Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1898-Accepted, 13th Aug., 1898
A communication by WILLIAM SCHLUER of Terre Haute, in the County of Vigo
and State of Indiana, United States of America, Merchant.
I, WILLIAM l'HILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil 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 invention relates to velocipedes, and has for its object to provide a simple,
secure and easily removable and replaceable frame section in a bicycle or the like
whereby a single bicycle can be converted into a tandem or the reverse; and it
consists in the construction hereinafter described and particularly pointed out.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bicycle having the tandem arrangement;
Figure 2 is a like view of the bicycle arranged for a single rider;
Figures 3, 4, and 5 are side elevations on an enlarged scale of three modifications
of a coupling device the parts being shown disconnected;
Figures 6, 7 and 8 are side elevations of front, rear, and intermediate frame
sections respectively;
Figure 9 is a similar view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the front frame
section;
Figure 10 is a section of the same on line 10--10;
Figure 11 is an elevation of a modification of the coupling indicated in Figure 9
parts of the front and intermediate frames ready to be coupled being shown;
Figure 11 is a side elevation of a detail;
Figure 12 is a transverse section on line 12-12 taken after the parts are
coupled;
Figures 13 and 16 are elevations of modified couplings; and
Figures 14 and 15 are respectively views of the same devices the parts being
separated and the clamping ring omitted;
Figure 17 is a plan of a detail.
The front section of the bicycle frame is of usual construction except as it is
modified to connect at will either with an intermediate removable frame section
or with a rear section. Likewise the rear frame section is of usual form excepting
the provision made for coupling it either with the intermediate or front sections.
The detachable intermediate section is of novel form and comprises a triangle
of tubes or rods provided with an open handle-bar-support 11 and an opening or
socket at 12 to receive a short seat post. The lower side of said triangle of the
intermediate section is prolonged as shown, and there is fixed to or near the vertex
of the triangle and preferably to the handle bar support a tube 2 parallel to said
Price 8d1

page_text: prolonged base, said prolongation and the rear side of the triangle being preferably
composed of two parallel tubes as indicated in Figure 8.
Referring to Figures 6, 7 and 8 numeral 1 denotes studs or short posts either
solid or tubular situated at the upper angle of the rear and intermediate frames
prespectively and adapted each to enter the tubular end of a horizontal members 2
respectively of the front and intermediate frame sections.
The rear and intermediate frame sections are each provided with a shoe or
socket 5 having a bent flange 61 (see Figures 6 and 8) and the intermediate and rear
sections (see Figures 8 and 7) are each provided with a foot or plate 6 adapted to be
snugly seated in one of said shoes, the foot of the intermediate section fitting the
shoe in the rear section and the foot of the front section fitting the shoe either of
the intermediate or rear sections according as the parts are coupled.
The shoe 5 is preferably made as wide or wider than the length of hub 7 and
integral therewith whereby a stable bearing between the sections is afforded, the
corresponding foot or plate attached to the connecting frame being also made wide.
The construction whereby this hub 7 of the pedal shaft is utilized to support a
member of the frame coupling is deemed important.
8 indicates pins fixed to the coupling plate 6 and adapted to enter suitablo
holes 9 in the sockets 5, when the frames are coupled and at such time the upper
edge of the plate 6 fits under the flange 10 of the socket and its lower edge fits
within a suitably bent flange 6¹. This flange 6¹ or a stop is important to prevent
the disengagement of the frames. One of the frames can be easily sprung to permit
the parts 6 and 5 to be slipped together as well as the parts 2 and 1, and the
frames are securely coupled by mere assemblage. The action of the rider's hands
on the handle bars as well as the resistance of the forward wheel when pushed
ahead aid the friction of the socket and post in maintaining the upper connection
in the only direction in which separation is possible and the flange or stop 6¹
having a face transverse to said direction and engaging a like face of its counter-
part positively prevents a direct uncoupling of the lower connection lengthwise
of the machine, and therefore resists the uncoupling of the upper connection. The
characteristic of this improvement is that the couplings are not separable in the
same direction. It is further characteristic of the improvement that the
couplings are so formed and related that the frames can be coupled by springing
one of them. Such spring to permit a reverse operation, namely an uncoupling,
is automatically resisted by the rider.
If desired a supplemental stop or pin 8 may be used to prevent uncoupling in
sidewise direction, though the wide bearing faces of the plates afford considerable
security in this respect. The particular form of these stops is not essential pro-
vided they do not prevent easy coupling of the parts by mere assemblage and
provided they act substantially as set forth to obviate uncoupling.
The parts 1 may be provided with ribs 14 fitting corresponding slots 15 in the
wall of the tubes 2 to lock the parts against rotation (see Figures 9 and 10). The
frames, either two or three of them, having been coupled at the lower and upper
levels by assembling the parts, to permit the bicycle to be used either as a single
or tandem machine, as the case may be. But for entire security under exceptional
circumstances and during prolonged use it is preferred to clamp the socket of
tube 2 upon its post by a single hand operated clamp that locks both couplings.
In Figures 11 and 12 is shown a clamping ring 16 provided with a tightening
screw 17. This screw is provided with a transverse pin 171 or the like whereby
unscrewing will positively expand the split ring. A pin fixed in the ring is denoted
by 18, and 19 is a hole in the post to receive said pin. These latter devices may be
substituted for the rib and slot or combined with them. The use of the slot in
tube 2 either with or without the pin connection is preferred because it co-operates
with the clamp and permits the tube to be compressed upon the post.
The pin 18 is short as represented and will not prevent the slipping of the
clamping ring before the latter has been tightened on the tube by the thumb screw.
Modifications of the above described coupling are shown in Figures 13 to 16 in

page_text: which 20 denotes pins and 21 sockets therefor. As shown in Figure 15 a feather 22
adapted to enter a slot 23 may be employed and with such construction the pin
connection can also be used to more effectually guard against endwise movement.
The operation of the clamping ring in these modified devices is obvious. Either
of these couplings and clamps or others like them can be employed to rigidly
couple and lock the former together, and the construction of the lower frame
coupling is such that it is simultaneously locked. To separate the frame it is only
necessary to loosen the clamping ring whereupon the frames can be readily
detached. The simple securing device is advantageously situated at the top of the
machine and conveniently accessible, and it is of practical importance that a single
securing device easily manipulated by the fingers is made sufficient by the construc-
tion to securely lock the frames together. Modifications of the lower coupling
are clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5 in which a flange 61 is shown adapted to
slip under a bent flange 6111. While the wide shoe integral with hub 7 is preferred
it is obvious that others, such for example as those shown in Figures 9 to 16 may
be used.
The rear and intermediate frames tubular bearings 7 to receive a pedal shafts 24
and upon the end of said shafts are fixed provided with sprocket wheels 25 to
receive a chain 26 whereby both pedals may be made to co-operate in driving the
rear wheel.
27 denotes a sprocket wheel held between the opposite members of the endless
chain by the engagement of its teeth with the chain links. It has no other mount-
ing and is simply rotated, without moving forward or backward, by the oppositely
moving chain members. Upon forcibly spreading apart the chain members the
said wheel can be removed and another substituted. Its purpose is to take up the
slack of the chain.
To the front wheel fork, which is joined to the front steering post, is connected
by a screw 29 at 27¹ a steering rod 28. This rod is pivotally connected to and
carried by the handle bar support of the intermediate frame through the medium
of the handle bar post and its socket 11. Obviously the steering bar 28 could be
omitted in the tandem arrangement if desired.
Many of the details herein described or illustrated may be varied and equiva-
lents employed without departing from the invention.
In assembling the frames the counterparts of the couplings are simply pushed or
slipped together in an operative connection and the couplings are therefore slip
couplings, or they comprise slip joints. Each and every connection is so formed
however as to prevent with entire certainty any relative vertical movement of the
counterparts and also any horizontal movement in a transverse plane. The upper
coupling can separate horizontally but only lengthwise the machine and against
the pull of the rider or riders on the handle bar or handle bars. The lower coup-
lings also can be separated in the same horizontal plane but only when one part
is tilted. In assembling the frame sections the parts of the lower coupling is
first connected and then the sections are sprung apart and the upper coupling parts
can then be suitably joined and the connection thus made cannot be unmade
without a reverse springing of the sections. This security adds to that resulting
from the pull on the handle bar or handle bars and this double security is inde-
pendent of any separately movable fastening devices.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is: -
1. In a velocipede, separable frame sections having upper and lower couplings
one or more of which comprises a socket and post adapted to enter and leave said
socket in one direction and positively precluding separation in all other directions,
and comprising also one or more couplings having a stop to prevent all separate
movement of either of its counterparts in the said direction of the line of separation
of the first named coupling or couplings substantially as described.

page_text: 2. In a velocipede, separable frame sections having upper and lower couplings
one or more of which comprises a socket and post adapted to enter and leave said
socket in one direction and positively precluding separation in all other directions,
and comprising also one or more couplings having a stop to prevent all separate
movement of either of its counterparts in the said direction of the line of separation
of the first named coupling or couplings, and also having a stop to positively
prevent separate transverse movement of said counterparts, substantially as
described.
3. In a velocipede, separable frame sections having upper and lower couplings
one or more of which comprises a socket and post adapted to enter and leave said
socket in one direction and positively precluding separation in all other directions,
and comprising also one or more couplings having a stop to prevent all separate
movement of either of its counterparts in the said direction of the line of separation
of the first named coupling or couplings, one of said counterparts being integral
with the pedal shaft hub, substantially as described.
4. In a velocipede, detachable frame sections provided with couplings one of
which comprises a socket and the other a plate, each having a corresponding
bearing face, one of said parts being fixed to the shaft bearing and the other to
the connected section, and one part also being provided with a pin and the other
with a seat for the same to prevent the plate and socket sliding on each other,
said pin and its seat being situated in the contiguous bearing faces, substantially
as described.
5. In a velocipede, a frame comprising two sections, one of which is provided
with a shoe or socket having flanges 6 and 10 and the other with a foot or plate
adapted to fit within one of said flanges bent to receive it and under the other, and
supplementary couplings whereby the frames are secured together, substantially
as set forth.
6. In a velocipede, two frames one of which is provided with a shoe or socket
having flanges 61 and 10 and the other with a foot or plate adapted to fit within
one of said fingers bent to receive it and under the other, in combination with a
slip coupling consisting of a post on one frame and a socket on the other whereby
the frames are operatively coupled by simply assembling the parts, substantially
as described.
7. In a velocipede, two frames one of which is provided with a shoe or socket
having flanges 6¹ and 10 and the other with a foot or plate adapted to fit within
one of said fingers bent to receive it and under the other, in combination with a
slip coupling consisting of a post on one frame and a socket on the other whereby
the frames are operatively coupled by simply assembling the parts, and a positive
clamping device for one of the couplings, substantially as described.
8. In a velocipede, the removable intermediate frame section comprising a 4
triangular part, the base and rear sides of said triangle being each composed of
parallel tubes or rods tied together, a handle bar socket supported between said
rear tubes and fixed to a front side tube, said parallel base tubes being each at its
front end fixed to the end of a pedal-shaft-bearing on each side of the junction of
the single front side tube with said bearing and at the other end prolonged beyond 4
the triangle and fixed to a wide coupling plate, and a tube attached near the vertex
of the triangle and parallel to its base, in combination with front and rear wheel
frame sections and with the other parts of a velocipede, substantially as described.
Dated this 31st day of January 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.