Year: 1898

page_text: I, FRED MARGRIE, of The Smithery, Exeter Road, Exmouth, Smith and Fitter,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;-
-
This invention refers to the hollow frames of bicycles and other similar vehicles,
and is designed to increase their lightness without diminishing their effective
strength.
It consists in making such frames pneumatic, that is to say, inflating them with
compressed air. I find this practice strengthens the tubes of which the frame
is composed and makes them more rigid and capable of resisting strain, so that
I can employ a lighter tube and still obtain the strength required.
The method of filling the tubes is similar to that employed for other pneumatic
tubes.
1000
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Agent for Applicant 171, Queen Victoria Street, London.
I, FRED MARGRIE, of The Smithery, Exeter Road, Exmouth, Smith and Fitter,
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 refers to the hollow frames of bicycles and other similar vehicles,
and is designed to increase the lightness of such frames without diminishing their
effective strength or conversely to increase their effective strength without
increasing their weight.
It consists in making such frames pneumatic, that is to say, inflating them with
compressed air. I find that this practice strengthens the tubes of which the
frame is composed and makes them more rigid and more capable of resisting
strain, so that I can employ a lighter tube and still obtain the strength required.
The method of filling the tubes is similar to that employed for other pneumatic
tubes.
I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawing
which shows a sectional elevation of a "safety" bicycle frame.

page_text: The frame can be supplied with air at any preferred part, and I will now.
explain one method of doing so, namely in the following manner;-
Air is injected into the lower end of the lower frame tube c through valve a
as shown and from this tube all the frame can be supplied, with the exception
of the front forks, saddle pin, and handle-bar.
The lower frame tube e communicates with, and supplies air to, the main tube f
by means of the tube d. Towards its upper end the main tube f is plugged
at f to permit of the saddle pin being removed when necessary.
The rear fork tubes are supplied with air from the lower end of the main
tube through tube i. The back stays are supplied in a similar way by tube k
from the upper end of the main tube, which also supplies air to the top frame
tube by tube m.
The front forks n, are separately supplied through valve n¹ and the saddle pin o
through valve o', and the handle bar through valve p¹. The other ends of the
saddle pin and handle bar are plugged.
All the valves are preferably arranged to admit air and prevent its return and
are of any preferred construction.
The tubes d, i, k, m, may also be provided with valves if desired.
It will be seen that the above description applies to machines ridden by gentle-
men; I reserve to myself the right to make any alterations required to adapt my
invention to the frames of machines ridden by ladies.
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:-
1. The injection of compressed air into the frame tubes and hollow component
parts of bicycles, tricycles, and other vehicles, substantially as described and for
the purposes set forth."
2. In a pneumatic frame for bicycles, tricycles, and other vehicles, the
tubes d, i, k, m in combination with suitable supply and distributing valves, and
a special handle bar and saddle pin, substantially as herein described and set
forth.
Dated this 22nd day of Dat 1
1000
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Patent Agent, 171, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C.