IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE STEPS FOR BICYCLES OR OTHER VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ADJUSTABLE STEPS FOR BICYCLES OR
OTHER VELOCIPEDES" 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 adjustable steps for bicycles or other velocipedes and
comprises improvements as hereinafter described.
In the accompanying Drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an adjustable step, constructed according to
this Invention, secured to the back-bone of a bicycle.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the same in position for use.
Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section on the line x, y, Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a view of an adjustable step with its parts separated.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
The step proper consists of a frame or loop of metal A, provided with teeth a,
extending upwardly, and preferably inclined towards the back of the step as shown
in order to prevent slipping therefrom, with the safety guard or flange A" for
preventing injury from the teeth when dismounting, and with the back-plate A¹
curved to fit the back-bone. K and provided with a central vertical slot B
extending from the upper edge of the back or surface of the step almost to the
lower extremity of the said back, and connecting with the central opening C in the
horizontal portion of the step.
A bolt D passes through the horizontal opening E, (Figure 5), and is held in
place by a suitable nut d. H indicates a spring-band of thin metal provided with
elongated openings h, through which the bolt D passes. This spring-clamp tightly
embraces the back-bone K, and its ends lie under the nut d and the head of the
bolt D.

page_text: By tightening the nut d on the bolt D, the ends of the spring-band H are drawn
against the opposite sides of the step, and by still further tightening the said nut,
the two sections of the back-plate A', formed by the slot B, are forced slightly
toward each other, thus drawing the back-plate and spring-band firmly against the
back-bone K.
It will readily be seen that this step requires no other attachment to secure it to
the back-bone, that it may be applied to the latter at any height and is perfectly
adjustable. It will also be seen that in this device the entire circumference of the
back-bone is in actual contact with either the back-plate or the spring-band, thus
producing a complete frictional ring, so that it is impossible for the step or band to
be moved either horizontally or vertically except by loosening the nut d.
Owing to the bolt D being placed so high in the step, the weight of the rider,
when mounting, has a tendency to make the lower end of the back-plate bite the
back-bone, so that when the step is in actual use, it is even more secure in its
position than when no weight is placed upon it. By means of the elongated
openings in the spring-band H, this band is adapted to be applied to bicycle
back-bones of different diameters. Different sizes of bands may be used, and the
adjustability of the step is enhanced by making the slot, which may extend the
entire length of the back-plate, (and be open at each end) of sufficient breadth.
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. In a step for bicycles or other velocipedes, the combination with the
band H, the bolt D and the nut d, of the step A, the back-plate A¹ thereof being
provided with the slot B extending from a point near the lower end of said back-.
plate to the surface of the step, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second. In a. step for bicycles or other velocipedes, the combination with the
band H, the bolt D, and the nut d, of the step A, the back-plate A' thereof being
provided with the slot B extending from a point near the lower end of the said
back-plate to the surface of the step and opening into the loop thereof, whereby
the two portions of the back-plate formed by the slot may be compressed,
substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
Dated this 6th day of May 1884
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.