AN IMPROVED VELOCIPEDE OR VEHICLE FOR LOCOMOTION BY MANUAL POWER
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Henry Ward of the Firm of Lee Howl Ward and
Howl of Tipton in the County of Stafford Engineers for an invention of
AN IMPROVED VELOCIPEDE OR VEHICLE FOR LOCOMOTION BY MANUAL
POWER
(Void by reason of the Patentee having neglected to file a Specification in
pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent.)
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Henry Ward at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th March 1882.
"
THOMAS HENRY WARD of the firm of Lee Howl Ward and Howl of Tipton in
in the County of Stafford Engineers AN IMPROVED VELOCIPEDE OR VEHICLE
FOR LOCOMOTION BY MANUAL POWER."
My said Invention consists of an improved velocepede or vehicle for locomotion
by manual power and has for its object to do away with many of the objections
and dangers which attend bicycles and other vehicles of this class as at present
constructed.
A veloceped or vehicle constructed according to my Invention in its simplest
form and so arranged for two riders consists of an axle carrying a wheel and a
horizontal or approximately horizontal framing extending on either side the
wheel and beyond the periphery thereof on either side and capable of oscillating
upon the said axle.
The framing carries at each end the saddles or seats for the riders the said
saddles or seats being at an elevation sufficient to cause the riders feet to be in
convenient proximity to the ground so that as they touch the ground they can by a
forward movement propel the machine the axle of which supports the weight of
the said riders.
There may be two or more seats at each end of the oscillating framing or there
may be an oscillating framing at each side of the wheel in which case the saddles
or seats are not necessarily outside the periphery of the wheel

page_text: There may be two or more wheels on the axis with an oscillating framing or
framings between or both between and outside the same or outside only.
This
Where the machine is arranged for a rider or riders at one end of the framing
only his or their weight may be balanced by a weight at the other end.
weight may conveniently consist of luggage for which a platform or holder may
be provided connected by a rigid connection with the framing.
Each end of the lever or levers may have a small wheel at each end preferably
at a slightly higher lever than the central wheel so as to be out of contact with
the ground when in the same plane. There may be platforms for luggage suspended
from the axle or by rigid connections from the framing near the part through
which the axle passes or at other suitable part.
In order to adjust the framing to various heights of riders the saddles or seats
may be adjustable which may be effected as follows:-The framing or framings
may each consist of two parts or members each oscillating on the axle but
extending each to opposite sides thereof. Each member has a projecting part to
each of which parts is attached the respective ends of a tie bar or rod the one end
extending through and beyond one of the projecting parts and being provided
with a nut or collar screwing thereon. A spring situated between the said
projecting part and the said nut or collar gives a yielding action to this tie rod or
bar to neutralize sudden shocks and by screwing up this out or collar the length
of the tie rod or bar between the two projecting parts of the framing may be
shortened to cause the two members of the framing to be canted up and the ends
and consequently the saddles or seats carried thereby brought into convenient
position to accommodate riders of different heights. The spring arrangement may
be at both ends instead of at one.
The saddles may be adjustable lengthwise of the oscillating framing to
accommodate riders of different weights.
There may be handles in convenient position for the riders support that or those
in front may be handles sliding vertically so that on being released it falls into a
position which will not obstruct the rider in dismounting
In combination with the arrangements herein before described treadles cranks or
levers or other means for propelling or assisting the propulsion may be used.