An Improvement in Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1896-Accepted, 21st Nov., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Velocipedes.
We LOUIS BOULAY, Machinist, of 28, Rue Saint Anne, Paris, France, and
EMILE STAES, Surveyor of Ironwork, of 218, Boulevard Raspail, Paris, France,
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 improvement in velocipedes, having for its object to
lessen vibration, and it consists in constructing the frame in two parts jointed
together at the lower part so as to permit of relative motion of the two parts with
regard to each other and interposing an elastic cushion (pneumatically inflated for
example) at the upper part whereby to absorb the vibration due to inequalities of
the ground.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this
specification in which
Figure 1 represents the improvement as applied to a safety bicycle.
Figure 2 is a section of the form of elastic air cushion preferably employed.
Figures 3 and 4 are detail views of the parts of the frame to which the air
cushion is applied.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
In applying the invention to a safety bicycle the lower member a of the frame
and the tube b are preferably connected by a tube c so as to form a reservoir of air
pumped in at the valve d, the tube b being closed by a partition e at such height
as to allow the saddle pillar to be lowered within the tube as far as may be
required, the lower half of the tube being connected by a tube g with an accordion-
pleated air-bag h attached to a front plate i through which the tube g leads and
bearing at its rear end against an abutment plate j carried by the rear fork m.
The air bag would preferably be made of fabric covered internally and externally
with india-rubber or it may be made of leather. Instead of an air-bag an air
cylinder with piston working in it may be used.
In order to permit of the relative movements of the two parts of the framing
the stay bars & are jointed at 1 to the bottom bracket and the abutment ; is con-
nected to the upper end of a stay rod p movable with k and m about the joint !
and provided with a friction roller o working in a guide slot in a stirrup piece n
fixed to the tube b. 9 is a rubber stop for roller o.
The upper tubular member r may also be utilized as an air reservoir in communi-
cation with the members a band the air cushion may connect with the tube b
through a groove in the seat pillar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
The improvement in the frames of velocipedes, which consists in constructing
the frame in two parts pivoted together at the lower part and interposing an air
cushion or air cylinder and piston inflated by air stored either within the tubular

page_text: framing or in a separate reservoir, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn
in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 31st day of January 1896.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agents.