Improvements in Cycle Frames.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Cycle Frames.
I, ROBERT JOHN ALPE, of 292, Burbury Street, Lozells, Birmingham, in the
County of Stafford, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention has for its object "Improvements in Cycle Frames and refers
more particularly to ladies safety bicycles by which I obtain considerably more
clearance for the skirts and render the mounting and dismounting much easier by
reason of the increased space between the seat pillar and front stays. My improve-
ment does not increase the cost while the frame is equally as strong as the old
shape of frame.
In carrying my invention into effect I form a lug on the bridge which connects
the chain stays together and to this lug I connect the lower end of the seat pillar
tube which runs from that point to the seat and is consequently more vertical than
usual. The top front stay is curved and connected at the top to the head in the
usual way and at the bottom to the lower part of the seat pillar tube while the
bottom front stay is curvey to an o.g. shape and preferably secured to a lug on
the underside of the bottom bracket. The chain stays are connected to the bottom
bracket preferably by two short tubes and by my invention the space between the
bottom bracket and the bridge is utilized to increase the amount of clearance for
mounting and dismounting and also allows of a lower attachment and improved
curve for the lower ends of the front stays.
Dated this 27th dox of Santamber 1807
I, ROBERT JOHN ALPE, of 292, Burbury Street, Lozells, Birmingham, in the
County of Stafford, 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 :-
My invention has for its object improvements in cycle frames and refers
particularly to ladies safety bicycles by which I obtain considerably more clearance
for the skirts and render the mounting and dismounting much easier by reason of
the increased space between the seat pillar and front stays. My improvement
does not increase the cost while the frame is equally as strong as the old shape of
frame.

page_text: In carrying my invention into effect I form a lug on the bridge which connects
the chain stays together and to this lug I connect the lower end of the seat pillar
tube which runs from that point to the seat and is consequently more vertical than
usual. The top front stay is curved and connected at the top to the head in the
usual way and at the bottom to the lower part of the seat pillar tube while the
bottom front stay is curved to an O. G. shape and preferably secured to a lug on
the underside of the bottom bracket.
The chain stays are connected to the bottom bracket preferably by two short
tubes and by my invention the space between the bottom bracket and the bridge is
utilized to increase the amount of clearance for mounting and dismounting and
also allows of a lower attachment and improved curve for the lower ends of the
front stays.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and easily carried into
practise I have shewn a sheet of drawings on which I have fully illustrated my said
improvement.
Figure 1 is a general view of a ladies frame with my improvement embodied.
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the bottom bracket junction of the frame.
By my invention I provide the lug A between the bottom bracket B and the
bridge E which carries the ends of the fork stays F and this lug is made to receive
the lower end of the seat pillar tube H which is arranged slightly more vertical
so as to leave the saddle in the usual position. The top front stay K is connected
to the seat pillar tube at K¹ or may be connected to the bottom bracket B while the
lower front tube M is connected to the bottom bracket B by the lug m¹ in the
usual way.
The lug A and bottom bracket B are connected together by the two
tubes a¹ but I do not confine myself to these tubes or to the shape of the lug A as
I may vary these by connecting the two together by one tube or by varying the
shape of the lug A so as to have a projection which joins the bottom bracket B.
By having a connecting length between the seat pillar junction A and the bottom
bracket B I obtain additional space for mounting and at the same time an
improvement in the curve of the front stays.
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. In cycle frames the mode of and means for setting the junction A of the
seat pillar back from the bottom bracket B substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth and shewn upon the accompanying drawings.
2nd. The connecting lug or lugs A between the bottom bracket B and fork F
for receiving the end of the pillar tube H substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth & illustrated.