Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1888
Complete. Specification Left, 18th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 18th May, 1889
RESERVE CO
We, JOHN HARPER and CHARLES RETALLACK, both of John Harper and Company
Limited, of Albion Works, Willenhall in the County of Stafford, general ironfounders
and hardware manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its main object to construct the framing of velocipedes of
malleable cast iron and thereby avoid the expense of the iron or steel tubing usually
employed, and the cost of fitting the same and fixing to the sockets, brackets, and other
parts by which the connections are made with the steering mechanism, driving axle,
and seat, or for other purposes. The invention comprises also improved means for
tightening the driving chains of velocipedes and means whereby the foot rests may be
readily adjusted as to height.
In applying this invention to a front steering tricycle of the "cripper" type the
backbone or frame, including also the steering socket and the seat bracket, is cast in
one piece in malleable cast iron, and is provided with a pair of ears at its hinder end
by which it is fixed to corresponding ears upon the forked bracket carrying the driving
axle. The main part of the frame is made, in transverse section, of a semi-cylindrical
shape on the top to give it the appearance of a tube, and the underside is formed as
a deep rib to give strength in combination with lightness. It is convenient to
make the entire section of a kite shape, the sides containing the bottom angle or
apex being, preferably, hollowed inwards. The chain-tightening device consists of
a part of the main frame formed rectangular in section with a transverse slotted hole
therethrough, and of a bracket for carrying the pedal axle formed in two parts
each having inwardly projecting fillets to fit above and below the rectangular part
of the frame, and of a pin which passes through both parts of the bracket and
through the slotted hole in the frame. The bracket is securely tightened to the frame
by means of the bolt, but may be adjusted therealong to tighten up the chain by first
slackening the bolt. The frame curves upwards to its connection with the socket, as
is usual with frames for this class of machine, and the foot-rest is formed with a
half-round opening at its centre by which it fits upon the upper part of the frame and

page_text: is provided with a loose cap which fits the under part of the frame and which is fixed
by screws to the foot rest so as to tighten it securely in place. The foot rest may be
slit up or down along the frame, by first slackening the sorows of the cap.
In applying this invention to a safety bicycle, the front part of the frame is sub-
stantially the same construction as that above described for a tricycle, but the hinder
part thereof is formed as a fork cast therewith, and a pillar or other provision is cast
upon the frame intermediately between its ends for supporting the seat or saddle. The
chain adjustment is substantially the same in this case as in the case of a tricycle.
Dated this 20th day of July 1888.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton and Walsall,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: We, JOHN HARPER and CHARLES RETALLACK, both of John Harper and Company
Limited, of Albion Works, Willenhall in the County of Stafford, general ironfounders
and hardware manufacturers, 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 has for its main object to construct the framing of velocipedes of
malleable cast iron and thereby avoid the expense of the iron or steel tubing usually
employed, and the cost of fitting the same and fixing to the sockets, brackets, and other
parts by which the connections are made with the steering mechanism, driving axle,
and seat, or which are employed for other purposes. The invention comprises also
improved means for tightening the driving chains of velocipedes, and means whereby
the foot rests may be readily adjusted as to height.
This invention will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying
drawings, of which those on sheet 1 illustrate the application of the invention to a
front steering tricycle of the "cripper" type, and those on sheet 2 illustrate the
application to a safety bicycle.
Referring first to the drawings on sheet 1 herewith, figure 1 is a side elevation of
so much of the tricycle as is necessary to make the application of the invention clear;
figure 2 is a plan of the parts shewn by full lines figure 1; figure 3 is a section, to
an enlarged scale, taken on line of figure 1; and figure 4 is a section, to an
enlarged scale, taken on line y y of figure 1. The backbone or frame a a, including
also the steering socket 6 (or part in lieu thereof, such as a neck for use with centres)
and the seat bracket c, is cast in one piece in malleable cast iron, and is provided with
a pair of ears d d at its hinder end by which it is fixed to the ordinary forked brackete
carrying the driving axle f. The main part of the frame is made, in transverse
section, to a semi-cylindrical shape on the top to give it the appearance of a tube,
and the underside is formed as a rib to give strength in combination with lightness.
It is convenient to make the entire section of a kite-shape, as shewn at figure 4,
the sides containing the bottom angle or apex being, preferably, hollowed inwards as
shewn. The chain-tightening device consists in forming a part g of the main frame
rectangular, with a transverse slotted hole therethrough, and in forming the bracket
which carries the pedal axle j in two parts ii and each with inwardly projecting
fillets to fit above and below the rectangular part g of the frame, and in fixing the
bracket to the frame by means of a bolt passing through holes in the upper ends of
the parts ii and through the slotted hole h in the frame. The bracket is securely
tightened to the frame by means of this bolt, but may be adjusted therealong to
tighten up the chain by first slackening the bolt. The frame a a curves upwards to
its connection with the socket b, as is usual with frames of this class of machines,..
and the foot rest m is formed with a half-round opening in its underside at the
;

page_text: middle by which it fits upon the upper or semicylindrical part of the frame (see
specially figure 4); and this rest is provided with a loose cap n which is formed at
its middle to fit around the under part of the frame and is fixed by screws o to the rest
so as to tighten it securely in place, as clearly shewn by figure 4. The foot rest may
be slid up or down along the frame to adjust its position thereon, by first slackening
the screws o.
Solid wrought iron or steel frames for velocipedes may of course be made of the
above section, if desired.
Referring now to the drawings on sheet 2 herewith, figure 5 is a side elevation of
as much of a safety bicycle as is necessary to make the application of the invention
thereto clear; figure 6 is a plan of figure 5; and figure 7 a section taken on line a x
of figure 5. The frame or hackbone a a' is cast in two pieces in malleable cast iron.
The forward part a is cast in one piece with the steering socket b (or with a part in
lien thereof, such as a neck for use with centres), and with a downward part p
which carries the pedal axle bearing t on the end thereof, and with a pillar c for
supporting the seat or saddle. The hinder end or fork al is also cast with ears d¹ d¹
on its forward end, and is fitted against a seat formed therefor at the back of the
forward part a and is securely fixed thereto by means of screws q q. To increase the
rigidity of fixture and ensure an accurate fit between the parts a dowel r (shewn by
broken lines figure 5), projecting from the forward end of the hinder part a' of the'
framing, is fitted within a bored hole in the hinder end of the forward part a of the
framing; and it is advisable to face up the seat at the hinder end of the part a
whilst such part is set in the machine in which the hole for the dowel r is bored.
A strengthening bar is, preferably, rivited to the forward end of the part a of the
frame, and to the lower end of the part p thereof, to give additional strength to the
forward part of the frame. The main portion of the part a of the frame is formed
to the section described with reference to the tricycle frame. The part p may be
of the same section, with the rounded part preferably in front, or may be of diamond
or other section as desired. The forward part a of the frame may, if desired, be
cast together, that is in one piece, with the hinder part a¹.
The frame a a of the first modification described, and the main portion a of the
second modification described, are not necessarily of the special section described, as
they may of course be made to any other section if preferred.
The application of this invention has been described and illustrated specially with
reference to two types of velocipede, but it will be obvious that the invention is
applicable, or in part applicable, to other types of velocipede also.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invon-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. Velocipede frames cast together with sockets, brackets, or other parts, in
malleable cast iron, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth.
2. Velocipede frames formed to a semicylindrical, or rounded shape in transverse
section, on the upper side and ribbed on the lower side, substantially as described,
for the purpose set forth.
3. Velocipede frames formed of a "kite" shape in transverse section, for the
purpose set forth.
4. In a velocipede in which two wheels are mounted on the driving axle and in
which such axle is driven by a chain from a pedal axle, the means by which the
chain may be tightened up when slack, substantially as described with reference to
figures 1, 2 and 3.
5. The combination of the part g of the frame a a having a slotted hole / there-
through, with a bracket forined in separate sides ii having fillets k projecting
therefrom, and with a bolt 1, substantially as described with reference to figs. 1, 2,
and 3, for the purpose set forth.
6. The means whereby the foot rest m may be adjusted along the frame of a
velocipede, substantially as described and shown by figures 1, 2, and 4.

page_text: 7. The tricycle frame a a cast in malleable cast iron with the socket b, bracket c,
and pair of ears d d, or with one or more of such parts, substantially as described and
shown by figures 1 and 2, for the purpose set forth.
8. The safety bicycle frame a a¹ of which the part a is cast in inalleable cast iron
with the downward part p, socket b, and pillar c, or with one or more of such parts,
and of which the part af is fixed to the part a (or is cast in a piece therewith)
substantially as described and shewn by figures 5, 6, and 7, for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 17th day of April 1889.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton and Walsall,
Agents for the Applicants.