Improvements in and relating to Bicycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1895-Accepted, 29th June, 1895
Improvements in and relating to Bicycles.
1, HERMANN BAUM, of 9, Leipzigerstrasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Merchant, 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 safety bicycles, and it consists in using wheels of a
small diameter, in making the frame telescopic so that its length can be varied,
and in so mounting the seat pillar and the handle bar pillar that the height of
the machine can be reduced, the object being to facilitate stowage and transport of
the machine.
In the accompanying drawing which illustrates this invention;
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved machine ready for use.
Figure 2 is a view in side elevation showing the machine closed up for stowage
or transport, and
Figure 3 is a view in front elevation showing an alternative method of reducing
the height of the steering handle bar.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference:
The frame of the machine consists of tubular members a, a¹, the top member a¹
being formed in two parts a¹ and m the part m carrying the steering head or
socket being adapted to telescope or slide in the part a' and to be locked either
in its extended or compressed position by set screws such as n. The driving
wheel C, the steering wheel d, the driving chain wheel and the saddle e may be
all of the usual type and present no novel features. The seat pillar g is mounted
in a socket carried by the members a and a¹ of the frame and it is capable of
adjustment with respect to the said socket by means of set screws such as i. The
steering post is formed in two parts fand k, the part being adapted to slide or
telescope in the part and to be fixed thereto by means of set screws such as f¹.
The steering post is mounted in the ordinary steering head or socket k¹ carried by
the part m of the main frame. The part of the steering post is hinged imme-
diately above the steering head or socket k¹ so that it may be turned down
rearwards to lie over the top member of the frame as shown by Figure 2, and it is
provided with a suitable set screw or bolt whereby it may be locked in its upright
position.
As a modification the steering post may be formed in two parts o, o, adapted to
fit and slide in sockets p, p, carried by the cross bar p immediately above the
steering socket or head and to be fixed thereto by means of set screws
such as q.
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details of construction herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawing, but that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as
fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.
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.) The improvements in bicycles, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
(2.) In a bicycle, constructing the main frame so that it can be telescoped
to reduce the length of the machine and so that both the seat pillar and the steering

page_text: post can be telescoped to reduce the height of the machine, as and for the purpose
set forth.
(3.) In a bicycle, the combination with a main frame adapted to telescope to
reduce its length and so constructed as to provide for the lowering of the seat
pillar, of a handle bar pillar adapted to fold and or telescope to reduce the height 5
of the machine, as set forth.
Dated this 21st day of March 1805
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.