Improvements in Steering Gear for Bicycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 26th June, 1896-Accepted, 1st Aug.,
1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steering Gear for Bicycles.
We, HENRY POTTS SCOTT, of 14 Bedford Street, Poplar, in the County of
Middlesex, Manufacturer, and JOSEPH DAVID SCOTT, of 86 Marine Approach,.
South Shields, in the County of Durham, Master Mariner, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to bicycles steered by the hind wheel.
For this purpose the steering handles move in an approximately vertical instead
of horizontal plane as is usual being fixed to a horizontal shaft preferably running.
along inside the hollow frame of the machine. The rear end of this shaft is
connected by an universal joint or gearing to a second shaft also preferably inside
the hollow frame and having at its lower end the fork carrying the axle of the
rear wheel.
Dated this 27th day of September 1895.
:
HENRY POTTS SCOTT.
JOSEPH DAVID SCOTT..
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle constructed according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a similar view to a larger scale many parts being broken away
to better show the construction.
Figures 3 and 4 show the details of the universal joint to a still larger scale.
a are the steering handles fixed on the end of the shaft b working in bearings in
the upper backbone of the machine. The other end of the shaft has fixed to it a
fork embracing a cubical block c (Figures 3 and 4) free to turn in the fork on
pivots b. d is a second shaft working in ball bearings in the hollow frame and
having fixed to its upper end a fork d' also embracing the block c which is free to
turn in it on pivots dd. The pivots and d² are screwed into the block e

page_text: and are locked in it by a central screw c¹. To the lower end of the shaft d is fixed
the fork e carrying the axle of the rear wheel.
In place of the handles being fixed to the shaft b they may be fixed to a short
shaft connected to the shaft by chain or other gear :-this arrangement is very
suitable for ladies bicycles as it allows the backbone to be placed considerably
lower.
The handles also may be replaced by a wheel similar to a small ship's wheel.
Both of these modifications are shown at Figure 5.
In cases where it is preferred that the handles should move in a horizontal plane
they may be fixed to a short shaft connected by a universal joint to the end of the
shaft bthis modification is shown at Figure 6.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. Transmitting the movement of the handles or the like to the hind wheel by
rotating shafts working in bearings carried by the frame of the machine.
2. Transmitting the movement of the handles or the like to the hind wheel by
rotating, shafts inside the hollow frame of the machine.
3. Connecting together the ends of the shafts referred to in Claims 1 and 2 by a
universal joint.
4. Steering gear for bicycles substantially as described and shown at Figures 1
and 2 of the drawings.
5. The modifications substantially as described and shown at Figures 5 and 6.
HENRY POTTS SCOTT.
JOSEPH DAVID SCOTT.