Improvements in Safety Bicycles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 15th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safety Bicycles.
I, GEORGE COUSINS, of Birchington-on-Sea, in the County of Kent, Builder, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a rear-driving safety bicycle and consists, first, of an
improved construction of spring frame, and secondly, of various improvements in
the details of construction, and it has for its object the suppression of vibration, and
the general improvement of this type of cycle.
I carry my invention into practical effect in the following manner; -The fork
carrying the steering wheel consists of a length of spring steel of any suitable section
bent double on itself to form the prongs of the said fork, and is then bent into a
C shape. The ends of the prongs are adapted to carry the axle of the steering
wheel and the loop at the head of the fork is adapted for attachment to the
steering pillar. The frame carrying the driving wheel consists of a length of spring
steel of any suitable section bent double on itself to form a fork and then made
of a bow form so that after it departs from the steering head to which the loop
of the fork is attached, it dips to carry the pedal crank axle and then rises to
carry the bearings for the axle of the driving wheel, and is continued beyond the
periphery of the said wheel to form a luggage carrier. Over the periphery of the
driving wheel is a bowed frame constructed of two or more lengths of spring steel.
These are adapted to carry the saddle which may be of the usual type, or of the
seat description with a back, in which case I prefer to make the seat of webbing,
leather, or like material adapted to be stretched on the members of the spring bow.
The various parts of this spring frame and the fittings attached thereto are clamped
together and not brazed. The spring fork carrying the driving wheel may be
strengthened by additional springs if desired. I do not limit myself to the use of
steel for the members of my improved frame as any other metal or alloy having
sufficient resiliency may be used, neither do I bind myself to the use of any
particular section of metal as they may be made of many sections or combinations
thereof, with equal effect.
The brake is of the spoon type applied to the driving wheel and its lever is so
prolonged as to enable it to be applied by the foot of the rider direct as well as from
the handle bar by means of a flexible connection attached to a slide adapted to move
laterally on the handle bar.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Safety Bicycles.
I, GEORGE COUSINS, of Birchington-on-Sea, in the County of Kent, Builder, 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 invention relates to a rear-driving safety bicycle and consists, first, of an
improved construction of spring frame, and secondly, of various improvements in
the details of construction, its object being the suppression of vibration and the
general improvement of this type of cycle.

page_text: I carry my invention into practical effect in the manner illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings, in which Figure 1 Sheet No. 1. is a view in side elevation of a
bicycle embodying my improvements, and Figures 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. and 7. Sheet No. 2
are views illustrating details of construction. Throughout these views similar parts
are marked with like letters of reference.
The fork A carrying the steering wheel B consists of a length of spring steel of any
suitable section bent double on itself to form the prongs of the said fork, and is then
bent into a C-shape. The ends of the prongs are adapted to carry the axle 6 of the
steering wheel B, and the loop at the crown of the fork is adapted to be attached to
the steering pillar X in the manner illustrated by Figure 1 Sheet No. 1. and
Figure 2. Sheet No. 2 of the accompanying drawings, or in any other suitable
manner. The frame C carrying the driving wheel consists of a length of spring steel
of any suitable section bent double on itself to form a fork and then made of a bow
form so that after it departs from the neck spindle or socket-as the case may be-of
the steering head, to which the loop of the fork is attached in the manner illustrated
by Figure 1. Sheet No. 1, and Figure 3. Sheet No. 2. of the accompanying drawings,
or in any other suitable manner, it dips to carry the bearings d. of the pedal crank
axle D and then rises to support the axle e. of the driving wheel E and continued
beyond the periphery of the said wheel to form a support or carrier F for luggage.
Over the periphery of the driving wheel is a bow-shaped frame G constructed of two
or more lengths of spring steel of a round or other suitable section. This bow-shaped
frame is adjustably attached to the main frame C, so that it may be raised or lowered
with respect thereto, and it is adapted to carry the saddle H which may be of the
usual type, or of the seat description with a back or its equivalent. The saddle H
may be mounted on the bow-shaped frame G-which acts as a spring-either in the
manner illustrated by Figure 1. Sheet No. 1 of the accompanying drawing, or in any
other suitable manner so long as the necessary means of varying its height and tilt
are provided. It will he obvious that if means are provided for adjusting the height
of the saddle with respect to the bow-shaped frame G, the said frame need not be
made adjustable with respect to the main frame C.
The spring fork carrying the driving wheel may be strengthened by additional
springs, or by stays c. c. across the bends as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1
Sheet No. 1 of the accompanying drawings.
The brake I prefer to use is of the spoon type applied to the driving wheel as
illustrated by Figure 1. Sheet No. 1. of the accompanying drawings, and having its
lever so prolonged as to enable it to be applied by the foot of the rider direct, as well
as from the handle bar, where I prefer to operate it-through a flexible connection-
by a slide adapted to move laterally on the said bar.
I do not bind myself to the use of steel for the members of my improved spring as
any other metal or alloy having sufficient resiliency may be used, neither do 1 limit
myself to the use of bars of any particular section for the members of the frame, as
they may be of a square, round, oval, crescent, or other section, as found most con-
venient in construction, and as giving the desired elasticity.
In order that the elasticity of the metal may not be impared, none of the members
of my improved frame are subjected to heat for brazing or sweating the several parts,
and fittings being bolted or clamped together as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings, or in any other convenient manner.
I do not limit myself to the use of any particular clamps or devices for attaching
the several members of the frame together, or the parts or fittings thereto, those
shown by Figures 2. 3. 4. 5. 6 and 7 Sheet No. 2. of the accompanying drawings being
shown merely by way of illustrations. Figure 2. Sheet No. 2 is a plan view of the
front fork A showing how it is fixed to the steering pillar X by means of two plates X
and X clamped together by small bolts a. x. etc. Figure 3 Sheet No. 2 is a plan
view showing how the front of the main frame is attached to the neck spindle Y or
socket as the case may be of the steering head, by means of plates Y¹ and Y2 and
small bolts y. y. etc. Figure 4 Sheet No. 2. is a view in transverse sectional elevation
showing how the members of the bow-shaped frame G may be attached to the

page_text: members of the main frame C, so as to be capable of adjustment therewith; and
Figure 5. 6. and 7 are views in transverse sectional elevation, and side elevation,
respectively showing two methods by which the supporting brackets c¹, c¹, for the
axle e of the driving wheel E, may be fixed to the members of the main frame C.
Those parts to which no specific reference has herein been made, or which are not
shown in the drawings, present no novel features and may therefore be of the usual
description.
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the exact details
of construction herein set forth and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, but
hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the
spirit and scope of my invention.
I am aware that prior to the date of my invention, the frames of velocipedes
have been made of elastic bars and I therefore do not broadly claim such as my
invention, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1st. The improved spring frame for rear-driving safety bicycles, constructed,
arranged, and operating as set forth.
2nd In a frame for rear-driving bicycles, the use of elastic bars for the members
thereof clamped or bolted together, and to the parts or fittings thereof, as and for the
purpose set forth.
3rd. In a frame for rear-driving bicycles, the combination of the C-shaped fork
carrying the steering wheel, of the curved main frame extending as a fork from the
steering wheel to a point beyond the periphery of the driving wheel in the rear
of the centre thereof, and of the bow-shaped frame adjustably attached to the main
frame, at points fore and aft of the driving wheel, as and for the purpose set forth.
4th. In a frame for a rear-driving bicycle, the combination of the main frame C
formed of one or more elastic bars and adapted to support the pedal-crank axle and
axle of the driving wheel, and to form a luggage carrier in the rear of the driving
wheel, and of the bow shaped frame G constructed of two or more elastic bars and
adapted to carry the saddle and to be adjustably attached to the main frame C, as and
for the purpose set forth.
5th. In a frame for a rear-driving bicycle, the combination of the curved fork C
adapted to carry the axles for the pedal cranks and driving wheel, and of the bow
shaped frame G fixed thereto and adapted to carry the seat or saddle, as and for the
purpose set forth.
6th. In a spring frame for a velocipede, constructing the forks for carrying the
driving or steering wheels, out of single lengths of solid bars of a suitable section,
and attaching the said forks to the steering head by their crowns, as and for the
purpose set forth.
Dated this 15th day of October 1890
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.