Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 25th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, JAMES LOGAN WATKINS, of 19 Hetley Road, Uxbridge Road, London, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My improvement relates to a simple and effective device for attaching two rear-
driving safety bicycles together, so that one rider can propel the two machines, or
so that both machines may be ridden coupled together.
I am aware that many attempts have already been made to couple two machines
of this type together so as to form a double cycle, and by a Patent of prior date
I have described and claimed a device for parking or stacking two machines of this
type together for military and other purposes, but by my present invention I go
further, and by a simple contrivance can so fix two machines together without
the use of any tools, that the coupled machines can be ridden by one or two
riders thus materially increasing the utility of this type of machine for military
purposes.
In carrying my invention into practical effect I proceed as follows:-I form on, or
fix to, the forward end of the backbone or frame of each machine a snug or bracket
having a transverse hole therein-preferably tapered. A rigid bar of a suitable
length and having its ends adapted to fit in the holes in the said snugs or brackets,
braces the forward parts of the machines together, the bar being locked in position
by dowel pins or their equivalents. The rear parts of the main frames are coupled
together by the device described in my prior Patent No. 139988 for parking or stacking
cycles. This consists of a rod or bar of a convenient length hinged at one end to the
frame of one cycle, and having at its other end a hook adapted to engage with an
eye on the frame of the other cycle. When not in use this bar lies alongside the
frame and is confined in a spring clip. To control the steering, a suitable bar couples
the lamp brackets on the steering posts of the machines, suitable studs or pins being
mounted on the underside of the said brackets to receive the pierced ends of
the bar.
When the machine is used in its compound form, it forms a convenient carrier, as
the space between the two machines can be utilized for carrying arms, ammunition,
an ambulance, or anything else that may be required or desired.
When the machines are used in their single form, the front coupling bar and the
steering bar are carried on any convenient part of the frame of the cycle or
cycles.
By this device one rider can easily couple two machines together without assistance
and ride the compound machine so formed.
Dated this 25th day of January 1889.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, JAMES LOGAN WATKINS of 19 Hetley Road, Uxbridge Road, London, in the
county of Middlesex, Engineer, 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 :-
My improvement relates to a simple and effective device for attaching two rear-
driving safety bicycles together, so that both machines may be ridden coupled
together, and so that one rider can propel the two machines.
I am aware that many attempts have already been made to couple two machines
of this type together so as to form a double cycle, and by a patent of prior date I have
described and claimed a device for "parking" or stacking two machines of this typo
together for military and other purposes, but by my present invention I
go further,
and by means of a simple contrivance fix two machines together without the use of
any tools so that the coupled machines can be ridden by one or two riders
thus materially increasing the utility of this type of machine for military purposes.
I carry my invention into practical effect in the manner illustrated by the accom-
panying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a single rear-driving
safety bicycle adapted to be coupled to a similar machine and having all the necessary
coupling rods or bars fixed on or carried by the said machine, and Figure 2 is a view
in plan of two machines coupled together. Throughout these views similar parts are
marked with like letters of reference. I form in or on the forward end of the
backbone or frame A of each machine a snug or bracket having a transverse hole b
therein, preferably tapered. A rigid bar C of a suitable length, and having its ends
adapted to fit in the holes bb in the said snugs or brackets B, braces the forward
parts of the machines together the bar being locked in position by dowel pins c c
or their equivalents The rear parts of the main frames of the safeties are coupled
together by the device described in my prior Patent No. 13998 for parking or
stacking cycles. This consists of a rod or bar D of a convenient length hinged at
one end to the frame A of one cycle, or to any convenient bracket fixed thereto, and
having at its other end a hook d adapted to engage with an eye a in the frame of the
other cycle, or in any convenient bracket fixed thereto. When this bar is not
in use to couple two safeties together it lies alongside the frame A and is confined
in a spring clip E carried by the said frame A. To control the the steering, a suitable
bar F couples the lamp brackets A¹ A¹ on the steering posts A2 A2 of the machines,
suitable studs or pins a a¹ being mounted on the underside of the said brackets to
receive the bar F which is provided with suitable eyes at its extremities. The ends of
the studs or pins a' a' are provided with holes for split pins, or their equivalents, to
retain the bar F in position.
When the machine is used in its compound form, it forms a convenient carrier as
the space betweeen the two machines can be utilized for carrying arms, ammunition,
an ambulance or anything else that may be required or desired.
When the machines are used in their single form the front coupling bar C and
the steering bar F are carried in a bucket G, or its equivalent, fixed to the fork
carrying the the steering wheel, or to any other convenient part of the frame of
the cycle or cycles.
By this device one rider can easily couple two machines together without
assistance and without tools, and can also ride the compound machine so formed.
It will be understood that when a series of machines are intended to be mutually
interchangeable so that any two may be coupled together, each one is provided with
the bar C, the hinged rod or bar D, the eye a, and the bar F.
I am aware of the Patent of Thomas Warwick No. 12507 of 1884 and I therefore
do not broadly claim coupling two rear-driving safety bicycles together for the
purpose of making a double or sociable velocipede, but

page_text: 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 :-
1st. The improvement in velocipedes substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
2nd. The combination with rear-driving safety velocipedes, of the bar C having
tapered ends adapting it to engage in tapered sockets formed in or on the forward
ends of the main frames of the said cycles, of the bar D pivotted or fulerated at or
near the rear end of the main frame of one of the said cycles and adapted either to
lie alongside the said frame when the cycle is used in its single form, or to engage
with the eye a in the main frame of another of the said cycles for the purpose of
locking the two together, and of the bar F connecting the parts of the frames carrying
the steering wheels by means of stud pins carried by the lamp brackets, all combined
arranged and operating as and for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In a double or sociable cycle formed of two rear-driving safety bicycles braced
together side by side by suitable bars or rods, the combination with the said rods
of the bucket G, or its equivalent, fixed to any convenient part of the frame and
adapted to carry two or more of the said bars or rods when the machines are used in
their single form, as set forth.
1
1
1000
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, 71 & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.