Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept., 1897-Accepted, 4th Dec., 1897
Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Sept., 1897-Accepted, 4th Dec., 1897
I HENRY GEORGE BURFORD of 12 Kings Street Twickenham in the County of
Middlesex Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:
The object of my invention is to construct a drop frame for velocipedes, such as
are more commonly used by ladies, so as to give more rigidity than heretofore,
and at the same time to retain the clearance which is so necessary when the
machines are to be used by ladies.
According to my invention I construct what is known as a bent double tube
ladies frame in the following manner.
The upper tube forms the vertical tube and is so bent as to carry the bottom
bracket it being then curved up to the upper part of the head. The lower tube is
brazed onto the upper tube a short distance below the saddle and then passes down
at a distance from the upper tube between the lower back forks and is then curved
upwards following approximately the curvature of the upper tube, this lower tube
being then attached to the lower part of the head.
I split the upper tube on its lower side and the lower tube on its upper side,
through which slots I pass a vertical metal plate which is cut to exactly fit the
inner opposite surfaces of the bent tubes, and I braze or otherwise connect the
tubes & the virtical plate together and by this means a curved girder is formed
which will be able to carry a rider of any weight without bending.
In some cases I construct a frame in accordance with my invention in the follow-
ing manner; instead of splitting the tubes I braze or connect to the two upper and
two lower edges of the vertical plate tubes of D section.
A further construction of my invention which is suitable for a rider of lighter
weight may be carried out by brazing or otherwise connecting two tubes of large
D section together on their flat surfaces by which means a tube will be formed
which will appear to be round but it will have a vertical plate of metal passing
through its whole length. In some cases the upper tube, the vertical web and the
lower tube may be formed in one piece.
Dated this 5th day of December 1896.
I, HENRY GEORGE BURFORD, of 12 King Street, Twickenham, in the County of
5 Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
Price 81

page_text: manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to construct a drop frame for velocipedes, such as
are now commonly used by Ladies, so as to give more rigidity than heretofore,
and at the same time to retain the cleurance which is so necessary when the
machines are to be used by ladies; with this object in view I construct, for example
what is known as a bent double tube ladies frame, as I will now describe with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 shews in side elevation a curved drop frame suitable for bicycles. Fig. 2
is a cross section of the frame on the line X Y of Fig. 1, the view being
shewn drawn to a larger scale than the latter figure. Fig. 3 is a side eleva
tion of a bottom bracket suitable for use with my improved frame, the view
shewing the bracket detached and drawn to a larger scale than at Fig. 1.
Figs. 4 and 5 are cross sections, hereafter referred to, of the bracket shewn
at Fig. 3.
The upper tube A of the frame, as usual in such frames, is connected to the head
socket tube B, is curved downwards to receive the bottom bracket C, and is then
carried up to form the vertical tube of the frame, to receive the saddle support at A¹,
and the upper ends of the rear fork members D.
The lower tube E is brazed ot attached to the upper tube A, say at E¹, and then
passes down at a distance from the upper tube A between the lower back fork
tubes F, and is then extended upwards, following approximately the curvature of
the upper tube A, this lower tube being then attached to the lower part of the head
tube B.
Now, according to my invention, I slot the upper tube A on its lower side, and
the lower tube E on its upper side, through which slots I pass a vertical metal
plate G, see also Fig. 2. This metal plate is cut to exactly fit the inner opposite
surfaces of the bent tubes, and I braze or otherwise connect the tubes A and E,
and the vertical plates G together, say at the points GG, and by this means a
curved girder is formed which will be able to carry a rider of any weight, without
bending.
The tubes A E Fig. 2 may be formed with inner grooved beadings H H to receive
the edges of the plate, if desired, but in all cases the edges of the plate G should be
made to conform to the contour of the tubes A. E and should be in contact with the
walls of same.
By this construction I am enabled to produce a curved drop frame of very light
weight and greatly increased strength, the web G occupying the space between
the two tubes.
I apply the bottom bracket C to my improved frame, after the latter has been
constructed as above described and to effect this, I construct the said bracket as
shewn at Figs. 3 and 4, dovided transversely at C¹ Fig. 4, excepting at the part C³,
so that the bracket may be opened or expanded at the said division and be caused
to pass onto each side of the tubes A E and web G, then closed and brazed thereon,
when it will assume the position shewn at Fig. 1 and 5. I then cut out the part
of the plate G, within the tube of the bracket C, and I fix within the said tube of
the bracket C a lining tube J which may be internally screw threaded to receive
the usual ball cups, such as K Fig. 3. In some cases I may entirely divide the
bottom bracket, by continuing the division C through the part C Fig. 4, and
when thus constructed the bracket C is applied upon either side and brazed in
position. The bottom bracket C of the bracket C may either entirely encircle the
tube E as at Fig. 5, or only partially enclose same as at Fig. 1
By these means the web plate G is not entirely discontinued at any part betweer
the tubes, and may extend from say the dotted line L, to near the head tube B as
shewn, or the plate G might, if desired, be brought entirely up to the head
tube B.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I am
aware metal girders have been constructed with enlarged top and bottom flanges,
and such flanges have been made hollow or tubular, and I am also aware that it has
been proposed to construct bicycle frames of folded sheet metal in such a manner
that the same shall have an upper and lower flange and a vertical web. It has
been proposed to produce a flanged web girder frame for cycles, from a sheet of
metal, or from two superposed sheets by stamping or bending such to form; I
therefore lay no claim broadly to such modes of constructing girder frames for
cycles, but what I claim is as follows:-
1. In the construction of double tubular dron frames for velocipedes, providing
a vertical web plate between the two tubes thereof, such tubes being slotted longi-
tudinally, the plate extending through such slots, and formed to fit against the
inner opposite surfaces of the said tubes, substantially as described.
2. In the construction of double tubular drop frames for velocipedes, providing
between the two bent tubes thereof, a continuous vertical web plate, the plate
passing through longitudinal slots in the adjacent sides of the tubes, and fitting
against the inner opposite surfaces thereof, the said continuous web plate extend-
ing from or near the socket head tube beyond the bottom bracket to the upper
part of the vertical tube substantially as described.
3. In double tubular drop frames for velocipedes, the combination with the
two bent tubes, and a continuous vertical web plate passing through longitudinal
slots in adjacent sides of the tube, and fitting against the inner opposite surfaces
thereof, of a transversely divided or partially divided bottom bracket adapted to be
fitted after the vertical web is in position, substantially as described.
4. The general arrangement and construction of frame tubes A. E and web
plate G, substantially as and for the purposes described and illustrated with
reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1897.
BREWER & SON,
London & Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.