Improvements in Cycle Frames.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Applica'ion, 11th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 11th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1897
Improvements in Cycle Frames.
I, ALFRED WILLIAM SUTTON, of Emily Cottage, Raby Street, Wolverhampton
in the County of Stafford, Mechanic, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
A cycle frame constructed according to this invention has the middle or main
portion thereof formed of a part or parts which or each of which is of a wheel-
shape or corresponding or analogous shape, such as one oval in outline, which
results from connecting a continuous curved rim or periphery with a central boss
by means of spokes or arms. The rim or periphery of such part or each of such
parts may be of light steel or other tubing, and the spokes or arms may be of steel
wire connected with the rim or periphery and central boss in any manner in which
spokes have hitherto been connected with the rims and hubs of cycle wheels, or in
any convenient manner; or such part or each of such parts may be pressed out of
a single piece of sheet metal, or may be made iu any convenient manner.
A convenient application of the invention, in the case of a safety bicycle, consists
in arranging two parts of the character above defined side by side and spaced the
necessary distance apart to leave room between then for the forward side of the
rear wheel. Suitable pieces of framing are, of course, fixed to the rims of these
parts for the attachment of the steering head and rear axle; and the bottom
bracket and seat pillar tube are fixed also to such parts.
A similar application of the invention to that described for a safety bicycle may
be adopted for a tricycle, or may be modified for such purpose by using only one
wheel-shaped or corresponding part.
Cycle frames made with wheel-shaped or corresponding parts as above described
are very strong compared with their weight, and may consequently be made very
light.
1
1000
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.
I, ALFRED WILLIAM SUTTON, of Emily Cottage, Raby Street, Wolverhampton
in the County of Stafford, Mechanic, 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 :-
A cycle frame constructed according to this invention has the middle or main
portion thereof formed of a part or parts which, or each of which, is of a wheel-
shape or corresponding or analogous shape, such as one oval in outline, which
results from the connection of a continuous curved rim or periphery with a central
boss by means of spokes or arms. The rim or periphery of such part, or each of

page_text: such parts, may be of any suitable material and of any desired shape in section.
It may conveniently be of light steel or other tubing, or of wood, and the spokes
or arms may be of steel wire connected with the rim or periphery and central boss
in any manner in which spokes have hitherto been connected with the rims and
hubs of cycle wheels, or in any convenient manner; or such part, or each of such
parts, may be pressed out of a single piece of sheet metal, or may be made in any
convenient manner. It is not essential (though it is preferred) to connect the
spokes with a central loss, as such boss may be dispensed with and the spokes
simply pass each from its connection with one part of a rim to another part thereof
with which it is also connected.
A convenient application of the invention, in the case of a safety bicycle, consists
in arranging two parts of the character above defined side by side and spaced the
necessary distance apart to leave room between them for the forward side of the
rear wheel. Suitable pieces of framing are, of course, fixe 1 to the rims of these
parts for the attachment of the steering head and rear axle; and the bottom
bracket and seat-pillar tube or socket are fixed also to such rims.
A practical application of the invention, in the case of a safety bicycle, is shewa,
by way of example, by the drawings herewith, of which
Figure 1 shews the frame in side elevation, the driving chain wheels and portions
of the peripheries of the travelling wheels being shewn by broken lines to give a
sense of proportion.
Figure 2 is a plan view, Figure 3 an underside view, Figure 4 a front view, and
Figure 5 a back view, of the frame.
In some of the views some of the remoter parts are omitted, to avoid unnecessary
complication which would tend to confuse rather than to make clear; but each part
is properly brought out by two or more of the views.
A A are wheel-shaped portions of the frame, having rims a spaced apart side by
side and wire spokes 6 fixed at their outer ends to the rims and at their inner ends
to a central boss or hub c which is, conveniently, common to both the rims and sets
of arms. The steering head B is joined to the rims a by short lengths of tubing de.
The bottom bracket C is joined to the rims a; and a short length of tubing fjoins
the rear end of each back stay g with the rim a on the corresponding side.
A socket D, for the seat pillar, is fixed to the rims a. The upper end of this
socket may be formed as a clip, as shewn, to hold the seat pillar. The rims are
rigidly held together, at the required distance apart, by the ends of the tubes de,
the bottom bracket C, the socket D, and a short transverse piece h.
The portions of the two rims a which run from the seat-pillar socket D, in
a forward direction, to the connection of the short tube e therewith, are shown in
the illustrations as spaced nearer together than the remaining portions of such
rims, for convenience in pedalling. The forward side of the hind travelling wheel
is between the hinder sides of the rims a, as indicated.
The rims a are shewn as if made of steel tubing, and iu such case the parts are
conveniently fixed thereto by brazing. If the rims are made of wood, such for
instance as hickory, the parts are fixed thereto by clips or in other convenient
When the rims a are tubular, holes k may be formed through the outer
side through which the spokes are passed in putting them into place.
A similar application of the invention to that described for a safety bicycle may
be adopted for a tricycle, or may be modified for such purpose by using only one
wheel-shaped or corresponding part.
Cycle frames made with wheel-shaped or corresponding parts, as above
described, are very strong compared with their weight, and may consequently be
made very light.
Having now particularly described and 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. A cycle frame having the middle or main portion thereof formed of a part

page_text: or parts which, or each of which, is of a wheel-shape, or corresponding or analogous
shape, such as one oval in outline, which results from the connection of a continuous
curved rim or periphery with a central boss by means of spokes or arms, or from
the combination of such a rim or periphery with spokes or arms which are each
connected only with two points thereof, substantially as described.
2. A cycle frame having the middle or main portion thereof formed of two
continuous curved rims or peripheries spaced apart from one another side by side,
and each joined with a central boss by means of spokes or arms, or each having
spokes or arms which are each connected only with two points thereof, substantially
as described.
3. A cycle frame constructed substantially as described and shewn by the
drawings herewith.
Dated this 10th day of December 1896
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.