Springs or Flexible Parts in the Construction of Cycle Frames.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Springs or Flexible Parts in the Construction of Cycle Frames.
I, WILLIAM JOSEPH PIERCE, residing at 85, Aberfeldy Street, East India Dock
Road, London, East, and following the calling of Wheelwright and Carriage
Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to render parts of the frames of cycles, flexible,
in order to reduce the vibrations or shocks experienced in riding the same upon
rough or uneven roads.
For the purpose of my invention, I construct a spring or flexible fork, by means
of plates or rods, or plates and rods of flexible steel, the steel to be of any suitable
The
length, breadth, thickness, or diameter, and of any suitable form in section.
plates or rods to be affixed in such a position as to form a flexible or spring fork
by means of cross bars, of wrought or malleable iron or steel, the cross bars having
suitable slots or holes into which to fit or affix the said flexible steel plates or rods,
the cross bars to be affixed to the pivot or head pin of the frame. The ends of the
fork to be suitably curved in order to give a gentle and easy deflection and to be
affixed at any suitable angle to a horizontal plane. The lower ends of the fork are
to be fitted with, or formed into eyes or to have holes therein, in order to recieve
the spindle or axis of the front wheel, or wheels. The stays, or parts of the frame
which support the steering head, and the, saddle and pedal column, respectively,
may or may not, be also of flexible steel, the steel to be of any suitable length,
breadth thickness or diameter, and of any suitable form in section. The same
may, or may not, be affixed to the steering head and the saddle and pedal column,
by means of suitable sockets or joints and by brazing or by other suitable means.
The upper stay or support may be formed into a scroll at one end, the end of the
scroll being formed into an eye in order to recieve a bolt or rivett, by which means
it may be affixed to a piece of metal, preferably of wrought or malleable iron or
steel, and provided for the purpose, being affixed to the upper end of the, saddle
and pedal column.
The stays or parts which lay horizontally from the, saddle and pedal column,
to the spindle, or axis of the rear wheel, or wheels, to be of flexible steel of any
suitable length, breadth, thickness, or diameter, and of any suitable form in
section one end of each stay to be affixed to the lower end of the pedal column by
means of sockets or joints of cast or malleable iron or steel the opposite ends to
be fitted with suitable sockets or joints to recieve two other stays, to be herein-
after described," and to recieve the spindle of the rear wheel, or wheels.
The stays, mentioned mentioned as to be hereinafter described, are to be of
flexible steel, or part of flexible steel and part of non-flexible steel, such as drawn
steel tube. Each stay to be formed into a scroll at one end, the end of the scroll
to be formed into an eye in order to recieve a bolt or rivett by means of which it
is affixed to the before mentioned piece of metal provided for the purpose, and

page_text: affixed to the upper ends of the, saddle and pedal column, the opposite ends of
the scrolled stays to be affixed to the sockets or joints supporting the last mentioned
stays, together with the spindle or axis of the rear wheel, or wheels, or, to be fitted
to the non-flexible parts above mentioned by means of sockets or other suitable
means.
Springs or Flexible Parts in the Construction of Cycle Frames.
I, WILLIAM JOSEPH PIERCE, Wheelwright, residing at 85, Aberfeldy Street, in
the Parish of Bromley-by-Bow, London, East, 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:-
The object of my invention is to render parts of the frames of cycles, flexible,
in order to reduce the vibrations or shocks, experienced in riding the same, upon
rough or uneven roads.
For the purpose of my invention, I construct a spring or flexible fork, by means
of plates or rods, or plates and rods, "preferably plates," of flexible or spring steel,
the width of the steel giving strength to the fork sectionally. The said plates
are of a suitable width and thickness to carry the weight of any particular rider,
or riders.
66 as
The fork springs may also consist of any number of plates, and may be applied
to cycles built to carry any particular number of persons. Refering to the
accompanying sheets of drawings, Figure 1 is a side and front view of a flexible
fork, constructed to carry one person. Figure 2, is a side and front view of a
flexible fork constructed to carry more than one person. (A) In Figures 1 and 2,
is the back plate of spring, the lower end of which is formed into an eye, in order
to recieve the spindle of front wheel, the upper end of the said plate is formed with
a shoulder in order to be fitted and affixed into the upper crown plate, or cross
bar (B). The front plate (c), and also the additional plates of the fork springs
are thinned and tapered at their lower ends and are formed into clips at their
lower extremity, the said clips are fitted on and partly around the back plate,
shown at (d) in the accompanying drawings," where desirable, the purpose of the
said clips being to hold the plates of the spring together, and to prevent clashing
of the same. The crown plates (B) are perforated with holes or slots, those of the
lower crown plate having a corresponding form to the section of the steel which
is used for the spring plates, and those of the upper crown plate have a correspond-
ing form to the shouldered ends, formed on the top ends of spring plates (a) and (c)
before mentioned, and set forth in the drawings at (B). The spring plates are
fitted and passed through the lower crown plate, and are fitted and affixed into
the upper crown plate by means of burring or rivetting, as set forth at (e) in
drawings and may be further secured by means of brazing. The lower crown plate
may also have holes therein for the purpose of affixing the break, and mudguard.
The pivot tube or head pin (f) is fitted in such a manner as to pass through both
crown plates and is affixed thereto by means of brazing. The flexible plates or
springs may be suitably tempered.
Figure 3, in the accompanying drawings, is a side view of cycle frame, showing
the application of flexible parts which may be fitted and affixed to existing cycles,
for ladies or gentlemen.

page_text: (g) in Figure 3, is the flexible fork in position, (4) are the flexible springs or
guides, two in number, one on either side of rear wheel, the said springs or guides
may consist of any number of plates as desired, and are fitted to, on into suitable
sockets provided for the purpose and having a matrix therein of a correspond-
ing form to the section of the springs, and are secured by pinning and brazing
or by other suitable means as shown at (2) in drawings. In order to prevent undue
deflation of guide springs (h) I provide two flexible stays (k) which may consist
of pieces of drawn steel tube, or other suitable metal, to the top ends of which are
affixed, flexible steel scrolls (j) by means of sockets (7) and secured thereto by
means of pinning and brazing, the lower ends of said stays are affixed to sockets (2)
by suitable means. The said scrolls (5) have, in each of their centres an eye
formed, having a square hole therein for the purpose of recieving corresponding
square bosses or projections provided upon the sides of an iron or steel attach-
ment (m) provided for purpose of securing the said scrolls (j) to the saddle and pedal
column (n), and by means of which, friction of the said eyes is prevented.
The scrolls are set in such a manner as to have the inner surface of the eye level
or flush with the inner edges of scroll and are secured by means of steel bolt and
nut, the bolt passing through a hole provided in before mentioned square bosses,
and having a head and nut large enough to cover the same, or may be secured by
means of brazing in addition to the above means.
Attachments are also provided in order to affix the rear mudguard.
Figure 4, is a further development of flexible parts,
form a part of the spring or flexible combination.
"which may or may not"
(o) Is a spring consisting of any number of plates of spring steel or other suit-
able steel, necesessary to carry any given weight. The lower plate of spring is
affixed to head by means of socket (i) the opposite end of which is affixed, together
with additional plates forming spring, into a suitable socket (i) and secured by
means of pinning and brazing or other suitable means.
The spring is provided with aforesaid clips as desired and set forth (q) in draw-
ings, Figures 1 and 2. The spring (p) is a bar of flexible or spring steel, one end
of which is secured to head by means of suitable socket (2) the opposite end of said
bar is formed into a scroll, in the centre of which an eye is formed, for the purpose
of affixing to iron or steel attachment (m) provided for the purpose and set forth in
the accompanying drawings, and is affixed thereto by means of bolt and nut
preferably of steel.
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:
1
First: The improved device for reducing vibration and shock, substantially as
herein described, and set forth in the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Second: In a combination spring or flexible cycle frame, the fork springs
together with the mode and means of affixing the same as herein described sub-
stantially and for the purpose set forth.
Third: In a combination spring or flexible fork the springs having a suitable
curve and the arrangment of clips (d) as herein described substantially and for
the purpose set forth.
:
Fourth In a combination spring or flexible fork the number of plates necesessary
to carry any particular weight, or number of persons, the crown plates to have a
corresponding number of holes or slots in order to recieve the same and arranged
as herein described substantially and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth In a combination or flexible cycle frame the guide springs (h) having
one, or any ncmber of plates forming together a spring, or springs, of any
necesessary strength and being fitted with clips (d) as herein described substan-
tially and for the purpose set forth.
:
Sixth In a combination spring or flexible cycle frame, the combined sockets
and pedal bearing, the sockets having a matrix of a corresponding form to each

page_text: particular spring in section, to be affixed therein as herein described substantially
and for the purpose set forth.
Seventh In a combination spring or flexible cycle frame, the scroll springs (j),
each having an eye with a square hole therein, and iron or steel attachment for
affixing the same, as herein described substantially and for the purpose set forth.
Eighth In a combination spring or flexible cycle frame, the combined spring (o)
Figure 4 and mode of affixing the same as herein described substantially and for
the purpose set forth.
:
Ninth; In a combination spring or flexible cycle frame the top spring (p)
having a scrolled end and having an eye formed in the centre of scroll, and means
of affixing the same as herein described and set forth in the accompanying sheets
of drawings substantially and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 14th day of March 1898.
W. J. PIERCE,
Applicant.