Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 13th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 14th May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, JOHN KEMP STARLEY of the Meteor Cyle Works in the City of Coventry
in the County of Warwick, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to so construct the framework of a velocipede
that almost the whole weight of the rider will be thrown upon the back or driving
wheel.
My invention is more particularly devised in relation to bicycles of the well known
"Rover" type but it may also be applied to tricycles.
"
Instead of the quadrilateral, diamond or other framework usually used in the
"Rover
or like type of machine I use a frame constructed as follows. A tube or
tubes carrying a socketted or pivotted end is connected thereby to the front fork or
steering post immediately below the handle bar and considerably above the crown
of the fork. This tube (or tubes) and its termination, hereafter described, together
with the steering post forms the whole support and means of connection for the
wheels.
I form the said tube and its terminations in the form of a bow the convexity being
upwards, the front termination at junction with steering post being either slightly
returned or curved upwardly or straight and the termination or fork embracing the
rear wheel being either straight or slightly returned or curved backwardly. When
I use a straight tube or tubes such tube or tubes will be bent or jointed at a
convenient angle or angles so as to take an arch shape as an alternative to the
bow shaped tube before described. In either case the forked termination embraces
the rear or driving wheel the extremities of the fork being jointed to lugs carrying
the rear wheel bearings said lugs being attached to tubes extending forward to and
carrying the crank bearings thus permitting such bearings to be free to rise and fall.
The said crank bearings are also formed with a lug or lugs to which is jointed the
seat tube (or tubes).
The seat tube or tubes are carried up sloping backwardly until over or nearly
over the centre of the rear or driving wheel and are joined, in the case of two tubes,
by a lug carrying also the seat adjustment. The upper portion of this tube (or
tubes) is connected by means of a link or links to the upper or main tube or tubes
in such a manner as to prevent lateral motion. These links may be formed of spring
steel or coiled wire, thus the seat and pedals are free to rise and fall together and so
prevent the effects of vibration being imparted to the rider.
If a simple link (or links) is used it will be necessary to
device of sufficient power to carry the weight of the rider.
ordinary well known type to connect the parts together I may
wire coil connection.
Dated this 19th dox of 1901
provide also a spring
Instead of lugs of the
employ my improved
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
17 & 18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I JOHN KEMP STARLEY of the Meteor Works in the City of Coventry in the
County of Warwick Cycle Manufacturer 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 object of my invention is to so construct the framework of a rear driving
velocipede that almost the whole weight of the rider will be thrown upon the back
or driving wheel.
My invention is more particularly devised in relation to bicycles of the well
known "Rover" type but it may also be applied to tricycles.
Instead of the quadrilateral, diamond or other frame-work usually used in the
"Rover "
or like type of machine I use a frame constructed as follows, and for the
purpose of more fully explaining such construction I have attached to this Specifi-
cation the accompanying sheet of drawings, to the figures and letters on which I
shall now refer.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of one of my well known "Rover
unnecessary parts being omitted, constructed according to my invention.
Figures 2 and 3 are modifications.
"
bicycles
A tube or tubes A. carrying a socketted or pivotted end B. is connected
thereby to the front fork or steering post, immediately below the handle bar and
considerably above the crown of the fork. This tube (or tubes) A. and its
termination (or terminations) C. hereafter described together with the steering
post forms the whole support and means of connection for the wheels.
I form the said tube A and its termination (or terminations) C. in the form
of a bow, the convexity being upwards, the front termination at junction with
steering post being either slightly returned or curved upwardly or may be
straight, and the termination (or terininations) or fork embracing the rear wheel
being either straight or slightly returned or curved backwardly.
When I use a straight tube or tubes such tube or tubes will be bent or jointed
at a convenient angle or angles such as D Fig. 3 so as to take somewhat the
shape of a pointed arch as an alternative to the bowed shape tube before
described. In either case the forked termination embraces the rear or driving
wheel the extremities of the fork being jointed to lugs E. carrying the rear
wheel bearings said lugs being attached to tubes F. extending forward to and
carrying the crank bearings G thus permitting such bearings to be free to rise
and fall.
The said crank bearings are also formed with a lug or lugs H. to which is
jointed the seat tube (or tubes).
The seat tube (or tubes) is carried up sloping backwardly until over or nearly
over the centre of the rear or driving wheel and are joined in the case of two
tubes by a boss and lug K. carrying also the seat adjustment. The upper portion
of this tube (or tubes) is connected by means of a link or links L to the upper
or main tube or tubes A in such a manner as to prevent lateral motion. These
links may be formed of spring steel or coiled wire as shewn in Figures 1 and 2,
the seat and pedals being thus free to rise and fall together and so prevent the
effects of vibration being imparted to the rider or a simple link (or links) may
be used provided also with a spring device of sufficient power to carry the
weight of the rider as shewn by M in Figure 3. In some cases I may find it
desirable to use two tubes either side by side or one above the other conveniently
connected at or near the crown of the fork.
The spring devices L and M. may be adjustably attached to lugs or brackets N.
fixed on any convenient portion of the framework of the machine.

page_text: 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. The construction of spring frame for rear driving velocipedes substantially
as described and as illustrated by drawings.
2. In spring framé rear driving velocipedes the use of a backwardly sloping
tube (or tubes) rod (or rods) or the like connecting the crank bearings with the
seat support so that such crank bearings seat support and connection are free to
rise and fall substantially as described and illustrated.
3. In a spring frame rear driving velocipede the means for and method of so
adjusting the weight of the rider that it shall be over or nearly over the centre
of the driving wheel substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 13th day of April 1892.
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
17 & 18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.