Year: 1885

page_text: We JOSEPH WHITE of Earlsdon near the City of Coventry, Watch Manufacturer
and JOHN ASBURY of Cheylesmore, Coventry in the County of Warwick, Machinist
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to means for providing in Tricycles of the "Cripper" type,
ample space for entrance to and exit from the vehicle, without entering it from the
back, as is at present necessary, the object being to adapt it for Ladies use.
The hollow inclined stem through which the steering rod passes stands at present
so near the saddle as to make the handle a serious obstruction to any attempt to
reach the saddle from the side or front of the vehicle.
To remedy this inconvenience we propose to hinge the hollow stem to the frame
of the vehicle and to secure the joint, in such a way, as to obtain a firm locking
together of the parts when the tricycle is running.-The forward end of the frame
terminates in a flanged lug forming one half of the hinge coupling. From the
centre of this lug projects a screwed bolt for receiving a tightening nut. A similar
Hanged lug stands out from the back near the lower end of the hollow stem and a
central hole is made in it for the screw bolt to pass through. The flanges of the
two lugs form each somewhat less than a semi-circle and their extremities constitute
the abutments of the hinge.
Outside the hinge, and strung upon the screw bolt is a helical spring and over
this is placed a box for covering it. When the spring and box are in place the nut
is applied to the bolt and screwed up until the requisite amount of lateral pressure
is applied to the hinge coupling to maintain the hollow stem in its desired position.
To ensure the locking of the parts together each lug is fitted with a conical stud
and two conical recesses are also formed in each lug to receive these studs.
The position of these recesses is such as to ensure by the insertion of the studs in
one or other of their respective recesses the locking of the coupling in one of two
positions, thus when the rider is seated for travelling, the hollow stem will be
locked in its backward position, but when the rider desires to alight the stem will
be thrust forward by pressing against the handles, and the spring, yielding to the

page_text: pressure of the conical studs against the conical recesses in which they are locked,
the stem will be rocked on its coupling and locked in its forward position. This
will leave a clear space for the rider to alight from the vehicle.
To restore the parts to their normal position it will only be necessary to press
back the handles and the studs will snap into the recesses from which they were
thrust in opening a space for the descent of the rider.
We JOSEPH WHITE of Earlsdon near the City of Coventry, Watch Manufacturer,
and JOHN ASBURY of Cheylesmore, Coventry in the County of Warwick, Machinist
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 means for providing in Tricycles of the "Cripper" type,
ample space for entrance to, and exit from the vehicle, without entering it from the
back, as is at present necessary, the object being to adapt it for Ladies' use.
The inclined tubular stem through which the steering rod passes, stands at present
so near the saddle as to make the steering handles a serious obstruction to any
attempt to reach the saddle from the side or front of the vehicle.
To remedy this inconvenience, we propose to hinge the tubular stem to the frame
of the vehicle, and to secure the joint, in such a way, as to obtain a firm locking
together of the parts when the tricycle is running. The forward end of the frame
terminates in a flanged lug forming one half of the hinge coupling, and from the.
centre of this lug projects a threaded hinge pin for receiving a tightening nut.-A
similar flanged lug stands out from the back near the lower end of the hollow
stem, and a central hole is made in it for the hinge pin to pass through.-The
flanges of the two lugs form each somewhat less than a seini circle, and their
extremities constitute the abutments of the hinge for its two positions, viz: when
the stem carrying the steering handles is in position for travelling, and when it is
thrown forward to allow of the rider rising to, or descending from the seat.
This hinge joint requires to be locked in one or other of its positions, to give
steadiness to the frame while the vehicle is running, and to prevent the tipped
steering handle from moving back suddenly from its tipped position, and striking
the rider when in the act of mounting.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings, we have shown two modes of locking the hinge,
but other plans may be adopted without departing from the nature of our
invention.
"
Fig. 1 shows in side elevation a Cripper" Tricycle fitted with our improved
joint for connecting the hollow inclined stem with the frame of the vehicle.
In this Figure, A is the frame fitted as usual with bracket bearings for the
compound axle of the travelling wheels B, and for the pedal axle C.
D is the hollow stem for receiving the steering rod E, and F is the steering wheel,
mounted, as usual, in a fork formed in one with the steering rod-G is the seat.
for the rider, and F¹ the steering handles, which, from their proximity to the seat,,
offer an obstruction to the mounting of the rider.
a is the flanged lug of the frame A, and d is the flanged lug of the tubular.
stem D. By reference to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, which represent the joint detached, and
on an enlarged scale, the construction of this joint and the means for locking it
will be clearly seen.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the joint corresponding with Fig. 1.; and
Fig. 3 is a view of the opposite side of the joint.
Fig. 4 is a cross section, taken in the plane of line 1, 2 of Fig. 2, which plane
cuts the axis of the joint. Made fast to the lug a is the hinge-pin a¹, threaded on
its outer end to receive a tightening nut a².
Outside the hinge, and strung upon the hinge pin, is a helical spring a³, and over
this is placed a box a' for covering it. When the spring and box are in place, the
nut a is applied to the hinge pin, and screwed up until the requisite amount of
lateral pressure is applied to the hinge coupling, to maintain the hollow-stem in its
desired position.
To ensure the locking of the parts together, each lug is fitted with a conical
stud 1. 1, and two conical recesses 2. 2 are also formed in each lug to receive these
studs.
The position of these recesses is such as to ensure, by the insertion of the studs
in one or other of their respective recesses, the locking of the coupling in one of
two positions. Thus, when the rider is seated for travelling, the hollow stem will
be locked in its backward position, but when the rider desires to alight, the stem
will be thrust forward by pressing against the handles, and the spring, yielding to
the pressure of the conical studs against the conical recesses in which they are
locked, the stem will be rocked on its coupling, and locked in its forward position.-
This will leave a clear space for the rider to alight from the vehicle, as indicated by
the dotted lines in Fig. 1.
To restore the parts to their normal position, it will only be necessary to press
back the tubular stem D, and the studs will snap into the recesses from which they
were-thrust in opening a space for the descent of the rider.
Another mode of locking our improved joint, and one which we prefer, as being
less liable to wear, is shown at Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8.
Figs. 5 and 6 being views of the opposite sides of the joint, and shewing the
bolt in position for locking the parts ready for travelling.
Fig. 7 is a cross section of the joint taken in the plane 3. 4 of Fig. 5, and Fig. 8
is a side view of the joint shewing it as locked in the position for giving ready
access to the seat.
Instead of the joint having conical studs and recesses and a helical spring for
drawing together the flanged lugs of the joint, we use a sliding bolt H furnished
with hasps h h at its opposite ends, and embracing the joint.
A dovetailed groove is cut in the head of the binge pin to receive this bolt, and
the hasps are so formed as to fit between either the upper or the lower abutting
shoulders of the hinge as desired.
The bolt is fitted with a handle h2, or its equivalent, for operating it.
When the joint is to be locked with the tubular stem in the drawn position of
Fig. 1, the bolt will be raised to the position of Figs. 5 and 6, but when room is

page_text: required for the rider to alight, the bolt is depressed to free the lower abutting
edges of the joint from contact with the basp h'; and the tubular stem being thrown
forward to the dotted position of Fig. 1, the bolt is further depressed to bring the
hasp h into contact with the upper abutting shoulders of the hinge joint, as shown
at Fig. 8.
The joint will then have no tendency to yield until the bolt has been raised to
the intermediate position.
6
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
Connecting the inclined tubular stem (for the steering rod) of Tricycles of the
Cripper" type, to the frame of the Tricycle, by means of a hinge joint, which is.
capable of being locked at pleasure in one or the other of two extreme positions in.
the manner and for the purpose above set forth.
'