Improvements in Oycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1898-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Oycles.
I, JAMES EDGAR HATCH, M.A. of 340 Heath Terrace, West Bromwich, in the
County of Stafford, Clerk in Holy Orders do hereby declare the nature of my said
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 has for its object improvement in cycles which enable me to build
machines which are more simple and compact than those now in use. They also
afford greater facilities for mounting as the rider can stand between the wheels
without having to mount from the back and while thoroughly adapted for the use
of gentlemen offer special facilities for ladies' use. They are also much more
easily stored away as they take up less space, or maintained in a position of rest on
account of the smallness of the front wheel when not in use.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily
carried into practical effect I have appended hereunto two double sized sheets of
drawings upon which I have illustrated several examples which will enable others
to carry my invention into practical effect.
Figure 1. is a side elevation of a bicycle constructed according to my invention.
Figure 2. is a cross sectional elevation of the front wheel W of the same
machine.
Figure 3. is an elevation of the wheel W removed from the fork.
Figure 4. is a side elevation of a bicycle showing a modified form of frame.
Figure 5 is another side elevation of a bicycle showing a further modification in
the frame.
It will be observed from the illustrations upon the accompanying drawings that
the front wheel W is very small indeed in comparison with the back wheel B and
with the machines now in use and also that this fact enables me to construct my
new frame in such a manner as to give a very large gap or space G between the
front part of the frame and the back portion of the machine. I may here observe
that do not claim anything new in the back or driving portion of the machine
except that the bracket for the driving spindle is generally more simple or less
complicated in regard to the front junction boss or bosses.
My new front wheel W is constructed from an india rubber ball to either with
or without an inner tube for inflation and while I prefer a tyre w¹ capable of
inflation the inner portion may be made of other material such for instance as cork
or composition of various kinds with an outer covering of rubber so long as a
broad tread is obtained which is essential to reduce the liability of the wheel
entering depressions in the road. The construction of the wheel shown as one
example is simple being composed of the india rubber ball w¹ placed upon the
hollow spindle w against the collars and fastened by the screw nuts w.
The spindle to passes through the tube w' and is hung in any usual ball or other
bearings and then secured to the front fork in any desired or usual manner.
The front part of the frame A is composed of the lower member or tube a¹
connected to the bracket M and the bottom lug of the ball head and the tube a³
may be carried straight as shown or may be bent to form the strut as per dotted
lines Fig. 1. I may however carry the strut a' as shown at Fig. 4 or as shown at
Fig. 5 but I do not confine myself to the exact height thus shown in any instance
but it will be clearly understood that by this construction of front wheel W I am

page_text: enabled to construct the frame quite rigidly and firmly at the same time giving the
large gap G which is so essential for machines used by ladies.
It will also be evident that the wheel base of the machine may be shortened by
the use of my invention without difficulty.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
First. The improvements in cycles substantially as herein set forth and as
shewn upon the accompanying drawings.
Second. In cycles the particular construction of the front part of the frame
consisting of the members a¹ a² attached to the front and back part substantially
as set forth and as shewn by Figures 1, 4 and 5.
Third. In cycles the wheel W mounted in the frame substantially as herein set
forth and shewn upon the drawings.
Dated this 30th day of April 1896.
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for the Applicant.