Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 10th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 10th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1896
I, BOHN CHAPIN HICKS, of 956 The Rookery, Chicago, Cook County,
Illinois, United States of America, Engineer 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 provide a simple, economical and efficient
velocipede particularly adapted to receive, absorb and minimize the shocks caused
by the wheels of the velocipede striking obstructions, etc. and the invention consists
in the features and combinations hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a
velocipede or bicycle with my improvements attached thereto, and Figure 2 an
enlarged transverse sectional elevation of a portion of the vehicle frame, taken on
line 2 of Figure 1, where the parts are pivoted together.
It is well known in the use of bicycles and velocipedes that when the wheel
strikes an obstruction it must pass over the same and the rider, as well as the
wheel, receives their due proportion of the shock which is caused thereby.
Various structures have been designed to overcome and obviate these shocks, and
particularly has the pneumatic tire been adapted for this purpose. It is well
known, also, in order to obtain the greatest efficiency of the pneumatic tire that
the air must be compressed therein to a high tension ranging anywhere from 25 to
50 pounds pressure per square inch. In such instances the tire is adapted to strike
small obstructions such as are incident to the ordinary gravel or macadamized
roads, but not to receive the heavier bumps or shocks caused by striking the hard
material on clay or dirt roads. On this latter class of roads as the front wheel is
lifted over the obstruction the rider receives but a small proportion of the shock,
but when the rear wheel, over which the rider is generally positioned, strikes the
obstruction a large proportion of the shock is felt by the rider, sometimes sufficient
to throw his feet from the pedals. A number of these shocks are apt to cause
more or less injury to the rider and more less destruction to different parts of the
wheel. To overcome these objections and to provide a velocipede which will
minimize the dangers caused by the shocks, and thereby save the rider and wheel
from injury is the principal object of my invention.
In illustrating my improvement I have shown it as attached to one form of
wheel namely, what is known as the "safety" or "rear driver" but it will be
understood that it may be applied to any or all classes of these vehicles with
light mechanical changes such as may be employed by the ordinary skilled
nechanic.
In constructing my improvement, I provide a frame A of the desired size and
hape, secured to which is the usual front fork B, which is mounted in the bearings
of the usual head portion a, and provided with the usual front wheel b.

page_text: I prefer to extend the main frame to the rear, as A' and provide it with an
auxiliary A-shaped frame C, which is pivoted at c to the main frame. To the
front of the depending arms of the auxiliary frame and preferably at its lower end
is secured an ordinary driving wheel D, which may be operated in the usual
manner by means of the pedal shaft d, sprocket d' and chain D' which is passed
over its sprocket d. To the rear depending arm or portion of the A-shaped frame
and preferably at the lower portion of such frame is secured a supplemental or
auxiliary wheel E. In order to make this supplemental wheel track" the
depending arm is pivoted at e to the A-shaped frame by providing it with a
common or ordinary ball bearing, as illustrated in Figure 2. A cross brace C¹
secures or fastens both arms of the auxiliary frame together.
In using my improvement the saddle G may be placed at any desired position,
but preferably over the driving wheel so that while riding, as the front wheel
strikes an obstruction it is raised over the same and when the driving wheel strikes
the same or another obstruction it is lifted over it. As the frame is pivoted to the
rear of the seat it allows the frame to vibrate on its pivot and pass over such
obstruction without imparting any sensible shock to the rider. When the supple-
mental wheel passes over the obstruction the pivoting of the same enables it to
pass over the obstruction also without any sensible shock being imparted to the
rider or causing any injury to the wheel.
While I have described my improvement with more or less minuteness as to
detail and as being embodied in certain precise forms, I do not desire to be limited
thereto unduly, no more than is pointed out in the claims. On the contrary,
I contemplate all proper changes in form, construction and arrangement as
circumstances may suggest or necessity render expedient.
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. In a velocipede, the combination of a main frame provided with a seat or
saddle and front wheel by which the structure is guided and steered, with an
auxiliary frame pivoted to the main frame to the rear of the seat portion and
provided with at least two wheels arranged substantially in line with each other,
one-a driving wheel and the other a supplemental or auxiliary wheel, substantially
as described.
2. In a velocipede, the combination of a main frame provided with a front
steering wheel, handle bars, saddle, pedals, crank and sprocket wheel, with an
auxiliary A-shaped frame pivoted to the main frame at the rear of the saddle or
seat portion and provided with at least two wheels, arranged substantially in line
with each other, at least one on each of its members, one a driving wheel connected
by means of a sprocket and chain with a pedal crank, and the other an auxiliary
or supplemental wheel, substantially as described.
3. In a velocipede, the combination of a frame provided with a front steering
wheel, handle bars, saddle, pedals, crank shaft and sprocket-wheel, with an auxiliary
A-shaped frame pivoted to the main frame at the rear of the saddle or seat portion
and having its front member provided with a driving wheel and sprocket arranged
to be driven by means of a sprocket chain from the crank shaft, and its rear
member pivoted to the A-shaped frame and provided with an auxiliary or supple-
mental wheel, arranged substantially in line with the driving wheel, substantially
as described.
Dated this 16th day of December AD 1805
BOHN CHOPIN HICKS.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.