US688419A - Bicycle-frame. - Google Patents

Description

Phten'tad Doc. ID, l90l.

R. I. KEATING. BICYCLE FRAME.

(Application filed Sept. 4, 1897. Renewed Sept. 5, 1901.)

(In lodel!) m: Noam: PETERS coy. Pucmumou WASHINGTON, u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ROBERT M. KEATING, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO R. M. KEATING MOTOR COMPANY, .OF PORTLAND, MAINE, A CORPO- RATION OF. MAINE.

BlCYCLE-FR-AM E.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters rat nt No. 688,419, dated December '10, 1901. Application filed September 4, I897. Renewed September 5, 1901. SerialNo. 74,378. (No model.)

To all whom it mar/ concern;

Be it known that I, ROBERT M. KEATING, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in Springfield, in the county of Hampden 5 and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bicycle- Frames, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon. 1

My invention relates especially to bicycleframes for ladies wheels. Difficulty has been experienced heretofore in the construction of frames for bicycles for ladies use in obtaining sufficient strength at the intermediate portion of the frame without adding unduly to the weight or without destroying the drop feature of the frame necessary fora wheel for ladies use and without destroying'the desirable harmony and beauty of construction of the frame.

The object of my invention is to produce a bicycle-frame of the character described, the

same being strengthened at the weaker point by metal of greater strength; and my object is, further,,to produce a frame of the drop type whereinthe main bar is of like exterior diameter from end to end and with the intermediate portion, which is subjected to the greatest strain, so constructed that it has all the requisite strength and to construct a frame which will be free from the objectionable features heretofore existing.

In the accompanying drawings, in which like letters of reference indicate like parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the frame complete, and Fig. 2 is a sideviewof theU- shaped portion of the main bar on an en-, larged scale with a part shown in section.

In detail, a indicates the upper U-shaped part of the main bar; b, the forward part of the main bar; 0, the rearward part; d, tenons extending from the upper U-shapedpart a into the other parts of the main bar; e and f, braces; g, crank-axle'bracket; h, lower front bar; 2', lower rear bars; j, upper rear bars, and it head.

The construction of my device will be readily understood on reference to the drawings.

vention.

in a bicycle-"frame adapted for ladies use the weaker portion ofthe frame resides in the intermediate portion, (indicated by the letter a,) which part is subjected while the frame is in use to the greatest strain. To overcome this objectionable feature and provide at the desired point in the frame sufficient strength and at the same time to avoid theIappearance .exteriorly of supplying additional material, I

construct the main bar of three parts,the intermediate part a being constructed of heavy or thick material and the remaining portions being constructed of a lighter material, thus giving the requisite strength atthe point subjected to the greatest strain. I

While I prefer that the intermediate U- shaped part a should be constructed of tubular material, (and it will be foundin practice that this gives the requisite strength,) it will readily be seen that if this portion be constructed of solid material such construe tion will not depart from the spirit of my in- The end portions of the U-shaped part a are provided with projections 0r tenons d of less diameter than the body portion, these tenons being of a size to enter and fit snugly in the tubular parts I) and c, and .all of the parts being, as before stated, by preference of the same exterior diameter.

The frame herein referred to is also provided with a lowercurved front bar h, extending from the crank axle bracket forwardly and upwardlyin curved lines to the head and arranged on the same vertical plane from end to end with the U-shaped bar, as shown in Fig. 1, and short connecting-bars eandfare arranged between and'connected with the main bar and the lower front bar, as shown in said figure, thus providing a truss construction adjacent to and in advance of the crank-axle bracket and giving to the frame at this point great-strength and rigidity.

At the middle of the bend of the U -shaped bar a, is formed a short depending stud-brace 8, having formed on its lower end a transversely-disposed horizontal sleeve 15, formed with a longitudinal opening therethrough,

constituting the crank-axle bracket g, as

shown in the drawings. The rear bars 2' t' and the lower front curved bar h are connected to the crank-bracket in anywell-known manner. It will be perceived that this particular construction forms a strong support for the crank-bracket and at the same time braces the upper and lower elements of the frame strongly together at a point or part where it is essential to have rigidity and strength given to the several parts of the frame so connected.

The rear bars j extend from the upper portion of the main bar rearwardly and downwardly to the rear-wheel brackets, and the lower rear bars 2' extend from the rear-wheel brackets to the crank-axle bracket.

Having, therefore, described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isa The drop-frame for a bicycle herein described, comprising a vertically disposed steering-post, a flaring U-shaped upper bar having its front bar or arm connected to the upper portion of the steering-post and formed with a. vertically-depending stud-brace s at the middle of the curve of the U-shaped bar and terminating in a transversely-disposed horizontal sleeve constituting the crank-axle bracket, an upwardly-curved lower bar It arranged in the same vertical plane from end to end as the U-shaped bar and having its ends connected to the steering-post and crankaxle bracket, brace -studs e f bracing the curved bars in front of the crank-axle bracket, lower horizontal bars i i fixed to the crankbracket and their outer ends formed to carry the rear wheel, and forked bars j j connecting the ends of the bars 2' z' with the upper end of the rearbranch or arm of the U-shaped bar, substantially as specified. 7

ROBERT M. KEATING. Witnesses: Y ALLEN WEBSTER, JOHN A. KEATING.

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