Improvements in or relating to Bicycles, Tricycles, Safeties, and other Velocipedes, also applicable to Auto-cars and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 15th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Bicycles, Tricycles, Safeties, and
other Velocipedes, also applicable to Auto-cars and the like.
I. FREDERICK COOPER of 129 Heathfield Road, Handsworth, in the County of
Stafford, Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to the frames of cycles, and more particularly to the frames of
pneumatic safety bicycles, and has for its object, first to provide better accommodation
for the carrying of the air pump, or inflator for inflating the tyre, and thereby to
ensure of its not being in the way of the rider, or of its getting out of position when
strapped to the frame, as heretofore. Secondly, my invention has for its object to
construct certain parts of the frame of an elliptical, or flattened section of tubing, and
thereby to enable such parts to lie more compactly against the wheels, and lessen the
width of the machine.
In accordance with my invention, and as applied say to a diamond frame type of
cycle, I form (by preference) in the underside of the horizontal member or top stay of
the frame (by which the inflator is usually carried) a longitudinal groove or recess,
of a size or diameter corresponding (more or less) to the diameter of the inflator.
Into this groove or channel the inflator fits, and with a strap or clip passed round the
tube, is held securely in such groove, and in line with the tube, and cannot get
twisted out of position, and by so lying inside the groove is to a certain extent hidden
from view.
A modification of my invention consists in making the aforesaid horizontal top stay
of the frame with its underside cut away, to an extent which will allow the inflator to
be put bodily into the tube, and in such way be completely obscured from view. In
this modification a sleeve or ring may slide on the tube for retaining the inflator.
In accordance with the further feature of my invention I construct those parts of
the frame connected with the rear or driving wheel of the machine of a flattened or
elliptical cross section, with the plane of the wider part parallel with the plane of the
machine, and thus I make the frame of a more compact form without diminishing its
strength.
My improvements may with advantage be applied to all types of cycles, to auto-
cars, and similar motors requiring to carry an inflator, or its equivalent, and to be of a
compact construction.
If desired the groove or recess (or the cut away portion) for carrying the inflator
may be in any convenient part of the frame.
In practice the tube being of steel is drawn with the groove formed in it, or in case
of the tube being cut away it may be of segmental, or half-round section only, but I
should prefer it to be of tubular form for the better securing of the ends.
Dated this 14th day of May 1896.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Bicycles, Tricycles, Safeties, and
other Velocipedes, also applicable to Auto-cars and the like.
I, FREDERICK COOPER of 129 Heathfield Road, Handsworth, in the County of
Stafford, Commercial Traveller, 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 has for its object to provide better accommodation than has hitherto
been provided for carrying the pump or inflator of a bicycle, tricycle or other
velocipede, or auto-car, fitted with pneumatic tyres or other pneumatic fittings.
Heretofore the pump has been merely strapped to the top horizontal tubular bar, and
under the vibrations or movements of the machine has tended to get twisted out of
position, and to interfere with the comfort of the rider, and moreover, by rubbing and
rattling against the said bar, has removed the enamel or other finish.
By my invention the pump is held perfectly secure, is readily fixed and removed,
and all rattling, and scratching of the enamel avoided.
In accordance with my invention, and as applied say to a diamond frame type of
cycle, I form (by preference) in the underside of the horizontal member or top stay
of the frame (by which the inflator is usually carried) a longitudinal groove or recess,
of a length and diameter corresponding to the length and diameter of the inflator.
Into this groove or recess the inflator fits, and with a strap, clip or other suitable
device passed round the tube is held securely in such groove, and in line with the
tube, and cannot get twisted out of position, and by so lying inside the groove is to a
certain extent hidden from view.
A modification of my invention consists in making the aforesaid horizontal top stay
of the trame with its underside cut away to an extent which will allow the inflator to
be put bodily into the tube, and in such way be completely obscured from view.
And in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and carried
into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and will now proceed
to describe the same with the figures and letters of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a general perspective view of the top part of a gentleman's safety bicycle,
with my improvements applied thereto, and shewing a pump or inflator fixed in
position.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line a-b.
Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are transverse sections of modifications.
Figs. 6 and 7 shew the length of tubing in which the recess is formed, on a smaller
scale in plan and elevation, and with the pump removed.
Figs. 8 and 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 illustrate other modifications.
In accordance with my invention I employ a tube (A), in which I form by pressing,
rolling, stamping, or by other suitable operation an indent, recess or "housing" (B),
slightly greater in length than the pump or inflator (C) to be fitted therein, and of a
depth which permits the said inflator to be as nearly entirely imbedded as possible.
The indent is such as to leave the ends (A') of the tube in their original form
and suited for connection to the sockets or caps of the cycle frame, and thus I make
the tube in a form which lends itself to the alteration of existing machines and
does not entail any new appliances or tools for its application to new machines.
The indent is (by preference) arranged to come beneath the tube when the
latter is fixed, so that when the pump is placed therein it (the pump) to all
intents and purposes is hidden from view, and entirely protected from rain, e
To retain the pump in its housing" I may employ any suitable form o
fastening, such as a ring of india-rubber (D), and a hooked metal part (E), or

page_text: an elastic or other sleeve placed on the tube before fixing, but I prefer to hold
the pump in position by spring clips (F) encircling the tube and formed with
rolled or curved extremities, or fitted with small runners (G), which separate
when the pump is being pushed into the indent, but come towards each other
again as soon as the pump is fully "home," and by their elasticity hold the pamp
securely in its "housing." These clips (F) may be fixed on the inside of the
indent if desired, and may be of channel form. To locate and fix the spring clip
corresponding indents may be made in the tube and clip at (H) or the clip may
be otherwise fixed.
The extremities of the "housing" may be graduated as shewn in Figs. 1, 6
and 7, but I prefer to make them rectangular as shewn in Fig. 9, which increases
the length of the tubular ends (A'), and enables me to more effectually retain the
pump in the recess, to wit, by employing a stud (1) on one end, and a spring
cap or socket (J) on the other end as shewn, and between which the pump can
be readily carried by the end thrust of the spring cap. The stud (I) carries a
rubber ring and fits into a central hole (K) in the pump end, and the nose of
the pump piston fits into the spring socket (J) lined with cork (see Fig. 12).
In lieu of the stud (1) a socket similar to (J) may be substituted and fitting over
the pump end. This same method of mounting the pamp may be applied to the
ordinary pumps by arms or abutments fixed to the exterior of the tube.
Instead of fixing the pump externally as aforesaid I may form an opening (L)
in the tube sufficiently large to admit of the pump being placed bolily in the
tube as shewn in Fig. 5 and with a sleeve or shell (L') to slip over the opening
and complete the tube section.
In all the modifications the tube may be formed with small longitudinal flutes
or indentations (M), either upon the indented part of the tube as shewn in Fig. (3),
or upon the plain or upper part of the tube as shewn in Fig. (4), but their
presence is not absolutely necessary and is only desirable in tubes of very thin
section.
The indent or housing" may be lined with cork, felt, or other material for
protecting the tube from disfigurement by the pump, and for cushioning any
rattling or vibrations (if any) between tube and pamp.
As a further adaptation of my invention I may form the tube of the cross-
section shewn in Fig. 10, and the equivalent of which may be two separate tubes
arranged side by side. Similarly I may form the "housing" or recess as a special
fitting to existing machines, and in the form of a trough-like holder applied to
the exterior of the tube (A) as shown in Fig. 13.
Whilst I prefer the indent to be in the underside of the tube it may be in any
other part.
The improved tubing may be in any other part of a velocipede and in such
connection be adapted for ladies cycles, and auto-cars, or other vehicles which
require to carry the pump in like manner.
To give additional strength to the tube I may provide an inner tube (A2) (see
Fig. 11), and whilst indenting the outer tube also indent-and so fix-the inner
tube. Or I may provide the ends of the tuhe only with an outer sleeve (shewn
in dotted lines in Fig. 11) and cause it (the sleeve) to partly extend into the
indented part of the tube (A), and so become fixed by the indenting.
Whilst I prefer to form the indent in a tube, it will be obvious that the recess
may be formed in a solid bar, or rod adapted for use as part of a cycle frame
and of suitable size.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion I declare that what I claim and desire secure by Letters Patent is :-
1. A housing" (indent or recess) in or upon the frame of a bicycle, tricycle,
or other velocipede, auto-car or the like, for the reception of a pump or inflator
as set forth.
2. A tube for use in the construction of cycle frames, with an indent or recess,

page_text: and its two ends rounded or left plain and suitable for connection to the usual
sockets or caps, as set forth.
3. The tube (A) with indent or recess (B), in combination with means for
locking or holding a pump or inflator in said indent as hereinbefore described and
illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
4. A tube for use in cycles formed with an opening through which a pump or
inflator can be placed in such tube as shewn in Figs. 5 and 8 of the accompanying
drawings and herein described.
3
1
1007
FREDERICK COOPER,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
55 Market Street, Manchester, Agents.