Improvements in Coupling Devices for Safety Bicycles and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 25th June, 1898
Complete Sonnifination Loft 26th Mar 1800 Accented 20th Anr 1800
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coupling Devices for Safety Bicycles and the like.
We, AUGUSTE JOURDAN, of 13, Rue de Crussol, Manufacturer of Bronzes, and
FERNAND KAHN, of 11, Rue Montyon, Merchant, both of Paris, in the Republic
of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a coupling for safety bicycles, tandems and the like,
by means of jointed connections which coupling permits of all the separate move-
ments of one machine with respect to the other, and to the road traversed, which
are caused by alterations in direction, differences of level unevenness of the
ground and so forth. The device consists of distinct jointed connections; on the
one hand, for the two frames, and on the other hand, for the two steering posts,
together with, in addition, a consolidation of the first system in the median plane
of the whole. The whole device being capable of being united and forming but
a small volume which may be packed or arranged in a very small compass.
The frames of the two safety bicycles, of the ordinary kind, are united by three
jointed connections. The first connection serves to unite the steering sockets the
second connection unites the seat pillars and the third connection unites the
inside arms of the hind wheel forks.
The first jointed connection comprises a straight portion, and, at the two ex-
tremities of this straight portion, two portions at right angles to the latter.
The straight portion is constituted by two tubes fitting and capable of telescoping
one within the other: the one tube which forms the sleeve is provided at its
extremity which forms a socket for the other tube with a transverse groove,
which may be caused to regi ter with a screw-threaded hole in the second tube
the two portions being fixed by means of a screw with a certain amount of trans-
verse play.
The outer extremities of the tubes are provided with riveted or brazed sockets.
Arms maintained in the sockets by means of washers and of screws (which
latter are screwed into the hollow arins) are able to rotate upon themselves with
a greater or less amount of play, according to the length of the grooves screws
enter screw-threaded holes in the arms and limit this rotation.
The arms terminate in hinged rings or sockets which may be closed in any
suitable manner, such as by means of screws, hinged bolts and thumb screws,
or the like; these sockets which are provided with an internal covering or pack-
ing of rubber or felt, embrace the steering sockets.
The second jointed connection is constituted by two bent tubes fitting one
within the other and capable of relative rotations, which tubes are similar to the
tubes already described, the screw and the groove being similar to the corres.
ponding parts in the aforesaid tube and the hinged sockets embracing the seat
pillars.
The second jointed connection thus admits only of a relative rotation of the
two tubes. The third connection is in this respect similar to the second connec-
tion, it consists of the straight outer tube provided with the groove and of the

page_text: inner tube fitting in the outer tube and into which may be inserted the screw.
The hinged sockets embrace the two inside arms of the rear wheel forks.
The frames of the two bicycles being thus united by means of the connec-
tions, this coupling is consolidated by rigidly uniting the first and second con-
nections in the median plane of the system; this is effected by a stay.
This stay is so constructed as to be capable of being either increased or
diminished in length, according to the distance separating the first and second
connections which corresponds to the different lengths of the frames coupled
together.
The opposite extremities of the tubes of which this connection or stay is com-
posed, are provided with nuts screw-threaded with equal and opposite threads,
such nuts being operated by means of the screw-threaded rod which is rigidly
connected with the enlarged portion, this latter being fixed to the sleeve by
means of a screw. This sleeve covers the extremities of the tubes after the rod
has been screwed into the nuts; by means of the screw the rotation of the sleeve
causes that of the rod and consequently the approach or separation of the tubes,
as the case may be.
The connection which unites the inside arms of the front wheel forks, com-
prises a straight portion at the extremities of which two small connecting rods
are jointed. The straight portion is formed, similarly to the parts of the tube
provided with the groove and of the tube fitted into the said grooved tube, and
into which the screw may be screwed. To the free extremities of the tubes are
jointed the two small connecting rods terminating in the hinged sockets or
collars which embrace the inside arms of the forks. It will be understood that
this front fork connection when it is placed horizontally in position forms by
means of its straight portion and of its jointed connecting rods three sides of
a jointed parallelogram which unites in a perfect manner the two steering posts,
in such a way that one only of the riders is able to steer.
The connections may by telescoping the two tubes forming the straight por-
tions, be reduced to small dimensions, in order to effect the same result, the bent
portion instead of being hent for the whole of its length whereby it is prevented
from telescoping, may be formed of a straight portion terminated by two curved
portions, and which are required for the freedom of the rear wheels: the two
tubes may slide one within the other for the entire length of this straight portion.
Dated this 25th day of June 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coupling Devices for Safety Bicycles and the like.
We, AUGUSTE JOURDAN, of 13, Rue de Crussol, Manufacturer, of Bronzes, and
FERNAND KAHN, of 11, Rue Montyon, Merchant, both of Paris, in the Republic
of France, 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 relates to a coupling for safety bicycles, tandems and the like,
by means of jointed connections, which coupling permits of all the separate move-
ments of one machine with respect to the other, and to the road traversed, which
are caused by alterations in direction, differences of level unevenness of the
ground and so forth. The device consists of distinct jointed connections; on the

page_text: one hand, for the two frames, and on the other hand, for the two steering posts,
together with, in addition, a consolidation of the first system in the median plane
of the whole. The whole device being capable of being united and forming but
a small volume which may be parked or arranged in a very small compass.
In the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 represents a plan of the coupling for two safety bicycles constructed
in accordance with our invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation, bring a projection from Figure 1.
Figures 3 to 10 represent two views of each of the four jointed connections of
the coupling.
Figures 11, 12 and 13 shew the cross-piece which consolidates the device in
the median plane of the whole.
Figures 14 and 15 represent constructional modifications of the preceding
forms.
Figures 16 and 17 represent the manner of assembling certain of the jointed
connections.
The frames of the two safety bicycles, of the ordinary kind, are united by
three jointed connections 1, 2, 3 (Figures 1 and 2). The first connection 1
serves to unite the steering head A A¹, the second connection 2 unites the seat
pillars B and B', and the third connection 3 unites the inner members C, C¹
of the rear wheel forks.
The first jointed connection 1 (Figures 3 and 4) comprises a straight portion,
and, at the two extremities of this straight portion, two portions at right angles
to the latter. The straight portion is constituted by two tubes a and a fitting
and capable of telescoping one within the other; the one tube a which forms
the sleeve is provided at its extremity which forms a socket for the tube a¹ with
a transverse slot b, which may be adjusted to register with a screw-threaded hole
in the tube a', the two portions being fixed with a certain amount of transverse
play by means of a screw as clearly shown in Figures 16 and 17.
On removing the screw the tube a' can be pushed into the tube a and so,
when the coupling device is not in use, reduce its size to such a compass as to
enable it to be packed within the smallest possible space for casy transport.
The outer extremities of the tubes a and a¹ are provided with sockets c and c¹
arranged at right angles to the tube. The tubes a¹ and a¹ may for example be
made of iron, steel, aluminium, nickelled metal or the like, while the sockets c c¹
are by preference of bronze casting and are rivetted or brazed to the respective
tubes. In these sockets are mounted arms and and in each socket is pro-
vided a transverse slot in which enters a screw for f¹ screwed into a tapped
hole in the arms d and d.
The arms and , maintained in the sockets and by means of washers
and of screws g and g¹ (which latter are screwed into the hollow arms) are able
to rotate with a greater or less amount of play according to the length of the
slots e¹:
The arms and terminate in hinged rings sockets or collars h and h¹, which
may be locked together by any suitable means, such as by screws, hinged bolts
and thumb-screws, or the like: these sockets or collars, which are provided with
an internal lining or packing of rubber or felt, are attached to the steering
heads A and A¹.
It is obvious what the different movements are which this jointed connection 1
permits the steering heads AA of the coupled bicycles to perform one indepen-
dent of the other. But in order to increase the tendency of vielding and instant
transmission of shocks, we may sometimes provide ball bearings in the sockets c c¹
upon which the arms d and revolve.
The jointed connection 2 (Figures 9 and 10) consists of two bent tubes i and
fitting one within the other end capable of relative rotation. which tubes are
similar to the tube: a and a' already described. the screw i corresronding to the
screw b, the slot being similar to the slot of the corresponding parts in the

page_text: aforesaid tube and the hinged sockets or collars k k¹ embracing the seat pillars B
and B are also fitted with elastic linings in the same manner as the parts h and h¹.
The jointed connection 2 thus admits only of a relative rotation of the two
tubes and . The connection 3, (Figures 7 and 8) is in this respect similar
to the connection 2: it consists of the straight tube 1, provided with the slot m
and of the tube fitting in the tube 7 and into which may be inserted the
serew m. The hinged sockets or collars and embrace the two inner mem-
bers C and C¹ of the rear wheel forks.
In some bicycle frames the parts C, B and so on may be formed of special
sections other than circular and in such cases the hinged sockets or collars h k n
must obviously be constructed to suit the section, whether it be of oval, ellip-
tical or any other form.
The frames of the two hieveles being thus united by means of the connec-
tions 1, 2 and 3, this coupling is consolidated by rigidly uniting the connections 1
and 2 in the median plane of the system; this is effected by the stay 4.
This stay 4 (Figures 11, 12 and 133) is so constructed as to be capable of being
either increased or diminished in length to suit the distance separating the con-
nections 1 and 2 which varies with the different lengths of the frames of the
bicycles coupled together.
This stay comprises two tubes o and o' the adjacent ends of which are provided
with nuts having threads of equal but opposite pitch, such nuts being screwed
upon a rod Figure 13 provided with screw threads to suit the nuts and which
is formed with an enlarged central portion p. this latter being fixed to the
sleeve by means of a screw . After first screwing the ends of the rod r into
the tubes o and of the sleeve q is slid over the enlarged portion p¹ of the rod p.
This enlarged portion has a screw hole to which access can be had through a
hole or slot formed in the sleeve and into which is fixed a screw ql for holding
the sleeve q.
It will be understood that by rotating the sleeve
ends of this latter are simultaneously screwed into or
to the opposite screw threads thereon, and by this
made longer or shorter as may be required.
and with it the rod p the
out of the tubes o o¹ owing
means the stay 4 may be
While the frames are secured together by the parts 1, 2, 3 and 4, the two
steering posts are connected the one with the other by the jointed connection 5
which is attached to the inner members D and D of the forks of the front
wheel.
This connection 5 (Figures 5 and 6) comprises a straight portion at the ex-
tremities of which two small connecting rods are jointed. The straight portion
is formed, similarly to the parts 1, 2 and 3, of the tube provided with the
slot s, and of the tube fitted into the tube r. the said tubes being secured
together by the screw s¹. To the outer extremities of the tubes and rare
jointed the two small connecting rods and f', terminating in the hinged sockets
or collars u and which embrace the inner members 1) and D of the forks.
It will be understood that the connection 5. when placed horizontally in posi-
tion (as shewn in Figures 1 and 2) forms by means of its straight portion
and of its jointed connecting rods tt, three sides of a jointed parallelogram
which unites in a perfect manner the two steering posts, in such a way that
one only of the riders is able to steer.
The connections 1, 3 and 5 may, by telescoping the two tubes forming the
straight portion (Figure 15) be reduced to a small compass; in order to effect
the same result, the lent portion 2, instead of being bent for the whole of its
length (as shewn in Figure 9) whereby it is prevented from telescoping, may be
formed of a straight portion terminated by two curved portions, as shewn in
Figure 14, and which are required for the clearance of the rear wheels: the two
tubes and may slide one within the other for the entire length of this straight
portion.
Figure 15 shows a light mo.lification in the arrangement of the collars h h¹

page_text: (Figures
and 4) and (Figures 7 and 8). In this arrangement the joint
is placed at an angle of about 4° to the longitudinal axis of the tube a with a
view to facilitating the manner of attaching them to the parts of the frames of
the bicycles which it is desired to connect together.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is;-
1. A coupling for safety bicycles, tandems and the like, characterized by inde-
pendent jointed connections designed to connect together the frames and also
separately the steering posts thereof, the former connection comprising: a jointed
connection, 1, for the steering heads of the two machines, a jointed connection, 2,
for the two seat pillars; these two connections being rendered integral one with
the other by means of an extensible stay bar 4 arranged in the median plane of
the system and a jointed connection, 3, uniting together the inner branches of
the rear forks, the connection for the steering posts consisting of a jointed mem-
ber 5, uniting the inner branches of the front forks; such jointed member being
so constructed and arranged as to permit of the two bicycles performing all the
movements, one relatively to the other, necessitated in the turning of curves, by
differences in the level of the road and by the unevenness of the said road.
2. In a coupling as claimed in Claim 1, the arrangement of connections 1, 2,
3, 5 each formed by two telescoping tubes capable of a slight rotary movement
one on the other by means of a screw screwed into the inner tube and working
in a slotted hole in the outer tube, such connecting tubes being provided at their
outer ends with hinged collars provided with locking means and with elastic
linings and of a circular, oval or other suitable shape for attachment to the parts
of the frame of the two cycles as required.
3. In a coupling as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, the arrangements in connection
with the parts 1, 4, 5 such arrangements consisting (a), of the sockets, at the
ends of the connection 1, formed at right angles to the axial line thereof and each
furnished with an arm capable of rotary motion and carrying the collars for
attachment; the rotary motion of said arms being limited by means of a screw
fixed in the arms and working in a slot in its retaining socket; (b) of the con-
struction of the stay 4, connecting the parts 1 and 2, in such a manner as to
allow of its being lengthened or shortened, as may be required, by turning a
sleeve integral with a rod having right and left handed screw threaded ends,
such sleeve also carrying the two tubes forming the stay (c), of the articulated
connecting links attached to the outer ends of the telescoping tubes forming
the connecting bar 5, said links being arranged so as to form three sides of an
articulated parallelogram for attachment to the steering posts of the machines.
4. In the arrangement of jointed connecting bar I as claimed in Claim 1, of
ball bearings in the sockets carrying the rotary arms with their collars.
5. In the jointed connecting bars 1, 2, 3, 5 as claimed in Claims 1, 2 and 3 the
manner of constructing the tubes so as to allow them to be slid and also perform
a slight rotary movement one within the other.
6. The improved coupling constructed, arranged and combined substantially
as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of March 1899
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.