A New or Improved Brake for Cycles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1854
1. 14
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 12th Oct., 1895
A New or Improved Brake for Cycles.
I, ERNEST WESLEY EVANS, of 5, Greville Road, Maida Vale, London, W
Builder and Contractor do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
My invention relates to an apparatus to be applied to any and every kind of
cycle, tricycle, and other manumotive machines, as an emergency brake or skid, for
stantly arresting the progress of the machine, without injury to the most delicate
and highly finished tyre, pneumatic or otherwise, with which the wheel or wheels
may be fitted.
My invention consists of a skid or shoe, of such shape and dimensions most
suitable for permitting the tyre or tyre and rim of a cycle wheel to be seated
therein, when the said shoe or skid is resting upon the ground, and which may he
made of any suitable metal, or combination of metals, or partly of metal and partly
of other materials, and with or without being lined or partly lined with rubber,
leather, cloth or other soft and resilient substance, to prevent rupture to the tyre.
The said shoe or skid may be attached to, and be suspended by rods, wires, or any
suitable equivalents therefor, at or near to the axial centre, or to hooks, loops or
the like depending from, at or near the axial centre of the wheel it is to act upon
as a brake or skid, the upper ends or points of suspension of such rods, or their
equivalents, when used, or any other part of their length, being so arranged as to
permit the length of these to be automatically adjusted, to accomodate variations
in the diameter of the wheel, arising from the elasticity of the tyre or otherwise,
when the said skid or shoe is in use and skidding the wheel.
To the said shoe or skid may be connected a rod or rods, chain or chains, wire
or wires or cord or cords, which may extend therefrom more or less in the
direction of the front of the machine, passing over or under suitable pulleys, or
through, over or under suitable guides connected by elips or other convenient
means, to any suitable part of the frame, and by means of the said cord or cords
rod or rods or the like, the said shoe or skid would, when not in use, be held
in an elevated position at or about the back of the bottom bracket, if the machine
be a safety, or in some other position preferably adjacent therero, within the radius
of the first named rods upon which the skid or shoe is suspended, if the machine
he constructed otherwise. The free end or ends of the said cords, rods, wires or
the like, would be provided with any suitable device by means of which it or they
may be connected to the frame of the machine, in any suitable position, within easy
reach of the rider or riders, so as to be easily and quickly disengaged therefrom by
him or them when the brake is to be applied, and to effect this I may find it
convenient to arrange a lever upou or near the handle bar, similar in position to
the brake levers at present in use, or upon or near the seat of the rider or riders,
or in any other suitable position, the depression or other movement of which, may
effect the release of the ends of the aforesaid rod or rods, cord or cords or the
like, which would permit the shoe or skid guided by its suspending rods, to fall a
distance only sufficient to place this upon the ground immediately in front of the
back wheel, when, by the said wheel automatically mounting thereon, similar to
the manner of skidding a road vehicle, the machine would be skidded and its
progress instantly arrested, thus avoiding an otherwise possible accident.

page_text: I
As an alternative arrangement in connection with safety bicycles, or other than
front driven tricycles, I may dispense with the aforesaid guide rods, and in lieu
thereof may provide a rod or rods, one end of each of which would be pivotally
suspended, preferably, at or near the bottom bracket, and upon this or these the
said skid or shoe would be arranged to slide. The said rod or rods when not in use
would be held suspended in a more or less horizontal position, by means of a
suitable spring or springs attached to the said shoe or skid, and placed in tension
by the placing of said shoe or skid into a position of rest, which, when released, by
any convenient and suitable means, (which may or may not be that described in
relation to the previous method,) the said skid or shoe would be pulled backward
by the said spring or springs and be led by gravity or otherwise to the ground in
front of the wheel, when the wheel would mount thereon and be skidded thereby
as in the previous arrangement.
My invention may be applied to tricycles and other machines having two back
wheels, in which case either or both back wheels may be provided with a shoe or
skid, and if the latter, suitable means would be provided by which the rider or
riders, could release and place in working position both skids simultaneously.
The bottom or ground surface of the said shoe or skid may be smooth, but
preferably corrugated, ribbed, or provided with spikes, or faced with rubber, leather,
wood or any other material (which may he detachable) that would facilitate its
grip with the face of the road or path.
Dated this 7th dor of Danamban 1001
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for Applicant.
1. ERNEST WESLEY EVANS, of 5 Greville Road, Maida Vale, London, W.,
Builder and Contractor, 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 an apparatus capable, of being applied to any and every
kind of bicycle, tricycle, and other manumotive machines, as an emergency brake
or skid, for instantly arresting the progress of the machine, without injury to the
most delicate and highly finished tyre, pneumatic or otherwise, with which the
wheel or wheels may be fitted.
My invention consists of a skid or shoe of such shape and dimensions as may be
found most suitable for permitting the tyre or the tyre and rim of a cycle wheel to
be seated therein, when the said shoe or skid is resting upon the ground, and which
may be made of any suitable metal or combination of metals, or partly of metal
and partly of other material, and preferably lined or partly lined with rubber,
leather, cloth, or other soft and resilient substance, to prevent rupture to the tyre.
The said shoe or skid may be attached to, and be suspended by reds, wires, or any
suitable equivalents therefor, at or near to the axial centre, or to hooks, loops, or
the like, depending from, or near the axial centre, of the wheel it is to act upon as
a brake or skid, the upper ends or points of suspension of such rods or their
equivalents when used, or any other part of their length, being so arranged as to
permit the length of these to be automatically adjusted, to accomodate variations
in the diameter of the wheel, arising from the elasticity of the tyre or otherwise,
when the said skid or shoe is in use, and skidding the wheel.
To the said shoe or skid may be connected a rod or rods, chain or chains, wire,

page_text: or wires or cord or cords, which may extend therefrom more or less in the direction
of the front of the machine, passing over or under suitable pulleys, or through,
over or under suitable guides connected by clips or other convenient means, to any
suitable part of the frame, and by means of the said cord or cords, rod or rods or
the like the said shoe or skid would, when not in use, be held in an elevated
position, at or about the back of the bottom bracket, if the machine be a safety,
or in some other position preferably adjacent thereto, within the radius of the first
named rods upon which the skid or shoe is suspended, if the machine be constructed.
otherwise. The free end or ends of the said cords rods, wires or the like would be
provided with any suitable device by means of which it or they may be connected
to the frame of the machine in any suitable position within easy reach of the rider
or riders, so as to be easily and quickly disengaged therefrom by him or them when
the brake is to be applied, and to effect this I may find it convenient to arrange a
lever upon or near the handle bar, similar in position to the brake levers at present
in use, or upon or near the seat of the rider or riders, or in any other suitable
position, the depression or other movement of which may effect the release of the
ends of the aforesaid rod or rods, cord or cords or the like, which would permit the
shoe, shoes, or skid or skids guided by it or their suspending rods or their equiva-
lents to fall a distance only sufficient to place the said skid or skids upon the ground
immediately in front of the back wheel or wheels, when, by the latter automatically
mounting thereon, similar to the manner of skidding a road vehicle, the machine
would be skidded and its progress be instantly arrested thus avoiding an otherwise
possible accident.
As an alternative arrangement in connection with safety bicycles or other than
front driven tricycles, I may dispense with the aforesaid guide rods, and in lieu
thereof I may provide a rod or rods or chain or chains, one end of each of which
would be pivotably suspended, preferably, at or near the bottom bracket, and upon
this or these the said skid or shoe would be arranged to slide, the said rods or other
equivalents when not in use being held suspended in a more or less horizontal
position by means of a suitable spring or springs, cord or cords, chain or chains
attached to the said shoe or skid, and placed in tension by the placing of said shoe
or skid into a position of rest, which, when released by any convenient and suitable
means as previously described, the said skid or shoe would be pulled backward by
the said spring or springs and be led by gravity or otherwise to the ground in front
of the wheel, when the latter would mount thereon and be skidded thereby in the
manner previously described.
In order that my invention and the manner of its operation may be clearly
understood I have hereunto appended two sheets of drawings, in which, I have
chosen to illustrate my invention as applied to a safety bicycle, but to any person
skilled in the manufacture of such machines it will be easily understood, that my
invention by a slight modification or duplication of the parts hereinafter described
and shewn, is equally applicable for use as an emergency brake for tandem
bicycles, or tricycles, and I claim the application of my invention thereto.
Fig. 1 Sheet 1 is a side clevation of part of a safety bicycle to which (according
to one method of construction) my improved brake has been applied.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged detached view of my improved brake as applied to Fig. 1.
Fig. 2 is an alternative detail hereinafter referred to.
Fig. 3 is an elevation similar to Fig. 1 illustrating a second or alternative method.
of constructing my invention and attaching the same thereto.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged, detached view of my improved brake as applied to Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 Sheet 2 is an elevation similar to Figs. 1 and 3 but illustrating a third or
alternative method of constructing my invention and attaching the same thereto.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan or upper surface view of my invention as applied to
Fig. 5.
Figs. 7 and 8 are details of Fig. 6 to be hereinafter explained.
Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are enlarged side elevation, under surface plan, and section
J

page_text: respectively, of the brake or shoe as I prefer to construct it for the arrangement
illustrated by Figs. I and 2.
Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are similar views of the brake or shoe'as applied to
3 and 4.
Figs.
Figs. 15 and 16 are side elevation and section of the said brake or shoe as
applied to the method illustrated by Fig. 5.
According to the method illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 9, 10 and 11, I carry my
invention into effect by constructing of any suitable metal or material, a skid or
shoe A, having a detachable and preferably steel under or wearing surface B,
which may be corrugated, fluted, or otherwise roughened to prevent slip, either
transversely as at Fig. 10, or diagonally as at Fig. 13, the said shoe being preferably
lined internally with rubber, leather, cloth.or other resilient substance C to prevent
rupture of the tyre when placed therein. To either or both of the upraised sides
of A, at or about the centre or other convenient part of its length I pivotally
connect to a stud or studs D', the lower end or ends of a rod or rods D, the upper
end or ends of which slide within the tubular, portion of a ring or rings or its
equivalent E, capable of being sprung upon, or otherwise pivotally connected to,
the outer end or ends of the axle or hub of the driven wheel F of the machine, or
near thereto, the object of such portion a being, that the length of D may be
automatically adjustable to accommodate any variation of the distance between E
and A occasioned by the elasticity of the tyre or other causes by which the
diameter of the wheel F may vary when in use. Chains, wires or cords may if
desired be conveniently employed in lieu of the rod or rods D. Upon either or
both of the upraised sides of A, and near to the front end of same, I provide an
eye or eyes b, which receive a rod or rods G, baving at one end a knob or other
stop c, the opposite or other end or ends of which d, is or are sprung upon, or
otherwise pivotally connected to, the outer end or ends of the hub of the bottom
bracket of the machine, the length of G being such as to permit the shoe or
skid A to be arrested by the stop c when A has reached its proper position beneath
the wheel F, as shewn by the dotted outline in Fig. 1. The front end of A is
provided with an eye or its equivalent e, to which is connected one end of a cord,
wire, chain or the like, which extends therefrom over, under or through guides
or pulleys, or both, such as g, fixed upon such part of the frame of the machine as
may be found most convenient, according to the shape thereof, or accordingly as
the said cord or the like may he led to the handle bar or other part of the
machine most convenient to be operated upon by the rider, wliereat suitable
provision would be made for fastening the same. In Fig. 1 is shown led up to or
in the direction of the handle bar, but I may find it more convenient to lead this
up the seat standard H of the machine, so as to terminate at or near the seat of
the rider, as shewn by full lines in Fig. 5, or partly up H and from there to the
front fork H' and to the handle bar, as shewn by a dotted line in the same figure.
Or I may instead of passing the cord or the like f through the guides g on the
bar H of the frame, arrange that a plate such as g may slide upon H, or, upon
a rod such as Hi suspended beneath and parallel with H to which the cord or
the like, may be connected, such an arrangement is shewn by Fig. 2. I have
previously stated that I may employ an eye or eyes b, and a rod or rods G and
I make this provision for the reason that I may find it convenient in some cases to
provide a rod G at each side of the bottom bracket engaging with an eye b at each
side of A, while in other cases one such rod and eye may be found sufficient.
In practice, the shoe or skid A, when not in use, would 'be suspended, near the
bottom bracket of the machine, as shewn in 'full lines in Fig. 1, such suspension
being effected by tightening and fastening the cord or the like, and in an
emergency, when it becomes necessary to arrest the progress of the machine
quickly, the rider or one of them would release f, when, by the action of gravity
or otherwise the shoe A would fall (guided by the rod or its equivalent D) to the
ground, immediately in front of the wheel F, which, by the momentum of the

page_text: convenient part of the machine Fig. 8) such depression of PH would cause a like
movement to the projection P1, thus allowing the eye on G¹ to pass behind the
latter, when, by releasing the pressure upon P, the projection P1, would, by the
agency of a spring R' enter a hole in the eye or loop k and a corresponding hole in
the rod G and so lock the skid in its elevated position. To skid the wheel F the
rider would again depress P thereby withdrawing P and releasing k, when, by
disconnecting the cord or the like, the spring N would force away the skid A in
a backward direction, while the spring M, by raising the front end of G would
lower the opposite end of this and G' and so place the skid beneath the wheel Fas
shewn in Fig. 5.
I wish it understood that I may employ any desired combination of the foregoing
arrangements or any reasonable modification of same without departing from the
principal of my invention.
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 I
claim is
1
1st. In an improved emergency brake for any type of bicycles tricycles and the
like, the construction and use and application thereto of either of the mechanical
arrangements herein provided, or any desired combination thereof, connected,
combined and operating substantially as herein described and shewn.
2nd. In an improved brake for velocipedes the application thereto of a skid or
shoe such as A. B. C, suspended by a rod or rods such as E, or the equivalents
thereof, to, at or near the hub of the driven wheel F, and having an eye or eyes b
for the reception of a guide rod or rods G, suspended upon the bottom bracket of
the machine, the said skid being raised and lowered by a cord, chain, or the like f
the whole connected combined and operating substantially as herein described and
shown by Figs. 1, 2, 24, 9, 10, and 11 of the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In an improved brake for velocipedes, the application thereto of a skid
or shoe such as A B. C, suspended by a spiral spring K to the hub of the driven
wheel F, and having upon its upraised side or sides, a pivotted eye or eyes such
as J, for the reception of a guide rod or rods G, suspended at or near to the
bottom bracket of the machine, the said shoe or skid being raised or lowered by a
cord, chain or the like, the whole connected, combined and operating substantially
as herein described and shewn by Figs. 3, 4, 12 13, 14 of the accompanying
drawings.
4th. In an improved brake for velocipedes, the application thereto of a skid or
shoe such as A B C, having upon its upraised sides eyes or loops such as k and
projections such as m, for receiving guide rods G and G', connected together at G
and suspended at p, to or near the bottom bracket of the machine, the said shoe or
skid being raised by a cord, chain wire or the like f, and when so raised, locked by
the means of a spring bolt such as PPP, and lowered by the release of . and PI
and the tension of springs such as M and N the whole connected, combined and
operating substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn with
reference to Figs. 5, 6, 78, 15 and 16 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 7th day of September 1895
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1 Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: machine; would mount thereon, and when A was in position beneath F; the back-
ward movement of A would be arrested by the stop or stops c of the rod or rods G.
colliding with the eye or eyes b, and so immediately stop the progress of the
machine.
Referring to the alternative arrangement illustrated by Figs. 3, 4, 12, 13
ard 14, 1 pivotally mount upon the outer surface of the upraised side or
sides of the skid A, an eye or eyes, or the equivalent thereof), with which
engage the rod or rods G; and in lieu of the rod or rods D in the previous method,
I form upon the spring loop or loops E, a suitable eye or eyes, or hook or hooks h,
which receives one end of a spiral spring or springs K, the opposite end or ends of
which engage with an eye or eyes, stud or studs j, upon the upraised side or sides
of the skid A at a suitable distance in front of the pivotted eye or eyes J. The
front of A is provided with an eye or the like e, and with this engages the cord,
chain, wire or the like, which may be led by guides or the like g, along and to
any convenient part of the machine, as described in the previous method.
In practice, the shoe or skid A, when not in use, would be suspended at or about
the back of the bottom bracket of the machine, by the tightening of the cord or
the like, such tightening of f and the strained tension of the spring or springs K
serving to retain A in this position, but when the cord or the like f is released, the
tension of the spring K would impart a backward pull upon the skid A, and by
reason of the point or points of connection of K with A being in front of the
pivotted eye or eyes J, such backward pull would tilt up the front of A. and cause
this to assume a vertical position, and engage with the front of the wheel F, as
shown by the dotted outline marked A' in Fig. 3, the tenacity of such engagement
being such that, the skid is thereby carried to the ground by the rotation of the
wheel F, until arrested by the stop or stops c of the rod or rods G, as in the
previous method, the pivotted eye or eyes J, serving as a guide or guides for G,
whatever may be the position of the skid A. The remarks relatively to the rod or
rods G in the previous method applies equally with this method.
Referring to the alternative method of constructing and applying my invention
illustrated by Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, 15 and 16, 1 attach to the front end of each of the
upturned sides of the skid A. a fixed or pivotted eye or loop k, and level with these,
near the back end, an angle piece m, and through the former of these (k) pass
rods G and G, the free ends of which are curved or bent at c', to prevent their
disengagement from k, the said rod G¹ being bent or curved at G", and rivetted,
welded or otherwise connected to G. Upon each end of the spindle of the
bottom bracket of the machine, I mount a disc o, and surrounding each of these,
loosely, I mount a spring ring or its equivalent L, on each of which is formed a
loop or eye p, and between these is pivotally mounted the rods G and G. The
end of G extending beyond G receives one end of a spiral spring M the opposite
end of which is connected to any convenient part of the frame of the machine, the
tension of M operating to raise this end of G. Upon the opposite end of G is
nounted a spiral or other suitable spring N (Fig. 6) while the opposite rod G'
carries in suitable bearings as a bolt P, bent or curved at one end as at P and at
the opposite end as at P (Figs. 7 and 8).
The front of the skid A is provided with a loop or eye e which receives one end
of a cord or the like, led by suitable guides or pulleys g, to the handle bar or
other part of the machine as in the previous methods. The manner of operation is
as follows:-
The skid A when not in use would be suspended at or near the back of the
bottom bracket by tightening the cord or the like f, thus placing the rods G G¹ in
an approximately horizontal position against the tension of the spring M, and in
drawing the skid to this position along G G' the ends of these would pass under
and engage
with the angle pieces m, as shewn by the dotted outline of G in Fig. 15,
while the eyes k would collide with and compress the spring N, and simultaneously
with the raising of A to this position the rider would depress the end of the
bolt P, (and this may be effected by a rod R operated from the handle bar or other.
•