Improvements in and relating to the Coupling Together of Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application (in the United Kingdom), 20th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 20th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 24th Oct., 1896
Improvements in and relating to the Coupling Together of
Bicycles.
We, CHARLES MOREL and HENRY GÉRARD, both of 21 Boulevard Poissonnière,
Paris, in the Republic of France, 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 velocipede which forms the subject of this invention is made of two safety
bicycles or other suitable machines coupled together.
We prefer however to couple together two bicycles of the kind which form the
subject of a previous Application No. 1334 of 1896 by reason of the numerous
advantages which a combined machine or sociable obtained by this union possesses
particularly as regards the facility of transport and the placing of the same under
cover, the said combined machine or sociable being adapted to be disconnected
and the bicycles composing it to be folded up separately.
The two bicycles are coupled parallel to each other, at a suitable distance for
allowing each cyclist the necessary freedom of movement, with the aid of ties
which rigidly unite the frames of the two machines while permitting the latter to
incline either to the right or to the left to a certain extent in consequence of the
particular construction of the points of attachment of the ties, so that in its entirety
our improved machine offers the same advantages as a bicycle, especially for
turning curves.
In order to enable our invention to be better understood we have represented
the same in the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of our safety bicycle provided with our coupling
device.
Figure 2 represents one of the ties for connecting two bicycles.
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are details of the joints and
Figure 8 is a diagrammatic view of the machines when coupled together.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
As will be seen from Figure 1, we make no change in the principle of our
bicycle, but at A upon the head carrying the front fork, and at B upon the
prolongation of the tube C E we arrange parts L. designed to receive the
extremities of the ties I; moreover we modify the form of each of the tubes of
the rear fork C D supporting the saddle, in such a manner that the said tubes
present at D a bracket or frame having an opening F designed to serve for the
coupling, as hereinafter described.
Each of the parts L (Figures 3, 4 and 5) is composed of a screw threaded
portion designed to be screwed into one of the sockets a made in one piece with

page_text: the frame of the machines, a collar m and a cylindrical portion n designed to
receive the extremity or head of one of the ties 1. With the object of facilitating
the mounting of the machine the extremity of the cylindrical part n is rounded;
moreover this part-is- provided with four holes t t t the upper two of which are
screw threaded.
The ties I terminate in heads H provided with a cylindrical. hole into which is
fitted the cylindrical part n of one of the parts L carried by the machines. Each
head H, the length of which must be sufficient for obviating any vibration is
provided with two cylindrical holes r and with two holes R-of elongated form.
For keeping the ties I 'in their place use is made of screws V the shanks of
which are screw threaded only upon a portion of their length as shown in Figures 3
and 4.
The openings-F. provided. at-each. of the rear forks. C. D. are designed to receive
one of the extremities of a tie I. These extremities which are provided with an
eye or hole present no particular feature.;,they are.fixed.in their place by a pin G
having a handle and a nose g Figure 6: The pin G is passed through the sides of
the frame. D having the opening and through the head of the. tie,.,the. nose g
sliding in a groovey provided for this purpose; the nose is then turned by the
handle to a diametrically opposite position where it is held by the weight of the
said handle.. Owing to. this arrangement. the bicycle may, be- connected at
the right hand 'sidé or at the left hand side of the machine.
When it is desired 'to mount or connect the machines it is sufficient, after having.
placed two bicycles side by side, as shown in Figure 8, to engage the extremities
or heads H of the ties I with the portions n of the parts L and to fix them by
means of the screws V (Figures 3, 4 and. 5), the extremities of the tie are then
engaged with the openings F. and secured by the pins G Figures 6 and 7: The
machines are uncoupled as easilyvand as rapidly as they are connected together.
We attach great importance to the elongated form given to the holes R in the
heads H of the ties 1,-this: point is in fact ther most important feature: of our
invention as owing to this peculiar form of the holes Rithe coupled machines,
while easily inulining to the right or to the left; cannot pass-beyond a certain
obliquity in one or the otheridirection;which! obliquity is indicated by the line-XY
Figure 4. This position is that of the coupled bicycles when the parts of the
screws V butts against: the ends of the slots R; especially when the machine is left
to itself.
This particular arrangement gives much more stability to the improved machine,
for it not only remains standing when left to itself, occupying a position corre-
sponding to that indicated in dotted lines Figure 8, but it is so to speak no longer
possible that when in use the vertical line, passing through the centre of gravity
of the entire machine and of the cyclists, will be beyond the rectangle of support,
even in the turning, because in the latter case, considering the maximum obliquity
which the driving wheels may oocupy; the steering wheels cannot in the turning,
pass beyond the angle corresponding to this obliquity and the radius of turning is
thus limited to such a length that the stability of the sociable- will not be
compromised. Under these circumstances we completely avoid falls which' may be
dangerous and also the deterioration of the machines.
If it is:desired to transform the jointed machine into a rigid one it is sufficient
to loosen the screws V and to insert them into the holes rt t' formed in the parts-L
and in the heads of the tiesias hereinbefore set forth:
The advantages of our improved machine may be stated as follows:
(1) It permits of the use of absolutely independent machines and' of two
machines being very rapidly coupled together with the aid of removable ties, as
herein before stated, whichswhen the machines are separated imay form an integral
part of these latter by fixing them to sockets made in one piece with the frames
after the manner of those represented in the accompanying drawing or in any
other suitable:manner..
(2), It enables any person to learn how to mount a bicycle without the necessity

page_text: as heretofore of a second person following on foot to hold the learner.
With our
improved double inachiue a cyclist, mounting the machine on the left hand side,
can very easily conduct the learner mounted upon that on the right hand side,
guide it without effort and compel him to occupy any position without fear of
falling. As soon as the learner commences to take up the positions of stability,
he will gradually steer the combined machine until he becomes proficient. Then
the machine may be uncoupled and the learner may ride alone.
(3) If use is made of folding bicycles it is very easy to store the machine, or to
convey it by railway, and in a few minutes two single bicycles or one double machine
is at disposal at will.
(4) In the army our system will be of great service; it can be utilized
according to requirements as a single or as a combined machine. In the latter
case a cyclist can convey a wounded soldier placed upon the free bicycle; the
combined machine can be rendered rigid by arranging small arins, wooden planks
or the like upon the cycle for carrying the wounded on the planks or for any other
transport purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The combined bicycle or sociable adapted to be disconnected, obtained by
the coupling of two bicycles capable of being used separately, by means of ties which
rigidly connect the frames of the two machines, while allowing the latter to incline
to a certain extent either to the right or to the left, as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawing.
Second. In the machine forming the subject of the first claim an arrangement
of joints characterized by the combination of the parts L screwed into sockets a
on the frame of the machines, connecting rods or ties I the extremities or heads H
of which are provided with a slot R for limiting the obliquity which the machines
may occupy, and a screw V adapted for rendering the machine rigid, as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Third. In the machine forming the subject of the first claim the form of the two
tubes supporting the saddlej of each of the machines, and the system of jointed
connection which unites one of the said tubes of each machine, as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 20th day of February 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.