IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES
Year: 1884

page_text: We TOMAS PROCTOR HALL, of Toronto, in the Dominion of Canada, Teacher,
and JAMES BOOMER HALL, of the same place, Machinist do hereby declare the
nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES" and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in tricycles the object of the invention
being to produce a tricycle which is simple, light, and economical in construction,
which is very convenient, and the propelling of which is easily learned and is
effected by the feet of the rider in a standing position pressing alternately on
treadles or boards as hereinafter described.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the saine
by reference to the accompanying drawing which shews a perspective view of a
tricycle constructed according to my invention.
In carrying out my invention I provide a pair of treadles or plates a, a¹, having
arins b, b, pivotted to the frame d, of the tricycle at c, or to any other suitable
part of the said frame. To the said treadles or plates a, a', are jointed at c¹,
connecting rods e, the other ends of which are jointed to cranks f, rigidly fitted
on the axis g, of a toothed wheel h, which gears with a pinion i, on the axle of the
driving wheels j, j, of the tricycle. The frame d, of the tricycle is curved upwards
in front as shewn and is journailed to receive the fork, which carries the front
or steering wheel l, of the machine. The upper part of the fork k, is formed of a
tube m, which extends vertically upwards; in the said tube m, is inserted a rod n,
provided at the top with a steering handle o, and which rod can be raised or
lowered to suit the height or convenience of the rider and which is fixed in position
by means of the set screw p.
To propel the improved tricycle the rider stands on the treadles or plates a, a¹,
and presses them alternately with bis feet whilst his hands grasp the handle o, to
steer the machine; motion is communicated from the treadles a, a', by means of
the connecting rod e, to the crank f, which in rotating operates the toothed wheel h,
and pinion i, and thereby drives the wheels j, and sets the machine in motion.
By having the distance from the pivots c, to the joints c¹, on the treadles or
foot plates greater than the distance from the pivots c, to the axis g, of the crank f,
as shewn in the drawing the toothed wheel h, can be driven more than half way
round at each stroke of the treadles and a dead centre is thereby avoided.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
(1.) A tricycle constructed as herein before described to be propelled by the feet
of the rider in a standing position alternately pressing on plates or treadles
operating gearing driving the main axle of the machine substantially as herein-
before described and represented in the accompanying drawing.
(2.) In a tricycle the treadles or boards a, a, connecting rods e, cranks f, and
toothed gearing h, i, arranged and operating as and for the purpose herein before
set forth and represented in the drawing.
(3.) In a tricycle such as that herein described, the adjustable handle n, a,
working in the tubular fork m, as hereinbefore described and represented in the
drawing.
(4.) The improved tricycle hereinbefore described and represented in the
accompanying drawing.