Improvements in and applicable to Velocipedes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 9th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 9th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and applicable to Velocipedes.
THOMAS BURTON of 6 Saint Mary's Place, Rawtenstall near Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Warehouseman do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
:-
My said invention has for its objects, 1st. an improved spring diamond or similar
shaped frame, which is simple and effective in absorbing all vibration and at the
same time, perfect in eliminating all side play or twist, so common with the ordinary
jointed spring frame velocipedes. . 2nd. An improvement, device, or arrangement
whereby the machine (bicycle) may be left in a standing position, when not in
motion.
The first part of my said invention consists essentially of a frame which is
provided with a back bone, arranged with a slot at its back end, near to the clip
or seat pin. The back forks, central tube from bottom bracket to top of forks, and
central tube running from, or near to, bottom bracket up to the lower projection of
neck or socket, are all rigidly connected. At the junction of the back fork with
the upper end of the vertical central tube, I arrange, or affix a continuation,
projection or tube, and accurately finish same to slide in the beforementioned slot.
This slot compensates for the slight motion, longitudinally, produced by the whole
bottom frame, swivelling or turning upon a joint constructed at the upper extremity
of the front central tube steering neck or socket. The back bone, or upper frame,
is in one piece with the steering neck or socket, and a projection from the lower
portion of neck, forms a joint, (ball or otherwise) as beforementioned. A compression
spring encircles the vertical tube and comes in contact with the underside of the
back bone or slot. The vibration communicated to both wheels (or all wheels) is
absorbed by the action of the bone and forks actuating the spring.
I may use one or more springs, either in tension or compression and provisions
will be made for adjusting to various weights of riders.
2nd. Part of my invention consists essentially of one or more levers being applied
to the studs of pedal rubbers, and connected by a spring, or springs, so that they
lie parallel when out of use, but immediately they are brought into a vertical
position they touch the ground, and form a simple, effective means for keeping the
bicycle upright. In some cases I may prefer a sliding arm on the crank.
Dated this the 10th day July 1890.
THOMAS BURTON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and applicable to Velocipedes.
THOMAS BURTON, of 6 Saint Mary's Place Rawtenstall in the County of
Lancaster Warehouseman do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO VELOCIPEDES and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My said invention has for its objects 1st. An improved spring diamond or like
shaped frame, which is simple, and effective in absorbing all vibration, and at the
same time perfectly eliminate all side play or rock so common with former, spring
frame velocipedes. 2nd. A device or arrangement whereby the machine may be
left in a standing position when not in motion.
The first part of my invention, as applied to an ordinary diamond frame, mainly

page_text: consists of a frame, which is provided with a backbone, arranged with a slot at its
back end, near to the clip or seat pin. The back forks, central tube, running from
top of forks to bottom bracket, and central tube running from (or near to) the
bottom bracket, up to the lower projection of the socket or neck, are all rigidly
connected.
At the junction of the back fork, with the upper end of the vertical central tube,
I arrange or fix a continuation, projection or tube, and accurately finish same to
slide in the beforementioned slot, thus compensating for the longitudinal motion
produced by the whole bottom frame, swivelling, sliding or turning upon a joint
constructed at the upper extremity of the front central tube and steering socket or
neck. The back bone or upper frame is in one piece with the steering neck or
socket. The projection of the lower portion of the socket or neck, forming the
ball (or otherwise) joint. A compression spring encircling the beforementioned
vertical tube, has its upper extremity in close proximity to the under surface of the
back bone.
The vibration communicated to both wheels is absorbed by the action of the
bone and forks, actuating the spring or springs, for I may use one or more springs,
and they may be arranged, (and the frame consequently modified to suit) for either
tension or compression or both, and may be constructed of any suitable material.
When one spring is used a special clip adjustment is provided to suit the spring to
any weight of rider, and if required, and new spring could be easily and quickly
substituted.
The second part of my invention consists essentially in applying or arranging one
or two short levers to or on the studs of the pedal levers, and connecting the same
by a spring, or springs, so that when out of use they lie parallel or close to each
other, but immediately they are brought into a vertical position they come in
contact with the ground and form a simple effective mechanism for keeping a bicycle
in an upright or substantially upright position on the ground. If preferred I may
use an arm or arms or levers on the crank so as to slide into a position parallel with
the crank arm, and be actuated in a similar manner to the foregoing-or I may use
any equivalent or modification of arm or arms either constructed or arranged to be
applicable to the crank, pedal, or pedal centres or rubbers as may be desired.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawing, the
manner in which my invention may be performed.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of the improved spring frame velocipede.
Fig. 2, is a modification of part of the frame thereof.
Fig. 3, is a side elevation of another part of the frame showing a modification
thereof.
Fig. 4, is an end view.
Fig. 5, illustrates another modification of the same part.
Fig. 6, is a detail view of the part of Fig. 1, on a larger scale.
Fig. 7, is a detail view in vertical section of part of Fig. 1, slightly modified and
also on a larger scale.
Fig. 8, shows a further modification of part of the frame.
Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 12, are detail views of parts intended to be adjusted when
required, so as to support a bicycle fitted with them, in an upright or substantially
upright position, on the ground.
The improved frame Fig. 1 consists mainly of a back bone, C, made rigid with
the bearing, k, which carries the head of the front forks, and also carrying the
saddle, or the pin, d, or support for said saddle, so that except so far as the steering
is concerned these parts form with regard to the remainder of the frame one integral
part, A., and secondly of a frame or backbone i, made rigid with the forks s,, s
carrying the back wheel, so that the second frame also forms in itself a rigid and
integral part, B, the second frame, B, being hinged with a rigid or resilient hinge
to the former, A, at or near the steering bearing or socket k, thereof to vibrate on
said hinge or joint in the plane of the frame, and in contact with and suitably
guided at or near the rear end of the former frame, to have sliding movement at

page_text: this point solely in the plane of the frame and supported and held in a normal
position at this point, by means of a spring or springs n, e, which term also includes
rubber pads, air cushions or the like forming resilient cushions tending to hold the
two frames by elastic pressure in their normal relative position.
Again, in the form of frame shewn in Fig. 1. The back fork central tube s
running from the top of the fork s to the bottom bracket and central tube i
extending from (or in close proximity to the bottom brackets up to the hinge a at
the lower projection, (or in close proximity thereto) of the steering neck or socket k,
are all rigidly connected or brazed together. At the junction of the back forks with
the upper end of the central tube or tubes s I arrange or fix a continuation projection
or tube o which may be straight or curved in an arc of a circle the centre of which
is the hinge a and accurately finish this projection or tube to slide in the slot h, in
the backbone c or in some cases into a bush i fitted into the slot as in Fig. 7.
shape of the slot in the bone c as seen in Fig. 6, is to allow, or to compensate, for
the slight longitudinal motion produced by the whole bottom frame swivelling,
sliding, or turning upon the hinge a constructed at the upper extremity of the
central tube or tubes i if the part o should not be curved to an arc of the circle, the
centre of which lies in the hinge a.
The
In some instances a slight modification of the connection at the back of the frame
may be preferred such as forming the slot in a piece with or upon the upper
member of the back forks s¹ or central tube or tubes's and securing the projection o
Such an
fitting and sliding therein upon or near to the end of the backbone c.
arrangement is shewn in Fig. 8 in which the seat pin d is utilized so that its lower
end constitutes the projection o.
-
If a double vertical or curved tubes that is to say two parallel tubes are
employed as in some diamond frames, then the above construction of slot h and
projection o may be doubled, that is to say there may be two slots h, h in the one
member and two corresponding projections o, o on the other. Modification of detail
relating to this sliding connection may be necessary to suit the various diamond and
like pattern frames, but in all cases the upper frame is constructed in one piece
with the steering neck or socket, and consequently acts as one piece (in its sliding
or swivelling) with the whole front fork and wheel st.
Springs are applied at the sliding connections of the frames A and B, namely a
comparatively strong spring e so applied as to tend to lift the upper frame A from
the lower B and a comparatively weak spring n so applied that the tendency of its
In the construction
pressure is to force the frame A downward on to the frame B.
shown in Fig. 1 the spring encircles the beforementioned vertical tube projection o
and has its upper end in contact with the lower surface of the backbone c or of the
bush sliding therein. The spring or buffer n encircles the projection o at its top
extremity, between the upper face of the backbone c or the bush and a collar or
screw with a projecting flange fastened on the end of the projection o and cushions
or buffers n' n of rubber or similar substances may be used.
The
The lower compression spring e is adjusted by the action of a nut or screwed
clip turning upon a thread formed on the lower part of the projection o.
vibration communicated to both wheels by coming in contact with obstacles or of
passing over rough or uneven ground, is taken up, or absorbed by the action of the
bone and forks, or upper and lower frame A, B, turning or sliding upon the joint a
and thereby actuating the spring or springs e, n as one or more springs may be used,
and these of any material suitable, and either in tension or compression singly or
both as the various modifications of frames and circumstances may necessitate.
In the modification shown in Figs. 3 and 4, in place of one spring e encircling the
projection o two springs in tension are employed connected at their upper ends to
the cross head g' which is fixed on the upper end of the projection o and connected
at their lower ends to lugs m m on the sides of the backbone c. The spring e
is retained as beforementioned, and in addition thereto a rubber buffer n³ as
shown.
In Fig. 5, the spring e is connected to the tubes of the frame B at one end,

page_text: and at the other end to the lever u pivoted at some suitable point to the frame B,
and connected at the other end to the seat pin d of the frame A, being adjusted
thereon between the two set nuts on the screw threaded end of the seat pin d, or
setting or adjusting piece, working against the end of seat pin, d. The spring n is
attached at one end to a hook or lug on the frame A, and at the other end in a similar
manner to the frame B. In this construction the springs e and n each act in
tension.
In Fig. 8 the spring e is a compression spring, surrounding the projection o and
adjusted by the collar while the spring n is in tension connected to lugs or hooks
on the frame A and B.
In place of making the hinge a rigid on the steering socket
or bearing the frame B may be hinged to the sliding piece of passing through a
lug k¹ on the steering socket or bearing k as shewn in Fig. 2, the hinge being held
against the lug by means of the spring el surrounding the piece o¹ between the lug k
and the flanged head g² of the said piece or otherwise applied to hold the hinge a in
close proximity to the lug k¹.
In Fig. 9 a, represents one of the cranks in its bottom position. d. d, are the two
legs which are capable of turning upon their studs or pedal rubber studs. Leg dis
provided with a slot in which a stud or pin b₁ truly slides, this stud being fixed on
an elongation of leg d, and may be fixed in various holes or positions to suit the
distance of crank centre to ground in various makes of machines.
n₁ is a small
spiral spring put in tension when the legs are swung down to the ground, and which
spring quickly elevates the legs in the desired position for the machine being
ridden, immediately the spring stop c₁ is released. Until this spring is pressed
back the legs remain in action for keeping the machine in an upright position.
Fig. 10, shows a slight modification in which the two legs swing upon a stud 1, this
stud being secured to the crank near the ordinary pedal centre f. Spring n₁ is in
tension and when one end is unhooked from the leg, the legs d, d can be swung
up close to the crank and the spring again connected will keep them in position
during riding. Fig. 11 is a sectional view thereof. Fig. 12, is another modification
in which, the upper ends of the legs are grooved, to slide on the crank and held in
contact by the action of a small spring, the spring n keeps the legs in position
when the same touch the ground, and the spring stop c₁ catching upon the top of the
leg prevents any return of the legs until released.
It is evident that the simplest modification and application of this principle of
supporting mechanism would be one or two props or legs, fixed under and in close
proximity to the crank or pedal.
Having now described my invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent
1. A velocipede frame consisting of the member A carrying the saddle and the
front wheel, and the member B carrying the rear wheel, the member B, being hinged
at one end, and resiliently connected at the other end to the member A and guided
to vibrate on said hinge in the plane of the frame, substantially as and for the
purposes described and illustrated.
2. In a velocipede frame the combination of the steering socket k (or steering
neck) the backbone, e fixed thereto and carrying the seat, the frame B hinged
at a to the steering socket, the projection o and the slot -respectively the one on
the backbone c the other on the frame B, the lifting spring e and the depressing
spring n serving to retain the backbone c and the frame B, in a normal relative
position substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a velocipede frame the combination of the steering socket k (or centre k¹)
the backbone c fixed thereto, the slot h therein, the frame B hinged at a to the
steering socket or neck, the projection o in the said frame guided in said slot h, the
lifting spring e and the depressing spring n surrounding the said projection o
the flanged head g and the set nut substantially as set forth.
4. The combination of the frames A and B with the lever w and springs arranged
substantially as described with reference to Fig. 5.

page_text: 5. The combination of the frames A. and B with the projection o and slot h the
springs e and n and the set nut f, adjustable upon the projection o for the purpose
set forth.
6. The combination with a pedal crank of the legs d d substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
7. The combination with a pedal crank of the leg d with slot, the leg d, with
the spring n₁ and the detent ₁ substantially as set forth and illustrated in
pin
Fig. 9.
8. The combination of a pedal crank, with the legs d. d. sliding or pivoted on
said crank, the spring n and the detent c substantially as set forth and illustrated
in Figs. 10 and 12.
Dated this the 8th day of Annil 1901
THOMAS BURTON.