Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 24th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 26th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM BLAKELY, of "Vernon " Princess Road, Bournemouth West, Estate
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My Invention has for its object to facilitate the propulsion of tricycles and bicycles
by wind power; and it relates to means whereby a sail may be quickly set or furled
and stowed away as occasion may require.
My Invention comprises the means of supporting the mast and of holding the sail
distended when set and enabling it to be stowed away in compact form when struck.
The mast is constructed of light bamboo or reed and the sail is held distended by
cross-bars or yards and by vertical side bars of the same light material lashed or
jointed together and to the mast. The mast yards and side bars are all constructed in
lengths connected by folding joints provided with slotted tubular metal sliding sleeves
or ferrules, by which the joints are held rigid when required. By these special
joints, the folding up of the whole can be effected so that it goes into a small
compass. The mast is stepped into a socket of metal or of light wood clamped
or bound with metal, preferably corrugated or fluted sheet brass and this socket is
secured by clamps and binding screws to a suitable part of the frame for instance
to the brake rod of a "Sparkbrook" tricycle. Sight holes are provided in the
sail to enable the rider to see ahead.
When the sail is, not carried, the mast socket may be used as an umbrella or
stick holder or a parcel carrier. The parcel. carrier would preferably be made of
light bamboo and would be jointed to a base (fitting into the mast socket) by means
of a union screw which would enable it to be fixed in an upright position when in
use or laid down flat when not in use in which case the straps used for holding the
parcels would be used to strap the folded parcel carrier together. It will be obvious
that this parcel carrier can be taken off the machine without undoing any screws or
other fixing device. For umbrellas I use a V shaped socket of india rubber fixed to
a wood base which fits into the mast socket.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1889.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM BLAKELY of "Vernon " Princess Road, Bournemouth West, Estate
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:-
My Invention has for its object to facilitate the propulsion of velocipedes by wind
power; and it relates to means whereby a sail may be quickly set or furled and
stowed away as occasion may require.
-
My Invention comprises the means of holding the sail distended when set and
enabling it to be quickly furled and stowed away in compact form when struck.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this speci-
fication, wherein figure 1 shews a rear view of the sail as set, the mast being fixed in
front of the steering handle. Figures 2 and 3 shew details of the mast joint.
Figure 4 shews detail of the joints of the yards and distension rod. The same letters
of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.
The mast A is constructed of light bamboo or reed and the sail B is made preferably
f Tussore silk and is held distended by cross-bars or yards C and by vertical side
[Prins 21

page_text: bars D of the same light material jointed together, as shewn in figure 4, and passed
through hems along the edges of the sail. When thus distended, the sail is hoisted
by a halyard h in the usual way of setting a sail.
The mast is constructed in lengths connected by a folding joint, as shewn in
figures 2 and 3, the two parts being pivoted to a coupling link a and the joint being
held rigid by a sliding metal tube or sleeve 6, ribbed externally to give a better hand-
grip. The joints of the spars C and D might be similar to that of the mast but the
ordinary fishing-rod joint, shewn in figure 4, is preferred.
By these joints the folding up of the whole can be effected so that it goes into a
small compass. The mast is stepped into a socket secured by clamps and binding
screws to a suitable part of the frame, for instance to the brake rod of a "Sparkbrook
Tricycle. Sight holes E are provided in the sail, to enable the rider to see ahead
It will be obvious that the form of the sail may be varied.
In order to rapidly furl the sail, the side rods would, preferably, be dispensed with
the sail being distended by the yards C only which are connected by india-rubber
bands tending to draw the yards together, and which, on the release of the halyard,
they do, and so automatically furl the sail.
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 sail in combination with a mast and spars for distending the same,
the mast and spars being jointed to fold up in the manner described.
2. The combination, with a velocipede sail mast and spars, of india-rubber springs
for rapidly furling the sail, as described.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1890.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1890.
WM. BLAKELY.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.