An Improved Frame for Bicycles or other Velocipedes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 20th July, 1889-Accepted, 7th Sept.,
1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Frame for Bicycles or other Velocipedes.
We, JOHN MAJOR COLEMAN M.D. M.R.C.S. and EDWARD HAYLING COLEMAN both
of 4 Salop Street Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the reduction of the vibration caused in travelling
over rough roads, and the avoidance of all cross strains on the tubes of the frame.
This invention consists of a frame constructed in the following manner :
An upright tube carries the saddle pillar at its upper end; the lower end is fork-
shaped, and carries the bearings for the crank axle. Each of these bearings is
connected by a tube with the bearings of the axle of the hinder wheel or wheels.
Each of the said bearings of the crank axle is also connected in front with the lower
part of the head of the bicycle or other velocipede by a tube.
The top of the upright tube before mentioned is connected with the upper portion
of the head by a tube. To the said upright tubs at a suitable distance below the top
is hinged a short tube projecting horizontally backwards; the outer end of which is
further attached to the bearings of the axle of the hinder wheel or wheels by a pair of
tubes. The upward movement of this hinged tube is controlled by a curved spiral
spring interposed between its outer end and the vertical tube aforesaid, and carried
upon a suitable curved guide, or by other convenient arrangement of spring power.
To the bottom ends of the front steering fork are hinged short tubes, to the outer
ends of which are fixed the bearings of the front axle. The upward movement of these
short tubes is also controlled by curved spiral springs interposed between their outer
ends and points on the steering fork and carried upon suitable curved guides, or by
other convenient arrangement of spring power.
A frame thus constructed will secure the following great advantages a reduction in
the vibrations of the machine in travelling over rough roads; the facilitating the
adaptation of a brake to the crank axle between the bearings, whereby the liability to
tilt up caused by applying the brake to the front wheel (as is usually done) is avoided ;
and also greater strength through the absence of cross strains on the tubes of the
frame.
Dated this 90th day of Novambon 1000
JOHN MAJOR COLEMAN, M.D., M.R.C.S.,
E. H. COLEMAN,
4, Salop Street, Wolverhampton.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Frame for Bicycles or other Velocipedes.
We JOHN MAJOR COLEMAN, M.D., M.R.C.S., and EDWARD HAYLING COLEMAN,
both of 4 Salop Street, Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, 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 :-
Our invention has for its object the reduction of vibration. to, the rider while
travelling over rough roads.
To this end we use a rigid central frame, mounting on it the seat, pedal axle, and
steering handles. To the rear of this frame, we connect, by pivots, a jointed frame
for carrying the driving-wheel axle. This jointed frame is held elastically to its work
by some convenient arrangement of spring power. The steering wheel is mounted on
a pair of arms jointed to the bottom ends of the steering fork, and held to its work by
springs surrounding curved guiding rods forming part of the steering fork.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings, our invention is shown as applied to a Bicycle,
Fig. 1 being a side elevation of the same, and
Fig. 2 an elevation of the hinder part of the framing of the machine.
A is the main framing, which carries the seat B and the pedal axle C. It is made
with what is known as 66
"
centres for receiving the steering stem D, the fork of which
embraces the steering wheel E. The main framing A consists of a pair of tubes a a,
which carry at their lower ends ball bearings for the pedal axle.. Made fast also to
these bearings is a pair of tubes a', which are secured at their forward ends, by brazing
or otherwise, to the "centre" a². a³ is a rod brazed to the centre a², and extending
rearwards to a socket at, with which it is also connected by brazing. This socket
(which is intended to receive the cranked seat stem) is carried between the tubes a,
and made fast thereto by screw studs and nuts.
We may remark that the rigid frame A may, if desired, be made of any other
convenient form. To this frame, at or near the pedal axle, is jointed a pair of tubes f,
or a fork projecting. backwards. The rear ends of this pair of tubes, or fork, are
jointed to, or rigidly connected with (as most convenient), the bearings of the driving
.axle c², or the axle, as most convenient.
To the rigid frame; at a suitable distance below the point carrying the seat, is jointed
an arm f2, projecting backwards.
To the rear end of this arm is jointed a pair of tubes f³, or a fork.
The other ends of this pair of tubes, or fork, are jointed to, or rigidly connected
with, the bearings of the driving axle c², or they may connect directly with the axle.
The merit of this rear frame carrying the driving axle, which rear frame forms,
with one side of the rigid frame, a quadrilateral figure (in side elevation), and is jointed
at or near each angle, is, that by a suitable arrangement of spring (as shown at H, or
otherwise), it can be held elastically to its work, and thereby be able to rise in a
vertical direction, when travelling over an obstacle, without jolting the rider.
To the lower ends of the steering fork are jointed a pair of arms e, projecting for-
wards; these arms carry the steering wheel E. The upward movement of these arms
is controlled by springs carried on suitably curved rigid guiding rods (as shown at d);
An advantage consequent on this mode of mounting the springs, is, that the lateral
strain created by the steering action, will be received, in great part, by these rigid
guide rods, instead of, as heretofore, by the pivots.
"
Where " tubes are mentioned, it is for convenience sake, and the members so
described may be constructed of any other suitable material, as crescent steel, light
rods &c.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. The arrangement and construction of framing above described for carrying the
pedal axle, wheel axles, and seat of bicycles and other velocipedes.
2nd. A cycle frame wherein the part carrying the driving axle is pivotally con-
nected, as described, to a rigid part carrying the seat, pedal axle, and steering handles,
such pivotally connected frame forming, with one side of the rigid part, carrying
the seat and pedal axle, a quadrilateral figure (in side elevation) jointed at or near
each angle.
3rd. A steering wheel frame composed of a pair of arms jointed to the lower ends
of the steering fork, such arms, carrying springs surrounding curved rigid guiding
rods affixed to the steering fork, substantially as herein shown and described, and for
the purpose stated.
Dated this 19th day of July 1880
J. MAJOR, COLEMAN.
EDWARD HAYLING COLEMAN.
Newton & Son,
Agents for the Applicants.