IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES, TRICYLES, AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, AND IN RECEPTACLES FOR THE SAME
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry James Grout, of the Tension Bicyclė
Works, Watson Street, Stoke Newington, in the County of Middlesex, Engi-
neer and Bicycle Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BICYCLES, TRICYLES, AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, AND IN RECEPTACLES FOR THE
SAME"
Sealed the 22nd November 1878, and dated the 21st September 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Henry James Grout
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st September 1878.
WILLIAM HENRY JAMES GROUT, of the Tension Bicycle Works, Watson Street,
Stoke Newington, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer and Bicycle Manufacturer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, AND IN RECEP-
TACLES FOR THE SAME."
Great inconvenience has hitherto been experienced and much expense incurred in
transporting bicycles, tricycles, and other velocipedes from place to place from the
extreme bulk of the machines, and the danger to accidents to which they are liable
unless properly packed in a box or case.
Now my Invention relates, firstly, to improvements in the construction of bicycles,
tricycles, and other velocipedes, whereby they are rendered more portable than
hitherto; and the improvements consist in forming the front or driving wheel and
the frame and other parts of the vehicle in several parts in such a manner that they
may be easily and quickly detached or taken to pieces, and packed within a small
compass, so that they may be carried about or conveyed with facility, thus saving a
'

page_text: great expense in the cost of conveyance and packing, avoiding the danger of accidents,
affording considerable convenience to the rider, and also allowing of the machines
being packed away so as to occupy but little space when not in use. The machine
may also be put together again with equal facility when required for use. This part of
my Invention also relates to an improved method of fixing the rubber tyres to the
felloes of the wheels.
My Invention relates, secondly, to an improved bag or receptacle for the said
bicycle or other velocipede when taken to pieces.
To make my Invention better understood I will proceed to describe the same by
reference to the accompanying Drawing, in which,-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle constructed according to my improve-
ments; Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the same.
Figure 3 is a sectional inside view of the nave or centre of the front or driving
wheel, drawn full size; and Figure 4 is a section of the same on line A, B.
Figure 5-is a detail (drawn full size) shewing the joint of the backbone.
Figure 6 is a detail (also drawn full size) shewing the junction of the felloe and
my improved method of fastening the india-rubber tyre to the felloe; and Figure 7
is a section of same on line C, D.
Figures 8, 9, and 10, views of my improved receptacle or bag.
Similar letters in all the Figures represent similar parts.
In carrying out the first part of my Invention I make the felloe of the driving
wheel in four (or more or less) parts, according to the space the machine is to occupy
when packed for transportation. In the Drawing I have shewn the felloe formed
in four parts, a, b, c, d, the ends of the parts being lapped and connected together by
means of bolts e and nuts f, as shewn in Figures 1 and 6. In a similar manner I
divide the nave or centre of the wheel (which I make much larger than usual), as
shewn in Figures 3 and 4, the inner edge of each of the side plates E of the nave
being formed with a dovetail h, which takes into the corresponding dovetail i in the
rim ¹, in which the inner ends of the spokes jare screwed, and the rims 2, 3, of the
nave are each divided into four parts, corresponding with the parts of the felloe.
The parts of the rims are each provided near each of their joints with slots k,
which slots k take on to headed bolts or studs in the nave, the enlarged parts of
the slots allowing them to pass over the heads of the bolts, and the parts are then
moved round so as to bring the bolts into the small part of the slots, and the whole
may then be drawn together by means of the nut m on the screw bolts n passing
through the projection o cast on each. rim i¹, the upper end of the bolt n being
formed with a T head p hinged to the nave at q, and when drawn into the proper
position the tightening of the nut m will bring the wheel to the required tension
and truth.
I form the backbone A with a socket joint about the middle of its length, secured
by a pin or cotter r, the hind wheel B being kept in its usual place in the lower
part of the backbone A. Figure 5 is a section of this improved socket joint.
I make the steering handle 8, as shewn in Figure 2, in two parts, each part being
hinged to a screw pin t passing through the steering head u, the inner ends v of the
said handles being made of sufficient length to overlap each other to admit of their
receiving a screw pin w, which fixes them in a rigid position when in use; when
this pin is removed the handles s may be folded down upon the front fork x (as
shewn in dotted lines, Figure 2) for convenience of packing, or the steering bar may
be made so as to draw out of the fittings by merely unscrewing the handle on one
of its ends.
In order to hold the india-rubber tyre y securely to the wheel I take lengths of
india-rubber suitable to the divisions of the wheel (or a whole band when the tyre
is in one piece, and fix the tyre thereto in the following manner:-Pieces of suitable
metal of about 1 inch in length by three-eighths of an inch in width, and one-eighth
of an inch in thickness, with a screw thread in or about the centre, are either

page_text: moulded at suitable distances apart in the india-rubber tyre y during, or placed
therein after, the process of manufacture, and a screw a¹ is then passed through the
felloe and india-rubber tyre, and screwed into each of these metal pieces, thus
holding the tyre firmly and securely to the felloe in a simple manner, and also
allowing of the tyre being easily removed when required.
By this improved construction of bicycle it will be easily seen that to take the
machine to pieces it is merely necessary to unscrew the nuts e from the bolts f, then
by loosening the nut m on the screw bolt n the nave or centre can be detached from
the wheel, and the wheel itself may be divided into its several parts; it then only
remains to fold down the handles over the front fork x by removing the screw pin
w, and to disconnect the two parts forming the backbone A by removing the pin or
cotter r. The saddle, and treadles, and centre screw may be removed in the ordinary
manner, and the machine thus taken to pieces may be packed so as to occupy but
little space in the form of a quadrant,
Figure 8 is a plan shewing my receptacle or bag open, and containing the bicycle
thus taken to pieces and packed; Figure 9 is a plan shewing the receptacle or bag
closed;
and Figure 10 is a view of the bottom of the bag.
The improved bag is made of strong canvas or other suitable material bound with
leather straps, or may be made of leather only, and so shaped that the whole of the
bicycle when in parts and packed, as herein-before described, can be readily placed
therein, as shewn in Figure 8.
The bag is made, as shewn, in the shape or form of a quadrant, or nearly so,
opening up the centre of one side so as to form two flaps D, D, which are hinged on
the edges C, C.
The bicycle being taken to pieces and placed in the bag, as shewn, the two flaps
D, D, forming one side of the bag, are closed and fastened by straps and laces, and
will thus form a bag enclosing a bicycle which can be easily transported from placo
to place.
I have only described my Invention as applied to bicycles, but its application to
tricycles and other velocipedes will be readily understood, as, for instance, the wheels
would be constructed in a similar manner to that herein-before described, and the
framing in any suitable manner to allow of its being folded or packed in a small
compass.
Having thus described my said Invention, and the best means with which I am
acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details herein laid down, and shewn in the accompanying
Drawing, as the same may be varied without departing from the principle of my
Invention, but what I do claim is,―
First. The construction of bicycles, tricycles, and other velocipedes in parts in such
a manner that they may be easily taken to pieces and packed within a small com-
pass for transportation or otherwise, as herein-before described.
Secondly. The method of uniting together the parts of the felloes and naves of
the driving wheels of bicycles, tricycles, and other velocipedes, as and for the pur-
poses herein-before described, and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly. The employment of the hinged bolts and nuts for drawing together the
parts of the nave of the driving wheel, and obtaining the requsite tension, as herein-
before described and shewn.
Fourthly. The jointing of the backbones of bicycles, tricycles, and other veloci-
pedes having backbones, as and for the purpose herein-before described, and repre-
presented in the accompanying Drawing.
Fifthly. The method of fixing india-rubber tyres to the wheels of bicycles,
tricycles, and other velocipedes (whether the tyres are in parts or in one piece or
band), as herein-before described, and represented in the accompanying Drawing.
Sixthly. The construction of a folding steering handle, as herein-before described,
or any mere modification thereof.
Seventhly. The construction and employment of the improved bag or receptacle

page_text: for holding bicycles when packed up, as herein-before described, and represented in
the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry James Grout, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of September, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
G. F. REDFERN,
Patent Agent,
4, South Street,
Finsbury,
London.
W. £. J. GROUT. (L.S.)