An Improved Frame for Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Frame for Bicycles.
I, GEORGE FRANCIS WATSON, of 14 Smeaton Terrace, West Hoe, Plymouth,
Marine Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention consists in an improved frame for bicycles.
. In the improved frame for bicycles which constitutes this invention, the upper part
of the frame consists of a crescent shaped member made of wood. This member
which is substituted for the top and rear tubes, of a metal frame of the "diamond"
pattern, is connected at the ends to wires of steel, or of phosphor-bronze, delta
inetal, or like alloy, which wires extend from the ends of the wooden member to the
socket of the spindle of the treadle.chain-wheel.. From the said socket extends the
usual stay carrying the saddle pillar.
In a bicycle frame constructed in accordance with this invention, the usual joints
are absent from the top member and the frame as a whole possesses increased
lightness combined with strength and enhanced resilience.
Dated this 25th day of Santamber 1896
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.
I, GEORGE FRANCIS WATSON, of 14, Smeaton Terrace, West Hoe, Plymouth,
Marine Surveyor, 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 :-
This invention consists in an improved frame for bicycles.
- The improved frame for bicycles which constitutes this invention consists of a
bow or are of wood the ends of which are, according to one method of construction,
connected by wires of steel, or other suitable metal. The arc of wood, which may
be in one piece, or may be built up of several pieces, is substituted for the top and
rear tubes of a metal frame of the usual "diamond" pattern or shape. The kinds

page_text: of wood which it is preferred to use for the arc are Canadian elm or British ash.
The wooden arc is forked at back to take the rear wheel of the cycle. It is also
shaped at front to form two ends which are received into a shoe provided on the front
fork. The wires which couple the ends of the arc are looped over the bottom bracket
at the foot of the saddle pillar tube. The wires are secured at the bow ends by
screws and nuts.
This form of frame is suitable only for bicycles which are not driven by means of
a chain, but by bevel gearing and other chainless devices. In a chain-driven
machine the bow form of frame is retained, but tubes are substituted for wires,
inasmuch as compression is set up through the use of chains, whereas in cycles not
driven by means of a chain such compression is not set up and the wires used instead
of tubes are always in tension.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents in side view, partly
diagrammatically, a chainless bicycle having a frame constructed and arranged in
accordance with this invention.
The frame consists of an arc a of wood, such as Canadian elm or English ash, or
the like, curved as shown and tied together at the ends by means of a pair of wires b
extending one on each side of the cycle from end to end of the arc a and looped or
given a round turn making one convolution around the bottom bracket d which is
of the usual kind. The arc a, seen in rear end view at Fig. 2, is forked at the back
as seen in the said fig. and also at Fig. 5 which is a plan of the member a before
bending. The arc is thus forked to make way for the rear wheel. It is also divided
at front, and the two ends of the front division fit, one on each side of the front
fork e, into a shoe f carried upon the said front fork e which is of the usual kind.
The front fork e is stayed by stays g extending therefrom, one at each side, to the
arc a. At the rear the wires 6 are held by nuts b¹ screwed on the screw b² passed
through shoesh secured to the arc a. A similar arrangement is provided for securing
the wires b at the front ends to the shoe f of the front fork e. At Fig. 3 is shown at
an enlarged scale the attachment for the wires. The method of securing the shoes h
to the area is shown at an enlarged scale at Figs. 6 and 7.
The end of the wire is passed into the socket,b which resembles a saddlers' punch.
Each strand of the wire is then doubled on itself and the whole drawn into place.
Solder is then run in and fills up the interstices between the strands and the
vacancies caused by cutting out the hemp cores of the wires.
At Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings is illustrated a chain-driven bicycle.
having a frame constructed in accordance with this invention. The are a is of
wood and is similar to that shown at Figs. 1, 2 and 5 of the drawings.
"As, in such inachines, compression is liable to be set up along the base of the frame
by the action of the chain, tubes i, i, are substituted for wires so as to take such
compression. Chain tension is adjustable by the nuts j screwed on the screws k
connected to the tubes of the frame. A view of the attachment is shown, drawn
to an enlarged scale, at, Fig. 8.
In a bicycle frame constructed in accordance with my invention the joints
obtaining in the top of the head lug and top of the diagonal tube of metallic
frames of the "diamond" pattern are dispensed with and the frame as a whole
possesses increased lightness combined with strength and enhanced resiliency.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A bicycle frame, in archers' bow shape, consisting of an are such as a of
Canadian elm, British ash, or other suitable wood bent to shape and tied at the ends
by a pair of wires such as b looped or passed in a round turn around the bottom
bracket, substantially as hereinabove described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
and 7 of the accompanying drawings.
2. The modification hereinabove described and shown at Figs. 4 and 5 of the

page_text: appended drawings, according to which the arc a is secured at the ends by tubes such
as i, i¹, extending therefrom to the bottom bracket of the bicycle.
Dated this 17th dex of Inne 1897
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.