Improvements in the Covering or Ornamenting of Bicycle Frames and similar structures.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
Improvements in the Covering or Ornamenting of Bicycle Frames
and similar structures.
A communication from abroad by A. G. SPALDING & BROTHERS, a company
incorporated under the laws of the State of New Jersey, of Jersey City, in said
State, and in New York, all in the United States of America.
I PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents, 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 object of this invention is to provide a satisfactory process whereby the members
of a bicycle frame and the connecting joints may be provided with a suitable covering
of celluloid having a smooth, even and glossy surface free from blisters and inequalities,
whereby the difficulties incident to the application of either plastic or sheet celluloid,
and particularly the former, to metal surfaces may be avoided, all of which is
hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.
It has heretofore been found impracticable to cover bicycle frames with plastic or
sheet celluloid for the reason that the plastic material when dried or baked in the usual
way applicable to ordinary enamels, tends to run to the lowest point and to form in
drops or ridges, while, if sheet celluloid is used, it is liable to warp or blister, and in
either event the result is entirely unsatisfactory. It has been discovered in the present
case that when plastic celluloid or other like material is applied to a hollow tube which
is heated from within it will dry very rapidly and in a perfectly satisfactory manner,
so that the application of two or three coats with an ordinary brush will form a
sufficient body to cause a complete protection to the metal covered thereby and at the
same time produce an artistic effect. The result is equally satisfactory when sheet
celluloid or other like material is applied.
In the drawings,-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus adapted to be employed in the
covering of bicycle frames, showing a frame connected therewith;
Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view in detail of one of the heating
tubes of the improved apparatus, inserted within the tube of a bicycle frame;
Figure 3 is a sectional view in detail of a joint showing the improved covering
applied thereto;
Figure 4 is a view of apparatus for molding sheet celluloid or other like material
to the proper forms to cover the respective tubes of the frame; and
Figures 5, 6 and 7 are side and end views respectively of molded tubing adapted to
be applied to different parts of the frame.
e,
Referring to the drawings, a represents a steam supply-pipe which is connected
with a horizontal pipe b adapted to be supported upon any suitable standard or
C d and
frame. Connected with the pipe 6 are upwardly extended branches*
the
steam passage to which, respectively, is controlled by means of valves f, g and h.
The branches c, d and e are of sufficiently small diameter to permit them to freely
enter the tubes ij of an ordinary bicycle frame,-thereby supporting said frame
in a position to be readily operated upon. Each of the tubes c, d and e, is closed
by means of a cap k at the upper end, and within each is secured a small tube l,
Figure 2, which extends from the top of the tube c where it is open as shown, to

page_text: a point below that which is reached by the bicycle frame when supported upon
said vertical tubes. The tube is then carried out to the open air and a pet-cock m
is arranged at the lower end, thereby enabling the air to escape from the pipes c, d, e,
when the steam is admitted thereto. A flexible tube.n, Figure 1, is interposed in
the pipe 6 to enable the tubes c d to be adjusted to bicycle frames of varying
lengths.
When the frame is in the position shown in Figure 1, the steam is admitted to
one or more of the pipes c, d, e, and the corresponding pet-cocks m are opened to
permit the air to escape from the pipes. The heated steam pipes cause the joints
and tubing of the frame to become heated in turn, and when this occurs, celluloid
or other like material in a semi-liquid or plastic condition is applied with a brush
to the joints and to such parts of the frame or tubing as may be desired. The
parts being heated from within, the plastic or semi-liquid material is thereby caused to
dry very rapidly and to adhere very closely and uniformly to the metal. Two or three
coats are usually necessary to produce a satisfactory result. In order to give the desired
finish to the coating thus applied, a liquid coating may be added, and while yet soft,
rubbed with a fine cloth, and if a gloss is desired, this may be followed in like manner
with a liquid coating of transparent celluloid or other like material.
manner
The improved process, as described, is especially applicable to the joints of the
frame, although it may be applied to the tubing as well, but it is preferred to cover
the tubing with sheet celluloid or other like material and the joints with the plastic
material. In Figure 3, k¹ represents one of the joints and the coating applied
thereto. In order to successfully employ sheet celluloid or other like material, it
should be first molded to fit the respective parts. This may be accomplished as
follows by means of the apparatus shown in Figure 4. In said figure, a represents
a steam supply-pipe and ba horizontal steam pipe connected there with in the same
as the device shown in Figure 1. Branches o, q, r, respectively, are
connected with the pipe 6 and are shaped to correspond to the main tubes, forks
and braces respectively, of a bicycle frame. A branch p is also connected in like
manner with the pipe which is elliptical in cross section like the branch q and
differs therefrom only in being made straight. Pet-cocks.s are placed in the ends
of each of the parts o, p, q, r, to permit the escape of air, and valves t, u, v, w,
are interposed in the pipe b to control the admission of steam to the branches o, p, q,
and r, respectively, which constitute mandrels upon which the sheets of celluloid or
other material may be molded. The necessary blanks are cut by hand or otherwise
from the celluloid or other sheets to the requisite shape and size to fit the structure
desired and form an overlapping seam. Steam is then admitted to the respective
mandrels until they reach the proper temperature, preferably about 200° Fahrenheit,
when the sheet is wrapped around and pressed or molded against the mandrel by
hand, the operator using suitable gloves for the purpose, until it assumes the exact
shape of the mandrel. Steam is then turned off long enough to permit the temperature
to lower a few degrees, when the molded shell may be removed from the mandrel
without distortion. In Figures 5, 6, and 7, x, y, and z, respectively, represent the
various shaped shells formed upon said mandrels, each having an open overlapping
joint at the side as shown. When the joints of the frame are coated with plastic
celluloid or other like material, as described, the shells x, y, z, may be placed upon
the tubes, braces and forks of the frame and cemented thereto while the frame is
hot, which enables them to be more accurately and securely fitted without the formation
of wrinkles or blisters.
It is found that when the hollow mandrels are heated from within to about
200° Fahrenheit; the shells or covers may be formed rapidly and molded with uniform
accuracy and smoothness into a merchantable product adapted to be applied as a
covering for the protection and embellishment of bicycle frames. More or less
judgment, however, is required on the part of the operator in molding the curved
portions of the tubes, inasmuch as it is necessary to shape them when the mandrel is
hottest.
It is obvious that the mandrels may be heated by means of electrical heat with a

page_text: suitable rheostat or any well known device for regulating the current ;—but it is
immaterial which is employed so long as the mandrel is heated from within and means
are provided for lowering the temperature when, in the judgment of the operator it
may be necessary in order to enable the molded shell to set to the exact shape
desired.
A bicycle frame covered in the manner described is not only durable and lasting,
but may be made to present a highly artistic and pleasing appearance. Ornate
combinations and effects may be produced in this way that are impossible of attainment
by methods heretofore employed. Moreover, when applied in the manner described,
the covering will withstand severe blows and rough usage without abrasion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me.
by my foreign correspondents I declare that what I claim is :-
:-
1. The process of covering the hollow joints and tubing of bicycle frames or other
similar structures, which consists in applying celluloid or other like material thereto
in a semi-liquid or plastic state while the metal is heated from within, permitting the
same to harden, and repeating the operation until the desired thickness of coating is
attained.
2. The process of covering bicycle frames or other similar structures with celluloid
or other like material, which consists in heating the frame from within, applying
coats of plastic celluloid or other like material thereto, and permitting them to dry
successively, then applying a further coat and smoothing it by means of a soft fabric
while yet plastic.
3. The process of covering bicycle frames or other similar structures with celluloid
or other like material, which consists in first heating the joints and tubing from
within, applying coats of liquid celluloid or other like material to the joints and
permitting them to dry successively until a sufficient body is attained, molding sheet
celluloid or other like material upon suitable mandrels to fit the respective tubes and
forks, and placing said molded structures upon the heated frame and cementing them
thereto.
4. A bicycle frame or other similar structure covered or ornamented substantially
in one of the manners and for the purpose described.
PHILIP M. JUSTICE.