An Improved Folding Bicycle
Year: 1897

page_text: An Improved Folding Bicycle:
I, LOUIS METTEWIE, of 11, Rue Van der Straeten, Brussels, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention relates to a folding bicycle. The frame is strengthened by a
second tube parallel to the upper tube which is placed in a position parallel to a
line joining the centres of the axles of the wheels. The junctions of the tubes deter-
mined by the vertical axis of folding are joined in two different manners, with
regard to the position of the tubes relatively to the axis.
The sections of the upper tubes are perpendicular to the horizontal line pass-
ing through the centres of the axles of the wheels, and are joined by a hinge-
joint arranged as follows:-
1
In these tubes, at the place of the section is telescoped a tubular liner cut in two
parts corresponding with the section of the exterior tube, the two sections of the
tubular liner are connected by a plate, which by means of the two pins forms a
hinge-joint. The liner is cut in order to give passage to the plate during the
folding up and in order to allow this folding up, the said liner is hollowed out
according to the course necessary for the complete folding up.
In the lower tube is telescoped a tubular liner sectioned like the exterior tube,
each section is provided on each side with a button placed in the plane of the fold-
ing and with a bar.
This bar of one section provided with a hole is adapted on the button of the
corresponding section, in order to maintain the two sections of the tube in the
same axis.
In order to strengthen the place where the tubes are sectioned à strengthening
sleeve with pressure screw is slid over each joint.
The steering post may be fixed by screws.
The steering rod is provided exteriorly with a button working in a slide made
at a right angle, provided in the tube forming the steering head and allowing
during the folding up of placing the steering rod parallel to the vertical plane.
passing through the longitudinal axis of the machine.
The brake has its rod placed in the interior of the steering head. This rod is
provided with a spiral spring intended to bring it back into its normal position
after the use of the brake.
The handle of the brake passes through a hole provided in the steering head
in order to allow one of the ends of the said handle to press upon the upper
extremity of the rod of the brake in order to operate the same.
1005
HERBERT HADDAN & Co..
Agents to Applicant, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London.

page_text: An Improved Folding Bicycle.
I, LOUIS METTEWIE, of 11, Rue Van der Straeten, Brussels, Belgium, Manu-
facturer, 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 relates to a folding bicycle which is illustrated in the annexed
drawing; Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the whole bicycle. Fig. 2 is a view in
elevation of the bicycle when folded together. Fig. 3 is a side view of the sleeve.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of each of the tubes a b. Fig. 4 is a vertical
section of the tube c. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line C D of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on the line AB of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 shews a method of
securing the sleeve. Fig. 8 shows the steering head partly in section. Fig. 9. is
an enlarged sectional view of the hinge for the tubes a and b.
C,
The frame is strengthened by a second tube 6 parallel to the upper tube a which
is placed in a position parallel to a straight line joining the centres of the axles"
of the wheels. The junctions of the tubes determined by the axis m n are joined
in two different manners, on account of the position of the tubes a h relative
to the axis m n.
The junctions of the upper tubes a and bare in a perpendicular line to an
imaginary horizontal line joining the centres of the axles of the wheels, and' aro
joined by hinge joints arranged as follows;
In each of these tubes, at the place of the joint is telescoped a tubular liner d,
cut in two parts corresponding with the section of the exterior tube, the two
sections of the tubular liner d are connected by a plate f, which by means of the
two pins g forms a hinge joint. The liner d is cut away in order to give passage
to the plate f during the folding, and in order to allow this folding, the said
liner d is hollowed out at d according to the course necessary for the complete
folding up.
In the lower tube cis telescoped a tubular liner d cut through and away like
the exterior tube so as to allow of the folding.
In the liner d the jointing part is arranged, which consists of two plates or flat
bars hinged together at hand arranged to fold diagonally, each piece ¹ has
a projection or overlapping part passing the line 2 of the hinge. These projec-
tions are provided with eyes h adapted to engage with pins suitably placed on the
main bodies of the plates ', when the tube is in the extended or rideable position.
In order to strengthen the place where the tubes a band care sectioned, a suit-
able strengthening sleeve m provided with a pressure or set screw n is slid over
and surrounds each joint Figs. 3 and 7.
:
EPI
When it is desired to fold the cycle the set screws are unscrewed and the
sleeves m are slid along their bars as far as P.
4.
.
These
The liner & may be fixed by screws p and q, in the tubes a b and c
screws serve also as abutments for the passage of the sleeve m, and of which the
screw comes into use when folding and the screw 7 when fixing the 'frame in
the position for riding...
The handle bar stem is provided exteriorly with a fixed button r (Fig. 8)
able to be moved in a slot U provided in the tube forming the stem of the steer-
ing fork and allowing when the cycle is folded the steering handles to the placed.
in a parallel manner to the vertical plane passing through the longitudinal axis
of the machine. The button projects slightly through the slot, and in order to
fix the steering rod in its position, a supplementary pressure sleeve is placed at

page_text: the place of the rod where the slide U is provided and presses on the button; this
sleeve is operated and tightened by a set screw or the like v!.
The brake rod to Fig. 8, is placed in the interior of the steering head. This
rod is capable of an up and down movement and is provided with a spiral spring
acting against a suitable abutment and intended to bring it back into its normal
position after it has been lowered for operating the brake.
The one end of the pivoted handler of the brake passes through a slot provided
in the steering head, and engages with the upper extremity of the brake rod w by
which means the brake is operated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
cribed.
Dated this 30th day of March 1898.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant, 18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London.