Improvements relating to the Coating of Vehicle-frames and other Articles with Celluloid or like Material.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Coating of Vehicle-frames and other
Articles with Celluloid or like Material.
I, ALBERT AUGUSTUS POPE, of Cohasset, in the County of Norfolk, State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, 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:-
My invention relates to the manufacture of articles with a protecting surface
layer of thin material which is impervious to moisture and will form to a con-
siderable degree a protection against the action of the weather under exposed
conditions of use; and the object of my invention is more particularly to provide
a vehicle frame of which the main and separable parts and also attachments thereto
shall be provided with this protecting surface layer.
To this end my invention consists in a vehicle frame and its connected parts
provided, to a greater or less degree, with a protecting layer of celluloid or like
material formed to shape and secured in place by the action of heat and pressure,
as hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the drawings:-
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a bicycle frame of a well-known general
form.
Figure 2 is a plan view of a development of a blank covering for the crank
hanger or bracket, on enlarged scale.
Figure 3 is a plan view, on enlarged scale, of a development of a blank covering
for the down tube of the frame.
Figure 4 is a view of the main tube and connected crank hanger or bracket
showing manner of forming a covering film to shape.
Figure 5 is a plan view of the die used in cutting out the toe piece cover showing
the forming die, matrix and the film in place to be cut.
Figure 6 is a view in cross section through the part shown in Fig. 5 on plane
denoted by the line x-x.
Figure 7 is a plan view of the toe piece showing the film in place.
Figure 8 is a view in cross section through the part shown in Fig. 7 on plane
denoted by the line y-y.
Figure 9 is a detail view of the lower end of the down tube showing how the
shield is applied and held in place by a lacing.
Figure 10 is a view in central section of the parts shown in Fig. 9 on plane
denoted by the line z―z.
Figure 11 is a view in cross section, on enlarged scale, through the down tube
with the film and shield in place in a bag as in the process of applying heat and
pressure.
In the accompanying drawings my invention is illustrated in connection with a
bicycle-frame which is usually made of steel or like metal, and after the several
parts are secured together, provided with a covering layer or finish of enamel which
is vulcanized on. A main object of my improvement is to avoid the use of
enamel and to provide a substitute therefor which is capable of a more extended

page_text: use and has marked advantages in availibility as to color, durability and adapt-
ability as compared with any previous surface coating.
In the accompanying drawings the letter a denotes the frame of a vehicle which
may be composed of a number of members, such as main frame-members and
bracket-members, secured to each other in the process of manufacture or separably
united by connecting means which enable the parts to be detached whenever
required. Of this frame the down tube b, the crank-hanger or bracket c and the
toe-piece d have been selected to illustrate the manner of carrying out the invention.
The covering layer used by me in the practice of my invention is a thin film of
celluloid or like material capable of being readily bent and to a degree plastic when
heated. This material is an article of common manufacture that may be obtained
on the market.
.
To cover the down tube b a strip of the material of proper length and width to
envelop it with a slight lap is provided, and this strip is wrapped about the tube
and held thereon by means of a ribbon or tape g of flexible material, as india-
rubber, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The crank-hanger e is cut to
shape in sections e¹e with indentations or openings for the passage of lugs or
projections on the bracket, and this cover is bound upon the crank-hanger in like
manner as described with reference to the tube.
After the tube and bracket covers have been heated and then cooled they are set
to shape and clasped closely about the parts on which they were moulded. While
thus clasped upon the parts, a shield of flexible and elastic material, as india-
rubber, is placed about the part so as to closely enfold it, and this shield is held in
place by means of a lacing passing around the lacing studs i.
In this condition the parts are placed in an air-tight rubber bag m, and the air
exhausted. This bag is then placed in a retort which is filled with water heated
in any convenient manner, as by the application of steam heat, and subjected to
pressure as by means of a pump connected with the retort by piping. After this
article has been subjected to heat and pressure for the desired length of time, it is
removed from the retort (either having been cooled by the application of cold
water before being taken out, or being cooled afterwards) and the article will then
be found to have this covering film, or protective layer, firmly and intimately
united to the surface which it may cover, to any desired extent, either wholly or
in part.
It is to be understood that the article with the covering film of celluloid or like
material, when bound with the tape and put into hot water, is first enclosed within
an air-tight bag m from which the air is exhausted so that the blank is formed by
the application of heat and of pressure in a similar manner although to a less
degree, as in the case of the final moulding and securing of the covering layer to
the parts while in the retort.
·
It has been found advantageous to make use of a layer of adhesive material, as
cement, to provide for the secure attachment of the film or covering layer to the
article, but the cement is not essential to the presence of the invention and the
layer may or may not be attached by such means.
+
It is to be understood that this same method and process may be employed in
the production of a wide range of articles, and is not limited to use in connection
with a vehicle frame.or parts thereof, as handle-bars, pedals, rims, guards and the
like, but may be used with equal success in covering articles of many different
substances.
The method and process herein described is equally applicable to bicycle frames
made of other material than steel, aluminium or the like. For example, it is a
common practice to build up bicycle-frames from wood or bamboo and such
material would be rendered more durable by being provided with such a covering
film or protective layer, as well as having its appearance greatly enhanced thereby.
The manner of covering the toe-piece d is similar to that already described and
may well illustrate the manner of applying this invention to any part of irregular
shape. A die of proper outline is used to produce the cover which has the

page_text: general outline of the surface of the toe-piece but is sufficiently larger to provide
for the bending of the cover about the edges and partly on to the opposite surface.
A similar piece closely conforming to the shape and outline of the opposite side is
cut from a sheet of the film and the edges of the other piece bent about it form the
seams 13.
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. As an improved article of manufacture, a vehicle-frame, component part
thereof or attachment thereto, having a foundation of metal or wood and a thin
covering layer of celluloid or like material formed upon and moulded to the part
and intimately united to its surface by the application of heat and pressure, all
substantially as described.
2. As an improved article of manufacture, a vehicle-frame of metal or wood
having a thin covering layer of celluloid or like material formed upon, cemented
and moulded to the frame parts and intimately united to the surface thereof by the
application of heat and pressure thereto, all substantially as described.
3. As an improved article of manufacture, a vehicle-frame consisting of
separable main and bracket members, having a thin covering layer of celluloid or
like material formed upon and moulded to the parts and intimately united to the
surface of such parts by the application of heat and pressure, all substantially as
described.
Dated Hartford Conn TISA Santambor Sth 1807