Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 11th Mar.,
1899
I, GEORGE WASHINGTON MANSON, residing at 324, West 17th Street, New York,
in the County of New York, and State of New York, United States of America,
Inventor, 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:-
This invention relates to bicycles, and the object thereof is to provide a vehicle
of this class with improved propelling mechanism whereby the speed of the vehicle
may be largely increased without correspondingly increasing the power employed.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which :-
Fig. 1, is a side view of a bicycle constructed according to my invention;
Fig. 2, a plan view thereof, and,
Fig. 3, a plan view of the propelling mechanism on an enlarged scale.
In the drawing forming part of this specification the separate parts of my im-
provement are designated by the same numerals of reference in each of the views,
and in the ractice of my invention I provide a frame which consists of two sets of
side burs 5 and 6, and the side bars 5 and 6 on each side are placed in a vertica!
plane, and the forward ends of the side bars on each side, are bent upwardly as
shown at 7 and forwardly and curved as shown at 8 and are connected with the
tubular head 9 through which the steering rod connected with the forward fork 10
passes, and the bottom side bars 6 on each side are also curved upwardly over the
guide wheel 11 as shown at 12 and are also connected with the tubular head 9.
The upwardly curved portions 7 and 12 of the bars 5 and 6 on each side are
connected by a spline 13 so as to give strength and rigidity thereto, and placed
at the bend of the side bars 5 and 6 at each side is an angular brace 14 by which
said bars are connected.
The drive wheel 15 is mounted in the rear portion of the frame as shown in
Figs. 1 and 2, and placed on the axle thereof is a large sprocket wheel 16, and I
also provide a support for the seat 17 which consists of upwardly directed yoke
shaped frames 18 which are connected with the top horizontal bar 5 on each side
of the drive wheel, and the seat 17 is connected with a cross plate 19 which is
connected with said yoke shaped frames 18 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2,
and as thus constructed it will be seen that the seat 19 is much lower than in
vehicles of this class as usually constructed, and said seat may be longitudinally
adjusted on the upper horizontal portions 20 of the yoke shaped frames 18, and
secured in its adjusted position by means of suitable binding bolts.
The advantage of the construction and arrangement of the seat and its sup-
port as above described, lies in the fact that the position of the rider may be
adjusted with. respect to the front fork of the main frame and the handle bars,
and also that by merely dropping the feet off the pedals the machine can be main-
tained in an upright position, while not in motion, for an indefinite time. The

page_text: rider is thus enabled to use his hands for other purposes than maintaining the
equilibrium or guiding of the wheel. Furthermore, the low position of the
seat enables the rider to apply great power to the pedals, which power is directed
in practically a horizontal plane.
I also preferably provide a supplemental frame which consists of two horizontal
plates 21 which are secured to the inner sides of the bars 5 and 6 of the main frame
on each side, and between the guide wheel 11 and the drive wheel 15, and passing
centrally through the forward ends of these plates is a crank shaft 22 which is
provided with a gear wheel 23 and at the outer ends thereof which project beyond
the sides of the main frame, said shaft is provided with cranks 24.
The supplemental frame or the plates 21 are also provided with three other
transverse shafts 25, 26 and 27 arranged in the order named, the shaft 25 being
adjacent to the crank shaft 22 and said shaft 25 is provided with a pinion 28 which
operates in connection with the gear wheel 23 on the crank shaft, and said shaft 25
is also provided with a gear wheel 29 which operates in connection with a
pinion 30 on the shaft 26 and the shaft 26 is provided with a gear wheel 31 and
mounted on the shaft 27 is a sleeve 32 which is longitudinally movable thereon,
but which revolves with said shaft, and said sleeve is provided at one end with a
pinion 33 which is adapted to operate in connection with the gear wheel 31 on the
shaft 26, and also with a gear wheel 34 and the shaft 26 is also provided with an
independent gear wheel 35 and connected at one side of the supplemental frame
at 36 is a lever 37 one end of which is connected with the end of the sleeve 32
as shown at 38, and by means of the lever 37 the sleeve 32 may be moved longi-
tudinally of the shaft 27 in such manner that the gear wheel 34 thereon will
engage with the gear wheel 35 on the shaft 26 and in this operation the pinion 33
on the sleeve 32 will be thrown out of engagement with the gear 31.
Pivotally connected with the main frame at a predetermined point above the
horizontal portion thereof as shown at 39 and on each side thereof are rods 40
which are suspended from their pivotal supports as shown in Fig. 1, and the lower
ends thereof are connected with pedal shafts 41 on which are mounted pedals 42
and connected with the pedal shafts 41 are crank rods 43 which are also connected
with the ends of the cranks 24.
The handle bar 44 is of the usual form and passes through or is connected with
a coupling head 45 which is pivotally connected at 46 with a backwardly directed
arm 47 which is provided with a downwardly directed extension 48 which is con-
nected in the usual manner with the steering head of the forward fork 10 and by
means of this connection of the handle bar 44 the said handle bar may be moved
laterally with greater convenience and without releasing either end thereof, said
handle bar being capable of turning on its pivotal connection at 46 and in this
operation the arm 46 may, as will be understood, be turned from side to side, and
the forward fork 10 and guide wheel 11 operate in the usual manner.
In practice the rider is seated on the seat 17 in the usual manner, and his feet
are placed on the pedals 42 and the motion of the feet is a forward and backward
motion, and in this operation the shaft 22 will be revolved as will be readily
understood, and the shafts 25, 26 and 27 will be revolved by the intermediate
gearing.
The shaft 27 is provided with a small sprocket wheel 49 which is geared in con-
nection with the large sprocket wheel 16 on the drive wheel 15 by an ordinary
drive chain 50 and the drive wheel will be propelled as will be readily understood
by the shaft 27 and the ratio of the intermediate gearing between the shafts 22
and 27 is such that the shaft 25 will be given three revolutions for each revolution
of the shaft 22 the shaft 26 will be given three revolutions for each revolution of
the shaft 25 and the shaft 27 will be given three revolutions for each revolution
of the shaft 26 or in other words the shaft 27 will be given twenty-seven revolu-
tions for each revolution of the shaft 22 and the relative size of the sprocket
wheels 16 and 49 is such that the drive wheel 15 will be given about five revolu-
tions for each twenty-seven revolutions of the shaft 27, or in other words the

page_text: drive wheel 15 will be given about five revolutions for each revolution of the
crank shaft 22.
This result is true only when the pinion 33 on the sleeve 32 is in connection
with the gear wheel 31 on the shaft 26 and this is the normal position of these
parts: but in going up hill where it is necessary to increase the power the lever 37
is manipulated so as to throw the gear wheel 34 on the sleeve 32 into connection
with the gear wheel 35 on the shaft 26 it being understood that the power for
propelling the vehicle up an incline is increased by this operation, while the speed
of the vehicle is decreased.
It will be apparent that the intermediate gearing between the shafts 22 and 27
or the relative proportions thereof may be varied without departing from the
spirit of my invention, and it will also be apparent that other changes in and
modifications of the various parts of the construction herein shown and described,
may be made, and I reserve the right to make all such alterations therein as
fairly come within the scope of the invention.
One of the chief features of my invention consists in the fact that in operating
the pedals as herein before described, the feet are placed squarely thereon, and the
pedals pressed against the centre of the foot, and the foot is prevented from
slipping off of the pedals by the heel of the shoe, and the strain or exertion
usually thrown upon, the ball of the foot is avoided.
I also, by reason of the location of the seat 17 and the handle bar 44, avoid the
necessity of throwing the upper portion of the body on to the handle bar, and
thus remove the usual strain upon the arms and hands, and by reason of placing
the seat low as hereinbefore described, the feet may be placed upon the ground
when removed from the pedals and there is therefore no danger of a fall and by
removing the feet from the pedals and placing them upon the ground the bicycle
may be held in an upright position whenever desired.
The improved construction and arrangement as comprised in my invention
ensures compactness and strength as well as convenience and general effectiveness
in the purposes for which the bicycle is designed. In this connection, it will be
noted that the main portion of the frame consists only of the longitudinal side
bars with a plurality of said bars arranged in parallel position in a vertical plane
at each side of said main portion of the frame, in connection with the supple-
mentary arched side bars which project upwardly from said longitudinal and
vertically parallel sets of bars at each side and at the rear end and constitutes
a yoke forming a truss at the rear end of said longitudinal and vertically parallel
side bars: the front portion of the frame formed of the side bars projecting up-
wardly and forwardly from the front ends of said longitudinal and vertically
parallel side bars of the main portion of the frame and converging to the steering
head, provided in connection with said main portion, a storage space which is of
especial utility when the bicycle is employed for military purposes; the mounting
of the drive wheel between the longitudinal and vertically parallel sets of side
bars at the rear end of the frame and within and between the supplementary
arched side bars or yokes, ensures compactness and strength, and the arrangement
of the driving mechanism between said longitudinal and vertically parallel side
bars and within the main portion of the frame is also an important feature in this
connection; the supplementary arched side bars or yokes at each side the rear
portion of the frame, which comprise a longitudinal top portion and upright end
portions, also provides for the mounting of the scat transversely across and
between and upon the longitudinal top portion of said bars or yokes in front of the
drive wheel and the lateral extension of the steering head, so that it projects
with relation to the seat mounted as above set forth and carries the handle bar,
produces a convenient relationship between the steering mechanism and the
seat and also forms a frame upon which an ordnance field piece or rifle
may
be
mounted for military uses.
In its adaptability for military uses, my improved bicycle is especially advan-
tageous, inasmuch as the general construction and arrangement enables the

page_text: dropping of the feet upon the ground and the supporting of the bicycle in this
manner, leaving the hands free for the manipulation of a rifle or other arm. My
invention also provides, in its general structure, an improved bicycle adapted for
general purposes and affording a maximum degree of safety.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. An improved bicycle adapted for military and similar purposes, comprising
a frame embodying a main portion formed of longitudinal side bars extending
from front to rear of the machine, a plurality of said longitudinal side bars being
arranged in parallel position in a vertical plane at each side of said main portion
of the frame, and a front portion formed of side bars relatively arranged at each
side and projecting upwardly from the side bars at the front of the main portion
of the frame, whereby a storage space is provided within the front portion of the
frame and the front of the main portion of the frame a drive wheel being mounted
between said longitudinal side bars of the main portion of the frame at the rear
end and the steering head and wheel being connected to said upwardly projecting
front portion of the frame, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. An improved safety bicycle comprising a frame embodying a main portion
formed of longitudinal side bars extending from front to rear of the machine,
a plurality of said longitudinal side bars being arranged in parallel position in
vertical plane at each side of the main portion of the frame, and a front portion
formed of side bars extending upwardly and forwardly from said longitudinal
side bars of the main portion of the frame at the front, the drive wheel being.
arranged between said side bars of the main portion of the frame at the rear
end and the steering head and wheel being arranged in connection with the up-
wardly projecting front portion of the frame, and the driving mechanism enclosed
between and carried by the vertically parallel longitudinal side bars at each side of
the main portion of the frame and connected with the main drive wheel, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. An improved bicycle, comprising the frame embodying a main portion formed
of longitudinal side bars extending from front to rear of the machine, a plurality
of said longitudinal side bars being arranged in parallel position in a vertical
plane at each side of the main portion of the frame, and a front portion formed of
side bars extending upwardly and forwardly from the side bars of the main por-
tion of the frame at the front end, and supplementary arched side bars extending
upwardly from 'said longitudinal side bars of the main portion of the frame at
the rear end and constituting a yoke forming a truss for the rear end of the
longitudinal side bars of the main portion of the frame, the drive wheel being
mounted between the sides of the main portion of the frame formed by said
parallel longitudinal side bars and between the supplementary arched side bars
or yokes and the steering head and wheel being arranged in connection with the
upwardly projecting side bars of the front portion of the frame, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
4. An improved bicycle, comprising a frame embodying a main portion formed
of longitudinal side bars extending from front to rear of the machine, a plurality
of said longitudinal side bars being arranged in parallel position in a vertical
plane at each side the main portion of the frame, and a front portion extending
upwardly and forwardly from the top of said longitudinal side bars of the main
portion of the frame, supplementary arched side bars projecting upwardly from
the top of the longitudinal side bars at the rear and constituting a yoke forming
a truss at the rear of the main portion of the frame, the drive wheel mounted
between the longitudinal side bars at the rear and within the supplementary
arched side bars or yokes, a seat mounted upon the front portion of the supple-
mentary arched side bars or yoke in front of the drive wheel, a driving mechanism
mounted between the longitudinal and vertically parallel sets of side bars at the

page_text: rear end of the main portion of the frame, said driving mechanism being con-
nected with the drive wheel and embodying gears and a crank shaft for operating
the same, rods pivotally suspended from the upwardly and forwardly projecting
front portion of the frame, pitmen extending from the lower ends of said rods
to the cranks upon the crank shaft of the driving mechanism, and pedals or foot
pieces mounted at the joint between said pivoted rods and the pitmen, the relative
construction and arrangement being such that a low seat is provided and a direct
forward thrust upon the pedals or foot pieces is enabled, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth.
5. As an improvement in bicycles, the combination, with the frame embodying
the main portion formed of longitudinal side bars extending between the drive
wheel and the steering wheel, a plurality of said longitudinal side bars being
arranged in parallel position in a vertical plane at each side the main portion of
the frame, and the drive wheel mounted between said longitudinal and vertically
parallel sets of side bars at the rear end and having a large sprocket wheel or
gear upon its shaft, of the pedal shaft mounted upon said longitudinal side bars
of the main portion of the frame in front of the drive wheel and carrying a gear
and having its ends projecting beyond said side bars, a gear mechanism mounted
and sustained upon said longitudinal side bars and within the main portion of
the frame formed thereby and consisting of a supplementary shaft having a
relatively small sprocket or gear connected with the sprocket or gear upon the
shaft of the drive wheel and provided with a gear and a series of shafts inter-
mediately arranged between the pedal shaft and said supplementary shaft and
provided with relatively intermeshing pinions and gears, whereby the driving
mechanism is mounted within the main portion of the frame formed by said
longitudinal and vertically parallel sets of side bars and the speed of the pedal
shaft is communicated to and multiplied in the supplementary shaft and the speed
of the supplementary shaft is communicated to reduced in the drive wheel shaft
and a strong leverage is obtained in the communication between the supplemen-
tary shaft and the drive wheel shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a bicycle, an improved frame comprising a main portion formed of longi-
tudinal side bars extending from end to end at the bottom portion of the machine,
a plurality of said longitudinal side bars being arranged in parallel position in
a vertical plane at each side said main portion of the frame, the front portion
formed of relatively arranged side bars projecting upwardly and forwardly from
said longitudinal side bars of the main portion of the frame at the front end and
converging at their ton ends to the steering head, and a supplementary frame
portion formed of the arched side bars projecting upwardly from said longitudinal
and vertically parallel sets of side bars at each side of the main portion of the
frame at the rear end and constituting a yoke which forms a trussed rear end, the
drive wheel being received between said longitudinal and vertically parallel sets
of side bars and within the supplementary arched side bars or yokes and the steer-
ing head and wheel being arranged in connection with the convergent front end
of the forwardly and upwardly projecting front portion of the frame, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
7. An improved safety bicycle, comprising the frame embodying a main portion
formed of longitudinal side bars extending from end to end, a plurality of said
longitudinal side bars being arranged in parallel position in a vertical plane at
rear side of said main portion of the frame, and a front portion extending upwardly
and forwardly from said longitudinal side bars at the front ends, supplementary
arched side bars projecting upwardly from the longitudinal and vertically
parallel side bars of the main portion of the frame at each side the latter at the
rear end and constituting a yoke which forms a truss at the rear end of said
longitudinal side bars, the drive wheel mounted between the longitudinal and
vertically parallel sets of side bars at the rear end of the main portion of the
frame, driving mechanism supported by and mounted between said longitudinal
side bars and within the main portion of the frame formed thereby, said driving

page_text: mechanism being connected with the drive wheel, the steering wheel and steering
head arranged in connection with the upwardly and forwardly projecting front
portion of the frame, the steering head being extended laterally and carrying the
handle bar upon said extension, and the seat supported upon the supplementary
side bars or yokes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 8th day of December 1898.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.