Improvements in Folding Bicycles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 3rd May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 3rd May, 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
Improvements in Folding Bicycles.
I, MICHAEL BARTHOLOMEW RYAN of 4ª Allston Street, Boston, Massachusetts,
United States of America, Draughtsman, 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 :—
My present invention relates to bicycles and more especially to a new style in
which the frame folds upon itself, and in which a peculiar form of frame is devised
giving great strength.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bicycle in usual form for use.
Figure 2 is an elevation representing the article folded.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of clasping device on line x x of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation on line y y, of Figure 1.
Figures 5 and 6 are a modification.
Like letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several figures.
The principal object of my present invention is to produce a bicycle, so constructed
that it can be easily folded and thus take up less space in length, when not in use
or when transported or stored. This object I attain by means of a novel construction
of parts which will be hereinafter explained. In a device of this character, it is
essential that the frame itself should not be weakened and the several parts must be
fully secured by easily and quickly adjusting locking mechanism. All these
requisites I have provided.
The general style, wheels, pedals and running parts are of the ordinary pattern
in use; indeed, my improvements are easily applied to all the ordinary bicycles in
the market. It is unnecessary to explain the ordinary parts, I will therefore
confine my explanation more especially to the special improvements to which my
present invention particularly relate.
Referring to the drawings, the frame proper consists of the front standard A, the
bar B, the back standards C and D with the braces E and F. The connecting bars
or rods G and H are peculiar to the folding mechanism. The brace E being
secured at its lower end with standards D rises in an angle of different degrees to
give a strong longitudinal support to the extremities of the frame; it also makes a
support for the bar B and braces F with interlocking rods G and H. The upper
end of brace E also forms a portion of the interlocking parts as shown in Figure 3
and represented by N. The forward end of bar B is firmly secured to the
upper end of brace E at N¹. The button piece a extends in both directions from
its centre, one end overlapping the rod G, when the parts are interlocked, and the
opposite end of a overlapping rod H. Similarly, I also preferably form a catch or
something of like nature upon the inside of part N, one at the top and the other at
he bottom as indicated by bb', Figure 3. I also extend the ends of button a and

page_text: suitably form each end, so that the ends a' and a² of button a will slide into catch
pivots 66 and thus more securely hold the button a in place; and also more firmly
holds the rods G and H interlocked. The cam device for securing the interlocking
button a is shewn in Figures 1 and 3, and consists of a cam part c and d and the
cam lever k. The cam part may be formed of two plates in which case c would
represent one and d the other; or they may be formed of one piece, the cam part
being represented by c and the wedge part by d. The cam lever k is formed to
overlap the hook over the edge of part d as shown in Figure 3. When the cam
lever is thrown up, the upper end of the hook or catch part slides around the
plates and the plates are released or loosened. Of course the end of the cam bar
or lever will slide around on the part c and the wedge or the bevel formed by the
part d will press more or less upon the end of the lever according as the lever is
shifted. When the lever is pressed down the hook end will follow the bevel of the
wedge of part d until it reaches its thickest part, and by this means will tightly
A
clamp the cam plates and the button a, to which the cam plates are attached,
rivet g passes through the button, cam plate and cam lever into the part N. This
form of cam device operates very similarly to the ordinary window catches or
fasteners employed to secure the two sashes together. In Figure 1 the dotted lines
indicate the position of the cam lever k when thrown up, releasing the button a and
permitting it to be turned so as to release the interlocked bars G and H.
The cam device may be held in place by a variety of means, and arranged to
operate in several well known ways, upon the button. The brace F is secured to
brace E, and extends upwards to bar B, to which it is united. Upon the upper end
of brace F is formed upon it, a sleeve M, said sleeve extending from point indicated
by I to K, Figure 4, the bottom of sleeve M resting upon a collar L, attached to
or integral with brace F. To the sleeve M are secured the rods or bars G, H, the
opposite ends being secured to standard A.
This construction forms an elongated hinge joint by which the two parts of the
frame are united.
The braces E and F may be each formed of one continuous piece of metal or they
may be composed of several pieces joined together in any suitable manner.
The essential thing being that they be so formed and placed as to give the
requisite stability to the frame structure and aid in supporting a movable folding
connection between the different parts of the frame and provide a suitable inter-
locking device in connection therewith.
The mode of folding the bicycle is as follows: Throw up the cam lever h, turn
the button a quarter round, this releases the bars G and H and the standard A
and forward wheel is turned or folded back, the sleeve hinge M allowing the
bars G and H to be turned carrying standard A and parts with them. The two
portions being brought together can be secured by a simple catch, lock or similar
device.
To reverse the operation it is only necessary to bring the bars G and H forward
against the support N fitted to receive the said bars and which form the upper end
of brace E, then turn the button a, its ends entering the catch device attached to
part N therefor and indicated by b b', and finally tightening cam k by turning the
cam lever h downward to its proper position.
The cam device will bring the button a tightly upon the bars G and H. The
several parts will thus be securely interlocked and the whole frame as strong, stiff
and secure as if made of one rigid immovable frame.
The operation of folding or unfolding the machine takes but a moment, and the
advantages of such a construction are self-evident.
I do not confine myself to the precise construction shown and described as it
is evident that the details may be varied and still not depart from the spirit of
my invention.
For instance, the brace F may be shortened so as to merely form a bearing for
a hinge joint at or near its junction with brace E, and the upper end of brace F,

page_text: dispensed with, in this case the rod H would be bent or inclined to correspond with
brace E, and hinged at a point near the lower end of brace F, and rod G would
be binged directly to bar B at point I, the two hinges being placed substantially
in a line one above the other, such a modification I illustrate in Figure 6.
In both instances I get the principles of my folding device and the longitudinal
bracing and frame support herein before mentioned.
Again, the folding connection between the standard and back frame, might
consist of one rod, instead of the two rods G and H, although this latter construction
would not be as serviceable.
I prefer the form illustrated in Figure 1, the modification however shown in
Figures 5 and 6 (Figure 5, being a section on line zz of Figure 6) would be a
strong and serviceable construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The herein described folding bicycle, consisting of the standard A, bar B,
frame standard C, D, braces E and F, the connecting rods G, H, sleeve M,.
button a and suitable wheels, saddle, pedals and connecting parts, all arranged and
adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes, set forth.
Second. In a folding bicycle the braces E and F in combination with the
rods G and H, and the bar B, substantially as and for the purposes described.
Third. In a folding bicycle the combination of the standard A, bar B, brace E,
part N, and movable rods G and H, said rods being suitably secured to said standard
and adapted to fold it together with its connected parts back upon the rear part of
the machine, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In a bicycle the standard A the bar B the rods G and H, suitably
hinged to the after part of the machine, and secured to said standard A, the
brace E, provided with the part N, and suitable means for securing or interlocking
the said rods G and H to part N, combined and adapted to operate substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. In a bicycle, the herein described interlocking mechanism consisting of
the part N of brace E, suitably formed to receive one or more connecting rods,.
secured to the front standard of the machine and having a hinged connection with
the after part of the machine and in rear of said interlocking mechanism; the cam
plates c and d and the button a, movably secured to said part N, and adapted to
hold the said connecting rods interlocked, all substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Sixth. In a bicycle the combination of the bar B, the brace E having the part N
the cam device k, c, d and the button a suitably secured to part N, in connection.
with said can device, with one or more connecting rods secured to the main front
standard A, and having a suitable hinged connection with the after part of the
machine, substantially as described.
Seventh. In a bicycle the brace E provided with the part N suitably formed to
receive one or more rods connecting the front standards A with the after part of
the machine, by a hinged connection and also having suitable catches 6 and 6' near
the ends of said part N, the button a adapted to turn so that the ends a¹ and a* of
said button will enter said catches band and said button will interlock the said
connecting rods when placed between the part N and the button, the cam plates c
and d and cam device k, all arranged, combined and adapted to operate as an
interlocking mechanism, substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
Eighth. In a bicycle, the combination of the bar B, brace E provided with the
part N, adapted to receive one or more rods connecting the front standard with
the after part of the machine by a suitable hinged connection and in combination
therewith, and suitable means for securing said connecting rods to said part N,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: Ninth. In a bicycle, the standard A, the bar B, the brace E, provided with the
part N, the rods G and H, secured to the said standard A. and suitably hinged to
the machine in rear of said part N, and all combined and adapted to operate
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 17th day of April 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.