Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Oct., 1995
Complete Specification Left, 20th July, 1896-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1896.
1, BERTIE HALLETT, of Copthall House, Copthall Avenue, in the City and
County of London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows :
-
My invention relates to certain improvements in volocipedes, and has for its
object the utilisation of the trunk or lumbar muscles of the rider, and a means for
supporting the back and obtaining the best effect of the forward thrusts of the foot
for operating the driving gear, without extending the wheel base, or chain centres
beyond ordinary limits.
In carrying my invention into effect I support the saddle, which may be of any
size or shape, upon a trunnion or trunnions placed forward relatively to the centre.
A back rest is hinged or pivotted in such a manner as to hang downwards, clear
of the saddle when not in use, so that the rider may not be impeded in the act of
mounting. A short pivotted arm is placed so as to couple the rear end of the
saddle to the pivotted back, so that when the weight of the rider depresses said
saddle against the tension of a spiral or other spring, the back is caused to rise,
and be maintained in position by the weight upon said saddle as before described.
The back rest thus constitutes a fulcrum from whence the impulses of the trunk
muscles may be at once transmitted to the driving gear. The pedal crank axle,
carrying the chain or other wheel for transmitting said power to the driving axle.
which, according to my invention is identical or concentric with the axle or spindle
of the front wheel. In order to keep the wheel base and the respective centrea
of the chain or other wheels within reasonable limits, I modify the construction of
the frame in such a manner as to render the front, or driving wheel rigid, steering
by means of the rear wheel or wheels, the pedal crank axle is carried in suitable
bearings in front of the front wheel, by means of a suitable extension of the
frame. The steering handle bar operates a bevil wheel which communicates the
motion thereof to the fork shaft of the rear wheel by a shaft or spindle placed
longitudinally, and furnished with bevil, helical, or other wheels, cranks or
equivalent device for communicating said motion as aforesaid. The saddle, with
its back rest is supported by an ordinary saddle bar attached to the frame, and is
capable of adjustment in the ordinary manner to suit the requirements of different
riders.
The arrangement of the saddle and back rest is in the Specification of Letters
Patent No. 10954, dated June 5th 1893, granted to me, but is improved in detail
to conform to the modificatious and-general construction of volocipedes forming the
subject of my present application.
Dated this 12th day of October 1890.
ber 1890.
FREDK. WALKER,
73 St. Stephen's Road, Upton Park, E.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Velocipedes.
BERTIR HALLETT of Copthall House Copthall Avenue in the City and
County of London Gentleman, 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 relates to certain improvements in velocipedes and has for its
objects the utilization of the trunk or lumbar musoles of the rider and a means
for supporting the back and obtaining the best effect of the forwards thrusts of
the feat for operating the driving gear without extending the wheel baso or chain
centres of such machines beyond ordinary limits.
In carrying my invention into effect I support the saddle which may be of any
size and shape upon a trunnion or trunnions in front of the centre of the saddle.
A back rest is hinged or pivotted in such a manner as to hang downwards.clear
of the saddle when not in use so that the rider may not be impeded in the not of,
mounting.
A short arm is attached to the back of the saddle and pivotted to the back rest
Bo that when the weight of the rider depresses the back of the saddle against the
tension of a spiral or other spring the hack is caused to rise and is maintained in
position by the weight of the rider,
The back rest thus forms an abutment from whence the impulses of the trunk
or lumbar muscles may be transmitted to the driving gear to better advantage
than when propalling a machine of the ordinary construction.
The pedal crank axle carrying the chain wheel is according to this invention
placed in frout of and parallel to the axle of the front or driving wheel.
In order to keep the wheel base and centres of the chain and driving wheels
within reasonable limits I secure the front fork to the frame of the machine and
ateer by means of the rear or trailing wheel the pedal axle being carried in suitable
bearings attached to an extension of the frame so that the said axle is in front of
the driving wheel.
"
The haudle bar is attached to a steering pillar in the usual way the said pillar
having attached thereto a bevil wheel or quadrant which transmits the motion of
the handle bar to the steering fork by means of a lay shaft having bevil wheels at
each end thereof one of which gears with the wheel or quadrant secured to the
steering pillar and the other with a bevil wheel or quadrant attached to the rear
fork.
Helical or other wheels linkwork or other suitable devices may be used instend
of the lay shaft and bevil wheels.
:
The saddle with its back rest is supported by a saddle bar attached to the frame
and is capable of longitudinal and vertical adjustment to suit the requirements of
different ridera.
The construction of the saddle and back rest is an improvement on that described
in my previous Specification number 10964 and for which I obtained Letters Patent
dated June 5th 1893.
And in order that my said invention niay be fully understood I will proceed to
explain the same with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1. represents side elevation of a bicycle constructed according to this
invention.
Fig. 2 represents front view of saine.
Fig. 8. represents elevation of my improved saddle ready for riding.
Fig. 4 represents same ready for mounting.
The same letters denote the same parts in all the figs.

page_text: b is the back or rear wheel hereinafter called the steering wheel the handle bar
d the steoring fork the top member of the frame of the machine the diagonal
member thereof the steering head. hi are the upper and lower members
respectively of an extension of the frame of the machine carrying bearings at the
apex of the triangle formed by the bars or tubes hi and the front fork j. The
tubes or bars hi are attached by brazing or otherwise to each side of the fork ;
and are preferably connected in front of the driving wheel to a bracket similar to
the ordinary crank bracket having bearings formed theroin to receive the crank
shaft k. is the ordinary chain wheel secured to the shaft km is the driving chain
which gears with a sprocket pinion ♬ attached to the hub of the driving wheel a.
The axle a' of the wheel a is secured in slots at the bottom of the fork ; to
ensure the proper tension of the driving chain.
The handle bar c is attached to a tube or rod e' which oscillates freely in the
tube j.
To the lower end of the tube or rod o' is attached a bevil wheel o which gears
with a bevil wheel secured to a shaft 9. supported in bearings g' g'. Bevil
wheels rs connect the opposite end of the shaft to the tube or rod attached to
the steering fork d which tube or rod oscillates in bearings carried by the steering-
hend g. are the pedal cranks.
The machine shewn at Figs. 1 & 2 may be fitted with any ordinary anddle as
shewn at Fig. 1 in which case the rider would if exerting any considerable force
on the pedals be obliged to hold himself in place on the saddle by pulling on the
handles.
In order therefore to enable the rider when exerting the maximum amount of
force to utilize it to the best advantage with the least possible exertion beyond
that necessary to actually propel the machine I construct the saddle with a rest
support or abutment for the lower portion of the rider's back to press against when
pedalling thus avoiding the strain on the muscles of the arms necessary to enable
the rider of my improved machine to keep his seat on an ordinary saddle. The
saddle inay have the support for the back formed thereon or attached thereto in
any convenient manner“ preferubly so that the rider will not be impeded when
mounting.
The saddle which I prefer to use with my improved velocipede and which is also
applicable to any front driven machine is constructed as hereinafter described and
shewn at Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
The saddle shewn consists of the seat A secured to a frame B. the ends of which
are secured to the scat A.
The said framo oscillates on trunnions C which are carried in bearings in the
piece D. A spring E connects the front of the saddle and frame to the bar L.
Fis a projecting arm which connects the back of the saddle to the short arm
of the bent levor G to the long arm of which the back rest H is attached.
The lever G is slotted as shewn at I which slot slides on a pin or stud J carried
by a rod or fork K at the end of the saddle bar L.. M is a clip in which slides the
saddle bar L to allow of the longitudinal adjustment of the saddle. N is a.
clamping sorew to secure the bar L in any desired position.
The vertical adjustment of the saddle is obtained by attaching the clip M to a
pin O which slides in a boss P formed in or attached to the top member e of
the frame which pin may be clamped in any suitable position by means of the
screw Q.
When the rider dismounts the spring E pulls down the frout of the saddle and
depresses the back rest H into the position shewn at Fig. 4 so as to offer uo
impediment to the rider mounting.
As soon as the rider is seated his weight depresses the back of the saddle and
extends the spring E raising the back rest into the position shewn at Fig. 3 which
rest then forms an abutment or support for the lower portion of the rider's back.
By this construction of the saddle and velocipede the rider is euabled to bring

page_text: into play the muscles of the back and loins as in rowing in order to propel the
machine.
In conclusion I would remark that I do not bind myself to the precise details
shewn in the drawings as the same may be varied within wide limits without
departing from my invention for example the chain gearing may be dispensed with
and bevil gearing substituted again the steering wheel may be actuated from the
handle bar by levers cranks or any other suitable means neither do I confine my.
invention to bicycles..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. A velocipede Having the pedal crank shaft supported' in a bracket or hearings
attached to a portion of the frame of the machine extending in front of the front
or driving' wheel so that the pedal crank shaft is in advance of the poriphery of
the driving wheel substantially as and for the purpose stated.
2. A bioyelo having a front driving wheel and a rear steering wheel the crank
shaft being supported in bearings in front of the driving wheel substantially an:
hereinbefore specified.
3. A bicycle having a driving wheel a aud steering wheel band a orank shaft k
with a chain wheel attached theroto the said shaft being carried in bearings
formed in or attached to the frout fork and projecting in front of the wheel a
all substantially as hereinbefore specified.
4. In a velocipede the combination of a driving wheel a driven by means of
gearing rotated by pedals in front of the said wheel with a steering wheel b
operated from the handle bar o by hevil gearing and a lay shuft or by any other
suitable means substantially as herein before specified:
6. In a velocipede the combination with a rear steering wheel and front.driving
wheel actinated by a pedal shaft in front of the driving wheel of a saddle having a
rest or abutment for the ridor's back substantially as specified and for the purpose
stated.
6. In a velosipede a saddle having a back rest attached to the long arm of a
bent lever the short arm. of the said lover being connected by means of an arm
or link to one end of the frame of the saddle the said frame oscillating on trunnions
the said back rest being normally depressed by means of a spring or springs all
substantially as hereinbefore specified and for the purpose stated.
7. In a saddle for velocipedes the arrangement for looking the back rest when
the rider is seated consisting of an arm Fattached to the frame of the saddle
and to the short arm of a bent lever G which beut lever has a slot therein
sliding on a pin or stud J carried by a rod or fork K attached to or forming
part of the bar L the said slot being so formed that the weight of the rider first
raises the long arm of the lever G and afterwards depresses the said arm vertically
substantially as hereinbefore described.
8. The construction of velocipedes and saddles therefor substantially as shown
by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th dew of T„1. 1904
T. E. HALFORD,,
11, Furnival Street, Holborn, E.C., Agent for Applicant.