Improvements in Bicycle and like Frames.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycle and like Frames.
FRANCIS BEAUCHAMP, Sunny Side, The Green, South Tottenham, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, and JOHN COWELL COLMAN, High Cross, Tottenham, in the
County of Middlesex, Builder, we do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
A bicycle frame so constructed that it can be easily converted into a ladies or
gentlemans machine.
For this purpose wejoint the top horizontal bar of a diamond
frame at both ends. One end is jointed to the head or neck of the machine the
other end jointed to the saddle end of the frame. The said joints are so constructed
that they can be easily disconnected. When the machine is required for a lady we
release one end of the horizontal bar or bars which falls into an obtuse angle and is
fastened by a mechanical device. The said frame can be bent out of one length
of tube thus dispensing with the bottom bearing.
Also the said frame can be easily converted into a tandem by applying a small
portion of framework at the rear end of the back wheel the steering wheel is in front
of one rider the back wheel is between the two riders on the back of the frame forks
the frame or fork is provided on each side with projecting lugs for the purpose of
bolting the small portion of framework thereto. The said sinall portion of framework
consists of a horizontal piece of tube one end of the horizontal tube is fixed to the
framework of a cycle. The other end of said tube I sometimes provide with a small
wheel or trailer for the purpose of preventing the cycle tipping up.
On the top of the small wheel or trailer I fix a piece of tube perpendicularly and
the seat pillar is fixed therein.
On the top end of the perpendicular piece of tube I provide a lug for the purpose
of clamping the seat pillar to any height the rider requires, the other end of the lug
is provided with a screwed bush for the purpose of connecting one end of the
horizontal bar.
The other end of the horizontal bar is provided with another long screw. The cycle
is provided with a lug or clip for the purpose of connecting the horizontal bar
thereto.
When the horizontal bar is required to be lowered for a lady it is unscrewed
underneath the saddle and fastened farther down the perpendicular tube, to which
the saddle pillar is connected.
FRANCIS BEAUCHAMP.
JOHN COWELL COLMAN.

page_text: Improvements in Bicycle and like Frames.
We, FRANCIS BEAUCHAMP, of Sunny Side, The Green, South Tottenham, Engineer,
and JOHN COWELL COLMAN, of High Cross, Tottenham, Builder, both in the County
of Middlesex, 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 means or devices whereby the frame of a bicycle or the
like can be so altered as to enable the machine to be used as a "tandem" if and when
required, by the addition to an ordinary bicycle or the like of a piece of framework at
the rear of the back wheel.
And in order that the said invention may be fully understood we will now proceed
to describe the same with the aid of the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in
which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle with our invention applied thereto,
Figure 2 a plan of the same and Figure 3 an elevation of the additional piece of
framework shown separate from the machine. Figure 4 is an elevation of a tricycle
with our invention applied thereto with the off hind wheel removed to enable the
framework to be more clearly seen, Figure 5 is a plan of same, and Figure 6 an
elevation of the additional piece of framework shown separate from the machine.
Referring in the first place to Figures 1, 2 and 3 A represents the ordinary diamond
frame of a bicycle and B, B1, B2 the additional or supplementary piece of framework
to be added thereto in order to convert the machine into a "tandem." The top bar B
may consist of a single tube connected to the upper angle of the diamond frame by
means of a screw coupling C or by any other suitable fastening device. The lower
bars or tubes B' are connected by screw couplings D to the lower bars of the diamond
frame, so as to form rearwardly projecting prolongations of those bars. The tubes B¹
are connected together at their rear ends so that they form a fork from the hinder
part of which rises the upright tube B2 carrying the saddle pillar at its upper end.
The lower end of the upright tube B2 may be provided with a trailing wheel E for the
purpose of preventing the machine tipping backwards.
When the
Referring in the next place to Figures 4, 5, and 6, the additional framework is
represented by the bars or tubes B, B1, B2, B3. In this case the top tube B may be
hinged at its front end by a pin-joint F to the frame A of the machine, and at its
rear end be jointed to the upright tube B2 by a screw coupling G.
additional part of the machine is to be ridden by a man the tube B may be secured in
the position shown by full lines in Figure 4; but if the additional part is to be ridden by
a lady the tube B may be disconnected at G, and lowered into the position shown
by dotted lines, in which position it can be connected by its screw coupling G to the
part H projecting from the upright tube B². If preferred, however, the rear end of
top tube B may be secured permanently to the upright tube B² as in Figures 1 and 3,
the front end being connected to the frame A by a screw coupling, a pin-joint or
otherwise as may be convenient and suitable. The bar or tube B3 of the additional
framework is secured to a cross bar I fixed to the ends of the horizontal members A¹
of the frame A of the machine by means of screw nuts J. The lowermost bar or
tube B of the additional framework takes at its front end B* into the rear end of the
main tube A2 of the frame. This main tube A2 may with advantage be made of one
length of tube as shown in Figure 4.
The upright tube B² may be provided with a trailing wheel E as in Figures 1 and 3
and for the same purpose.
It will now be understood that when the machine, either bicycle or tricycle for
example, is to be used by one rider only, the additional framework, Figures 3 and

page_text: respectively, is to be removed; but when the
machine is to be used
as a " tandem " the additional framework is to be applied as shown in
Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5.
In the drawings, we have shown lever treadle driving gear, but it will be readily
understood that the ordinary crank treadles or any other suitable kind of driving gear
may be used in machines provided with our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
First. The improvement in the frames of bicycles and the like, which consists in
the application thereto of removable additional or supplementary framework whereby
an ordinary bicycle or the like can be used as a "tandem" if and when required,
substantially as described.
Second. Additional or supplementary framework adapted to be connected with and
disconnected from the rear end of the frame of a bicycle or the like, substantially as
described, and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 19th day of February 1898.
F. BEAUCHAMP.
J. C. COLMAN.
Per W. H. Beck, Agent,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C.