Improvements in Pedals for Velocipedes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 21st Oct., 1892-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pedals for Velocipedes.
A communication from GEORGES THOMAS, of Agen (Lot-et-Garonne), France,
Pharmaceutical Chemist.
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE of 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of London,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for object to obviate the disadvantages felt by all cyclists
attending the use of pedals as heretofore constructed, and to produce a pedal that
shall combine the good qualities of different forms of pedals. The pedals of veloci-
pedes are usually of two kinds one kind being known as "rat trap" pedals, in which
the foot rests or foot pieces are composed of steel plates arranged vertically under
the foot and having serrated edges. Pedals of this kind are used almost exclusively
by race riders, record makers, and cycling champions, by reason of the adhesion to
the feet which is afforded by the saw teeth, which by engaging with the soles of
their foot gear, prevent their feet from slipping under the pressure, and thus allow
them to exert their utmost power and considerably increase the effective stroke of
the pedal.
But this pedal has the disadvantage that the very hard contact of the pointed
steel "breakes" or numbs the feet, cutting the soles, and finally becomes unbearable
on a long journey, and it has also the effect of causing trembling in the lower
limbs.
The second kind of pedal referred to is the so called rubber pedal, the foot rests
of which are of rubber, of square or rounded cross section, and of various shapes
and which on account of their smoothness, softness and elasticity, are preferred above
all other kinds by the majority of cyclists.
Unfortunately the foot in this case does not grip to the pedal so firmly, and often
slips, especially in wet weather and sometimes suddenly whilst going at full speed,
thereby causing dangerous accidents.
In any case the power of the leg is half held back as it were paralized by actual
slipping, or it may be simply through fear of possible slipping. The result is a
loss of useful power or what comes to the same an increase of power exerted and
fatigue to the extent of 25% on the average and which in the opinion of all
experienced cyclists, may rise to 50% when climbing hills where the foot has need
more than at any other time of being firmly attached, "clamped" so to speak, to
the pedal in order to ensure the maximum efficiency for propulsion.
Attempts have been made to remedy the defects of the rubber pedal by more or
less complicated and cumbersome means amongst others by the use of leather
attachments, or grooves arranged under the soles, holding but also rendering the
foot immovable on a fixed point of the pedal, thereby producing numbness or cramp
besides being very inconvenient for walking which disadvantages have caused their
use to be quickly abandoned. Large hooks have also been attached to the pedal to
hold the end of the foot in front and on the top. But besides the fact that these
hooks are inconvenient and of awkward appearance they have also several draw-
backs they compel the foot to remain on a certain point of the pedal and do not
allow the foot to catch the pedal readily after having let it go. They do not at all
retain the feet on the pedal during the return movement of the same from front to
back which movement is however greatly recommended for climbing steep gradients
easily and for getting up speed; finally the feet being engaged in these hooks may
become dislocated or sprained in the case of a fall.

page_text: Now the object of this invention is to provide a pedal once simple and practical,
and not subject to get out of order, by converting the old pedals having exclusively
saw teeth or rubbers, into a combined pedal which should be both a rubber pedal
and a saw tooth or rat trap pedal.
By the combination of the two elements, rubbers and teeth, automatic and
adjustable at will, which is the principal merit and the novelty of my invention, the
foot when travelling in the ordinary manner at a moderate speed on the flat for
instance, exerts only a slight pressure upon the pedal and has the benefit of the
smoothness and softness of the rubber upon which it wholly rests. Then if required,
automatically, that is to say without giving thought thereto, by a slightly greater
pressure upon the pedals, said pressure becoming necessary either for the purpose of
increasing the speed, or for travelling along a bad road, or for ascending a hill, the
foot, engages the saw teeth of the pedals firmly and securely with great power, this
being effected without slackening, speed in any way and on either face of the pedal,
thus obtaining without any more fatigue, one third more power with considerably
increased speed.
In order to enable the preceding to be better understood I have annexed to the
present description a series of drawings shewing various forms of pedals constructed
according to my invention operating automatically and capable of adjustment at will.
Fig. 1 illustrates a pedal with rubbers with two vertical plates provided with saw
teeth or points arranged externally in front of the two rubbers. The serrated
plate A covers the rubber on one face only of the latter. In the lower part of the
drawing there can be seen the plate A. in front elevation, and at the upper part
there can only be seen the teeth a of the plate A, which latter is hidden by the
rubber B. It will be easily understood after the preceding explanations that the
teeth a which project to a slight extent only beyond the rubber, will engage with
the soles only when the rubber is depressed by an extra pressure, for the purpose of
overcoming resistance or for increasing the pace, and then in such case the adhesion
of the foot will be greater. When the extra pressure is no longer exerted, the
rubber will rise automatically and the soles being pressed away from the points a
the latter will no longer adhere thereto.
Fig. 2 illustrates a pedal having rubbers with two serrated vertical plates
arranged internally or on the inner sides of the two rubbers; with this difference
the arrangement is similar to that shewn in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 illustrates a pedal having rubbers with blades formed with saw teeth
and projecting on each side of the spindle of the pedal.
Fig. 4 illustrates a pedal with rubbers, which latter are arranged oppositely
to those of the preceding arrangements, namely being arranged on each side of
the serrated part which latter is located between them. As in the other arrange-
ments the teeth a act only when the foot presses strongly on the pedal.
Fig. 5 illustrates a pedal with rubbers arranged at each side of horizontal
steel blades, which latter are provided with vertical points which readily and
automatically project when a strong pressure is exerted upon the rubber said
points passing through the small openings formed in the rubber.
Fig. 6 illustrates a pedal with metallic foot rests and springs in substitution
of rubber, in which I may also employ in a combined manner all the kinds of
teeth or serrated blades.
Fig. 7 illustrates a pedal with wooden foot rests and on which I may also
employ in a combined manner all kinds of blades having saw teeth or projections.
Dated this 23rd day of February, 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pedals for Velocipedes.
A communication from GEORGES THOMAS, of Agen (Lot-et-Garonne), France,
Pharmaceutical Chemist.
I WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of London;
Consulting Engineer, and Patent Agent, 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 has for object to provide a pedal which shall be free from the
disadvantages attending the use of pedals as heretofore constructed. Velocipede
pedals are usually of two kinds, one kind being known as "rat trap" pedals, in
which the foot rests or foot pieces are composed of steel plates arranged vertically
under the foot, and having serrated edges. Pedals of this kind are almost exclusively
used by racers, record makers, and cycling champions, by reason of the adhesion to
the feet which is afforded by the saw teeth, which by engaging with the soles of
the rider's shoes prevent the feet from slipping under the pressure, and thus
permit the rider to exert his utmost power. Such pedals however have the dis-
advantage that the steel points cut the soles, and "breaks or numbs the feet, the
pain finally becoming unbearable if the riding is long continued; the rigid contact
has also the effect of causing trembling in the lower limbs.
The second kind of pedal referred to has rubber foot rests of square or rounded
cross section, and of various shapes. These pedals on account of their smoothness,
softness and elasticity are preferred by the majority of cyclists, but they do not
so firmly grip the foot which often slips, especially in wet weather, and sometimes
suddenly whilst going at full speed, thereby causing dangerous accidents. Con-
sequently the full power of the leg is not generally exerted, being minimized by
actual slipping, or simply through fear of possible slipping.
Attempts have been made to remedy the defects of rubber pedals by more or less
complicated and cumbrous means; such, for instance as leather projections, or
grooves formed on or in the soles of the shoes which have the effect of preventing
slipping but also necessitate the foot being kept in one position on the pedal,
thereby producing numbness or cramp, besides being very inconvenient for walking;.
these disadvantages have caused their use to be frequently abandoned. Large
hooks have also been attached to the pedal to hold the end of the foot in front and
on the top. These hooks, which are inconvenient and of awkward appearance, have
several drawbacks; they render it necessary to keep the foot in a certain position
on the pedal and do not allow the foot to catch the pedal readily after having been
taken off the same; they do not resist any tendency of the feet to slip on the pedal
during the return movement of the same from front to back, which movement is
desirable for climbing steep gradients easily and for getting up speed; finally the
feet being engaged in the hooks may become dislocated or sprained in the case of
a fall.
Now according to this invention I provide a pedal with foot rests having
rubber or similar yielding surfaces and with rigid saw teeth-or rat trap surfaces.
The arrangement is such that when the cyclist is riding at moderate speeds
his feet will rest upon the rubber surfaces, the advantages of rubber pedals being
then obtained, but when he requires to travel faster, or to ascend a hill, then by
exerting a slightly greater pressure upon the pedals the soles of his shoes will
firmly securely and automatically engage the saw teeth of the pedals, this being
effected without slackening speed, thus obtaining without any more fatigue con-
siderably more power or increased speed.
The accompanying drawings shew various arrangements of pedals according
to this invention, similar letters of reference indicating like parts throughout.

page_text: Reterring to these drawings
Fig. 1 illustrates a pedal provided with rubbers and with two vertical plates
having saw teeth or points arranged one on the outer side of each rubber. The
toothed surfaces of the serrated plate A are normally slightly below the surfaces
of the rubbers B. It will be readily understood that the teeeh a, will engage with
the soles of the rider's shoes only when the rubber is depressed by extra pressure,
for the purpose of overcoming resistance or for increasing the pace in which case
the adhesion to the foot will be greater. When the extra pressure is no longer
exerted, the rubber will rise and the soles being pressed away from the points a,
the latter will no longer adhere thereto.
Fig. 2 illustrates a pedal having the serrated vertical plates A arranged at the
inner sides of the rubbers B instead of outside as in the previous arrangement.
Fig. 3 illustrates an arrangement similar to the foregoing except that the plates
having the saw teeth project from the spindle of the pedal there being one plate
above and one below.
Fig. 4 illustrates a pedal with rubbers each of which is formed in parts and is
provided with a serrated blade which is located between the rubber parts. As in
the other arrangements the teeth a act only when the foot presses heavily on the
pedal.
Fig. 5 illustrates a pedal having horizontal steel plates that are provided with
vertical points which are arranged to readily and automatically project through
small openings 6 formed in rubber strips placed above and below each plate, when
extra pressure is exerted upon said rubber strips.
Fig. 6 illustrates a pedal with metallic foot rests supported on springs in place of
the rubbers. In this figure the pedal is shewn provided with teeth which project
upon each side of the spindle of the pedal but any of the arrangements of teeth or
serrated plates hereinbefore described may be employed with this modified form of
foot rest.
Fig. 7 illustrates a pedal with wooden foot rests in combination with which I may
also employ any of the hereinbefore described arrangements of blades having saw
teeth or projections.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A velocipede pedal having a yielding body and rigid teeth or projections
arranged below the normal level of the upper surface of the said yielding body the
arrangement being such that the said teeth or projections only engage the sole of
a rider's shoe when the same is pressed heavily upon the pedal, substantially as
described.
2. Velocipede pedals constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference respectively to and shewn in Fig. 1; in Fig. 2; in Fig. 3; in Fig. 4;
in Fig. 6; and in Fig. 7 of the drawings annexed.
Doted this 21st day of October 1892.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham.