Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, or other Cycles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 10th Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, or other Cycles. ;
I, ALBERT FIFIELD of 23, Maze Hill East Greenwich, Mechanic, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:―
The object of my invention is to so construct and produce a bicycle, tricycle or other
cycle as to give a certain uniformity or distribution of strain throughout the entire
framing, which I effect in the following manner.
Instead of constructing the framing of a machine of metal tubing as now and here-
tofore in use I may propose to employ a series of steel wires, circular in section by
preference and in a paralleli and diagonal direction distributed throughout the under
or main body as likewise in the forked or upper portion or connections thereof; and I
further provide that at both or either. of the fore and hind wheels and of the axles
thereof, an arrangement of vertically disposed coiled springs are so disposed as to
work in a light metal frame, and the said spring or springs of suitable material and
the tension of same may be so adjusted and regulated to suit the weight of the rider,
and it will be found in practice that in the combination of such springs suitably
disposed as in manner indicated and in the disposition of the wire framing that
the cyclist will be able to ride with greater ease over all irregularities of rough or
broken ground than can be now effected..
As my improvements are capable of some modifications without departing from the
principle thereof I do not restrict myself to materials, dimensions or to the precise
form or placement of the parts thereof.
Din Oh JSM 1900
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, or other Cycles.
I, ALBERT FIFIELD of 23 Maze Hill East Greenwich Mechanic 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in velocipedes, and has for its object to
prevent the jolting of the wheels when travelling upon rough roads or over loose
stones from being appreciably felt by the rider, the mode of suspension of the frame
being such as to ensure great case and comfort in riding a machine furnished with my
improvements.
According to my invention instead of directly securing as bitherto practiced the
forks to the axles of the wheels, I fix each branch of the same in one or both wheels
according as required upon an upper cross bar connected to a lower cross bar by
means of two vertical rods capable of sliding freely within the bosses or projections of
a bracket mounted upon the axle of the wheel. Upon the rods aforesaid are coiled
above and below this bracket four strong spiral springs. The inud guard rod is
supported by the lower cross bar. Each axle carries two such mechanisins.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a side view and
Fig. 2 balf an end view of a portion of a bicycle wheel furnished with iny improved
suspension.
W is the bicycle wheel mounted on the axle A upon which the bracket B is secured
outside the said wheel by a not n. This bracket B is furnished with four perforated

page_text: r
moving freely therein. The fork F is forged with, or otherwise fixed to the upper
cross bar c and the latter is furnished with perforations through which the screw
threaded upper ends of the rods enter, and are secured thereto by nuts, while
their lower ends which are also screw threaded, are secured in a similar manner to
the lower cross har c'. The perforated end of the mnd guard rod g is likewise secured
to the rod by one of the nuts. Whenever one of the wheels is driven over a stone
for instance, its axle will be raised thereby and the bracket B will compress the
springs ss which in combination with the movable rods and the springs ³ ³ will
reduce the resulting shock of the velocipede.
r
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) For the purpose of reducing the jolting of velocipedes, the improved mechanism
for suspending the frame of the same upon the wheel axles consisting of a set of
brackets mounted on these axles of vertical rods sliding freely through bosses of the
said brackets secured to upper cross bars forged or otherwise fixed to the frame and
furnished with spiral springs and of lower cross bars carried by the rods aforesaid,
and supporting the lower springs and the mud guard, substantially as herein described
and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
(2) The improved velocipede arranged and constructed substantially as described
and shewn and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 5th day of December 1890
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.