tube A in or out of cup or socket (e) or if carried to end of cup or socket (e)
slotted to allow egress and ingress to end of tube A.
In any case the bracket H or tube if preferred may be shaped as drawn or as
dotted lines or any other shape most suitable to the machine interested.
The spur E may be shortened if required by making the end (al) of tube A
split, instead of solid and sufficiently wide to allow the split end of tube A to
pass over seat tube D and strengthening tube J on its way to bottom tube K
where it is secured by engaging with a suitable solid lug on tube K similar to
that S on Plan 3 and also on spur E when in horizontal position.
At the bottom of frame two strengthening pieces or tubes J, J, are provided
which may be shaped as shewn or as by dotted lines or in any form most suitable
for the machine concerned. Another strengthening tube N is braced on to
bottom frame tube K and made solid M at back of cup or socket L which,
brazed on to tube K receives the solid end (a 1) of tube A when lowered for
female use where it is secured in the same manner as when in liorizontal
position that is by a square pin passing through both sides of the cup or socket
and also through solid end (a) of tube A and threaded at one end to engage
with thumb screw or other suitable fastening. The other end being solid cup
headed.
In the locking together of tubes either at top or bottom or both two holes may
be drilled instead of one having reversed threads through which a screw passes
from either side so securely clamping the parts. A thumb screw or other device

page_text: additionally secures each screw. The cup, socket or cradle P is shewn encircling
bottom frame tube K and open upwards receiving top tube A'as lowered for
female use.
Top frame tube A has a solid end (al) with square hole for pin and an open
or split end (a) which engages with tongue of solid spur (d) and is permanently
clamped into a solid hinge.
All pins used in this invention for securing the moveable tube in position
may be square or round or partly square or round or of any suitable form but in
all cases are interchangeable for use in either position on the same machine so
as to render one pin and fastening thumb screw or other device only necessary
In all cases the manner of effecting the fastening of movable tube may be
adapted to the particular machine concerned-as for instance in some cases a
simple loop at end of tube A with corresponding stem or spar braced around
the parts where connection is required and ending in screw top when in posi-
tion may be most suitable-or other arrangement for effective coupling.
PLAN 2,
Plan 2 shows the top tube A fixed to head tube B at the top instead of at the
middle and only one strengthening tube C is required-other arrangements
apply as in Plaň 1.
PLAN 3.
Plan shows the top frame tube A consisting of two oval tubes running side
by side and parallel to each other at such a distance apart as will permit the
bottom frame tube K to pass between them when lowered. The two oval tubes A
are attached to a solid spur at top of head tube B similar to spur (d) Plan 2
and hinged permanently as in Plan 2. Tubes A have solid terminations at both
ends and are braced together once or oftener in their length by a bridge R or
other device.
Attached to seat tube D is a spur E ending in a double cup to receive the solid
ends. of oval tubes A, and supported by strengthening bracket or tube as in
Plan a solid piece U being inserted behind the double cap or socket. At
the bottom of frame two strengthening tubes T are provided and these may be
straight or curved as shown or adapted to any form or shape necessary to meet
the requirements of machine.
The oval tubes A when lowered fall into a partly solid cup formation
S having a solid portion passing under tube K and the same thickness as
tube K and having a square hole perforated through.
Cup like receptacles adapted to the shape of ends of tubes A are on each side
of this solid portion and project beyond the width of tube K sufficiently to
receive the solid ends of oval tubes A when lowered for female use which are
then fixed by square pin passing through under tube K. Any other suitable
device for fixing movable tubes may be used as required as for instance the tubes
may terminate in loop cap or slot fitting on to projections prepared to receive
same and be secured by pin, screw, clip or any other device. The whole of the
fittings are made to exactly suit those with which they engage thus avoiding
any want of rigidity.
The double oval tubes A may be reversed in position and placed as the bottom
frame tube with a single ton tube which would then fall between the double
bottom tubes and be fixed there or there may be both top and bottom double
oval tubes suitably or similarly fixed in position. By another plan the double
top frame tubes which in this case may be round or oval are fixed parallel to
each other but one over the other instead of side by side and with any distance
between them. Both tubes are hinged to head tube B and have split ends
sufficiently wide to pass over bottom tube K and strengthening tube T. They
may be braced together so as to fall as one tube or may be entirely disconnected
in which case the lower tube falls first and enters a cup similar to S. The top

page_text: tube then falls and is fixed in position by means of a plate provided between
strengthening tubes T from the tie tube to bottom frame tube K.
Fixing arrangements may be varied as before.
In each case the top frame tube or tubes are movable and the bottom frame
tube or tubes are permanently fixed. Whatever means of fixing the movable
tubes are used the pins screws or other arrangements will suit both positions
so that only one set is required for the same machine.
Plan
PLAN 4.
shows my invention for rendering a womans bicycle and the like suit-
able for a man.
A removable bar or tube (1) slotted at each end and perforated for screw is
fixed across the machine at top.
In bicycles built for this purpose lugs are provided fixed at top of seat and
handle tubes to receive slots of removable tube 1 having an interior centre
thread to engage with screw (4) which passing through tube 1 beds itself in the
lug and securely fixes the removable tube 1.
To provide for existing machines brackets are provided.
The one affixed to head tube and marked 3 on plan consists of a ring fitting
around head tube and a plate fitting partly around top frame tube and head tube
ending just below the juncture of the two tubes where it is perforated and
threaded on both sides and secured in position by screw, pin and thumb screw
or similar device passing through both sides of bracket and under juncture of
both tubes. The bracket (2) attached to seat tube is similarly constructed only
adapted to the position required by the seat tube.
These brackets when fitted can remain permanently as a part of the machine.
Both brackets have a lug in front.
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 movable single top tube hinged to any part of head tube of mens bicycles
and the like machines and engaging with suitable fastenings attached to seat
tube and bottom frame tube or elsewhere.
2. A movable double top tube composed of two oval tubes placed side by side
braced together closely or at any distance apart and hinged to any part of head
tube of mens bicycles and the like machines and engaging with suitable fasten-
ings attached to seat tube and bottom frame tube or elsewhere.
3. A bottom frame tube composed of two oval tubes parallel and side by side-
close, or at any distance apart-either braced together or separate-straight or
bent to any shape and connecting the head tube and seat tube of men's or
women's bicycles and the like.
4. A movable double top tube composed of two tubes either round or oval
placed one over the other hinged separately to head tube of men s bicycles and the
like machines either braced together closely or at any distance apart or work-
ing independently of each other and engaging with suitable fastenings attached
to strengthening tube at bottom of frame and lower frame tube or elsewhere.
5. A removable top frame tube slotted at each end and perforated for thumb
screw to engage with thread in brackets or lugs attached to the head tube and
seat tube of women's bicycles and the like machines.
6. The mode or manner of constructing bicycle frames and the like substan-
tially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of April 1900.