Improvements in and in the Manufacture of Bicycle Pedal Frames.
Year: 1896

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c., Act, 1883), as required
by the decision of the Comptroller General of the 17th day of May 1897.
Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in and in the Manufacture of Bicycle Pedal Frames.
I, RICHARD NICKERSON OAKMAN, of Greenfield, in the County of Franklin,
and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 process of making bicycle pedal frames.
The object of my invention is to make, by a series of steps or operations, from a
single piece of metal, an endless bicycle pedal frame, without seam or joint.
One of the special objects of my invention is to make a pedal frame, which is
lighter than usual, and yet having the requisite strength and durability.
I will now describe the steps or operations for carrying out my invention, by
reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the various stages of my
process and in which,-
Figure 1 represents the blank of plate, or sheet metal.
Figs. 2 and 3 represent, respectively, a top plan view and a transverse section on
line 3-3, of the cup, illustrating the second stage of the process.
Figs. 4 and 5 represent respectively, a top plan view and a transverse section on
line 5-5, of the cup, illustrating the second stage of the process.
Figs. 6 and 7 represent, respectively, a top plan view and a transverse section on
line 7-7, showing the band or frame, and illustrating the third and fourth steps of
the process.
Figs. 8 and 9 represent, respectively, a side elevation and a transverse section of
the formed band or frame, illustrating further steps of the process.
Figs. 10 and 11 represent, respectively, a side elevation and a longitudinal section
of the frame, showing special features of the invention.
In carrying out my invention, I first provide a suitable blank, A, preferably of
steel plate, having at the ends the tongues or projections a, as shown in Fig. 1.
This blank is first drawn or pressed by means of suitable dies, in the form of a
cup A, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, which illustrate the first stage of the process.
The blank A, Fig. 1, and the cup A', Figs. 2 and 3, may be cut and drawn by
means of suitable combination dies in practically one operation. Having formed
the cup A', with rounded. corners, a portion of the bottom is next blanked or cut
out and given the form, or approximately the form, shown at A', in Figs. 4 and 5,
which illustrate the second stage of the process. The portion cut out from the
bottom is indicated by the letter X, the contour of the opening left in the bottom,
the interior tongues or cars, a', and narrow strips of metal along the sides, being
clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5.
It is not necessary in all cases to leave the inwardly projecting side strips, and

page_text: the bottom may be cut out, as indicated by the dotted lines at the sides, in Fig. 4,
so as to cut away practically all the metal along the sides of the bottom. The
inwardly projecting tongues or ears, a', may also be made smaller and shaped
differently without affecting the process. In case the sides of the frame b, are to
be made comparatively narrow, as in Fig. 8, it will not be necessary to leave
inwardly projecting side strips in the bottom of the blank, Fig. 4. I also propose
to draw the blank deeper than shown in Figs. 4 and 5, for the purpose of making
a wider band or frame b, as shown in Fig. 10. The teeth or serrations, f, in the
sides b, of the frame, (Fig. 10) might be cut at the time of, or during
the operation of cutting out the bottom portion of the cup, Figs. 4 and 5.
All the remaining portion of the bottom of the cup, comprising the tongues a',
and the straight strips at the sides, in case they are left, are now pushed
outward or downward, to form the flat sides b, and the ends 61, the ends
being provided with the upper tongues a, and the lower tongues a, as
shown in Figs. 6 and 7. By cutting the piece out of the bottom indicated by X,
and then pushing the remaining portions outward, as above described, sufficient
width of metal is provided at the sides and ends to permit the parts being properly
trimmed to the required shape without drawing the cup so deep as would otherwise
be necessary. A saving of stock is thus effected.
The interior portions of the body having been drawn or pushed out, a rough band
or frame is formed of approximately the shape shown in Figs. 6 and 7. This band
or frame A³, having been formed, it is next trimmed down and the edges finished
as represented in Figs. 6 and 7. The frame is thus formed with sides b, b,
ends, b, and the upper and lower tongues a, a'. In trimming the sides b, b, of
the frame, shown in Fig. 5, teeth may be cut in the edges thereof, such as the
teeth f, shown in Fig. 10, or the teeth may be cut at a subsequent stage of the
process.
After forming the band A', the end openings, v, are made for the axles. The
sides b, are perforated, as shown at a, and the sides are also corrugated longi-
tudinally so as to form the outwardly turned edges c, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.
The tongues a and a¹, are also preferably turned out slightly at their tips to form
the usual foot guards.
The sides b, are also preferably formed with vertical or transverse corruga
tions e, e, for giving them greater strength and preventing the possibility of their
being crushed down by pressure upon the edges.
The band or frame A, having been perforated and corrugated as described, it is
now ready for polishing, preparatory to being electroplated.
After the edges c, of the sides b, have been turned outward and upward, as
shown in Fig. 10, such edges may be formed with teeth, to make a rat-trap frame,
as shown at A. Instead of forming teeth f, upon the edges of the sides b, separate
toothed plates may be rivetted or otherwise secured to the sides b to form the usual
rat-trap frame. A rubber tread may also be secured to the frame in the usual well
known manner.
In the manipulation of the metal to form the finished pedal frame, shown in
Figs. 8 and 10, the metal is condensed and toughened, by means of which a strong,
light, and durable frame is produced, and is made smooth for the electroplating
operation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I am aware that it has been
previously proposed to make an endless pedal frame without seam or joint from a
cup drawn from sheet metal, and also to make a pedal frame having end ears or
tongues in one piece without seam or joint, and I make no general claim to such
manufactures but I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The process of manufacturing an endless bicycle pedal frame without seam or
joint which consists in making the frame with end ears from a cup drawn from a
suitable blank of sheet metal, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. The process of manufacturing an endless bicycle pedal frame without seam or
joint, which consists in drawing a cup from a suitable blank of sheet metal, cutting
away a bottom portion so as to leave any desired inwardly projecting portion
thereof, then pushing outward or downward said remaining portion to form an
endless band, and then finishing said band in any desired shape or manner,
substantially as described.
3. The process of manufacturing an endless bicycle pedal frame without seam or
joint, which consists in drawing a cup from a suitable blank of sheet metal, cutting
away a portion of the bottom of said cup and leaving inwardly projecting portions,
then pushing outward or downward said portions of the bottom to form an endless
band; then forming vertical or transverse corrugations in the sides of said band,
and finally trimming and finishing said band, substantially as described.
4. The process of manufacturing an endless bicycle pedal frame without seam or
joint, which consists in providing a blank of sheet metal with end tongues, drawing
a shallow cup from said blank, cutting out a portion of the bottom of said cup and
leaving inwardly projecting portions, then pushing outward or downward said
portions of the bottom to form an endless band with end tongues, then trimming
the edges of said band and corrugating it, substantially as described.
5. The single piece frame for a cycle pedal manufactured substantially as
described.
1000
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.