Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 30th July, 1890-Accepted, 30th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, WALTER JAMES COCKS, of Murray Road, Brentford, in the County of Middlesex,
Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the frames of bicycles, tricycles, and
other velocipedes steered by the front wheel or wheels, and driven by the rear wheel
or wheels, and it has for its objects the production of a lighter, stronger and more rigid
frame than at present exists.
I construct my improved frame in the following manner;-The frame is constructed
out of two lengths of steel tubing placed side by side and bent and fashioned to form
the frame so that each part thereof has double members. I take these two longths
of tube and I drive on to them at or about the centres of their lengths two couplings
adapted to brace the tubes together in close proximity to one another, and to carry
the centre spindle or form the socket, as the case may be, for the steering head or
joint. These couplings are then shrunk, sweated, or brazed on to the tubes. The
tubes are then bent so as to form a diagonal shaped frame and two other couplings
are fixed in convenient positions as herein beforo described. The top parts of the
tubes are then bent to run down to support the axle for the driving wheel or wheels,
a socket to carry the seat pillar being fixed to the tubes at a convenient position.
The lower part of the tubes are bent to run horizontally or approximately so, back to
carry the axle of the driving wheel or wheels, having first been braced together by
a suitable bridge. The horizontal part of the tubes receive suitable brackets for
carrying the bearings for the pedal crank axle. The free ends of the tubes are then
fixed to suitable snugs or their equivalents to carry the axle for the driving wheel or
wheels. The brackets carrying the bearings for the pedal crank axle are connected
to the socket for the seat pillar by tubes preferably curved to follow the periphery of
the driving wheel or wheels, and these two tubes may be connected by a brace or
bridge if necessary.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers, 70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I WALTER JAMES COCKS of Murray Road Brentford in the County of Middlesex,
Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in
what manner it is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in the frames of bicycles tricycles and other
velocipedes steered by the front wheel or wheels; and driven by the rear wheel or
wheels, and it has for its object the production of a lighter, stronger, and more rigid
frame than at present exists. I construct my improved frame in the manner illustrated
in the accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved frame adapted for a safety bicycle.
Figure 2 is a view in transverse section on line, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a broken view in plan of the top part of the frame, &
Figure 4 is a broken view in plan of the bottom part of the frame.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference

page_text: The frame is constructed out of two lengths of steel tube A, A, placed side by side
and bent and fashioned to form the frame so that each part thereof has double members.
I take these two lengths of tube A, A, and I place on them at or about the centres of
their lengths, two couplings a, a, adapted to brace the tubes together in close proximity
to one another and to carry the centre neck spindle B or form the socket, as the case
may be, for the steering head or joint. These couplings are then shrunk, sweated or
brazed on to the tubes. The tubes are then bent so as to form a diamond shaped
frame as illustrated, and are braced together by suitable stays a¹, a', etc. in convenient
positions. To the top parts of the tubes A, A, is fixed at or about the point where
they are bent to run down to carry the axle for the driving wheel or wheels, a
socket to carry the seat pillar. To the lower part of the tubes A, A, are fixed
brackets D, D, to carry the bearings for the pedal crank axle as illustrated. The free
ends of the tubes A, A, are then fixed to suitable snugs E E or their equivalents
adapted to carry the axle of the driving wheel or wheels. The brackets D, D carrying
the bearings for the pedal crank axle may if desired be connected to the socket C for
the seat pillar by tubes A1, A¹, preferably curved to follow the periphery of the driving
wheel or wheels, and are braced together by a stay a² as illustrated.
The socket and the stay a² are adapted to carry the mud-guard for the driving
wheel when such is used.
I do not limit myself to the use of tubes for the members A, A, of my improved
frame as half tubes, rim steel, or the like may be used instead.
By constructing a frame in the manner herein set forth, a natural elasticity is
obtained at the neck of the steering head by reason of the curves of the members A, A,
of the frame at that point, which does not in any way interfere with the lateral
rigidity of the frame, and removes a source of weakness in frames for this type of
machine which hitherto have always had the joints of the tube or tubes at this point,
resulting in a large number of fractures at the neck.
I am aware that prior to the date of my invention the frames of velocipedes
had been made of double members throughout & I therefore do not claim such
broadly but
Having now particularly described and ascertain the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner it is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. A frame for a velocipede constructed substantially as herein described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
2nd. In a velocipede, a diamond frame composed of two members A, A, each of
which is in one length, coupled and braced together as set forth.
3rd. In a velocipede, a diamond frame composed of two members A, A, each of
which is in one length and of two members A³, A¹, coupled and braced together as
set forth.
4th. In a velocipede frame, the combination of the members A, A, each in one
length, of the couplings a, a, adapted to brace the members A, A, together & carry
the steering spindle B or its equivalent, of the seat pillar socket C, of the brackets D, D,
adapted to carry the bearings of the pedal-crank axle, of the snugs E, E, adapted to
receive the free ends of the members A, A, and to carry the axle of the steering wheel,
and of the stays a³, a', etc. and a³, all combined, arranged, and operating, as & for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 30th day of July 1890.