Improvements in and applicable to Bicycles and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 12th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1898
Improvements in and applicable to Bicycles and the like.
I, JAMES HOPLEY, of 696, Ashton Old Road, Higher Openshaw, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Watch Maker and Jeweller, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is the construction of bicycles and the like which
shall allow of the whole power at the command of the riders being utilized for the
propulsion of the same."
In carrying out my invention I construct a bicycle or tricycle for two or more
riders provided with crank handles mounted in the place where it is the present
practise to mount the handle bars or hand rests for the second or further number
of riders such crank handles being mounted upon a shaft. revolving in ball bear-
ings and upon such shaft I further mount a chain wheel for the purpose of trans-
fering the power from the crank handles to the driven wheel or wheels.
In constructing a tricycle for three riders I prefer to arrange the seats for two
of the riders one over each of the back wheels and provide such riders with crank
handles as above described in addition to the foot cranks usually provided and I
transfer the power from such crank handles to the driving wheel or wheels by
chain or other convenient gear. The front rider on a machine constructed accord-
ing to my invention would be provided with the ordinary handle bar for the pur-
pose of steering the machine hence it will be seen that I should only provide the
hand driving apparatus for the use of the second or further number of riders.
Dh 10thor of Aul 1897
Improvements in and applicable to Bicycles and the like.
I, JAMES HOPLEY, of 696, Ashton Old Road, Higher Openshaw, Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Watch Maker and Jeweller, 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:.
The object of this invention is the construction of bicycles and the like which
shall allow of the whole power at the command of the riders being utilized for
the propulsion of the same.
And in order that my invention may be more readily understood and carried
into effect I have hereunto annexed two sheets of drawings illustrative of the same
which I will now proceed to describe with the assistance of the various figs. and

page_text: letters of reference marked thereon Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 an end
view of so much of a tricycle as is necessary to illustrate my improvements.
In carrying out my invention I construct a bicycle or tricycle for two or more
riders provided with crank handles A mounted at or about the place where it is
the usual practice to mount the handle bars or hand rests for the second or further
number of riders such crank handles being mounted upon a shaft revolving in
ball bearings B and upon such shaft I further mount a chain wheel C for the
purpose of transferring the power from the crank handles A to the driven wheel
or wheels D by means of the chain E. In constructing a tricycle for three riders
I prefer to arrange the seats F and F¹ for two of the riders one over each of the
back wheels D and provide such riders with crank handles A as above described
in addition to the foot cranks G usually provided and I transfer the power from
such crank handles A to the driven wheel or wheels D by chains E or other con-
venient gear.
The front rider on a machine constructed according to my invention would be
provided with the ordinary handles bars H for the purpose of steering the machine
hence it will be seen that I should only provide the hand driving apparatus for
the use of the second or further number of riders. It will be obvious that these
improvements may be applied to existing machines and also that a carriage for
invalides for parsles or for fire brigade purposes may be constructed having my
improvements applied thereto. And in applying my improvements to these pur-
poses I should prefer to construct a carriage body between the two back wheels
of a form suitable to the purpose for which it is to be used. And when desirable
I may construct a tricycle with seats over the back wheels but without the hand
driving apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
Firstly A bicycle or the like substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
Secondly The crank handles A mounted and operating substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
Thirdly. A tricycle having seats plased over the back wheels with or without
the crank handles A substantially as herein before described and illustrated on
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 11th day of February 1898