JM- PROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES.
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of "JM-
PROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES.". A communication from abroad by Sebastian
Gilzinger, of Rondout, New York, United States of America.
Scaled the 7th October 1876, and dated the 19th August 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th August 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES."
This Invention relates to improvements in velocipedes, and comprises a velocipede
constructed with a vertical lever pivoted to the "perch," a connecting rod secured
to and extending from its upper end to a crank on the rear axle, and foot levers or
treadles with stirrups secured to its lower end, and provided with a saddle, as herein-
after more particularly described.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved velocipede; Figure 2 is a top view
of the same; and Figure 3, a cross section on the line x, x, Figure 2.
Similar letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the Drawing.
In most velocipedes heretofore constructed the propelling power has been mainly
derived from the action of the feet on cranks or treadles, so that the propulsion
and speed of the vehicle depended entirely upon the force with which the foot was
thrust against the crank or treadles which limited the speed, and produced fatigue
in the occupant.
By my Invention, while I preserve all the advantages to be derived from
operating by the feet, I also add another element of power, namely, the weight of
the body of the occupant, as will be more clearly understood from the following
description :-
==
A is the reach or perch of a velocipede, to the front end of which is secured the
front and guiding wheel B, and to the rear end the wheels C, D, affixed to the
axle E. To the perch A is pivoted a vertical lever F. To the upper end of this.
lever is secured a saddle a, and fastened to it immediately below the saddle is one

page_text: end of a connecting rod b, the other end of which is secured to the crank e¹ of the
axle E. This vertical lever F may be fastened to the perch A in any desirable
manner, but preferably through an elliptical opening c formed in the perch, which
affords suitable bearings to support the pivotal bolt a on which the vertical lever F
is pivoted and rests, and by which it is secured to the perch. The lower end of the
vertical lover F is affixed by a hinge joint to treadles or foot levers G, the outer
onds of these foot levers having stirrups e formed on them. To the upper ends of
the stirrups are fastened supporting straps f, f, which extend up to and are made
fast to the front of the saddle. The wheel C is secured directly on the axle, so
that the wheel can only revolve with the axle, which is fitted into suitable bearings
79, which branch out from the end of the perch A. The wheel D, however, is
fitted to the axle, so that it may revolve independently of the axle. The front or
steering wheel B is constructed and arranged so that it may be conveniently turned
to the right or left by cross handles H. The occupant of the saddle a inserts
his feet into the stirrups e at the end of the foot levers G, grasping the cross
handles H with his hands; then by alternately thrusting down and raising up his
feet within the stirrups, and at the same time bending his body to suit the upward
and downward action of his fect and legs, the vertical lever F is made to oscillate
on the pivotal bolt, which secures it to the perch, and as it oscillates backwards
and forwards the connecting rod or pitinan b receives a reciprocating motion, which
is transferred to the crank e on the axle E, which imparts a rotary motion to the
axle and to the wheel C fixed to it, which thereby becomes the driving wheel of
the vehicle, causing it to proceed either backwards or forwards at the pleasure of
the occupant of the saddle, the wheel D, which revolves on and independently of
the axle, revolving freely and merely steadying the vehicle without impeding its
progress, and the guiding being effected by the front wheel B, which is turned to
the right or left, as it may be desired, to turn the vehicle.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that not only is the velocipede pro-
pelled by the action of the feet and foot levers, but its speed is also materially
accelerated by the weight of the body, since as the body of the occupant is moved
backwards and forwards on the upper end of the vertical lever the oscillation of
that lever on its pivotal bolt is rendered much more easy than would be the case if
its oscillation depended solely upon the action of the feet on the treadles, and since
the action of the feet on the foot levers necessarily throws the body backwards and
forwards to some extant this movement of the body is accomplished with little or
no extra exertion on the part of the occupant, and renders the motion of the body
and the action of the feet on the levers simultaneous.
The straps f, f, not only tend to support the foot levers at their outer ends, but
also cause the levers to act by the action of the feet directly on the upper end of
the vertical lever, which, being the longest end of the lever from the fulcrum causes
the power to be applied more effectually than would otherwise be the case.
It is obvious that the velocipede may be constructed with a side saddle, in which
case the foot lever will be arranged on one side of the perch only.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it under-
stood that I claim,-
First. A velocipede constructed with an oscillating lever, to the upper end of
which is affixed a saddle and one end of a connecting rod, and to the lower end of
which are affixed treadles or foot levers, as above set forth, and for the purpose
described.
Second. In a velocipede the porch constructed with an opening, within which
is secured a vertical oscillating lover, as above set forth, and for the purposo
described.
Third. In a velocipede a revolving axle combined with a fixed wheel, as above
set forth, and for the purpose described.
Fourth. In a velocipede a revolving axle with a fixed wheel and a loose wheel
secured thereto, as above described.

page_text: Fifth. In a velocipede foot levers secured to a vertical lever by a hinge joint, and
supported at their outer ends by straps leading and attached to the saddle or seat,
as above set forth, and for the purpose described.
Sixth. In a velocipede, foot levers constructed with stirrups secured to and at right
angles to their outer ends, as above set forth and for the purpose described.
Seventh. In a velocipede a vertical lever combined with a connecting rod and
cranked axle, as above set forth, and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
W. ROB'. LAKE. (L.S.)