IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BICYCLES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I THOMAS HUMBER of Queens Road Beeston in the County of Nottingham
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for 'IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BICYCLES to be as follows:-
°
The object of my invention is to construct Bicycles with the driving wheel at the
back and the small wheel which is also the steering wheel in the front.
And my invention consists of a specially designed framework to which the seat
is attached somewhat over the front part of the driving wheel and on the lower
part of the frame a chain wheel is fixed on an axle with pedals attached thereto
such chain wheel being connected by a single chain to a corresponding chain wheel
affixed to the axle of the driving wheel-By this means I am able by substituting
or placing a larger chain wheel on the pedal axle in lieu of a smaller one to gear up
the machine, thus employing only two wheels and a single chain. In my arrange-
ment the feet of the rider when on the machine are only a short distance from the
ground thus ensuring complete safety in case of sudden obstruction and likewise
being easy to mount. I also make the seat for the rider adjustable as well as the
steering handle bar-I may also apply the annular cam described in my patent
No 5583-1883-I fix an annular cam on the stalk of the steering wheel, which
stalk passes through the front part of the above mentioned frame and which cam is
caused to act by means of a specially contrived spring attached to the stalk close to
the wheel and to the lower part of the frame By this arrangement I obviato
vibration and also give direct steering and the steering wheel if turned out of its
course immediately springs into its direct position again on being set free to act.
In this invention I combine speed lightness and strength.
GEO, DOWNING,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: I THOMAS HUMBER, of Queens Road, Beeston, in the County of Nottingham,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BICYCLES" and in what manner the same is to
bo performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of my invention is to construct Bicycles with the driving wheel at
the back, and the small wheel which is also the steering wheel in the front.
And any invention consists of a specially designed framework, to which the seat
is attached, somewhat over the front part of the driving wheel, and on the lower
part of the frame a chain wheel is fixed on an axle with pedals attached thereto,
such chain wheel being connected by a single chain to a corresponding chain wheel
affixed to the axle of the driving wheel. By this means I am able, by substituting
or placing a larger chain wheel on the pedal axle, in lieu of a smaller one, to gear
up the machine, thus employing only two wheels and a single chain. In my
arrangement the feet of the rider when on the machine are only a short distance
from the ground thus ensuring complete safety in case of sudden obstruction, and
likewise being easy to mount. I also make the seat for the rider adjustable as
well as the steering handle bar. I may also apply the annular cam described in my
Patent No 558383
I fix an annular cam on the stalk of the steoring wheel, which stalk passes through
the front part of the above mentioned frame, and which cam is caused to not by
means of a specially contrived spring attached to the stalk close to the wheel and to
the lower part of the frame. By this arrangement I obviate vibration and also give
direct steering, and the steering wheel if turned out of its course, immediately
springs into its direct position again on being set free to act.
In this invention I combine speed lightness and strength.
And in order that my said invention may be more particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawing, which represents
a longitudinal elevation of my invention.
a is the driving wheel, b is the front steering wheel, c is the backbone, to which
the fork d is fitted. e is the seat which can be adjusted, as to height, by the set
screw e fis the handle to the front steering wheel, the height of which handle is
adjustable by the set screw f¹. h is the spring and i is the annular cam described
in my said former patent, No 55835, whereby the wheel has a constant tendency
to right itself after being steered to the right or left. kis the driving chain wheel
which is fitted on the pedal axle, and is supported by the frames g and g'. This
wheel is made removable to alter the speed. is the chain .wheel fitted to the
axle of the driving wheel a. m is the driving chain.
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
1 The novel construction and arrangement of the framework of Bicycles,
substantially as herein before described and shewn on the drawing.
2 In the construction of Bicycles having a hind driving wheel, the arrangement
of the front steering wheel, fitted and operating substantially as described and
shewn on the drawing.

page_text: 3 In the construction of Bicycles of the description aforesaid, the use of shifting
chain wheels, for the purpose of altering the speed, substantially as herein before
described, and shown on the drawing..
4 The general combination and arrangement of the several and respective parts,
together forming my improvements in Bicycles, substantially as herein before
described and shewn on the drawing.