Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 28th Sept., 1888
I, GEORGE DOUGLAS LEEOHMAN, of 17 Manor Park Road, Harlesden, in the County
of Middlesex, Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
My invention relates to an improved construction of frame for that type of
Velocipede having a single rear driving wheel, and it has for its object increasing
the rigidity of the frame of the machine particularly against the torsion produced by
the application of power to the cranks of the pedal axle.
I attain this object by constructing the frame in the following manner :-I mount
the driving wheel in a double frame the upper of which is forked and joins the
tubular post carrying the seat pillar near its upper end.
The lower frame consists of
a pair of tubes running forward from the axle of the driving wheel one on each side
thereof and parallel or approximately parallel with each other. The front ends of
these tubes are connected to the lower end of the tubular post carrying the seat
pillar, the lower end of the said post being split up and bent to form a fork to receive
the said tubes. On to the lower ends of the prongs of this fork or on to the tubes
connected thereto, the bearings of the pedal crank axle are fixed. To stiffen this fork
a cross piece is inserted between the prongs thereof. The backbone running forward
to carry the steering wheel or wheels is preferably fixed to the tubular post imme-
diately above the point where it commences to fork, which may be at any convenient
height above the pedal crank axle.
Instead of splitting the the tubular post to form the fork, a fork of the usual kind
may be used fixed to the lower end of the tubular post immediately below its connec-
tion with the backbone.
From the lower end of the prongs of the said fork two tie rods run forward to the
front end of the backbone to stiffen the frame longitudinally.
December 1887
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, 71 & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: •
1, GEORGE DOUGLAS LEECHMAN of 17 Manor Park Road Harlesden, in the County
of Middlesex, Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described &
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to an improved construction of frame for carrying the driving
wheel, pedal-crank axle, and seat, for that type of velocipede having a single rear-
driving wheel and it has for its object, increasing the rigidity of the frame of the
machine particularly against the torsion produced by the application of power to the
cranks of the pedal-axle.
I attain this object by constructing the frame in the manner illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 Sheet No. 1 is a view in side elevation of a
bicycle, the frame of which is constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2
Sheet No. 1 is a broken view in front elevation, illustrating the construction of part
of the frame. Fig. 3 Sheet No. 2 is a view in perspective of my improved frame.
Fig. 4 Sheet No. 2 is a view in perspective of a modification of my improved frame,
& Fig. 5 Sheet No. 2 is a view in front elevation of an alternative construction of
part of the frame.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The frame consists of a fork A the upper end of which supports the top part of a
tubular post B, carrying the seat pillar Y. From the ends of the prongs of this
fork which support the axle x of the driving wheel X-a pair of tubes A' A' run
horizontally, or approximately horizontally, forward and parallel, or approximately
parallel, with each other. The front ends of these tubes A¹A' are connected to the
lower end of the tubular post B carrying the seat pillar; the lower end of the post B
being split up and bent to form an arched fork B¹ to receive the said tubes A¹ A¹.
On to the lower ends of the prongs of the fork B₁ or on to the tubes connected
thereto the bearings vv of the pedal-crank axle V are mounted.
To stiffen the arched fork B¹, a cross piece or bow bis inserted between the
prongs thereof.
From the tubular post B, a backbone runs forward, to support the frame carrying
the steering wheel or wheels, and it is preferably fixed to the post B immediately
above the point where it commences to fork, which may be at any convenient height
above the pedal-crank axle.
Instead of splitting the tube B to form the fork B¹, a curved tube-as illustrated
by figure 5 Sheet No. 2 of the accompanying drawings-may be used, the said
curved tube being fixed to the lower end of the tubular post B at any convenient
distance below its connection with the backbone C.
From the lower end of the prongs of the fork B₁ two stays A² A² run forward to
the front end of the backbone C to stiffen the frame longitudinally.

page_text: These stays may either take the form of tension rods as illustrated by Fig. 1
Sheet No. 1, and Fig. 3 Sheet No. 2 of the accompanying drawings, or they may be
extensions of the tubes A' A', as illustrated by Fig. 4 Sheet No. 2 of the accom-
panying drawings.
Those parts to which no special reference has been made or which are not illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings present no novel features and may be of the
usual type or construction.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The frame of a single rear-driving velocipede for carrying the driving wheel,
pedal-crank axle, and seat, constructed specifically as set forth.
2. In a frame for a velocipede having a single rear-driving wheel, the combination
of the fork A, the parallel tubes A¹ A¹, the rods A2 A2, the tubular post B, the arched
fork B, and the backbone C all combined, arranged, and operating as & for the
purpose set forth.
3. In a frame for a single rear-driving velocipede, the combination of the fork A,
the tubular post B, the arched fork B', the backbone C, the tubes A¹ A', running
forward from the ends of the prongs of the fork A, to support the ends of the
arched fork B', the extensions of the said tubes A2, A2, running upward to join the
forward end of the backbone C, and the cross piece or bow to stiffen the prongs of
the arched fork B₁, all combined, arranged & operating as set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1888.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.