Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, MURRAY HINOKLEY SPEAR of 16 Charterhouse Buildings, in the City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is applicable to most forms of velocipedes but I will describe it as
applied to a bicycle of the well-known "Safety" type in which the wheels are of
nearly or quite the same size. The object is to insulate the rider as much as possible
from the wheels so as to diminish or altogether neutralise the vibration and shocks
usually experienced. The driving wheel inay be carried in a fork which forms an
extension of the back bone or main frame and the steering wheel may he carried in a
separate fork movably connected in any suitable manner with the back-bone; the
driving wheel may either be the leading or the trailing wheel as desired. To the
back-bone and preferably near its centre I secure the ends of two steel springs pre-
ferably curled into large loops which carried forward in an approximately horizontal
direction support the saddle and provide the required insulation of the body of the
rider from the wheels or back-bone. The driving or crank axle is carried in bearings
supported upon spring rods similarly curled and secured at or near the ends of the
fork which carries the driving wheel and preferably so that their centre of motion is
coincident with the axis of the wheel. A suitable stay or stays may be provided from
the crank axle bearings or thereabouts to the under side of the saddle or springs upon
which the saddle is carried so that there may be no variation in the distance between
the crank axle and the saddle both moving together. The bracket or equivalent
which carries the handle bar can be connected with the springs which carry the
saddle and the handle bar itself or the pillar which carries it may be connected by
suitable rods tubes or equivalent with the head of the steering fork provision being
made for the play of the handle bar.
Between the springs which carry the saddle I prefer to carry up an extension of
the back-bone which serves to prevent side play of the movable or spring portion of
the frame; this extension may also be used as a luggage carrier or for any other
suitable purpose. Any required amount of adjustment to the saddle, chain, crank
axle etc. may be obtained in the connections between those portions and the springs
and between the springs and the back-bone. When desired chiefly for the purpose
of greater rigidity I may carry a downward extension from the back-bone in the
form of a slotted quadrant in which the crank axle is supported as it moves; the
rigid connection between the spring mechanisms above and below the back-bone may
he adjustable as to length if required and suitable ties may be employed for con-
necting the corresponding springs together.
Dated this 4th day of February 1889.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, MURRAY HINCKLEY SPEAR, of 16 Charterhouse Buildings in the city of London
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 is applicable to most forms of velocipedes but I will describe it as
applied to a bicycle of the well-known "Safety" type in which the wheels are of
nearly or quite the same size. The object is to insulate the rider as much as possible
from the wheels so as to diminish or altogether neutralise the vibration and shocks
Union B17

page_text: usually experienced. The driving wheel may be enrriel in a fork which forms an
extension of the back bone or main frame and the steering wheel may be carried in a
separate fork movably connected in any suitable manner with the back-hone; the
driving wheel may either he the leading or the trailing wheel as desired. To the
bnok-bone and preferably near its contre I secure the ends of two steel springs
preferably curled into large loops which carried forward in an approximately hori-
zontal direction support the saddle and provide the required insulation of the holy of
the rider from the wheels or back-bone. The driving or crank axle is carried in
bearings supported upon spring rods similarly curled and secured at or near the ends
of the fork which carries the driving wheel and preferably so that their centre of
motion is coincident with the axis of the wheel. A suitable stay or stays may be
provided from the crank axle bearings or thereabouts to the under side of the saddle
or springs upon which the saddle is carried so that there may be no variation in
the distance batween the crank axle and the saddle both moving together. Tho
bracket or equivalent which carries the handle bar can be connected with the springs
which carry the saddle and the handle bar itself or the pillar which carries it may be
connected by suitable rols tube or equivalent with the head of the steering fork
provision being made for the play of the handle bar.
Between the springs which carry the saddle I may carry up an extension of the
back-bone which serves to prevent side play of the movable or spring portion of
the frame; this extension may also be used as a luggage carrier or for any other
suitable purpose.
Any required amount of adjustment to the saddle, chain, crank axle,
ete. may be obtained in the connections between those portions and the springs and
between the springs and the back-bone. When desired chiefly for the purpose of
greater rigidity I may carry a downward extension from the kick-bone in the form
of a slotted quadrant in which the crank axle is supported as it moves; the rigid
connection between the spring mechanisms above anil below the lack-bone may be
adjustable as to length if required and suitable ties may he employed for connecting
the corresponding springs together.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a rear driving safety bicycle constructed according to
this invention and fig. 2 is a plan and figs. 3 and other views of detached portions of
the same all hereinafter more particularly described.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to figure 1, A is the front or steering wheel and B the rear or driving
wheel. A is the steering fork, C the back-bone and the fork within which the
driving wheel B works and I) is the steering head all of which parts may be of
ordinary construction.
E are springs which are secured at their lower parts one at each side of the back-
bone by binding screws C³ in two lugs provided on the back-bone or by
equivalent means. The upper part of the springs extend backwards and carry the
steering handle and saddle supports. The former of these supports is shown most
clearly in figure 3 (which is a transverse section in front of the handle support) and
consist of two bearings F which may be fixed in any desired position on the springs E
by means of the binding screws E and which support the transversely projecting
journals of the socket F in which is journalof the spindle F of the steering
bandles F. To the lower end of the spindle F is secured the double crank arm
to the opposite ends of which are pivotted the rear ends of the rods or links G which
aro carried forward and are pivotted to the ends of the bar or double crank arm I)'.
This har or arm D' is journalled in the bracket arm D which is rigidly secured to or
forined in part with the upper end of the steering head socket D. By journalling
the bar Din D and the socket Fat F in the manner described there is provided
freedom of action sufficient to allow for the movements of the springs E and conse-
quent alteration in the position of the handles in relation to the steering hend D).
If desired other provision may be made for allowing of slight rocking movement in
the joints between the links G and_arms D¹, F. "If preferred and D³ may be
united and universal joints provided for the rods G.

page_text: H is the crank axle which is supported upon a bracket J and H are the cranks and
treadles carried at the opposite ends of the said axle. The bracket J is secured (it
may be adjustably) on the ends of two similar springs K only one of which is shown
in the accompanying drawings but each of which is secured to one arm of the back
fork C by means of screws or bolts K' which bind the said springs firmly in the lugs C³
formed on or secured to the said arm, or in other suitable manner. The bracket J
is formed with bosses for receiving the lower ends of two rods M which may be
secured therein by binding screws J' or equivalent means and the upper ends of which
are similarly secured in the saddle support L which is for that purpose provided with
perforated bosses L' and binding screws as shown in figures 1 and 4.
The rods M are adapted to maintain practically constant the distance between the
saddle N and the crank axle H while laterally they will yield sufficiently to allow of
the slightly varying position of the saddle in relation to the crank axle, and as
springs will assist the springs E and K in returning the saddle and crank axle to their
normal positions; they are therefore by preference slightly curved as shown. The
rods M inay however be rigid and jointed at their connections with the other parts.
The crank axle H is provided with the usual pitch wheel H2 geared by a chain H
to a pitch wheel B' of the driving wheel B in the usual manner. The before described
arrangement of carrying the crank axle H forms a ready means of altering the tension
of the pitch chain H³ for this can either be effected by longitudinally adjusting the
springs K in the lugs C or longitudinally adjusting the bracket J on the springs K which
may be provided for by screwing the lower ends of the springs and securing the
bearing on these screwed ends between suitable lock nuts.
The springs E and K instead of being merely bent in the manner shown in the
drawings may at their angles be formed into one or more coils it being here explained
that the spring K is so arranged that the bracket J will move in a path approximately
or as near as may be practicable concentric with the axle of the driving wheel B.
The saddle support L Figs. 1 and 4 may be secured in any desired position on the
springs E by the clamping screws L' and to provide for a similar adjustment of the
steering handle the rods or links G may be formed telescopically or otherwise corre-
spondingly adjustable as to length.
Instead of using double springs or spring rods in the manner before described I
may whore convenient use forked spring plates and I desire to explain that besides
this there are other ways in which I may modify the invention without departing
from its essential features.
Although in the accompanying drawings my invention is shown as applied to a
rear-driving safety bicycle yet I may point out that it is equally applicable to other
bicycles and to tricycles and other velocipedes, the parts in each application being
modified to suit the special requirements while maintaining throughout the spirit of
the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what i
claim is;-
1. In a velocipere mounting the steering handles and saddle upon the same spring
or springs such as E substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
2. In a velocipede mounting the crank axle bearing bracket J on one or more
springs such as K carried by the back bone substantially as herein described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a velocipede the combination with the crank axle and saddle carried upon
independent springs or pairs of springs such as K and E of rigid or spring rods
such as M whereby the saddle and crank axle will vibrate in unison and be maintained
at a practically constant distance apart substantially as herein described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
4. In a velocipede the combination with the back-bone or main frame of one or

page_text: mora springs such as E which carry both the steering handles and saddle substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. In a velocipele the combination with the back-bone or main frame of one or
more springs such as K which carry the crank uxlo substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. The combination in a velocipode of one or more springs such as E on which
are mounted the saddle and steering handles one or more springs such as K which
carry the crank axlo and one or more rigid or spring rods such as M connecting the
saddle and crank axle substantially as and for the purpose herein described and illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete velocipede
substantially as herein describes and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dat this Blut day of (loihar 120
MURRAY H. SPEAR.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.
MURRAY H. SPEAR.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.