IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Imray, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES
AND VELOCIPEDES." A communication from abroad by La Société Clement
et Cie., an Incorporated Company, of Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Imray at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th February 1880.
JOHN IMRAY, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND VELOCIPEDES." [A communication from abroad
by La Societé Clement et Cie., an Incorporated Company of Paris, France.]
The object of this Invention is to provide in the wheels and framing of bicycles
and velocipedes elasticity such as to save the operator from shocks when the wheels
pass over obstacles or roughnesses. For this purpose, in the case of a bicycle, the
main driving wheel is of an elastic construction, as will be presently described, and
in the back bar which connects the steering joint with the axle of the small hind
wheel, and which supports the seat, there is introduced an elastic joint. The elastic
wheel is constructed as follows:-On the driving axle are fixed at some distance
apart two discs, and between these discs is freely fitted a hollow cylinder enclosing
the axle, but of much larger diameter than the axle, so as to give range within it
for considerable play of the axle. The two ends of this cylinder are connected by
converging wire spokes to the outer rim of the wheel, which may have a caoutchouc
tyre in the usual way. The two discs are connected by wire spokes alternating
with those above mentioned to an inner rim, which may be tubular, and which is
of considerably smaller diameter than the outer rim, so that there is an annular
space giving freedom for considerable play between the two rims. The two rims
are connected together by a caoutchouc cord laced in zig zag fashion from hooks or
eyes on the one rim to hooks or eyes on the other rim. Thus the inner rim with
its spokes, which is in rigid connection with the driving axle, is elastically con-
nected to the outer rim and its spokes, so that when the outer rim passes over
obstacles or roughnesses no shock is transmitted through the inner rim and its

page_text: spokes to the axle or to the operator who is principally supported thereon. The
back bar which sustains his seat, instead of being made in one piece from the
steering joint to the axle of the hind wheel, is divided at a part of its length as
near as possible to the small wheel, and the two parts are hinge jointed together,
the joint being made with a stop to prevent the one part from assuming more than
a certain amount of obliquity to the other. In the joint between the knuckle of
the one part and the other part is introduced a piece of caoutchouc under com-
pression which offers an elastic resistance to the bending at the joint, and thus
serves as a buffer, preventing communication of shocks from the small wheel to the
seat of the operator. For tricycles and velocipedes of other kinds the main wheels
are of the elastic construction above described, and in suitable parts of the framing
there are introduced elastic joints, as described above with reference to the single
frame or back bar of a bicycle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Imray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd August
1880.
JOHN IMRAY, of No. 28, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND VELOCIPEDES." A communication from abroad
by La Société Clement et Cie., an Incorporated Company, of Paris, France.
The object of this Invention is to provide in the wheels and framing of bicycles
and velocipedes elasticity such as to save the operator from shocks when the wheels
pass over obstacles or roughnesses. For this purpose, in the case of a bicycle, the
main driving wheel is of an elastic construction, as will be presently described, and
in the back bar which connects the steering joint with the axle of the small hind
wheel and which supports the seat, there is introduced an elastic joint. The elastic
wheel is constructed as follows:-On the driving axle are fixed at some distance
apart two discs, and between these discs is freely fitted a hollow cylinder enclosing
the axle, but of much larger diameter than the axle, so as to give range within it
for considerable play of the axle. The two ends of this cylinder are connected by
converging wire spokes to the outer rim of the wheel, which may have a caoutchouc
tyre in the usual way. The two discs are connected by wire spokes alternating
with those above mentioned to an inner rim which may be tubular, and which is
of considerably smaller diameter than the outer rim, so that there is an annular
space giving freedom for considerable play between the two rims. The two rims
are connected together by a caoutchouc cord laced in zig-zag fashion from hooks or
eyes on the one rim to hooks or eyes on the other rim. Thus the inner rim with
its spokes, which is in rigid connection with the driving axle, is elastically con-
nected to the outer rim and its spokes, so that when the outer rim passes over
obstacles or roughnesses no shock is transmitted through the inner rim and its
spokes to the axle or to the operator who is principally supported thereon. The
back bar which sustains his seat, instead of being made in one piece from the
steering joint to the axle of the hind wheel, is divided at a part of its length as
near as possible to the small wheel, and the two parts are hinge-jointed together,
the joint being made with a stop to prevent the one part from assuming more than
a certain amount of obliquity to the other. In the joint between the knuckle of
the one part and the other part is introduced a piece of caoutchouc under com-
pression, which offers an elastic resistance to the bending at the joint, and thus
serves as a buffer, preventing communication of shocks from the small wheel to the
seat of the operator. For tricycles and velocipedes of other kinds the main wheels
are of the elastic construction above described, and in suitable parts of the framing
there are introduced elastic joints, as described above with reference to the single
frame or back bar of a bicycle.

page_text: connected by a caoutchouc or other elastic cord laced across from the one tyre to
the other through eyes or hooks fixed on the tyres. As the cylinder D leaves
ample room within it for the play of the axle A, there is no communication of shock
from the outer tyre to the axle. The elastic joint x, shewn in Figs. 4, 5, and 6,
consists of a forked part F embracing the part E to which it is jointed by a pin O.
Between the ends of. E and F, which may have leather facings k, is interposed a
pad h of caoutchouc or other elastic material. A stop pin 7 prevents the joint from
opening outwards. The pin O might be extended to form a step for mounting.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents,
I claim,—
First. The construction of elastic wheel for bicycles or velocipedes, substantially
as herein described with reference to Figs. 2 and of the accompanying Drawings.
Second. The use in the back bar of a bicycle of an elastic joint, substantially as
berein described with reference to Figs. 4, 5, and 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Imray, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Third day of August, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
TATT
JOHN IMRAY. (L.S.)