Year: 1897

page_text: I, WILLIAM GLASS WRENCH, of 27 Oswald Street, Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
The objects of this Invention are; to render the frame work of cycles and like
vehicles thoroughly resilient in a vertical or longitudinal plane without impairing
their lateral rigidity, to discard the usual bicycle top bar so that every such
machine can be used alike by riders of either sex, to secure the benefits due to the
small ground contact of narrow rims and solid or cushion tyres without the strains
and shaking formerly associated therewith, and to obviate (by the readoption of
such in conjunction with this elastic frame) the necessity for costly inflated tyres
and the risks attendant therewith.
The rear
To attain this end I propose to make such frames vertebrated or in sections,
and hinge them together in such a way as to permit of no separate movement save
in the direction in which flexure or resiliency is required. The frame therefore
of a bicycle on the lines proposed would essentially consist of at least two parts, a
front and rear, coupled together by a single transverse hinge or joint having a
horizontal axis which would become a floating point or radius round which all
arc-like movements of either section would turn, and which point would tend to
subside with the upward jerks of either wheel, or vice versa, in consequence of the
angular variation of the gap between frames during these movements.
section of this frame is to contain the driven wheel, the driving mechanism and
support the rider, and be so rigid in itself as to be fully able to bear all the strains
due to his or her weight and exertions without warping or undergoing such
flexure at any part as would cause the axis of the said wheel and that of the crank
axle to assume an angle with each other and run out of truth, thus constituting the
machine proper, while the front or steering part would be but a mere hinged
attachment thereto, free to move in one plane only but otherwise bound by the
depth of cheeks or transverse width of the hinge so as to have no oscillation, twist,
or lateral inclination of its own apart from that of the rear portion to which it is
attached. Between or beneath these two frames and as near as possible to the
hinge in question a spring is interposed to keep them in a state of balanced separa-
tion against the weight of the rider which tends to close them, the object in so
locating it being to secure a large range of elastic movement at the wheels with a
very small travel of itself, and offer the least possible obstruction to the rider's
foot in mounting and dismounting. Such spring will be in compression if placed
above the hinge and in tension if placed below it. The extension of the front
frame as a connecting bar or link to the rear one will preferably be a single tube
(either straight or curved) and trussed with thin wire stays to keep it from bend-
ing, or it may assume any of the well known girder forms at present used for ladies
safeties; the hinge in any case being at its lower or rear extremity and coupled
to any convenient part at or near the lower front corner of the rear frame but pre-

page_text: ferably to ears projecting from the axle box which form fixed cheeks for the
hinge, or it may be concentric with the crank axle. A stop may also be provided
if necessary to facilitate immediate abutment of the two frames should the spring
become at any time deranged, when and in which case the frames would become as
one, forming a rigid span between the two wheels.
It is also intended to neutralise any undue pitching movement of the handle bar
and saddle towards or from each other, by pivoting the former and providing it
with a spring so as to resolve any swing of the handles into an elastic push or pull
in an are contrary to that described by any movement of the front frame head.
No section, part, or side of this machine is either to be flexible in itself or
directly connected to another part by intervening springs, which latter have here-
tofore generally constituted the sole connecting medium between one part and
another of so called spring frames, permitting them to sway indifferently to and
fro from unequal side strains like the body of a carriage or perambulator; but the
connection here is a hinge which prevents any relative change of fixed distances
or alignment, takes complete control of the direction of movement, and enables
the rider and machine as a whole to maintain the same line of motion; the
spring being merely interposed as an elastic resistance out otherwise guided and
passive.
Instead of a steel spring, any other clastic substance such as rubber &c. may be
substituted in the position- described, both being capable of easy removal so that
the cycle can be so far folded upon its hinge till the wheel edges touch, or on the
withdrawal of the hinge pin the sections can be laid side by side for still greater
convenience in stowing. The hinge may be of the common order, or have its pin
tapered as a means of taking up the slack due to wear, or it may be made with
ball bearings and entirely independent of the rubbing surface of a centre pin, whose
sole function here would be to draw and hold together the grooved surfaces or
channels containing the balls, as a mere matter of adjustment.
1002
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents,
Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.
I, WILLIAM GLASS WRENCH, of 27 Oswald Street, Glasgow, in the County of a
Lanark, Consulting Engineer, 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 objects of this Invention are; to render the frame work, of cycles and like
vehicles thoroughly resilient in a vertical or longitudinal plane without impairing
their lateral rigidity, to discard the usual bicycle top bar so that every such
machine can be used alike by riders of either sex, to secure the benefits due to the
small ground contact of narrow rims and solid or cushion tyres without the strains
and shaking formerly associated therewith, and to obviate (by the readoption of
such in conjunction with this elastic frame) the necessity for costly inflated tyres
and the risks attendant therewith:
The Invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 being a
side elevation, and Figure 2 a plan of a bicycle shewing the improvement applied.
Figure 3 is a side elevation and Figure 4 a plan to a larger scale of one method and

page_text: Fig. 4ª a horizontal section of another method of connecting the frame. Figure 5
is a front elevation of the improved handle bar shewing one of the various forms
of spring applied to it, and Figure 6 a transverse section of the same.
In carrying out the Invention I propose to make such frames vertebrated or in
sections, and hinge them together in such a way as to permit of no separate move-
ment save in the direction in which flexure or resiliency is required. The frame
therefore of a bicycle on the lines proposed would essentially consist of at least
two parts, a front section A, and rear section B, coupled together by a single
transverse hinge or joint C shewn particularly at Figures 3 and 4, having a hori-
zontal axis D which would become a floating point or radius round which all arc-
like movements of either section would turn, and which point would tend to sub
side with the upward jerks of either wheel, or vice versa, in consequence of the
The rear
angular variation of the gap between frames during these movements.
section B-of-this-frame-is-to-contain-the-driven wheel E, the driving mechanism
and support the rider, and be so rigid in itself as to be fully able to bear all tlie
strains due to his or her weight and exertions without warping or undergoing
such flexure at any part as would cause the axis of the said wheel E and that of the
crank axle F to assume an angle with each other and run out of truth, thus con-
stituting the machine proper, while the front or steering part A would be but a
mere hinged attachment thereto, free to move in one plane only but otherwise
bound by the depth of cheeks C¹ or transverse width of the hinge C so as to have
no oscillation, twist, or lateral inclination of its own apart from that of the rear
portion B to which it is attached. Between or beneath these two frames A, B, and
as near as possible to the hinge in question a spring G is interposed to keep them in
a state of balanced separation against the weight of the rider which tends to close
them, the object in so locating it being to secure a large range of elastic movement
at the wheels with a very small travel of itself; and offer the least possible obstruc-
tion to the rider's foot in mounting and dismounting. Such spring G will be
in compression if placed above the hinge as sewn ana in tension if placed below it.
The extension of the front frame A as a connecting bar or link to the rear one will
preferably be a single tube (either straight or curved) and trussed with thin wire
stays H to keep it from bending or it may assume any of the well known girder
forms at present used for ladies safeties; the hinge C in any case being at its
lower or rear extremity and coupled to any convenient part at or near the lower
front corner of the rear frame B but preferably to ears projecting from the axle
box I which form fixed cheeks C¹ for the hinges C, or it may be eccentric with the
crank axle F. A stop may also be provided if necessary to facilitate immediate
abutment of the two frames should the spring become at any time deranged, when
and in which case the frames would become as one, forming a rigid span between
the two whesels.
It is also intended to neutralise any undue pitching movement of the handle
bar J and saddle K towards or from each other, by pivoting the former at L as
shown at Figures 5 and 6 and providing it with a spring such as M secured to the
pin O in the frame and the pivot L so as to resolve any swing of the handles into
an elastic push or pull in an are contrary to that described by any movement of the
front frame A. The springs whica serve to limit the movement of handle bar may
be arranged in a variety of ways to secure the desired result and they may be in
tension or in compression.
No section, part, or side of this machine is either to be flexible in itself or
directly connected to another part by intervening springs which latter have
heretofore, generally constituted the sole connecting medium between one part
and another of so called spring frames, permitting them to sway indifferently to
and fro from unequal side strains like the body of a carriage or perambulator;
but the connection here is a hinge which prevents any relative change of fixed
distances or alignment, takes complete control of the direction of movement, and
enables the rider and machine as a whole to maintain the same line of motion;

page_text: the spring G being merely interposed as an elastic resistance, but otherwise guided
and passive.
Instead of a steel spring, any other elastic substance such as rubber &c. may be
substituted in the position described, both being capable of easy removal so that
the cycle can be so far folded upon its hinge C till the wheel edges touch, or on the
withdrawal of the hinge pin D the sections can be laid side by side for still greater
convenience in stowing. The hinge C may be of the common order, or have its
pin D tapered as a means of taking up the slack due to wear, or it may be made
with ball bearings as shewn at Fig. 4 and entirely independent of the rubbing
surface of a centre pin, whose sole function here would be to draw and hold
together the grooved surfaces or channels containing the balls, as a mere matter of
adjustment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what
I claim is :-
or in
1. An improved cycle frame composed of at least two rigid sections the rear
one being the main or body proper of the machine and the front one a merc
auxiliary attachment coupled thereto by a transverse hinge or joint on
proximity to the crank bracket and having interposed between such parts a spring
or springs or other elastic medium adapted to absorb vibration and render the
frame resilient in a longitudinal or vertical plane without impairing its lateral
rigidity substantially as described.
2. An improved resilient cycle frame constructed as described and in which the
connecting top bar between front and rear parts is dispensed with.
3. An improved cycle handle bar constructed substantially as described, and
adapted to resolve any pitching of the handles into an elastic push or pull in an are
contrary to that described by the movements of the front frame head of the cycle.
Dated this 5th day of October 1897.
WALLACE FAIRWEATHER,
Of the Firm of Cruikshank & Fairweather,
Chartered Patent Agents,
62 Saint Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.