Wooden Dicycle frames.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1896-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1896
Wooden Dicycle frames.
1, JUSTIN GILBERT, of No. 23, Board of Trade Building, Victoria, British
Columbia, Type Writer Agent, 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:-
This invention relates to the construction of bicycle frames, the parts of which
are principally of wood, turned or otherwise formed into the proper shapes and
sizes, and in which the bearings as well as some attaching or reinforcing connections
are made of metal.
One object of my said invention consists in so assembling the parts that a
strong and rigid structure may be obtained without employing undesirable
dimensions of the parts at points of joining. Another object is to employ for the
respective members of the frame, or some of them, rods or bars made up of
multiplex structure, of thin strips of wood wound spirally, and alternately, at
different angles, and with the grain running lengthwise of the strips, in order
that the transverse or torsional strains which are put upon the members in use,
will be imparted to the wood in the best direction relatively to the grain to
be supported by the member. A further object is to construct the parts so
as to obtain superior joints and joints which afford proper bearings for the
mountings.
My invention consists in certain novel features of construction to be hereinafter
fully described and then particularly pointed out in the claims forming a part of this
specification.
In the accompanying drawings which also form a part of this specification
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle frame constructed in accordance with
the preferred form of my said invention.
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a rear end view and a front end view of the
same.
Figure 4 is a vertical axial section from front to rear of the steering head and
the parts joined thereto.
Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section of the fork-head, showing the attachment
of the steering post.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are respectively a horizontal section, a vertical longitudinal
section, and a vertical transverse section through the crank axle bracket.
Figure 9 is a perspective view illustrating the structure of the stock from which
the principal members of the frame may be constructed.
The frame comprises the steering head 1, the reach 2, the drop-bar 3, the
saddle-bar 4, and the rear fork made up of the two upper bars 5, 5", and the two
lower bars 6, 6. The bars 2 and 3 have their forward ends firmly joined at
7 and 8 to the steering head 1, and have their rear ends suitably fitted at 9 and 10
to the upper and lower ends of the saddle bar 4, thus forming the crank-axle
bracket. The crank-axle bracket or mounting 10 is formed mainly by having
each of the bars 3 and 4 provided with hub-forniing enlargements or portions,
11 and 12 of substantially the shape shown in Figure 7, and bolted together by a
bolt 13 which passes through them from front to rear and has its head and nut
resting upon seats 14, formed on the respective parts to receive them. To add to
the strength of this crank-axle bracket 10, the lower bars 6, 6, of the rear fork,

page_text: are seated laterally against and slightly countersunk in the hub 11, 12, as shown
more clearly in Figure 6. These parts may be enlarged here to assist in forming
the crank-axle bearing. Being secured by through bolts 15, they aid in holding
the parts together, and prevent possibility of lateral displacement. This affords
a very desirable feature of rigidity at this point, where the principal straining
takes place, and the strains are in such direction as to produce twisting upon the
frame or lateral swaying, by the alternated application of the propelling power
alternately to opposite ends of the crank-axle.
16 represents the attaching plates for the cups 17 of the ball-bearings of the
axle 18, such axle having, if desired, the cone-flanges 19 which co-operate with
said cups to confine the balls 20 on which the axle 18 turns. 21 represents the
locking grip for holding the cup against turning. My invention does not however
depend upon the use of any particular form of bearings for the axle, and any well
known type may be employed. At their rear ends, the rear fork bars 5, 5ª
usual by fereby or other
screws
with sockets to receive the ends of said bars and secured therein
suitable meaus. The connection at 9 is made by providing a square end 23, see
Figure 2, on the end of the reach 2, and inserting the end of the saddle bar
thereinto, as shown in the sectional detail in Figure 1. This square cud 23 may
be formed integrally on the reach, if solid material is used, or if the reach is made
of the hollow construction to be hereinafter. described the end may be formed on
a reinforcing piece set in. The fork-bars 5 overlap the joint 9 thus formed and
are secured by through bolts 24, 25, and prevent possibility of lateral displacement
or twisting strains at this joint. The saddle post clamp 26 surmounts the joint
and is secured by screws 27 to the reach, while the opening in the clamping ring 28
rests in alignment with the bore in the saddle-post 4.
The manner of connecting the steering head with the reach and drop-bar, is
illustrated in Figure 4, from which it will be seen that the bars are reduced
sufficiently to enter bores formed in the head at the proper augles to receive them.
If the hollow construction is employed, the necessary reduction can be made by
removing a portion of the outer lay from the part. The reduced end is then
strengthened by a reinforcing plug 29 which is inserted in the attaching end as
shown.
The fork 30 is made of wood, steam bent to get the proper curve, and the head
of the fork is made of integral enlargements secured together by a bolt 31 and
strengthened against splitting by a crown band 32, while each fork has a reinforcing
band 33, to counteract any tendency to split from the opening formed to receive
the bolt 31. At their lower ends, the forks have the steps 34 for the front axle.
35 represents the steering post which is preferably formed of a steel tube and
secured in the fork-head by the bolt 31 and by an additional pin 36. The steering
head 1 has ball-bearings at top and bottom, formed by cones 37 which constitute
the lower parts of the respective bearings, having sleeves 37" entering the head
and fork respectively, and cups 38 forming the upper parts of the bearings, one of
which has a sleeve 38" threaded on the upper part of the steering post, and the
other a sleeve 38 entering the lower end of the head. The head is further
provided with binding clamps 39 driven on its respective ends to prevent the post
splitting. The handle-bar 40 is preferably of wood though it may be of any other
construction, and is secured to its post in the usual manner and the post is clamped
in the steering post as usual.
The hollow construction of the parts is illustrated in Figure 9, from which it
will be seen that the parts are made of winding wooden strips 40, 40, 40°, around
a suitable core d, the angle and width of strips being such that the edges lie flush,
and the angle of each alternate strip is reversed so that they cross each other and
break-joints. After each layer is wound and during winding, if desired, glue or
equivalent adhesive material is applied to make a solid mass of the roll, and after
the hollow bar is completed, it is finished in any suitable way and cut up into
proper dimensions for the parts to] be made of it. The strips are cut with the

page_text: grain of the wood in such direction that the strains on the structure as a whole
will be imparted to the individual strips in the most advantageous direction, and
by this means the structure is greatly strengthened, and a hollow structure is
thereby obtained without sacrifice of strength or material increase of size.
In addition to having the clamping rings 39 on the ends of the steering head,
Euch rings may be applied to the ends of other parts where there is any danger of
splitting. Moreover, these rings, may or may not be provided with means for
adjusting their clamping pressure upon the parts secured, or sufficient clamping
effect may be obtained by simply driving them on the tapered ends of the part.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be carried out, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. A wooden bicycle frame comprising suitable frame-forming members and a
front steering fork formed of two parts having at their upper ends, enlargements
for spacing them apart and having a metallic rod or bar forming a steering post
secured between the enlargements of the fork, by a bolt which binds them
together, as explained.
2. In a wooden bicycle frame having suitable wooden frame-forming parts, a
front steering fork formed of wood with an enlarged head and having the steel or
equivalent metallic steering post secured therein by transverse bolts passing there-
through, as explained.
3. In a wooden bicycle frame, the combination of suitable frame-forming parts,
and the front wooden fork formed with the integral wooden head, and the metal
steering post projecting therefrom and the metal binding ring on the head, as and
for the purpose set forth.
4. In a wooden bicycle frame, the combination of the steering head, the reach
and drop-bar joined thereto, the saddle-bar and rear fork; said reach and saddle-
bar being joined together and the joint secured by the overlapping bars of the
rear fork, as shown and described.
5. In a wooden bicycle frame, the combination of the steering head, the drop-
bar, the saddle-bar, and the rear fork; said drop-bar and saddle-bar being formed
with enlargements fitted together to form a crank-axle bearing as explained.
6. In a bicycle frame formed principally of wood, the formation of two
members of the frame with enlargements joined together to form a hub for the
crank-axle, as explained.
7. In a bicycle frame formed principally of wood, the formation of two
members with enlargements joined together to afford a bearing for an axle, and
two intersecting members seated laterally across the two joined members and
secured thereto by bolts or equivalent means, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
8. In the construction of bicycle frames principally or wholly of wood, a frame-
member or part constructed of a hollow bar made up of strips of wood having
the grain running lengthwise and wound about a removable core alternately at
different angles, as explained.
9. In the construction of bicycle frames, the wood bar or member of multiple
structure made up of a number of spirally wound strips, reduced to enter the bore
in an adjacent part, by removal of an outer layer of the strips and having the
reinforcing plug inserted substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
10. In a bicycle frame, the combination of the two downwardly extending
members having at their meeting ends enlargements to form a crank-axle hub,
and the two rearwardly extending members enlarged at their forward ends and
there lapped laterally upon the hub and bearings mounted upon the members last
named, as explained.
11. A bicycle frame comprising a steering head, a drop-bar, a perch, the rear
fork having its lower bars formed with vertically enlarged forward ends providing
a divided crank-bracket lapping the meeting ends of the drop-bar and perch,

page_text: which are mortised therein, and the crank axle bearings mounted on the sides of
the forward ends of the lower bars; substantially as described.
12. In a bicycle frame the combination of the steering head, the reach and
drop-bar tenoned into said steering head, and the binding clamps surrounding the
head as set forth.
13. In combination with the wooden steering head, the reach and drop-bar
tenoned therein and the clamps surrounding the ends of the said steering head,
to preventing splitting, and being adjustable for binding said clamps on the head
as set forth.
14. A bicycle frame comprising a drop-bar, a reach, a rear fork having lower
bars between the forward ends of which the adjacent ends of the drop-bar and
perch are mortised, the axle mounted loosely in the adjacent ends of the drop-bar,
perch, and lower bars, the cups having flanges secured to the forward ends of the
lower bars around the axle, the cones adjustable on the axle, the jamb-nuts secured
to the axle, and the rollers located between the cups and the cones; substantially
as described.
15. A bicycle frame comprising a wooden steering head, a reach mortised into
the steering head, a drop-bar mortised into the steering head, the front fork, the
lower cone supported on the fork, the lower cup having a sleeve fitting in the
lower end of the steering head, the upper cone having a sleeve fitting in the upper
end of the steering head, and the turning post carrying an upper cup and extending
through the cones through the steering head, through the outer ends of the reach
and drop-bar and secured to the front fork; substantially as described.
16. A bicycle frame comprising a wooden steering head a reach mortised into
the steering head, a drop-bar mortised into the steering head, the front fork, and
the turning post extending through the steering head through the ends of the
reach and drop-bar which are mortised into same as aforesaid, and secured to the
front fork, and means for clamping said wooden steering head to prevent the same
from splitting; substantially as described.
Dated this 1st day of October 1896.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.