Improvements in Spring Frame bicycles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Spring Frame bicycles.
A communication from abroad by WILLIAM B. SPENCER, of Chicago, State of
Illinois, United States of America, Gentleman.
I, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I.Mech. E., of Norfolk House, Norfolk
Street, W.C., in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby de-
clare the nature of this invention (as communicated to me from abroad) to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to spring-frame bicycles; and the object in view is to
reorganize and simplify the parts so as to bring the spring-cushion devices at
points above the axle and locate them away from the wheel-hub in elevated
positions where they are not disposed to become wet and muddy by the rotation
of the wheel, and they are more convenient to the operator in adjusting and
removing the spring loops or bands.
With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel construction and
arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described.
In carrying my invention into practice I employ a frame-plate, which may be
connected either to the front or steering fork of a bicycle, or to a portion of the
frame adjacent to the rear-wheel hub. The backstay and the rear fork of the
frame are joined to the plate in any substantial way; but this backstay and the
rear fork may be made continuous one with the other. I prefer to employ
metallic tubing which is D-shaped in cross-section, so that the frame-plate may
be united firmly to the flat sides of the tubing; but it is obvious that tubing
circular in cross-section may be employed.
The frame-plate is provided with vertical parallel bars within the arched or
circular outline of said plate, and these vertical bars form a guideway, adapted
to slidably receive one end of the axle. The frame-plate in my present in-
vention is made with a vertical arm or branch, which constitutes an integral
part of said frame-plate and extends upwardly therefrom a suitable distance
or branch is
above the guideway. At its upper extremity the vertical arm
provided with two pairs of arms, which are rigid or fast with said branch. One
pair of arms extend from one side of the branch, while the other pair of arms
project from the opposite side of the branch and each pair of arms has its
members spaced a suitable distance from one another to lie on opposite sides of
a vertical guide-stém, presently described.
The wheel-hub is fitted in the usual way on the axle, the ends of which pass
through and are fitted slidably in the vertical guide-way of the frame-plate.
The vertical guide-stem is arranged between the frame-plate and the wheel-hub,
and at its lower end this guide-stem is enlarged to form the annular boss or

page_text: collar. The boss or collar of the guide-stem is clamped firmly in place against
the adjusting-cone of the wheel-hub by devices mounted on the axle and that
serve to guide or direct the vertical play of the frame-plate in its movement with
relation to the wheel-axle, and said guide device is constructed for ready applica-
tion to or removal from the axle and the frame-plate. The guide is in the form
of a block nearly circular in form and with flattened faces on opposite sides
thereof, and this guide-block has an annular groove, the continuity of which is
interrupted or broken by the flat faces. The guide-block between its flattened
faces is slightly less in diameter than the width of the guide-way in the frame-
plate, but the diameter of the guide-block between its arc-shaped faces exceeds
the width of the guide-way. Said guide-block is also provided with a central
opening, adapted to receive the axle, and one face of the block is adapted to bear
against the eye-formed end of the guide-stem. A washer is fitted on the axle
to bear against the outside of the guide-block and against said washer is screwed
the axle-nut that is fastened to the axle.
The guide-block may be fitted to the axle and introduced into the slot of the
frame-plate by turning the block to a position where the flattened edges thereof
will slip into the slot of the frame-plate and then the block is partly turned on
the axle to bring the grooved edges thereof into engagement with the edges of
the slotted frame-plate. The washer is now applied and the nut screwed home to
clamp the washer, the guide-block, and the stem firmly in place against the cone
of the wheel-hub; but as the frame-plate is confined within the grooved guide-
block said frame-plate may move freely in a vertical direction.
The upper end of the vertical branch of the frame-plate is formed or provided
between its pairs of arms with a clip or loop, which slidably embraces the vertical
guide-stem, and this stem passes through the clip or eye, so that the cross-arms
on said stem lie above the pairs of arms on the branch of the frame-plate. The
cross-arm is in a vertical plane between the pairs of arms on opposite sides of
the frame-plate branch, and a series of elastic bands have their looped ends fitted
around one pair of arms and rest upon one end of the cross-arm. Another series
of elastic bands rest upon the opposite end of the cross-arm and the looped ends
of these bands are fitted on the cross-arms of the frame-plate. The elastic
bands serve to yieldingly sustain the frame-plate in proper relation to the axle
of the wheel-hub, but the frame-plate is free to move vertically within certain
limits and to distend the elastic bands so as to cushion the jar and vibration on
the machine-frame.
It will be noted that the branch of the frame-plate and the vertical stem have
the cross-arms disposed at a suitable elevation above the horizontal plane of the
wheel-axle, and the cushion-springs are thus raised above the ground to bring
them to a position where they are not liable to receive accumulations of mud
and dirt and also enable the operator to gain access to the springs with greater
convenience and facility in adjusting the springs to vary the tension thereof or
to replace the springs with new bands.
Changes may be made in the form and proportion of some of the parts, while
their essential features are retained and the spirit of the invention embodied.
Hence I do not desire to be limited to the precise form of all the parts as shown,
reserving the right to vary therefrom.
liated this 26th day of October 1899.
J. G. LORRAIN, C.P.A.,
Communicatee.

page_text: A communication from abroad by WILLIAM B. SPENCER, of Chicago, State of
Illinois, United States of America, Gentleman.
I, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I.Mech. E., of Norfolk House, Norfolk
Street, W.C., in the County of London, Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby de-
clare the nature of this invention as communicated to me from abroad and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
My invention relates to spring-frame bicycles; and the object in view is to
reorganize and simplify the parts so as to bring the spring-cushion devices at
points above the axle and locate them away from the wheel-hub in elevated
positions where they are not disposed to become wet and muddy by the rotation
of the wheel, and they are more convenient to the operator in adjusting and
removing the spring loops or bands.
With these ends in view the invention consists in the novel construction and
arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.
To enable others to understand the invention, I have illustrated the same in
the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a bicycle-frame embodying my
improvements.
Figure 2 is an elevation at right angles to Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the improvements applied to the steering-
fork, and
Figure 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of the frame.
Figures 6 and 7 are detail views of the guide-block.
Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in each of
the several figures of the drawings.
In carrying my invention into practice I employ a frame-plate 10, which may
be connected either to the front or steering fork of a bicycle, as shown by Figure 4,
or to a portion of the frame adjacent to the rear-wheel hub, as in Figures 1 and 5.
In Figure 1 the backstay 12 and the rear fork 13 of the frame are joined to
the plate 10 in any substantial way; but this backstay and the rear fork may be
made continuous one with the other, as represented by Figure 5. I prefer to
employ metallic tubing which is D-shaped in cross-section, so that the frame-
late may be united firmly to the flat sides of the tubing; but it is obvious that
ubing circular in cross-section may be employed.
The frame-plate is provided with parallel bars 14 within the arched or circular
outline of said plate 10, and these vertical bars form a guideway 15, adapted to
lidably receive one end of the axle. The frame-plate in my present invention
s made with a vertical arm or branch 16, which constitutes an integral part
f said frame-plate and extends upwardly therefrom a suitable distance above
he guide-way 15. At its upper extremity the vertical arm or branch 16 is pro-
ided with two pairs of arms 17, 18, which are rigid or fast with said branch 16.
One pair of arms 17 extend from one side of the branch 16, while the other pair
f arms 18 project from the opposite side of the branch 16, and each pair of arms
as its members spaced a suitable distance from one another to lie on opposite
ides of a vertical guide-stem, presently described.
The wheel-hub 19 is fitted in the usual way on the axle 20, the ends of which
ass through and are fitted slidably in. the vertical guide-way of the frame-

page_text: plate. The vertical guide-stem 21 is arranged between the frame-plate 10 and
the wheel-hub, and at its lower end this guide-stem is enlarged to form the
annular boss or collar 22. The boss or collar of the guide-stem is clamped
firmly in place against the adjusting-cone of the wheel-hub by devices mounted
on the axie and that serve to guide or direct the vertical play of the frame-
plate in its movement with relation to the wheel-axle, and said guide device is
constructed for ready application to or removal from the axle and the frame-
plate. The guide is in the form of a block 23, nearly circular in form and with
nattened faces 24 on opposite sides thereof, and this guide-block has an annular
groove 25, the continuity of which is interrupted or broken by the flat faces 24.
The guide-block between its flattened faces 24 is slightly less in diameter than
the width of the guideway 15 in the frame-plate, but the diameter of the guide-
block between its arc-shaped faces exceeds the width of the guide-way 15. Said
guide-block is also provided with a central opening 26, adapted to receive the
axle, and one face of the block is adapted to bear against the eye-formed end 22
of the guide-stem 21. A washer 28 is fitted on the axle to bear against the
outside of the guide-block, and against said washer 28 is screwed the axle-
nut 29, that is fastened to the axle.
The guide-block may be fitted to the axle and introduced into the slot of the
frame-plate by turning the block to a position where the Hattened edges thereof
will slip into the slot of the frame-plate, and then the block is partly turned on
the axle to bring the grooved edges thereof into engagement with the edges
of the slotted frame-plate. The washer 28 is now applied and the nut 29 screwed
home to clamp the washer, the guide-block, and the stem firmly in place against
the cone of the wheel-hub; but as the frame-plate is confined within the grooved
guide-block said frame-plate may move freely in a vertical direction.
The upper end of the vertical branch 16 of the frame-plate is formed or
provided between its pairs of arms with a clip or loop 31, which slidably embraces
the vertical guide-stem 21, and this stem passes through the clip or eye 31, so
that the cross-arms 32 on said stem lie above the pairs of arms 17, 18 on the
branch 16 of the frame-plate. The cross-arm 32 is in a vertical plane between
the pairs of arms 17, 18 on opposite sides of the frame-plate branch, and a
series of elastics bands 33 have their looped ends fitted around one pair of
arms 17 and rest upon one end of the cross-arm 32. Another series of elastics
bands 34 rest upon the opposite end of the cross-arm 32, and the looped ends of
these bands 34 are fitted on the cross-arms 18 of the frame-plate. The elastic
bands serve to yieldingly sustain the frame-plate in proper relation to the axle
of the wheel-hub, but the frame-plate free to move vertically within certain
limits and to distend the elastic bands so as to cushion the jar and vibration on
the machine-frame.
It will be noted that the branch of the frame-plate and the vertical stem have
the cross-arms disposed at a suitable elevation above the horizontal plane of the
wheel-axle, and the cushion-springs are thus raised above the ground to bring
them to a position where they are not liable to receive accumulations of mud and
dirt and also enable the operator to gain access to the springs with greater con-
venience and facility in adjusting the springs to vary the tension thereof or to
replace the springs with new bands.
Changes may be made in the form and proportion of some of the parts, while
their essential features are retained and the spirit of the invention embodied.
Hence I do not desire to be limited to the precise form of all the parts as shown,
reserving the right to vary therefrom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this in-
vention (as communicated to me from abroad) and in what manner the same
is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. In a spring-frame bicycle, the combination with a frame-plate having:
vertical guideway, of a bearing-block provided with the arc-shaped grooved

page_text: faces and the straight side faces which intersect, with said arc-shaped faces and
interrupt the continuity of the grooves therein, the width of the block between
the straight faces being less than the space in the guideway, and said block
being adjustable in and removable from said guide-way, a wheel-axle fitted to
said bearing-block, means for clamping the axle and block together, and resilient
suspending devices, substantially as described.
2. In a spring-frame bicycle, the combination of a frame-plate having a guide-
way and an upwardly-extending arm or branch, 16, provided at its upper end
with a guide or clip, a bearing-block fitted in said guideway of the frame-plate
to slide freely therein, an axle clamped to said block, a wheel-hub, a vertical
stem passing through the guide or clip and provided at its lower end with an
eye or boss which is fitted on the axle and is clamped between the bearing-block
and the cone of said wheel-hub, arms on the upper ends of the frame-plate
branch and the vertical stem, and resilient devices connecting said arms, sub-
stantially as described.
13
of Danamba 1900