Year: 1892

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of, the Patenis, &c., Act, 1883), as allowed by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the Sth day of July, 1896.
I, JULES TRUFFAULT, of No. 277, Boulevard Pereire, Paris, France, Builder,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of velocipedes of the bicycle class in
such a manner as to obtain great strength and lightness of their framings and to
relieve their riders from shocks and vibration.
I mount each of the bearings of the hind wheel in the apex of a frame which is
of the shape of a sector of a circle, the lower radius of the sector being nearly
horizontal: To the circular are of this frame near its lower extremity I hinge the
lower angle at the rear side of a second frame, which is of trapezium shape, and I
connect the upper angle at the rear side of the frame to the upper end of the arc
above referred to by springs which may be in the form of caoutchouc buffers, but
which are preferably in the form of shears. The front side of the trapezium frame
carries the steering spindle which works in roller bearings provided with means of
adjusting and protecting from access of grit. The bearings of the steering wheel
are formed in short links which are jointed to the lower ends of the forks, with
springs such that, when the wheel encounters an obstruction the spring link yields.
thus saving the hands of the rider from shock which might otherwise be transferred
through the fork. I shape the riius of the wheels and caoutchouc tyres for them
so that the base of the caoutchouc has to be forced into an undercut hollow of some-
what dovetail form in the rim, into which the caoutchouc expands and in which it is
thus formly held.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1892.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant."

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, JULES TRUFFAULT, of No. 277, Boulevard Pereire, Paris, France, 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:
This invention relates to the construction of velocipedes of the bicycle class in
such a manner as to obtain great strength and lightness of their framings and to
relieve their riders from shocks and vibration.
I mount each of the bearings of the hind wheel in the apex of a frame which is
of the shape of a sector of a circle, the lower radius of the sector being nearly
horizontal. To the circular arc of this frame near its lower extremity I hinge the
lower angle at the rear side of a second frame, which is of trapezium shape, and I
connect the upper angle at the rear side of the frame to the upper end of the arc
above referred to by springs which may be in the form of caoutchouc buffers, but
which are preferably in the form of shears. The front side of the trapezium frame
carries the steering spindle which works in roller bearings provided with means of
adjusting and protecting from access of grit. The bearings of the steering wheel
are formed in short links which are jointed to the lower ends of the forks, with
springs such that, when the wheel encounters an obstruction the spring link yields,
thus saving the hands of the rider from shock which might otherwise be transferred
through the fork. I shape the rims of the wheels and caoutchouc tyres for them so
that the base of the caoutchouc has to be forced into an undercut hollow of somewhat
dovetail form in the rim, into which the caoutchouc expands and in which it is thus
firmly held.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side view partly in section of a bicycle
embodying my improvements,
Fig. 1 is a front view of the steering wheel and fork,
Fig. 2 is a plan of the rear wheel frame.
A is the sector shaped frame in the angle of which are formed, the bearings for
the axle of the hind wheel R; B is the trapezium shaped frame which carries the
fork for the front wheel R¹.
The frames A and B are jointed together at C below, and above by a spring D
connected to A and B by pins a and b.
There may be, as shewn, a second spring DI connected by pins al band
links c and d to the pins a and b, the two springs D D¹ being thus arranged to act
freely together.
Instead of the springs D D₁ caoutchouc buffers might be used as shown at a
Fig. 10.
The junction of A and B is not at E the pedal axis but at the point C above it
as shewn in end view at Fig. 3, vibration being thus reduced. The axis of the
front wheel R¹ is connected to the steering fork at e by links G and on each side is
a spiral spring F having its one end fixed to G and its other end to the fork, these
springs taking off shock. Instead of the springs shewn in Fig. 1 caoutchouc
buffers was shewn in Fig. 10 might be interposed between two arms a a extending
from G and from the fork respectively. The bearings of all the axles are of the
ball kind, the steering axle being also provided with ball bearings as shewn to an
enlarged scale in Fig. 4.
The balls are lodged in grooves in the two nearly meeting faces H separated
by a narrow space h, which is covered by a band of felt i and thin metal to
prevent access of dirt and grit. The piece I to which the fork is attached is fixed
to the steering axis K by a sleeve projecting up from I, the lower piece H being
screwed on 1. As shewn in Figs. 1 and 5 the axis K after passing through the

page_text: piece L which has two faces grooved for balls, has screwed on it a nut m made
On m is
with a collar which prevents slip of the wrench when it is applied to m.
fixed the sleeve M which receives the steering handle. The nut m being split as
shewn in Figs. 5 and 6, the sleeve M. is held firmly to the axis K by tightening the
setting screw o.
The brake is put on by a pull p guided by an arm 7 and attached to a bell
crank r, a plan of which is shewn in Fig. 7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The construction and the joint and spring connections of the frames A and B
of a bicycle, substantially as described.
2. The spring connection of the front wheel axle to the steering fork,
substantially as described.
3. The construction of the bearings of the steering axis and the connection of the
steering handle thereto, substantially as described.
Daied this 18th day of July. 1893.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.