Improvements in Bicycles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles.
I, SAMUEL HEY of 56 Low Street Keighley in the County of York, Patent
Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention, as communicated to me
from abroad by Josiah Chase Bennett of Lynn in the County of Essex, and State
of Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman, and in what manner the
Bame is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, that is to say :―
This invention relates to bicycles, and has particular reference to the construction
of the frame thereof.
In bicycles having rigid frames, it is customary to employ saddles having a great
amount of elasticity, in order to neutralize the jars and jolts. when riding over an
uneven road. The resulting constant change of distance between the saddle and
pedals is an annoyance and a cause of fatigue, and frequently results in throwing
the feet of the rider off from the pedals. To overcome these objections, and also
to relieve the frame itself from some of the wearing rattling to which it is subjected,
the frame has been made in sections yieldingly connected together; but in most
such constructions there is a looseness in the frame, which results in or permits a
lateral or torsional movement of one section with respect to the other; and when
riding rapidly, the machine is liable to "wobble" and throw the feet off the pedals
or throw the rider completely.
The object of my invention is to obtain a desirable elasticity or vertical yielding
movement of the frame, and at the same time overcome all the above mentioned
objections, by constructing the frame in sections pivotally connected together
between the saddle and the crank-shaft, and yieldingly connecting the sections on
both sides of the pivotal point, thus forming three points of connection, which will
afford the desired effect as to elasticity and will also afford sufficient lateral support
and prevent any tendency to wobble.
To these ends my invention consists in the construction and combination of parts,
substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of so much of the complete bicycle as is necessary
to illustrate my invention.
Figure 2 is a detail section on line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking toward the left.
Figure 3 is an enlarged detail section on line 3-3 of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is an enlarged detail section on line 4-4 of Figure 2.
Figure 5 represents a modification.
The same reference letters indicate the same parts in the several views.
a represents the front section of the frame having a seat support a¹ and a bearing
for the head of the front fork at which supports the axle of the front wheel a².
6 represents the rear section of the frame having a bearing for the crank-shaft b¹
which is provided with the usual pedals 62, and this frame b is also forked and
supports the axle of the rear wheel 6*. An ordinary sprocket and chain connection
is represented as provided for the communication of power from the crank-shaft to
the rear wheel.
The front portion of the rear section is preferably composed of two parallel
curved rods having, near their centre, bearings for trunnions ce carried by the rear
curved rod of the front section.
Above and below the joint or hinge thus formed, the two sections are connected
by broad flat curved springs d d, each end of each spring being preferably connected
to the frame by a pin d' secured in the frame and having the end of the spring

page_text: bent around it, whereby a pivotal connection is formed that permits the springs to
yield properly.
These springs, being broad and having long bearings on the pins d', relieve the
trunnions ce from much of the torsional strain to which they may at times be
subjected, and said springs may be cut away, as at d, if desired, to increase the
elasticity of the spring and render it less liable to be broken.
The springs, in practice, are curved and tempered so that their shape, even
before the parts are assembled, will be substantially semi-elliptic or substantially
U-shaped, as shown in the drawings; such change in shape as they undergo when
put in place being only due to the weight of the frame. It therefore follows that.
not only do both springs oppose further downward movement under weight in the
saddle, but both also oppose a rise above normal position, if the machine is
subjected to a sudden jolt.
In order that the two sections may be locked together and the springs kept out
of action, a bolt e is pivotally connected with the rear bar of the front section, aud
a block e is supported upon trunnions e e² carried by the curved rods of the rear
section. The block e' is provided with a hole through which the bolt e passes and
reciprocates freely when the springs are in action, while a set-screw e tapped
through the block to the bolt hole may be turned down..to bear against the bolt
and thus lock the sections against movement at the joint or hinge. The object of
pivotally supporting the bolt and block is to permit them to accommodate
themselves to changing relative positions during movement of the sections on their
jointed connection at c.
In Figure 5 I show, as a modification, an equivalent of the pivotal connection.
shown in Figures 1 and 2, such modification comprising intermeshing gear teeth t t
formed on the adjacent parts of said sections. Said gear teeth permit movements
of the sections similar to the movements permitted by the trunnions c c. It will
be seen, therefore, that by the term "pivotally connected," as used in the following
claim, is meant any connection between the two sections which will permit the
described upward and downward movement of the meeting portions of said sections.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is:
1. A bicycle comprising in its construction rigid front and rear frame sections
having a rocking connection with each other at a point substantially in a line
between the seat support and the crank-shaft, and springs connecting the said
sections above and below the connection, one of said springs being adapted to
expand simultaneously with the contraction of the other, whereby they are adapted
to simultaneously oppose relative movement of the sections in either direction, for
the purpose set forth.
2. A bicycle comprising in its construction rigid front and rear frame sections
pivotally connected together at a point substantially in a line between the seat
support and the crank-shaft, and broad flat curved springs connecting the said
sections above and below the pivotal connection, whereby torsional strain on the
pivotal connection is relieved, substantially as described.
3. A bicycle comprising in its construction rigid front and rear sections pivotally
connected together below the seat support, springs for yieldingly opposing
movement on the said pivotal connection, a block pivotally supported by one-of
the sections and having a hole, a bolt pivotally connected with the other section
and extending through said hole, and means for rigidly securing the bolt in said
block hole, substantially as described.