Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Improvements in Velocipedes.
A communication from CHARLES EDGAR DURYEA, of Washington, in the District of
Columbia, United States of America
1, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :--
«
This improvement relates more particularly to that class of velocipedes known as
rear driving safeties," and differs from the common form in the arrangement, shape
and construction of the frame, the means of supporting the handles and saddle, the
method of effecting the steering, and in the construction of the rear wheel
The main objects of these improvements are-)
-First, to provide a light, strong and
cheap frame of such shape that the machine may be used by ladies or gentlemen ;
Second, to arrange the handles so that they may be used without the rider assuming
a stooping, round-shouldered position; Third, to reduce the jars and vibrations to a
minimum before they reach the handles, pedals or saddle and Fourth, to make a
wheel with targent spokes that may be readily repaired it necessary.
The first three of these objects is accomplished mainly by the peculiar construction
of the frame which is provided with three main portions all pivoted together near the
crank axle, and held in their proper relative positions by means of a spring or springs,
which will give when the wheels pass over an obstruction, and by their resiliency
return the parts to their normal position when the obstruction has been passed.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate what I now believe to be the best
way of carrying out this invention-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle constructed according to these improvements
with part broken away.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is a rear end view of the front wheel and support for the same.

page_text: igure is a reversed plan of parts of the bicycle on a larger scale
Figure 5 is a full size plan of the spring holding clevices, parts being bioken away
to show the springs
Figure 6 shows a portion of the rear wheel with parts in section.
Referring now to the details of the diawing A represents the guiding or front
wheel, and B the driving or rear wheel The front wheel is of the ordinary, or it may
be of any suitable style, and the back or driving wheel may be of the same kind, but
I prefer to make it as shown in the drawing, in which case the hub is provided with
two star-shaped flanges b, preferably made of heavy sheet steel and having inwardly
turned projections provided with holes, through which screws C are passod into
disks D, each disc having two screws connecting it with two opposite projections 6' on
the flange, and also having three screw-threaded holes besides those for the screws,
so that the disk has five threaded holes, two for the screws and threo more for the
spokes, which latter are of the ordinary style and being passed through the rim of the
wheel are screwed into the disks as shown so that each disk has one direct and two
tangent spokes, which not only makes a very strong wheel, but the use of the disks
avoids the trouble, which frequently occurs, of the wearing out of the screw threads
in the hub, for if the threads in such a disk wear out its cost is so slight that it can
he very cheaply replaced
This wheel is usually provided with ball bearings and an axle of the ordinary kind,
which axle is secured in the ends of eye-bolts E, whose threaded ends are provided
with nuts e, and are inserted in the rear ends of the tubes f of the fork F, so that by
turning the nuts e the tension of the driving chain passing over the sprocket wheels
can be adjusted as desired.
The fork F consists of two tubes united in any convenient way with a sleeve fl
which receives the shaft G carrying the cranks and pedals g, and may or may
not be provided with the usual ball bearings according to the quality of the machine
it is designed to build. The sleeve is secured in the end of a yoke h attached to
a goose neck H in such a manner as to allow the yoke and goose neck to work on
the sleeve fas on a pivot. The opposite end of the goose neck is formed into
steering centres on which work the steering head I carrying at its outer extremity
the axle J for the front wheel A, and having a rearwardly extending arm i, whose
purpose will be hereinafter explained.
At K is shown a hanger which is pivoted at k in the yoko h, and is connected
by a coupling L with the hollow post M, on which is adjustably secured, by the
clamp n, the saddle arm N, carrying the saddle n', which is adjustably secured on
said arm
Inside of this post is a sleeve which receives the handle bar P, to which it is
adjustably secured by the clamp o, the under side of which may, if preferred, form a
part of a ball bearing, provided for the easy movement of one part within the other.
Around the lower part of the sleeve and within the coupling L may be set balls for
the same purpose.
Attached to the sleeve O is an arm o¹ connected (preferably with a ball and socket
Joint) to one end of a pitman Q, whoso other end is similarly connected to the short
arm of a bell crank lever R, pivoted to the goose neck at r, and whose long arm is
connected by a link with the arm t, so that by turning the sleeve O, which of course
can be done by a movement of the handle bar P, the position of the steering wheel A
can be changed, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, and thus the machine can be
steered in any direction
Pivotally attached to the underside of the goose neck is one end of a brace rod S
having a box s at its other end, in which is enclosed a spiral spring T. Two of the
sides of this box are formed of a clevis, the cross bar of which receives the pressure of
the spring in the box and its ends are pivoted to the hanger K. At the rear of the
hanger is a similar box s¹, but its rear end is adapted to receive two rods S¹ which
pass on opposite sides of the wheel B and have their rear ends pivotally connected
with the tubes f of the fork F.
These rods S S are connected to the boxes by nuts screwed on said rods, so

page_text: that the position of the boxes on said rods may be changed to adjust the power of the
springs as may be desired
Attached to the goose neck is a mud guard U, carrying at its upper end foot
rests uz and a lantern support u¹.
The rear wheel is also supplied with a mud guard V, connected with the axle by
rods and clips 1, as shown. Near its lower end it is connected with the sleeve, and
inside its lower extremity is attached the brake shoe W Its lower end is also pivotally
connected at with a yoke X, whose rear ends pass on both sides of the wheel and are
there pivotally connected at a¹ to the brace 1od S. The front of the yoke is connected
with a flat wirez, which runs up through the sleeve O and handle bar P, to a brake
handle Z, to which it is securely fastened in any convenient manner
The steering centres are so formed and arranged on the goose neck that a line
drawn through them will touch the ground (see Figure 3) on a line at or about the
centre of the tire at the bottom of the wheel and preferably in front of the centre of
the point of contact as shown in Fig 1. This prevents any tendency to deflect the
wheel out of its place in either direction, and will enable the rider to steer without
bands.
By reversing the position of the handle bar, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1,
the machine 13 eminently fitted for ladies use, as the front part of the frame is so low
that it will not interfere with a lady's skirts, and the handle bar instead of being an
impediment in front as is usual with the so-called ladies' machine, is practically
behind her, and the rider looks as if she were sitting in an arm chair, from which she
can readily spring forward without coming in contact with the handle bar, should
there be any danger of falling
By the arrangement of rods S S', the boxes or clovices adjustably connected thereto,
and the springs enclosed in said boxes or clevices I am enabled not only to adjust the
power of the spings, but by the same means I can raises and lower the position of
the pivotal centre in which the crank axle revolvo-, and I can also carry the handlo
bat and handles backwards or forwards by changing the positions of the nuts on the
ods, as the post that carries the handles will be set backwards or forwards according
to the position of the nuts on the rods S S'.
While the nuts e on the screw eyes E form a good means of adjustment of the
position of the rear axle I do not limit myself to this as they may be dispensed with
by causing the chips" which connect the 1ods S to the tubes to pinch on sand
screw eyes or both these means of adjusting and securing these screw eyes may be
used as desired.
I do not intend to limit myself to the exact construction shown as it may be varied
For instance
in many ways without departing from the spirit of my invention
instead of the brace rods shown below the crank, similar connections may be attached
to the post, or spring arms may be attached to the goose neck and tubes f, which
could bear against the post and keep it perpendicular, or the hanger may contain a
spring and a piston working therein against the power of the spring, and connected at
its lower end to the brace rods.
Although I have shown the invention in the form of a rear driving safety bicycle,
it is evident that parts of it may be used for other forms of velocipedes and I do not
therefore limit myself to bicycles
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
1-A bicycle having a frame of which that portion connecting the wheels does not
rise above a line passing through the axles of the wheels, and passes to one side only
of the steering wheel.
2-A bicycle having its steering centre located at one side of the steering wheel.
3-A velocipede having its steering centers located at one side of the steering wheel
and inclined so that a line through the sand centres would intercept the line of the
wheel bases.

page_text: 4-A velocipede having its steering centers located at one side of the steering
wheel and inclined so that a line through the said center would intercept the line of
the wheel bases at a point, at or in front of the forward point of contact with the
ground.
5-A bicycle having a frame that connects the wheels jointed between the wheel
to swing vertically, each part being elastically connected with the saddle support
whereby a vertical movement of either wheel out of its normal position may occur
without affecting the saddle.
6-In a bicycle an elastic frame so arranged that each wheel may swing vertically,
in an arc of a circle of which the centre is at or near the crank axle, without affecting
the saddle.
7-In a bicycle, a jointed elastic frame of which the joints are located at or near
the crank axle, the elasticity is supplied by adjustable springs and which is elastically
supported with the saddle support, whereby either wheel may rise vertically without
affecting the saddle
8 In a bicycle of the class described, a trame connecting the wheels jointed at or
near the crank axle, and a saddle support pivoted thereto, all being maintained in
position by adjustable springs
9-A bicycle of the class described, having the frame that connects the wheels
jointed at or near the crank axle to swing vertically, and provided with a means to
prevent accidental folding.
10 In a velocipede, a saddle support pivoted to the supporting frame at or near
the crank axle and supported in an upright position by springs.
11 In a velocipede, a support for handles and saddle pivoted at or near the crank
axle to swing in a vertical plane parallel to the plane of the wheels and supported in
an upright position by springs.
12 In a velocipede a support for handles and saddle pivoted at or near the crank
axle to swing in a vertical plane parallel to the plane of the wheels and supported i
an upright position by adjustable springs.
13 In a bicycle of the class described, a frame connecting the wheels jointed at
or near the crank axle and held in position by a spring or springs which may be
adjusted so as to hold the crank axle at a greater or less distance from the ground, as
desired.
14 A bicycle of the class described, having a saddle support pivoted to the frame
that connects the wheels and held upright by springs that have a means of adjustment,
whereby it is possible to cause the saddle support to lean forward or backward by
adjusting one spring more than the other.
15-In a velocipede, a handle bar removably attached to the top of the steering
post so that it may be reversed, as and for the purpose described.
16-A velocipede having the axis around which the handles move placed under the
saddle and the bars so curved as to pass outward to the handles without interfering
with the motion of the rider, and so attached to the steering post that they may be
reversed, whereby they may be caused to pass either before or behind the rider
at will.
17-A bicycle of the class described having a saddle support, forward part and
rearward part separably joined together at or near the crank axle, whereby either
forward or rear part may be separated from the other two, for the purpose described.
18-The combination with the wheels of a rear driving safety bicycle, of a frame
which passes from the rear axle forward until beyond the periphery of the rear wheel
where it carries the crank axle, thence forward till near the periphery of the front
wheel, thence outward far enough to allow the front wheel to turn in steering, thence
forward and inward to steering centres located near the front axle to which the frame
is connected by means of a neck.
19 The combination with the front steering wheel of a velocipede, a horizontal
supporting frame therefor carrying a steering head for said steering wheel and a
handle bar axis, of a crank or arm moved by said axis, an arm on said head and a
lever pivoted to the frame between the said arms, and connected to their projecting

page_text: ends by connections having universal joints, whereby the handle bar governs the
motion of the steering wheel.
20 The combination with a velocipede having a wheel centrally located behind the
rider, of a brake applied to the tire thereof and operated from the vicinity of the
handles by means of a lever attached to the handle bar and an arm attached to
the brake and connected to the said lever by a connection which passes through the
axis of the handle bar.
21 The combination with the frame of a velocipede pivoted near its centre, of a
saddle post supported pivotally on said frame, a spring brace secured at one end to
the front or rear section of said frame and at its other end to a connection with the
saddle post.
22 The combination with the frame of a velocipede pivoted near its centre of a
saddle post pivoted to said frame near said centre, a hanger connected with said
sadde post, and a set of spring braces each having one of its ends connected to
the front or rear section of the frame and its other end connected to the hanger
23 The combination in a velocipede of a saddle post, a brake, a handle for
operating said brake and a connection between said brake and handle passing through
the saddle post.
24 The combination in a velocipede, a steering axis, a brake and handle
for the same, and a connection between said brake and handle, passing through
said steering axis.
25 The combination in a velocipede of a saddle post, a steering axis enclosed in
said post, a brake and handle for the same, and a connection between said brake and
handle passing through said steering axis and post
26-The combination in a velocipede of a saddle post, a steering axis enclosed in
said post a handle bar connected to said steering axis, a brake and handle for
the same, and a connection between said handle and brake passing through said
steering post.
27-The combination in a velocipede, of a brake, a saddle post, a steering axis
enclosed in said post, a handle bar connected to said steering axis, and a brake handle
connected to said handle bar, with a flexible connection running from the brake handle
to the brake through the handle bar and the steering axis
28 A velocipede having a brake shoe enclosed in and carried by a mud guard.
29 A velocipede having its brake attached to the mud guard, and its operating
lever pivoted to said guard and to a brace rod.
30 The combination in a velocipede, of a brake shoe, and a yoke connected thereto
and to the brace rods on each side of the wheel.
31-The combination in a bicycle and with the goose neck and its yoke and the
fork for the rear wheel pivoted thereto, of a support for the saddle passing through
the yoke and pivoted thereto.
32 The combination in a bicycle and with the goose neck and its yoke and the
fork for the rear wheel pivoted thereto, of a support for the crank shaft having its
axis in line with the pivotal centre of the yoke and fork
33 In a velocipede wheel the combination with the hub of a series of discs
receiving the spokes, the discs being connected to the hub, and the spokes screwed into
the said discs.
34 In a velocipede wheel, the combination with a hub of a series of disks, each
disk being connected to the hub at two points, and baving radial and tangent spokes
connecting said disks with the rim
35 In a velocipede wheel, the combination with a hub, of a series of disks,
tangential connections between the hub and each disk and radial and tangential spokes
connecting the rim with the disc.
36-In a velocipede wheel, the combination with a hub having star-shaped flanges
thereon, of a series of disks each disk being connected to two opposite points of the
star shaped flanges by tangential screws and radial and tangential spokes connecting
the said disk with the rim

page_text: 37-In a velocipede wheel, the combination of a hub and star shaped sheet metal
flanges thereon having their edges bent substantially at right angles to form projec-
tions, with a series of disks. each disk connected by screws to two points of the star
shaped flanges by tangential screws, and a radial and two tangential spokes connecting
the said disk with the rim.
38-The combination in a velocipede, of a brake shoe and a pair of brace rods,
with a yoke having its ends pivotally connected to said rods, its sides to the brake shoe,
and its centre to the connection with the brake handle
39 The combination in a bicycle of a fork for the rear wheel having hollow ends,
screw eyes set therein for carrying the axle of said wheel and means for adjusting the
position of said screw eyes.
40-The combination in a bicycle, of an axle and a tubular fork for the rear wheel,
eyes to receive the axle having their shanks set in the tubes of the fork and an
adjusting device for regulating the position of the axle in the fork.
41 The combination in a bicycle, of an axle and a tubular fork for the rear wheel,
screw eyes having their shanks set in the tubes of said fork for carrying the axle of
said wheel and nuts surrounding the shanks of said screw eyes for adjusting the
position of the wheel.
Dated this 2nd day of M. 1990
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents.