IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES, TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, STEPHEN MARTIN of Birchfield Road, Lozells near Birmingham in the County
of Warwick, Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES, TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES" to be as
follows
-
My invention has reference to bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes, and
consists brst in a detachable crank, or in a means of affixing the crank to its axis,
for the purpose of removal or otherwise, should the crank become twisted or
distorted in shape, which would require to be removed for straightening or resetting
Secondly, in a pedal pin arrangement, whereby the throw of the crank can be
lengthened or shortened to suit the requirements of the rider Thirdly, an
improved safety fork adjustment for the purpose of varying the angle or position
of the pedal axis, for the purpose of altering the distance between saddle and pedal
axis to suit the stature of the rider By such means as herein-after described, a
machine can be varied to suit any velocipedist that may require the machine,
Instead of having a machine built for his special height or proportions, and
fourthly, in constructing a yielding or complient back bone, so that the hind
wheel of the machine to which it is applied, can pass over any irregularities on its
road of traction, without interfering with the comfort of the rider
I will describe my invention in connection with a bicycle
The detachable crank consists of an ordinary crank with a divided flange or
extended lug end, the split of which extends into an angular or lozenge shaped
hole or holding bush in which a corresponding angular end on the pedal axis takes,
that is to say, the angles or opposite corners of the hole into which the split of the
flange extends are disposed in the direction of, and at right angles to the crank
A screw pin passes across the split flange or extended part, and when screwed
home, binds forcibly the V angles of the grip of the jaws, upon the V angles on
the end of the pedal axis, thereby firmly and securely connecting the two parts
together, which can be readily detached when required, by the slacking of the
screw pin or nut, The closing pin instead of being passed through the end, may be
passed through a split extending from the hole up the arm of the crank
The pedal pin arrangement for lengthening or shortening the throw, consists of a
cranked or excentric arm on the inner end of the pedal pin with a flat sided stud
on the cranked end taking into the longitudinal alot in the crank proper, the

page_text: affixing of the pedal pin in any desired position being effected by a screw nut in
the ordinary way, thus, when a long throw is required, the stud or neck on the
cranked arm is removed to the bottom of the slot in the crank proper, so that the
pedal pin or axis extends beyond the end of the crank itself
To shorten the crank, slack the fixing screw, turn round the pedal pin so as to
make its crank arm extend upwards, and when the flat sided stud on its inner
face has been removed to the top of the slot in the crank, then the throw is
considerably diminished, by the pedal pin extending a considerable distance up the
crank arm
The adjustable fork consists of a swivelling depending long arm carrying at its
lower extremity the crank or pedal axle, and at its upper end above the swivelling
centre pin or joint, is a short arm provided with a screw pin which passes through
the slot of a quadrant arm extending from one side of the fork The swivelling
centre thus described, constitutes a kind of knee joint, which allows the lower part
constituting the fork carrying the pedal axis to be adjusted (within certain limits)
to the requisite angle required by a rider, so as to shorten or lengthen the distance
between the saddle and crank axis to accommodate machines to riders of varying
statures The swivelling arm is affixed by the lateral screw pin or nut being
screwed up at the required position, with respect to the quadrant slotted arm in
which it takes
The swivelling Joint may be affixed by a screw pin passing through the short
arm with its end swivelling within a socket in the upper fork, instead of passing
the pin transversely through a slot as first described
The yielding or complient back bone consists of a yielding forked end or
termination near the hind wheel, that is, the back bone is divided by a joint near
to, or at the joint of the hind forks carrying the small wheel. The jointed part
consists of an arm, shaped somewhat bell-cranked. The lower part which extends
downwards, carries the hind wheel, and the other part above the joint passes
upwards, and is cranked outwards A pin fixed to and passing from the back bone
extends through the upper end of the arm last described, and surrounding this pin
1s a coiled or Hat spring, which abutts respectively against the back bone and the
extended upper end of the jointed arm So that should any inequalities or
obstacles be presented to the wheels of the machine, the jointed or divided back-
bone yields to such inequalities without giving discomfort to the rider, and without
Jolting the machine,
Instead of the yielding back bone or frame being applied to a machine with the
hind wheel, it may be applied with like effect to machines having front or side
wheels.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
I, STEPHEN MARTIN of Birchfield Road Lozells near Birmingham in the County
of Warwick, Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES, TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES," and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement
My invention has reference to bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes, and
consists first in a detachable crank, or in a means of afhxing the crank to its axis,
for the purpose of removal or otherwise, should the crank become twisted or
distorted in shape, which would require to be removed for straightening or
resetting Secondly in a pedal pin arrangement, whereby the throw the crank
can be lengthened or shortened to suit the requirements of the rider Thirdly, an
improved safety fork adjustment for the purpose of varying the angle or position of
the pedal axis for the purpose of altering the distance between saddle and pedal
axis to suit the stature of the rider, by such means as herein-after described, a
machine can be varied to suit any velocipedist that may require the machine
Instead of having a machine built for his special height or proportions, and
fourthly, in constructing a yielding or compliant back bone so that the hind wheel
of the machine to which it is applied, can pass over any irregularities on its road
of traction without interfering with the comfort of the rider.
I will describe my invention in connection with a bicycle
The detachable crank consists of an ordinary crank with a divided flange or
extended lug end, the split of which, extends into an angular or lozenge shaped
bole or holding bush in which a corresponding angular end on the pedal axis takes,
that is to say, the angles or opposite corners of the hole into which the split of the
flange extends are disposed in the direction of, and at right angles to the crank-
A screw pin passes across the split flange or extended part, and when screwed
home, binds forcibly the V angles of the grip of the jaws, upon the V angles on the
end of the pedal axis, thereby firmly and securely connecting the two parts
together, which can be readily detached when required, by the slacking of the
screw pin oi nut.
The closing pin instead of being passed through the end may be passed through
a split extending from the hole up the arm of the crank
The pedal pin arrangement for lengthening or shortening the throw consists of a
cranked or excentric arm on the inner end of the pedal pin with a flat sided stud
on the cranked end taking into the longitudinal slot in the crank proper, the
affixing of the pedal pin in any desired position being effected by a screw nut in
the ordinary way, thus, when a long throw is required, the stud or neck on the
cranked arm 18 removed to the bottom of the slot in the crank proper, so that the,
pedal pin or axis extends beyond the end of the crank itself,

page_text: To shorten the crank, slack the fixing screw, turn round the pedal pin so as to
make its crank arm extend upwards, and when the flat sided stud on its inner
face has been removed to the top of the slot in the crank, then the throw 18
considerably diminished, by the pedal pin extending a considerable distance up the
crank arm
The adjustable fork consists of a swivelling depending long arm carrying at its
lowest extremity the crank or pedal axle, and at its upper end above the swivelling
centre pin or Joint, is a short arm provided with a screw pin which passes through
the alot of a quadrant arm extending from one side of the fork-The swivelling
centre thus described, constitutes a kind of knee joint, which allows the lower part
constituting the fork carrying the pedal axis to be adjusted (within certain limits)
to the requisite angle required by a rider, so as to shorten or lengthen the distance
between the saddle and crank axis to accommodate machines to riders of varying
statures The swivelling arm is affixed by the lateral screw pin or nut being
screwed up at the required position, with respect to the quadrant slotted arm in
which it takes
The swivelling joint may be affixed by a screw pin passing through the short
arm with its end swivelling within a socket in the upper fork instead of passing
the pin transversely through a slot as first described
The yielding or compliant backbone consists of a yielding forked end or termi-
nation near the hind wheel, that is, the backbone is divided by a joint near to, or
at the joint of the hind forks carrying the small wheel-The jointed part consists
of an arm shaped somewhat bell cranked-The lower part which extends down-
wards carries the hind wheel, and the other part above the joint passes upwards,
and is cranked outwards-A pin fixed to and passing from the back bone extends
through the upper end of the arm last described, and surrounding this pin 15 &
coiled or flat spring, which abuts respectively against the back bone and the
extended upper end of the Jointed arm-So that should any inequalities or
obstacles be presented to the wheels of the machine, the jointed or divided back
bone yields to such inequalities without giving discomfort to the rider, and without
jolting the machine.
Instead of the yielding backbone or frame being applied to a machine with the
hind wheel, it may be applied with like effect to machines having front or side
wheels.
I will now proceed to describe with referenc to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which the same is to be performed.
Figure represents in front elevation a safety bicycle provided with improve-
ments made according to my invention-The other figures represent separate and
enlarged views of the principal parts of the machine, that is, figure 2 represents in
front elevation the detachable crank with its attachment end split or divided
Figure 3 is the same with the split end in section, in order to exhibit the pin for
drawing together the divided parts Figure 4 is a plan of figure 2 Figure 5 is a
like view as figure 4 with the end part in section Figure 6 is a modification,
wherein the divided part is extended up the arm of the crank.
Figure 7 is a plan of the pedal pin arrangement with the pedal attached
Figure 8 is a plan with the pedal pin shown in a different position and figure 9 18
a side elevation of figure 8, while figure 10 is a side elevation of figure 7 Figure 11
shows the crank formation of the pedal pin separately.
Figure 12 shows in side elevation the swinging arm arrangement which swivels
or turns upon a joint pin as a centre the said arm carries at its lower extremity
the crank axis and chain wheel Figure 13 is a separate view of the upper part of
the swinging arm or frame, to show how the connection 18 made between the fork
termination and the swivelling end of the arm carried by it Figure 14 is a side
elevation of figure 13, showing the connection of the chain wheel with the driving
axle Figure 15 shows a side elevation upon an enlarged scale of the joint part of

page_text: the yielding back bone of the safety bicycle figure
Figure 16 is a part section
of the joint, and its connections Figure 17 is an end view of the same
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the Drawings
C 18 &
a is the detachable crank and a³ a split or divided lug end The split of the
said divided end extends into an angular or lozenge shaped hole or grip holding
bush a, in which a corresponding angular end 6° on the pedal axis b takes
screw pin passing through the divided lug ends a', and when the said pin is
screwed home the V angles of the grip of the jaws formed by the split, are drawn
forcibly upon the V angles on the end of the pedal axis, thereby firmly and securely
connecting the two parts together
To remove the pedal axis from the crank, it is only necessary to slacken the
drawing to pin, when the angular grip is relaxed, and the parts can be separated
In figure 6, the split running from the angular grip is extended up the shank of
the crank, and the closing pin passed through the said shank
The pedal pin arrangement for lengthening or shortening the throw of the crank
arm (see sheet 3) consists of a cranked, or excentric arm d, one end d³ carries the
pedal pin proper, while the other end d³ carries a flat sided lump or stud d' and
also a screw pin d³, the former of which takes into the longitudinal slot hole a* of
the crank a The affixing of the pedal pin crank formation is effected by a screw
nut do, thus when a short throw of the crank is required, the pedal pin end of the
excentric arm of the pedal pin is moved up the arm of the crank proper, with the
flat sided lump d' at the upper end of the slot at, as shown at dotted lines figure 8,
and when the throw is required to be made greater than the traverse of the slot in
the crank the excentric pedal pin arrangement is turned round in the reverse
direction, with the flat sided lump or stud d' resting at the bottom of the slot a*,
as shown in the dotted lines figure 7, thus extending the pedal in both directions
beyond the traverse of the slot in the crank The extending upwards and
downwards is a great advantage in obtaining a greater or less throw
The adjustable fork, best seen in figures 12, 13 and 14 sheet 2, consists of a
swivelling or depending swing arm e carrying at its lower extremity the crank
axis b, crank a, bracket f and chain wheel g and also pedal h, while the upper end
of the said swivelling arm e, 18 jointed upon a pin or fulcrum centre e, and above
the said swivelling centre, 18 a short arm e carrying a pin or stud e which engages
in the slot of the terminal end or quadrant arm of the fork > Thus by
loosening the screw nut e³, on the inside face of the fork termination 2, the
swivelling arme can be turned upon its fulcrum centre e* and then adjusted and
afterwards affixed in the desired position, by the screwing up of the screw nut on
the screwed end of the pin e, that is, the arm e can be turned upon its fulcrum
centre into the position as represented in dotted lines figure 1, or into the position
as represented in dotted lines figure 12, or into any other desired position that may
be required, thus enabling a rider to lengthen or shorten the distance between the
saddle and the crank or pedal axis, by simply changing the angle of the depending
arm e, the radius being limited by the quadrant slot
When a person short in stature, or a person short in the leg requires to ride a
machine, which may possibly have been built for a person of larger proportions, he
has only to loosen the nut on the pin carried by the short arm c³, and change the
angle of the said arm, as in the position represented in figure 12 or into the position
of the dotted lines figure 1, when the relative position of the pedal with respect to
the saddle seat is thus changed, or in other words, the distance between the saddle
seat and the pedals diminished, but when a person of larger proportions requires to
use the same machine, he has only to reaffix the swivelling arm in position, or to the
required angle as shown by the dotted linea figure 12, when the machine is made
to accommodate itself to any particular height of velocipedist.
The movable or adjustable forked extension marked e may be adjusted to the
proper angle by a screw pin passing through the short arm, with its end swivelling

page_text: into the fork, instead of the pin passing laterally through the short arm and taking
through a quadrant slot as described, and although I have described that the
arm swivels for adjustment, yet the said adjustment may be effected without
actually swivelling by providing on the inner face of the joint of the arm an
angular sided box which takes into a similarly shaped hole or bush in the boss
of the forks, and which comes immediately opposite the axis of the driving chain
wheel,
The yielding or compliant back bone shown at figures 1, 15, 16 and 17 consists
of a jointed forked end or termination near the hind wheel in the case of a bicycle,
that is, the back-bone is divided or made in two parts, the joint being at or near
the fork carrying the bind wheel 21s the back bone, k is the forked termination
of the back bone, and 7 18 the knuckle joint by which the yielding connection is
made m is a pillar bracket affixed rigidly to the yielding part k best seen in
figures 15 and 16 The terminal end of this bracket is provided with an eye m³
through which a rod n freely slides The other end of this rod 18 Jointed and
connected at n' to the back bone part The rod is also encircled by a coiled
spring o, which permits or allows the jointed parts to yield, on the machine coming
in contact with any inequalities in its road of traction, and also prevents or
intercepts tremor or vibration travelling to the rider, when the back bone and fork
part are made rigid as is common with machines of the ordinary construction,
that 19,
should any inequalities or obstacles be presented to the wheels of the
machine, the jointed or divided back bone yields or gives to such inequalities by
compressing the spring without imparting any discomfort to the rider, and without
jolting the machine, as the reaction of the spring brings the parts to their normal
positions
The application of a flexible or yielding back bone as last described to tricycles
and other velocipedes, differs in no essential respect from its application to a bicycle
as herein-before described
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
First The improvements in detachable cranks, hereinbefore described and
illustrated in figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying Drawings, that is to
say, a crank or crank arm having a split or divided attachment end, with an
angular or V grip, which latter is closed upon a corresponding angular end on the
crank axle, by a screw pin or other drawing to expedient, substantially as described
and set forth
Secondly The improvements in pedals for bicycles and other velocipedes, that
is to say, cranking or forming the attachment end of the pedal pin into an excentric
arm, which can be turned in opposite directions for lengthening or shortening the
throw of the pedal beyond the limits of the crank slot substantially as described
and illustrated in figures 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the accompanying Drawings
Thirdly Making the depending bracket arms which support and carry the
crank axis, and driving pedals, movable upon the driving axle as a centre, or
movable upon a joint pin which is in a line with the centre of the axis of the
driving wheels, for the purpose of allowing the said swivelling arms, which are
movable extensions of the fork, to turn upon a binge or joint, in order to change
the relative position of the pedals, with respect to the saddle or macbine, without
changing the relative distance between the crank axis, and the said driving axis,
the parts being constructed, and the swinging or movable arm affixed in position to
accommodate the machine to riders of varying statures, substantially as described
and illustrated in figures 1, 12, 13 and 14 of the accompanying Drawings
Fourthly. The improvement in the construction of yielding or flexible back
bones or supporting frames, for bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes consisting
of a divided back bone or frame, preferably jointed at or near the bind fork (in the

page_text: case of a bicycle) which latter has an eye at its terminal end through which a
Jointed rod on the former passes, the said rod being encircled by a coiled spring
disposed between the bracket end of the one part, and the jointed half of the other
part, for the purpose substantially as described and illustrated in figures 1, 15, 16,
and 17 of the accompanying Drawings