Improvements in Frames for Velocipedes and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Frames for Velocipedes and the like.
I, GEORGE LEONARD MORRIS, of 16, Granville Square, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved frame for rear-driving safety bicycles
but applicable also to tandem bicycles and tricycles, and it consists in so arrang
ing the members extending between and connecting, the socket of the steering
head, the lower front member joining the socket of the steering head and the
pedal-crank axle bracket, and the lower and upper back forks, that three cross
junctions or joints are obtained which results in an exceedingly rigid frame with-
out the use of the usual top member between the top of the socket of the steer-
ing head and the top of the diagonal member.
In carrying this invention into practice in a frame for a rear driving safety
bicycle I connect the socket of the steering head with the pedal-crank axle
bracket or preferably an extension of the lower back fork in advance thereof
either in its double form or as a single tube by two members the one starting
from the top and the other from the bottom of the said socket and both con-
verging at their point of attachment to the pedal-crank axle bracket or extension
of the lower back fork in advance thereof.
Instead of carrying the diagonal member from the pedal-crank axle bracket, I
carry it from a point at the rear thereof preferably from a bridge across the
bottom fork, and from. the point of attachment of the diagonal with this bridge
I carry a member to the bottom of the socket of the steering head, which member
crosses the member running between the top of the socket of the steering head
and the forward end of the lower back fork.
From the point of juncture of the members running from the bottom. and top
of the socket of the steering head respectively, to the forward end of the lower
back fork a member is carried to meet the upper back fork at a bridge above the
periphery of the back wheel. This said member crosses both the usual diagonal
member and the member extending from the lower end of the said diagonal to
the lower end of the socket of the steering head. Thus three distinct and
separate cross junctions or joints are formed in the frame whereby great rigidity
is obtained thus enabling smaller and therefore lighter tubes to be used, and the
usual top member to be dispensed with. The continuation of the upper back
fork from the bridge to the top of the diagonal may consist either of extensions
of the two members of the fork or of a single tube.
Although I prefer to use single tubes for all the members of the frame some
cf them may be formed of double tubes so arranged as to cross the members
formed of single tubes, it being understood that in all cases where the members
of the frame cross one another they are rigidly connected by means of ordinary
junction pieces.
This machine is eminently adapted for the use of ladies as the top of the drop
in the frame is lower than that in an ordinary dropped frame. When however

page_text: I carry out this method of construction in frames of cycles for the use of gentle-
nien, I connect the lower end of the diagonal member to the lower back fork in ad-
vance of the pedal-crank axle bracket and run the member attached to the top of
the socket of the steering head to the lower back fork in the rear of the pedal-
crank axle bracket, and I dispense both with the member extending between the
bottom of the socket of the steering head and the bottom of the diagonal, and the
member extending between the top of the bridge of the upper back fork and the
forward end of the lower back fork, and substitute for these two a single member
arranged in either of the three following ways:-First, connecting the bottom
end of the socket of the steering head with the bridge at the upper end of the
upper back fork. Secondly, connecting the bottom end of the socket of the steer-
ing head with the junction of the upper and lower back forks, and thirdly con-
necting the bridge at the upper end of the upper back fork with the member
connecting the bottom of the socket of the steering head with the forward end of
the lower back fork at or about the centre of its length, by either of which con-
structions I attain the same three cross joints which form the essence of this
invention.
In either of these modifications the member connecting the lower back fork-
at the rear of the pedal-crank axle bracket with the socket of the steering head
may run to the bottom end of the socket instead of to the upper end thereof in
which case I run a member between the upper end of the socket and the junction
of the members connecting the bottom of the socket with the lower back fork
at the rear of the pedal-crank axle bracket with the member connecting the
bridge of the upper back fork with the member running between the lower end
of the socket of the steering head and the pedal-crank axle bracket on the ex-
tension of the lower back fork in advance thereof.
I may with any of these frames use a fixed or detached member extending
between the top of the socket of the steering head and the top of the diagonal
if desired.
In carrying out this method of construction in frames for tandem bicyles, I
prefer to form the rear part of the frame for carrying the rear rider in the
manner herein first described, and to form the front part thereof according to
the modification last herein before described, but it is obvious that both the
forward and rear part of the frame may be made in accordance with one or other
of the methods of constructions hereinbefore described without departing from
the principle of my invention.
It will be understood that all the tubes used in the construction of my improved
frame are straight.
I, GEORGE LEONARD MORRIS, of 16, Granville Square, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Cycle Manufacturer, 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 an improved frame for rear-driving safety bicycles

page_text: but applicable also to tandem bicycles and tricycles and other velocipedes and
motor cycles, and it consists in so arranging the members extending between
and connecting, the socket of the steering head, the pedal-crank axle bracket,
and the lower and upper back forks, that three cross junctions or joints are
obtained which results in an exceedingly rigid frame without the use of the
usual top member between the top of the socket of the steering head and the top
of the diagonal member.
In the accompanying drawing which illustrates-by way of example-some
methods of carrying this invention into practice:-
Figure 1 Sheet No. 1 is a view in side elevation of one form of frame, and
Figure 2 Sheet No. 1 is a similar view of another form.
Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are diagramatic views showing the application of the
invention to frames for tandem bicycles.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
Referring to Figure 1, the socket X of the steering head is connected with the
pedal-crank axle bracket Y or preferably with an extension A¹ of the lower
back fork A in advance of the pedal-crank axle bracket by two members B and
the former starting from the top and the other from the bottom of the socket X
and both converging at their point of attachment to the pedal-crank axle
bracket Y or to the extension A¹ of the lower back fork A in advance thereof.
The extension A¹ may consist of either one or two tubes.
Instead of carrying the diagonal member D from the pedal-crank axle bracket Y
it is carried from the lower back fork in the rear thereof, and from this point of
attachment of the diagonal D a member E is carried to the bottom of the socket X
of the steering head, which member crosses the member B.
From the point of juncture of the members B and C with the extension A¹
of the lower back fork A a member F is carried upwards to meet the upper back
fork G at a convenient distance below its point of connection with the diagonal
member D. This said member F crosses both the usual diagonal member D
and the member E. Thus three distinct and separate cross junctions or joints
are formed in the frame whereby great rigidity obtained thus enabling smaller
and therefore lighter tubes to be used, and the usual top member to be dispensed
with.
The upper back fork G from the point of connection of the member F to the
top of the diagonal I may consist either of extensions of the two members of
the fork or of a single tube, and likewise the lower back fork A from the point
of connection of the diagonal D and the member E to the pedal-crank axle
bracket Y may consist either of extensions of the two members of the fork,
or of a single tube.
Although I prefer to use single tubes for all the members of the frame some
of them may be formed of double tubes so arranged as to cross the members
formed of single tubes, being understood that in all cases where the members
of the frame cross one another they are rigidly connected by means of suitable
junction pieces.
A frame constructed according to this invention is eminently adapted for the
use of ladies as the top of the drop in the frame is lower than that in an ordinary
dropped frame. When however this method of construction is carried out in
frames of cycles for the use of gentlemen, I connect the lower end of the diagonal
member D to the pedal-crank axle bracket Y or to an extension A¹ of the lower
back fork A in advance of the said bracket and run the member B from the top
of the socket X of the steering head to the lower back fork A in the rear of the
pedal-crank axle bracket Y as shown in Figure 2. I also dispense both with the
member E and the member F, and substitute for them a single member H ar-
ranged in one or other of the following ways:-First. To connect the bottom
end of the socket X of the steering head with the upper end of the upper back
fork A as shown in full lines. Secondly. To connect the bottom end of the
socket X of the steering head with the junction of the upper and lower back

page_text: forks A and G as shown in dot and dash lines, or thirdly. To connect the upper
back fork near its upper end with the member C at or about the centre of its
length as shown in dotted lines, by either of which constructions I attain the
same three cross joints which form the essence of my invention.
In either of the constructions shown by Figures 1 and 2, the ordinary top
tube connecting the top of the socket of the steering head and the top of the
diagonal may be employed if desired to give increased strength.
In carrying out this method of construction in frames for tandem bicycles, the
rear part of the frame for carrying 'the rear rider may be constructed according
to Figure 1, and the front part according to Figure 2 as shown by Figure 3, or
the rear part of the frame may be constructed according to Figure 2 and the
front part according to Figure 1, as shown by Figure 4, but it will be obvious
that both the forward and rear part of the frame may be made in accordance with
one or other of the methods of constructions herein before described without de-
parting from the principle of my invention. In the constructions shown by
Figures 3 and 4 the position of the member H can be varied as hereinbefore
described with reference to Figure 2. Figure 5 shows a tandem frame with both
the front and rear parts constructed according to Figure 1.
Figure 6 shows a modification in which the member H as described with
reference to Figure 2 is employed instead of the members E and F.
In the constructions shown by Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6, the pedal-crank axle
bracket can as an alternative construction be placed at the forward end of the
member A¹.
It will be seen that all the tubes used in the construction of my improved
frame are straight.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
(1) A frame for velocipedes and the like constructed and arranged substan-
tially as herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
(2) A frame for velocipedes and the like characterised by the members being
so arranged that three cross joints are formed, as and for the purpose set forth.
(3) The improved frame for velocipedes and the like as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by Figure 1.
(4) The improved frame for velocipedes and the like as herein before described
and illustrated by Figure 2.
(5) The improved frame for velocipedes and the like as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by Figure 3.
(6) The improved frame for velocipedes and the like as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by Figure 4.
(7) The improved frame for velocipedes and the like as herein before described
and illustrated by Figure 5.
(8) The improved frame for velocipedes and the like as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by Figure 6.
Dated this 27th day of July 1900.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M. I. Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.