Improvements in the Construction of Bicycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Bicycles.
I, CHARLES FREDERICK COOPER, of 43, Park Grove Road, Leytonstone, in the
County of Essex, Solicitor's Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this 'invention
to be as follows:-
The lower portion, or bottom rod, or tube of the bicycle frame is carried
straight along as shewn in the drawing A to A and to this is affixed the head or
steering gear B B B, and forks C of sufficient and proportionate length to allow the
dwarf wheel D to run on the same level as the hind wheel E and also to consentrate
and bring the working centres of the machine A X A as near a paralell and com-
mon centre as practicable. The head or steering gear BBB aforesaid is inclined
or carried to within a few inches of the nose of the saddle ZZ. The improved con-
struction above referred to so materially reduces the length of the bicycle as to
allow the rider to sit perfectly straight in the saddle and almost on the exact
centre of gravity of the machine, but if necessary & for the sake of speed permits
the body to be thrown naturally forward to any desirable extent at the same time
giving tremendous driving power with increased impetus. It is obvious that a
bicycle built on the above lines renders a much lighter machine combined with
increased strength and what is all important far greater speed and safety. There
is no drag on the head of the machine as the rider is not-so to speak-suspended,
but is on a solid and continuous driving basis which minimises the labour to little
if any more than the driving of a single wheel.
Dated this 12th day of July 1897.
Improvements in the Construction of Bicycles.
I, CHARLES FREDERICK COOPER, of 43, Park Grove Road, Leytonstone, in the
County of Essex, Solicitor's Clerk, 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 improvements in the construction of bicycles such as
gentlemen's bicycles, ladies bicycles, tandem bicycles, and the like.
The improvements consist in altogether discarding the lower frame tube at
present employed leaving or issuing from the lug or other contrivance attached
or affixed to the centre bracket and running up in an oblique direction to the lug
FP 8d1

page_text: or other contrivance attached or affixed to the bottom or lower part of the head
tube, (which forms the well known Diamond frame) and substituting therefor
a horizontal tube, i.e., a horizontal lower frame tube, one end of which leaves or
issues from the lug or other contrivance attached or affixed to the centre bracket
and is carried along (paralell with the ground or roadway) to the lug or other con-
trivance attached or affixed to the bottom or lower end of the head tube, such
head tube being elongated or extended downwards to a sufficient and proportionate
extent to meet, and adapted to receive, the termination of such lower frame tube.
Such horizontal lower frame tube may however leave or issue from the lug or
other contrivance attached or affixed to the said centre bracket in a perfectly
horizontal direction as above described, or as has been found by experiment, the
more convenient mode of carrying out the invention is, to lower or drop the centre
bracket about 2 inches (more or less) from the centre of the back or driving wheel
(as in the construction of the present day safety bicycle) by giving a curve or bend
(more or less) to the horizontal lower frame tube next the centre bracket, but
such lower frame tube must immediately after such curve or bend assume
horizontal position for the remainder of its length. This brings the pedals
nearer to the ground than would be the case if a perfectly horizontal lower frame
tube were employed, & so facilitates the easy and comfortable mounting, and
dismounting, of the bicycle.
a
The improvements above referred to render a much stronger & more rigid
machine, and augment speed and safety.
The forks of the steering weel are shewn in the accompanying drawing inverted
or curved inwards but any other adaptable shape or pattern may if desired be
employed.
The steering wheel is kept considerably smaller than the driving wheel,
vizt.; from 14 inches to 16 inches in diameter, but such steering wheel may of
course be somewhat enlarged if desired, by giving the said lower frame tube a
longer curve or sharper bend next the centre bracket. The driving wheel may
be 30 inches 28 inches 26 inches or even less in diameter, but the lower frame tube
must of necessity be manipulated according to my present invention to suit the
various sized wheels employed. A reference to the accompanying drawing and the
scale thereon, coupled with the above description will at once convey the principle
of the improved construction to the mind of any person of ordinary mechanical
intelligence.
The principal advantages gained by the invention are vizt., The equilibrium
of the rider is maintained without effert, in consequence of being as near as
possible on the exact centre of gravity of the bicycle, the weight of the body is
more easily & effectually distributed without undue effort, a natural and com-
fortable position maintained without loss of speed atmospheric resistance &
windage materially diminished, vibration considerably reduced, the machine
under thorough control, and perfection in steering attained. The extreme light-
ness of construction and compact form renders the machine most easy to handle,
whilst, the space required for its storage (a most important feature) is exceedingly
small.
The accompanying drawing represents a bicycle constructed or built according
to my present invention the centre bracket being dropped & the lower frame
tube curved or bent as before described, with a driving wheel of 28 inches & a
steering wheel of 14 inches.
A is the lug or other fixing or device attached to the centre bracket adapted
to receive the end B of the horizontal, curved, or bent, lower frame tube, which
is brazed or otherwise affixed, attached, or fastened, thereto. B is the opposite
end or termination of the said horizontal, curved, or bent, lower frame tube,
and C the lug fixing or other device attached or fastened to the bottom or
lower end of the elongated or extended head tube D adapted to receive B* afore-
said which is in like manner aforesaid brazed or otherwise affixed or fastened to

page_text: C aforesaid. The top frame tube Z is somewhat shorter in length than in the
diamond frame bicycle, as a reference to the scale on the said drawing will
disclose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. Improvements in the construction of bicycles by inserting affixing applying
& adapting a horizontal, curved, or bent, lower frame tube substantially in the
manner & for the purposes above described.
2. An elongated or extended head tube of sufficient, & proportionate length,
to meet, and adapted to receive one end of the improved lower frame tube, in
order to fix and combine these parts together, substantially in the manner & for
the purposes above described.
Dated this 4th day of April 1898
CHARLES FREDERICK COOPER.