Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 11th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1898
I, ALFRED ROBERTS, of 19, Ellen Street, in the City of Birmingham, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of improvements relating to cycles, my object being to
very effectually secure without brazing the tubular parts of a cycle frame, by means
of mechanical joints of simple construction and capable of ready manipulation.
In the construction of a cycle frame in accordance with my invention I make
the joints or connections between the adjacent parts by the provision of an embracing
piece on the ends of the tubes and in one piece therewith. Thus the joint between
the top tube and steering head socket tube I form by shaping the front end of the
top tube into an embracing piece with its outer side open, the edges of the metal
on such outer side, which project beyond the socket, being turned back and arranged
to butt together. The projecting ends or sides of the clipping piece formed with the
tube are secured together by means of screws or bolts which I employ preferably
in conjunction with washer plates of a half-round section, the circular sides of
such plates being placed or seated upon the faces of the projections. The bolt holes
through one plate are drilled to a clearance size but in the opposite plate the holes
are screw tapped to receive the screws or bolts. On drawing the projecting ends
together by tightening the screws, the half-round washer plates by their conformity
to the curved angle or corner between each projection and the body of the clipping
piece on the tube end, impose a circumferential tension upon the clipping piece
cause the same to be clamped securely upon the tube of the steering head socket
which it embraces, and thus the two parts are effectually connected together. I
employ a lock nut on the end of each clip screw.
0
I sometimes employ steering head socket tubes with thickened ends to allow for
the shouldering down of such ends to provide more effectual seatings or gripping
surfaces for the clip ends of the adjacent tubes, and I preferably reamer the
interior of the clipping pieces to a diameter somewhat less than the external diameter
of the tube over which they are to be placed, and I thus ensure an effectual grip
of the one part upon the other.
The projecting ends of the tube clipping pieces I sometimes utilise to serve as
a lamp bracket or for guiding the cycle brake rods, or for other like purposes.
The bottom bracket of a cycle frame constructed in accordance with my invention
is formed preferably from a steel tube of the required diameter. The seat tube
and the bottom tube are each formed with projecting ends shaped suitably for
embracing the central portion of the bottom bracket, whilst the chain stay tubes
are secured or clipped to the ends of the bracket in a manner such as hereinbefore
described.
Instead of clip screws or bolts passing through the projections on the tube ends
as hereinbefore described, I sometimes employ clipping bands and bolt the same over
the tube end projections.
When employing ball bearing cups with my tubular bottom brackets I preferably

page_text: split or slot the ends of the brackets, in order that upon tightening the clip bolts
of the chain stay tubes, the screw cups shall be securely locked or clamped in the
desired position.
The application of my invention to other joints or connections of a cycle frame
differs only in the necessary modifications to suit the particular parts to be jointed,
from its application to the parts herein before described.
Dated this 20th do'r of Tule 1870
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.
ALFRED ROBERTS, of 19, Ellen Street, in the City of Birmingham, 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:
This invention consists of improvements relating to cycles, my object being to
very effectually secure without brazing the tubular parts of a cycle frame, by means
of mechanical joints of simple construction and capable of ready manipulation.
In the construction of a cycle frame in accordance with my invention I make the
main joints or connections between the adjacent parts by the provision of specially
arranged embracing sockets formed with the tubes.
In the two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter.
referred to:―
Figure 1 is an elevation of a cycle frame constructed in accordance with my
invention.
Figure 2 represents a modified arrangement of the connection of the back stays
with the diagonal tube or seat tube.
Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation and Figure 4 a sectional front elevation
representing a modified form of steering fork crown from that shown in the smaller
scale view at Figure 1.
Figures 5 to 11 inclusive are detail views of my cycle frame joints as applied to
various parts, Figure 5 is a side elevation and Figure a plan of the joint between
the top tube and the steering head socket. Figure 7 is a side elevation and Figure 8
a front elevation and representing the method of jointing or connecting the lower
end of the diagonal tube, and the bottom tube, and also the chain stay tubes with
the bottom bracket, whilst Figure 9 is an end view or side elevation of the bottom
bracket alone.
The sectional elevations at Figures 10 and 11 represent two modified forms of
joint suitable for the connection of the handle bar.
The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.
Referring to the joint or connection between the top tube A and the steering
head socket tube 1 (Figure 1) which is shown separately in the larger detail views
at Figures 5 and 6, I form the end of the tube which is to be adjacent to the socket
tube B into an embracing clip as A¹ with projecting ends A³ beyond the socket,
the extremities of such projecting ends being turned in and arranged to butt
together as shown at Figure 6. The projecting ends A³ are drawn together and the
clip A¹ securely tightened upon the socket tube B by means of screws or bolts as C,
which I employ preferably in conjunction with washer plates or bars as D of a half
round or curved section, the inner curved edge of each bar being arranged to seat

page_text: upon the root of the particular projecting end A on which it is placed, whilst owing
to the curvature of its outer edge, the bar does not come into contact with the
portion of the projection A immediately above or over the abutting extremities.
The bolt holes through one bar are drilled to a clearance size but in the opposite
washer bar the holes are screw tapped to suit the thread of the screws or bolts.
On tightening the bolts or screws to draw the projecting ends A³ together; the
half round or like washer plates or bars D, by their conformity to the curved angle
or root between each projection A3 and the body A¹ forming the clipping piece or
embracing socket on the end of the tube A, impose a circumferential tension upon
such socket so causing the same to be clamped securely upon the tube B of the
steering head which it embraces, and thus the two parts are effectually connected
together. I employ a lock nut on the end of each clip screw as C as illustrated.
cast or form with the bottom bracket E short projecting hollow. nipples as El
(Figure 9) which respectively enter and serve as steadying or position pieces for
the diagonal or seat tube E, and the bottom tube G (see Figures 1, 7 and 8). The
bottom bracket ends of the tubes F and G are split and bent to form lateral pro-
jections as F' and G¹³ for seating upon the upper side of the bottom bracket E as
illustrated at Figures 7 and 8. The bottom bracket ends of the pair of chain stay
tubes such as H are formed into clip pieces as H'H' which are fitted with bolts,
nuts, and washer plates or bars, similar to those herein before described. The feet
or projections F1 and G₁ of the tubes F and G are arranged within the clip
pieces HH, as illustrated at Figure 7, in conjunction with packing or making up
pieces J, and thus on tightening the bolts or screws of the clip pieces the chain
stay tubes and also the tubes F and G are rigidly jointed or connected to the bottom
bracket E.
The rear end of the top tube A is secured to the diagonal or seat tube F in the
same manner as the front end is jointed or secured with the steering socket head
tube B. The upper ends of the back stays (as K, Figure 1) may be secured to the
projecting ends of the rear clip piece of the tube A, but I preferably employ an
independent connecting clip for such stays above the rear clip piece of the tube A
as illustrated at Figure 2.
With the form of joint for the upper ends of the back stays as K as shown at
Figure 2, and with the method of jointing the tubes upon the bottom bracket as
hereinbefore described, I am enabled to pack the cycle frame within a small
compass for convenience in transit, for on the withdrawal of the back wheel with
its pin or axle from the frame, the back stays as K and also the chain stays as H,
on the release of the clip joints HH, can be folded or set back against the
diagonal or seat tube F.
In the illustration at Figure 1 I have shown an ordinary form of steering fork
crown L, but the detail views Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the type of fork crown
which I preferably employ with a cycle frame built up with jointed parts as herein-
before described. Such crown consists of a circular tube as "L' with hollow pro-
jecting nipples serving as steadying or position pieces for the stem tube M and the
tubular forks N N¹ respectively. The lower end of the stem tube M and the upper
ends of the forks N N¹ are split and formed with clipping or embracing pieces
which are clamped upon the crown L' as illustrated. The open ends of the hollow
crown may be closed by caps if desired, or by end plates formed in one piece with
the crown.
In the modified form of joint illustrated at Figure 10, I employ an external cap
as O covering the washer plates or bars D, whilst in the modification at Figure 11
I dispense with such washer plates or bars by employing a cap 01 with an internal
central projection as illustrated, forming grooves for the extremity of the projecting
ends of the clipping piece on the tube end.
I sometimes employ steering head socket tubes with thickened ends to allow for
the shouldering down of such ends to provide more effectual seatings or gripping
surfaces for the clip ends of the adjacent tubes, and I preferably reamer the interior
of the clipping pieces to a diameter somewhat less than the external diameter of

page_text: the tube over which they are to be placed, and I thus ensure an effectual grip of
the one part upon the other.
The projecting ends of the tube clipping pieces in front of the steering head socket
tube BI sometimes utilise to serve as a lamp bracket or for guiding the cycle brake
rods, or for other like purposes.
Instead of clip screws or bolts passing through the projections on the tube ends
as herein before described I sometimes employ clipping bands and bolt the same
over the tube end projections.
When employing ball bearing cups with the bottom brackets I preferably split
or slot the bracket E throughout its length, in order that upon tightening the
clip bolts of the chain stay tubes, the screw cups shall be securely locked or clamped
in the desired position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
-
1. The improved method of jointing or securing together the tubular parts of a
cycle frame, substantially as described.
2. The formation of a clipping or embracing socket upon the end of a cycle frame
tube and in one piece therewith, substantially as and for the purposes described
and as illustrated.
3. In cycle frames the jointing or connection of the diagonal or seat tube as F,
the bottom tube G and chain stays as H upon the bottom bracket E, substantially as
described and as illustrated.
4. The combination with the cycle fork crown L' of the fork stem tube M and
the forks N N¹, substantially as described and as illustrated, at Figures 3 and 4.
5. The combination with a cycle frame tube clipping or embracing piece or
socket, of bolts or screws and curved washer plates or bars, substantially as and for
the purposes described and as illustrated.
6. The combination with a cycle frame tube clipping or embracing piece or
socket, of an external cap or covering for the projecting ends of such embracing
piece or socket, substantially as described and as illustrated.
7. In cycle frames, the improved general arrangement and combination of parts,
substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 10th
1007
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.