Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Oct., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, COOPER KITCHEN, of Moorgate Works, Elland, Yorkshire, Cycle Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
My invention relates to an improved construction of spring frame for rear-driving
safety bicycles, and it has for its object the avoidance of all hinges or joints in the
said spring frame, with of course the exception of the steering hinge or joint. I
attain this object in the following manner;-
The steering wheel is mounted in a fork of the usual type, but instead of being
continued upwards as a steering post it terminates at the crown over the periphery
of the wheel. The steering post which is preferably mounted in a ball bearing
socket has attached to its lower extremity a curved tube of a ☐ section, forming a
mud guard and acting as a support for a horizontal spring fork carrying at its free
end the axle of the steering wheel. The top of the ordinary or rigid fork carrying
the steering wheel is connected to the base of the steering post by two springs of the
"cradle" or any other suitable type. These springs and the horizontal spring fork
form an elastic connection between the steering wheel and the steering post, having
no joints or hinges, and being quite free from torsional play.
The driving wheel is mounted in a fork of the ordinary type running up towards
the top of the frame carrying the seat pillar, to which it is connected by suitable
springs in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to the fork carrying the
steering wheel. The axle of the driving wheel is connected with the bearing of the
pedal crank axle by a spring fork, or spring radius bars, adapted to be elastic in
the vertical plane, but competent to take the longitudinal pull of the driving chain.
The intermediate part of the frame carrying the steering socket or head, the seat
pillar, and the pedal crank axle may be of any desired construction, but it is prefer-
ably of a rectangular shape consisting of a single tube running from the top of the
steering socket or head to the socket to carry the seat pillar, of two tubes running
from the bottom of the steering socket or head to the bearings of the pedal crank
axle and of two tubes running from the bearings of the pedal crank axle to the
socket for carrying the seat pillar.
The adjustment of the driving chain is preferably effected by threading the ends
of the prongs of the spring fork, or of the spring radius bars, and passing then
through holes in sockets on the ends of the rigid fork carrying the driving wheel,
and locking them thereto by suitable lock nuts.
The brake is preferably a spoon acting on the periphery of the driving wheel and
operated from the steering handle bar through the usual connections.
Those parts to which no reference has been made present no novel features and
may be of the usual construction.
Dated this 21st day of January 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I COOPER KITCHEN of Moorgate Works, Elland, Yorkshire, 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 relates to an improved construction of spring frame for rear-driving
safety bicycles, and it has for its object the avoidance of all hinges or joints in the
said spring frame, with of course the exception of the steering hinge or joint. I
attain this object in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a rear-driving safety bicycle fitted with my
improved spring frame.
Figure 2 is a view in front elevation showing the connection between the elastic
and rigid parts of the frame.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The steering wheel A is mounted on a fork B of the usual type, with the exception
that it is not fixed to the steering post but terminates at its crown over the peri-
phery of the wheel. The steering post C-which is preferably mounted in a ball
bearing socket-has attached to its lower extremities a curved tube D of a D-shaped
section forming an extension of the said steering post and acting both as a mud-
guard and as a support for the horizontal spring fork E carrying at its free end
the axle a of the steering wheel A. The top of the rigid or ordinary fork B carrying
the steering wheel is connected to the base of the steering post C by two springs F. F.
of the "cradle or any other suitable type, the ends of which are adapted to fit in
sockets b and c on the top of the fork and the base of the steering post respectively,
as illustrated by Figure 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing. These springs F. F.
and the horizontal spring fork E form an elastic connection between the steering
wheel A and the steering post C having no joints or hinges and being quite free from
torsional play.
"
The driving wheel G is mounted in a fork H of the ordinary type running up
towards the top of the frame J carrying the seat pillar K, to which it is connected
by suitable springs F¹ F in the manner hereinbefore described with reference to the
fork carrying the steering wheel. The axle g of the driving wheel is connected with
the bearings 1. of the pedal crank axle L, by a horizontal spring fork or pair of
radius bars E¹ adapted to be elastic in the vertical plane, but competent to take
the longitudinal pull of the driving chain. The intermediate part J of the frame
carrying the steering socket or head C¹ the seat pillar K and the pedal crank
axle L may be of any desired construction, but it is preferably of a rectangular shape
as illustrated by the accompanying drawing consisting of a single tube running from
the top of the steering socket or head to the socket adapted to carry the seat pillar,
of two tubes running from the bottom of the steering socket or head to the bearings
of the pedal-crank axle, and of two tubes running from the bearings of the pedal-
crank axle to the socket for carrying the seat pillar. The adjustment of the driving
chain is preferably effected by threading the ends of the prongs of the spring fork or
radius bars E' and passing them through holes in the sockets h on the ends of the
rigid fork H carrying the driving wheel, and locking them thereto by suitable lock
nuts.
The brake is preferably a spoon acting on the periphery of the driving wheel and
operated from the steering handle bar through the usual connections, as illustrated
in the accompanying drawing.
Those parts to which no reference has been made present no novel features and
may be made of the usual type and construction.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the use of any particular
section of metal for the rigid parts of my frame as tubes or crescent section bars
may be used with equal effect, neither do I limit myself to any particular method of
attaching the spring forks or radius bars to their respective parts, or to the exact details

page_text: of the construction and arrangement of the several parts as herein described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawing, but hold myself at liberty to make such
changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit & scope of my invention.
I am aware that prior to the date of my invention spring forks made out of elastic
bars have been used, and also that the forks and frames of velocipedes have been
made in two parts hinged together & controlled by a spring and I therefore lay no
claim to such devices, but
Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is
1. The improvements in velocipedes, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
2. In a velocipede, a spring fork for carrying the steering wheel, consisting of a
rigid fork adapted to carry the wheel, of an elastic fork placed approximately
horizontal and adapted to carry, or be attached to, the axle of the steering wheel at
one end, and to be attached to a rigid extension of the steering post in the rear of
the wheel at the other end, and of a pair of springs acting between the top of the
rigid fork and the base of the steering post, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a velocipede, a spring frame for carrying the driving wheel, consisting of a
rigid frame adapted to carry the wheel, of a rigid frame adapted to carry the saddle
and pedal crank-axle, of an elastic fork or radius bars placed approximately
horizontal and adapted to carry or be attached to the bearings of the pedal crank
axle at one end and to be attached to the ends of the prongs of the rigid fork
carrying the wheel at or about the centre of the axle of the said wheel, and of a pair
of springs acting between the top of the rigid fork and the rigid frame carrying the
saddle and pedal crank-axle, as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a spring frame for a velocipede consisting of two parts the one of which is
adapted to move with respect to the other about a pivot and the movement of which
is controlled by one or more suitable springs, the substitution of an elastic fork or
radius bars for the rigid parts and pivotal connection, whereby the said pivotal joints
are avoided, as set forth.
5. In a velocipede, the combination with the steering post C and the main frame J
carrying the seat pillar K, the pedal crank-axle L and the steering socket or head C',
of the rigid fork B carrying the steering wheel, of the extension D of the steering
posi, preferably shaped to adapt it to form a mudguard, of the horizontal spring fork E
rigidly connected to both the extension D of the steering post, and to the axle of the
steering wheel or to the ends of the prongs of the fork carrying it, of the
springs F. F. connecting the top of the fork B and the base of the steering post C,
of the fork H carrying the driving wheel, of the horizontal spring fork or elastic
radius bars E' rigidly connected to the frame J and adjustably connected to the ends
of the prongs of the fork H, and of the springs F¹ F connecting the top of the fork H
with the frame J, all combined, arranged, and operating, as and for the purpose set
forth.
1000
ortn.
Dated this 21st day of October 1800.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers, 70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.