Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 27th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 18th June, 1898
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, LEWIS PETER FORD, of 72, Bishopsgate Street Within, in the City of
London, formerly Her Majesty's Attorney-General in the Transvaal, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
The invention relates to velocipedes and has for its object improved means
for rendering them more portable and compact when not in use by folding the
framework, pedals, handle-bar and brake lever.
In applying my invention to a gentleman's bicycle, I form a hinge in the top
horizontal tube about midway between the centres of the two wheels, and I
connect the crank bracket to the lower part of the head by means of a short
horizontal tube, the front end of which is connected by another tube direct to
the lower part of the head, the said short horizontal tube being provided with
a hinge immediately below the hinge in the top horizontal tube before referred
to.
In applying the invention to a lady's machine I form the tubes or tubes
connecting the head with the crank bracket and rear part of the frame with a
horizontal portion just in advance of the crank bracket, and I form a hinge
in each tube in a vertical line.
Each of the hinges is constructed in the following manner. The meeting ends
of the divided or hinged tube fit the exterior of a main plug which when the two
parts of the tube are fixed together enters partly into one and partly into the
other part of said tube. The meeting ends of the tube are externally screw
threaded to correspond with an internally screw threaded sleeve by the rotation
of which they are securely connected together. Thus when connected together
the adjoining ends of the tube are located between the sleeve and the main plug.
The sleeve may be separate from the main plug, in which case the screw threads
are preferably all right handed but if the sleeve is connected to the main plug so
as to be capable of rotation thereon the screw threads on the end of one part of
the tube would be right handed and those on the other left handed and the sleeve
would have corresponding threads.
Each end of the divided tube contains a supplemental plug which is capable
of sliding therein but cannot be rotated or withdrawn therefrom. These sliding
supplemental plugs as also the main plug carry projections at their ends which
are hinged together by short links pin jointed thereto. These projections may
slide within the plugs or, if the projections are rigidly connected to the plugs,
the projections are connected to one another by means of a pin on the one sliding
in a slot in the other.
Each tube contains a wall or projection in its interior at such a distance from its
end that when the tubes are connected together the walls or projections retain the
plugs in close contact.
It will be understood that when the sleeve is unscrewed, the tubes may be
pulled apart until the hinged projections before described are exposed to view,

page_text: when the tubes may be turned about 180°, or nearly parallel to each other, thus
folding the front wheel parallel to the back wheel.
The handle-bars are enabled to fold by means of a hinge very similar to that
herein before described. I rigidly attach a sleeve containing a plug to the handle-
bar stem, and I fit a plug in the end of each handle-bar.
The plugs do not carry projections but are connected together by a short link
or plate pivoted to each plug. As the sleeve cannot be rotated the handle-bars
are rotated and screwed into and out of the sleeve, spring or other pins being
passed through the sleeve into the handle-bars, or other locking means being
employed to prevent them unscrewing when in use. When they are unscrewed
from the sleeve they may be pulled apart and folded parallel to the handle-bar
stem.
With this form of handle-bar the brake lever clip carries a spring pin which
passes into the handle-bar tube; when it is withdrawn the handle-bar may be
rotated without disturbing any of the brake fittings.
In some cases however I may use folding handle-bars each of which is separately
pivoted on each side of the handle-bar stem.
I also construct the brake lever with a joint similar to that of a rule in a line
or thereabouts with the pivot of its adjacent handle-bar. This joint is constructed
in any convenient manner so long as it enables the brake lever to be folded with
the handle-bar without disconnecting any of the parts of the brake mechanism.
It may be necessary to use a slot instead of a hole in the brake lever through
which the bolt passes acting as a fulcrum.
The folding pedals are constructed as follows. I form the crank at its end with
a screwed socket at an angle thereto to receive the pedal pin, the end of the crank
being preferably bent outwards at a suitable angle. The pedal pin on the inner
side of the pedal is bent at an angle from the normal straight form, the bent
portion thereof being screw-threaded to screw into the socket at the end
of the cránk. When the pedal pin is fully screwed into the socket, the pedal is
in a horizontal position, but if the pedal pin be unscrewed or rotated through a
certain angle the pedal. will assume a position adjacent to the face of the crank.
A spring pin or loose pin is passed through the screwed socket into a hole in the
screwed portion of the pedal pin to retain the pedal in its position for use, and
the same pin may be passed into another hole in the pedal pin to retain the pedal
in its folded position, or other locking means may be employed.
It will be understood that it is not necessary for the pedal pin and socket to be
screw-threaded, as in some cases I may employ a plain cylindrical pedal pin
fitting a corresponding socket, suitable means being provided for retaining them
in position.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, LEWIS PETER FORD, of 72, Bishopsgate Street Within, in the City of
London, formerly Her Majesty's Attorney-General in the Transvaal, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
.statement:
--
The invention relates to velocipedes and has for its object improved means

page_text: for rendering them more portable and compact when not in use by folding the
framework, pedals and handle bar.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side view of part of a tube containing
the hinge used in the frame work of the velocipede constructed according to my
invention.
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a plan and side view of the sa
section, uncoupled and extended as far as possible.
same partly in
Fig. 4 is a plan of the same showing one part of the tube folded parallel to the
other part.
Fig. 5 is a plan of a modified form of hinge to that shown in Figures 1, 2, 3
and 4, in its extended position previous to folding.
Fig. 6 is a front view of one form of handle bar in its folded position.
Figures 7 and 8 are respectively a front view and plan of another form of
handle bar in its position for use and Fig 9 is a front view of the same in its folded
position.
Figures 10 and 11 are respectively a face view and side view of a crank
provided with a folding pedal pin.
In applying my invention to a gentleman's bicycle I form. a hinge in the top
horizontal tube about midway between the centres of the two wheels and I
connect the crank bracket to the lower part of the head by means of a short
horizontal tube, the front end of which is connected: by another tube direct to
the lower part of the head, the said short. horizontal: tuber being provided: with
a hinge immediately below the hinge in the top. horizontal tube before referred
to.
:
In applying the invention to a lady's bicycle I form the tube or tubes
connecting the head: with the crank bracket and rear part of the frame with a
horizontal portion just in advance of the crank bracket and I form: a hinge.
in each tube in a vertical line.
No claim is made broadly to the forms of frame. above described.
Each of the hinges as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, is constructed in the
following. manner.
The meeting ends a¹ of the divided tube a fit the exterior of a main plug b
which when the two parts of the tube a are fixed together enters partly into one
and partly: into the other part of said tube as shown in Fig. 1. The meeting
ends a¹ of the tube a are externally screw, threaded to correspond with an internally
screw threaded sleeve 6 by the rotation of which they are securely, connected
together. Thus when connected together the adjoining ends a¹ of the tube a are
located between the sleeve b₁ and the main plug b.
In the drawings I have shown the ends of the tube a¹ and sleeve b' provided
with an interrupted screw thread which enables the same to be connected together
more rapidly and with greater ease but it will be understood that continuous
screw threads may be employed when it is so desired. The sleeve b¹ as shown in
the drawings is connected to the main plug b so as to be capable of partial
rotation thereon limited by the screw be working in a slot bbetween pins 610 and
the screw threads on the ends of the tubes. are right and left handed,, the sleeve
having corresponding threads.
Each end of the divided tube a contains a supplemental plug, which is capable
of sliding therein but cannot..be: rotated or withdrawn owing to, the screws or
studs entering the grooves a and each end of the main plug b. contains a
supplemental plug b².
These sliding supplemental plugs a² 2 carry projections a5, 62* which are hinged
together by a short link 63 pinjointed thereto.
The supplemental plugs 62 and their projections 62* slide within the. main
plug b, and the main plug b, supplemental plugs a² and projections slide
within the ends a¹ of the tube a as shown in, Fig. 1.
In some cases, however, the projections and a are formed integral with the
plugs and in which case the said projections are connected to one another

page_text: by means of a pin a7 on the one sliding in a slot 68 in the other as shown in
Fig. 5.
Each tube a contains a wall or stop at at such a distance from its end that when
the tubes are connected together the walls or stops retain the plugs in close
contact,
The supplemental plugs 62 and projèctions 62* can slide within the plug 6 but
cannot rotate or be withdrawn owing to the studs or projections 64 engaging
in the slot 65.
1
The handle bars c as shown in Fig. 6 are enabled to fold by means of a hinge
of similar character to that hereinbefore described but in this case the sleeve b¹
containing the plug is attached to the handle bar stem d.
The handle bars are folded by unscrewing each half out of the sleeve b¹ they
are then pulley away from each other when they may be folded down parallel
to the handle bar stem d as shown in Fig. 6.
The milled headed screws 79 shown in Figures 2, 4, 5 and 6 are screwed into
holes in the. plug b when the tubes and handle bars are fixed in their position
for use to prevent any rotation of the parts.
The handle bars shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9 are of somewhat different con-
struction. In this form of folding handle bar each half e is pivoted to a head or
fitting attached to the handle bar stem *. The said head or fitting has a
socket by which it is attached to the handle bar stem d* and two parallel side
plates f. Each handle bar is fitted into a socket el which is pivoted at f as
shown, the said sockets el having parallel sides and fitting between the plates fl.
The interior of the handle bar stem d* is screw threaded to receive a milled
headed screw d¹.
The milled head bears upon the top of the sockets e¹ and retains the handles
in position for use as shown in Figures 7 and 8.
In some cases a rubber washer is placed between the milled head
and the
top of the sockets e to take up vibration and compensate for any inequalities in
the sockets.
When it is desired to fold the handle bars e the screw d¹ is unscrewed and each
half handle bar is then capable of being folded or turned down as shown in
Fig. 9.
In Figures 10 and 11 I have shown the method of folding the pedals I have
however only shown the folding pedal pin upon which the pedal rotates. The
cranks 9 are formed at their ends with sockets g¹ bent at an angle of 45° to the
crank. The pedal pin h has a portion ¹ bent at an angle of 45° to the main
portion thereof. The part 1 of the pedal pin is capable of being rotated in
the socket gl.
In some cases the socket g¹ and the part h¹ are screw threaded but they may be
formed without screw threads as shown in the drawings.
In Fig. 11 the pedal pin is shown in full lines in its position for use and in
dotted lines in its folded position. It is also shown with a projection 2 having a
hole into which fits a spring pin g³ to hold it in position for use. When the
parts gl and h¹ are screw threaded the pedal is in position for use when the part h¹
is screwed fully into the socket g¹, and a pin may be passed through the socket gl
into one hole in the part h¹ to prevent the latter unscrewing, and into another
hole in the part h¹ to retain it in its folded position.
Other means may however be employed to retain the pedal pin in either of
its two positions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
-
1. In a hinge for folding cycles the combination of an internally screw threaded
sleeve having a central plug fitted with sliding supplemental plugs and pro-

page_text: jections, with plugs each having a projection and sliding in the ends of the screw
threaded tubes to be connected together each pair of the said projections being
connected together by a link, substantially as herein shown and described with
reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
2. In a hinge for folding cycles the combination of an internally screw
threaded sleeve having a central plug with a fixed projection at each end with
a plug having a projection sliding in the ends of the externally screw threaded
tubes to be connected together, one of the said projections having a slot and the
other a pin sliding in said slot, substantially as herein shown and described with
reference to Fig. 5.
3. In a folding handle bar for cycles, the combination of an internally screw
threaded sleeve fixed rigidly with the handle bar stem having a rotating plug
provided with projections at each end thereof, links pivoted to said projections
and to projections sliding in the ends of the handle bars externally screw threaded
at their inner ends and means for preventing rotation of the handle bars when in
position for use substantially as herein shown and described with reference to
Fig. 6.
4. In a velocipede the combination of a crank having at its extremity a socket
at 45° thereto with a pedal pin having one portion bent at 45° to the main part
thereof, said bent portion fitting and rotating within the socket on the crank
and means for retaining the pedal pin in position for use substantially as herein
shown and described with reference to Figures 10 and 11.
5. In a folding handle bar for velocipedes the combination of a head or fitting
rigidly fixed to the handle bar stem and having two parallel plates, two half
handle bars each provided with a part fitting between said plates and pivoted
thereto on each side of the handle bar stem and a screw screwed into the handle
bar stem and having a head to bear on the meeting ends of the parts fitting
between said plates, substantially as herein shown and described with reference
to Figures 7, 8 and 9.
Dated this 27th day of April 1898
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.