US399774A - Thomas o brien - Google Patents

Description

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THOMAS OBRIEN, OF N ElV YORK, N. Y.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 399,774, dated March 19, 1.889. 7 Application filed August 2, 1888. Serial No. 281,817. I (No model.)

To all whom it 'nw/y concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS OBRIEN, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tandem Bicycles, of which the following is a specification.

The object of these improvements is to lessen vibration to the rider, and to render the machine compact for transportation and storage by a folding mechanism without detriment to its efliciency, and, by substituting an interchangeable part in which the seat and handlebar are on the steering-rod, the rider may steer with his feet, if so disposed. Springbars to absorb vibration and sustain the halidle-bars and steering-rod are introduced, and the steering is accomplished by means of a combination with mud-guard and connectingrods, which are free on the axle of the steering-wheel.

The folding and steering mechanism of this machine is adapted to many other kinds of velocipedes.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved tandem bicycle. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. is an interchangeable part having the saddle and handle bars on the steering-rod. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of the mechanism for folding and for locking the machine rigidly for riding; and Fig. 5 is a downward view of the spring-bars and coni'iecting-sleeves, between which the steeringrod passes.

The wheels A B, their axles and bearings, are of the usual character, the driving-gear consisting of the sprocket-wheels a a a a chains 7) b, and pedals c e, and maybe similar to any of those now in general use. To the quadrant-spine m over the front part of the steering-wheel and carrying the seat and handle-bars and chain-wheel, (claims for which having been allowed to me in Patent No. 386,601,) no further reference need be made.

In my improved bicycle the vertical tube (Z, Fig. 1, is adapted to receive within it the lower part of the tube (1, and the lower end of this tube cl has a short bolt having a shoulder-head,15, (see Fig. l,) between which and the end of the tube d is placed the forward part of the forks II, which are inclined backwardly and form an angle with the forks H, or both may be of one piece and bent where they are fastened to the bearings on the axle of the wheel B, and the upper ends of the forks H are firmly secured on a bolt, F, between the jaws of the clamping-ring F. Backwardly of the tube (7 on the forks H are sliding bearings G, which carry the shaft G, which latter carries the chain-wheel a the pedal-cranks G and the brake G and the said sliding bearings G are forged to split elan'lping-rings, 16 (see Fig. 4,) which are adjustable on the forks II, and afford a perfect adjustment of the chain.

Connecting and firmly secured to the tube (Z and neck Z are spring-bars t' 1', having connecting-sleeves .2, between which passes the steering-rod 0-, outside of which is the sockettube 70, which is secured on top of the sleeves .2 and at the upper end by the arm t". The

braces c c are secured to the arm i", sleeves .2,

and to an adjustable ring at the bottom of the tube (Z. On the tube (1 at 4; is forged a sleeve, on which is a screw-thread, and fitted thereon are the nuts 5, and by screwing down these nuts the lugs 3 are secured in the cavities made to receive them, and by this means the folding frame is made rigid. The upper end of the tube d is made to receive the saddle-rodp, and the said rod when adjusted is clamped securely by the clamping-ring p. The brake G is placed on the shaft G of the chain-wheel a and a chain-rod is carried from the top of said brake to the lever 18 on the handle-bar 10. To the bottom of the steering-rod 'r is secured the mud-guard m, and the latter works on a pin at the end of the forks c, the said forks being free on the axle of the steering-wheel. By this means the steering-wheel is under easy control, free from vibration to the arms, and free from tube 7; the steering-rod a is curved backwardly, and there is a sleeve, R the rear end of which is split and shaped around the split bush B, so as to form a clamping-ring and collars R and within these the split bush R is pinned and within the latter passes the saddle-rod p, and made fast when adjusted. Upon the tube or sleeve B there is a vertical clamping-ring, Q, having a Vertical-rod, Q, upon which the tube 1; of the handle-bar a: is adjustable and made fast by the set-screw y.

1% is a foot-rest secured on the mud-guard m The mud-guard 20 issecured to the forks H and to the braces 19, which latter are made fast on the forks H.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, in a bicycle, with the wheels A B, of a frame composed of the tube d, the forks H H, tube (1, the arm '0', the

tube K, the spring-bars i 2', and the bracingrods 0 c, the whole forming a bridge free from vibration, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, in a bicycle, with the wheels A B and the connecting-frame, of the tube (1, which receives the tube (1', the threaded sleeve 4, and the nuts 5, whereby the folding mechanism is made rigid or loose, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, in a bicycle, with the wheels A B and the connecting-frame, of two spring-bars, i 1', between which passes the steering-rod o", the mud-guard m and the rods 0, which are free on the axle of the steering-wheel, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this 31st day of July, 1888.

THOMAS OBRIEN.

Witnesses:

WM. A. Lown, GRANT SQUIRES.

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