Improvements in Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1897
Improvements in Bicycles.
We, CHARLES ELLIS BRYANT, Real Estate Agent and ARTHUR LAUREN
SARGEANT, Bicycle Dealer, both of Attica, County of Fountain, State of
Indiana, U.S.A., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be ás
follows:-
This invention relates to a bicycle capable of being extended and contracted so
as to be used either as a single or as a double seated machine. It consists in the
combination, with an ordinary single seated safety bicycle without change in its
structure, of a supplemental frame consisting of rods, braces and saddle post corre-
sponding to those of the original frame, a bar or bars for bracing the the two
frames together and a clamping frame connecting the two bicycle frames at their
lower line. This clamping frame which is formed of two tubular parts united by
two rods carries the additional seat and driving mechanism, the driving wheel
being removed from the original to the supplemental frame. For clamping the
two bicycle frames together at their upper line a triangular core is fitted into the
angle between the saddle post and two rods which descend to receive the wheel in
the original frame, and a plate is fitted to the front face of the core to embrace the
saddle post, and further a plate is fitted to the rear face of the core for embracing
the two rods, the whole being bolted together.
Dated this 18th day of February 1896.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles.
We, CHARLES ELLIS BRYANT, Real Estate Agent and ARTHUR LAUREN
SARGEANT, Bicycle Dealer, both of Attica, County of Fountain, State of
Indiana, U.S.A., 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 means for converting two ordinary single seat safety
bicycles into a two seat machine, without alteration of the single seat frames,
so that they can be restored again without injury. This is accomplished by
connecting the frames by means of modifications and devices provided thereon.
In the accompanying drawing :-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the frame of our improved combination tendem
bicycle. For convenience, some parts of the machine are omitted, not being
necessary to shew our invention.
Fig. 2 shews the frame of a single bicycle detached.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lower part of the two frames connected,
shewing the lower connection.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a crank hanger modified to serve the needs of the
invention.
Fig. 5 is an inverted view of a slightly different form of the same.

page_text: Fig. 6 a side elevation of the removable coupling eye bolt.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the upper connection, and
Fig. 8 a perspective view of a removable clamp.
A, is the frame of the front wheel, and B that of the rear one, said frames being
similar to those of an ordinary safety bicycle except for such modifications as will
be hereinafter stated and described. Each machine is provided with seat, bandles,
and cranks of its own, and the bicycles are so connected that these can be used in
the tandem without changing their position relative to the frame. When so
desired, a ladies' frame can be used in front as shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 1.
The two main coupling points are, at the top, between the seat post tube C of
the front wheel and the steering head D of the rear frame, and at the bottom,
between rear fork connections E of the front wheel and the crank hanger F of
the hind wheel, and an additional clamp G may be affixed as shewn by dotted
lines.
Instead of the ordinary crank hanger commonly used, we provide the rear wheel
with such a one as shewn in Fig. 4 preferably, which is different, in that it has
short tube extensions H projecting diametrically opposite extensions I which join
on to the lower rear fork J; or lugs K depending from said crank hanger will
answer the purpose, as shewn in Fig. 5. In both forms the projections are
furnished with screw threaded holes i to receive flattened eye bolts L to which are
secured the lower rear fork connections by means of ordinary bolts or cap screws M.
The coupling bolts L can be screwed in, the necessary distance, as required by the
front frame.
The upper joint is best shewn by the plan view in Fig. 7 where the saddle post
tube C has brazed to it the clamping lugs N which closely fit over a corresponding
lug N brazed to the head of the frame B. A bolt O passes through registering
holes in the lugs and connects them, at the same time serving as the upper rear
fork connection and saddle post clamp.
In Fig. 8 is shewn a form of removable clamp which can be attached to any
frame and used instead of brazed lugs.
To construct the tandem, detach the rear wheel of the front bicycle and the
front wheel of the rear bicycle, take out the bolt O insert lug N¹ of frame B
in lug N of frame A and tighten the joint with bolt O. After the eye bolts L
have been adjusted to the right distance, fasten to them the rear fork connection
of the front wheel by means of bolts or cap screws M.
To the crank shaft of the rear bicycle an extra sprocket wheel must be attached
to connect either with the driving wheel or with the sprocket wheel of the front
bicycle, as is desired. The chain connecting the two crank sprocket wheels must
be longer as the distance between their circumferences is greater than in the
single bicycle, otherwise no changes are required in the construction of the
wheels.
By constructing the frames in accordance with this invention a person can
readily and quickly form a two seat bicycle out of two one seat bicycles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manuer the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
In combination with two ordinary single seat safety bicycle frames without
change in their structure, suitable connections, permanent or detachable on one of
said frames to register with corresponding attachments on the other bicycle frame
whereby said wheel frames may be securely and rigidly coupled together so as to
form a two seat frame, substantially as described and shewn."
Dated this 5th day of December 1896.
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.