IMPROVEMENTS IN
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Singer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th October 1881.
GEORGE SINGER, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick.
VELOCIPEDES."
"
IMPROVEMENTS IN
The first part of my Invention refers to an improved pedal for velocipedes, by
means of which the parts of the pedal upon which the foot rests are raised clear of
the part through which the spindle or pedal pin passes, while it is also more simple
in construction, neater, and lighter than existing pedals.
I carry this out by introducing between the side plates of the pedal two cross
pieces, one on each side of the centre piece. These cross pieces contain one or more
perforations, preferably three in each of them. These may be about "/" in diameter,
and of any suitable shape. In these perforations I place blocks of india rubber
which may be about 1%," long, and which are either compressed into the holes, or
are especially moulded with a groove round them which will retain them in the
position required. The foot rests upon the ends of these blocks instead of upon the
sides of them, as is the case in ordinary pedals now used. The length, shape, and
thickness of these blocks may be increased as required, and the height of the
pedal from the centre of the pin or shaft which carries it can thus be increased
considerably. The pressure of the foot is sufficient to keep the blocks in their
positions as the block will expand from pressure. Greater elasticity is obtained by
this arrangement and consequently less vibration on rough roads will be felt in the
foot of the rider.
I may use other material instead of india rubber, and can make the opposite
sides of the pedal different in design, material, or height. This pedal is applicable
to either bicycles or tricycles.
The next part of my Invention refers to an improved form of detachable handle
rod chiefly applicable to bicycles, and especially applicable where the handle rod is
required to be of a curved shape.

page_text: At present, curved handle rods can only be bent when in the fork head of the
bicycle, and after being bent can only be renewed or altered with great difficulty.
To obviate this I propose to make the handle rod in two or more pieces and screw
or fix them together, previously bending the parts when required.
A convenient way to carry this out is to make the handle rod in three pieces,
the centre piece being fixed in the fork head, and the ends projecting about 1" in
either side of the same.
The end pieces are made with a socket upon one end of them which fits the
screw upon the centre piece. A split lug projects from this socket piece, and
by tightening a screw in the lug the two parts of the handle become locked
together.
The rod may be in two parts, one end being longer than the other and fixed in
the fork head, the other being fixed as before described.
I may in some cases screw the parts of the handle rod into the fork head itself
and lock the screws by means of a transverse screw, pin, or key in the required
position.
By these arrangements the position of the handles may, if the rod be curved, be
altered by turning the rods slightly in or out of the sockets. The handles being
readily detachable great facilities will be afforded for alterations, repairs, and the
reduction of width for packing and other purposes, while the weight and stability
will not be affected.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Singer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th April
1882.
GEORGE SINGER, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick.
VELOCIPEDES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
The first part of my Invention refers to an improved pedal for velocipedes, by.
means of which the parts of the pedal upon which the foot rests are raised clear of
the pedal through which the spindle or pedal pin passes, while it is also more simple
in construction, neater, and lighter than existing pedals.
My Invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
Drawings. Figure 1 is a view in plan, and Figure 2 in side elevation of an
improved pedal constructed and fitted according to my Invention, and Figure 3 is
a section through the line x, y, of Figure 1; this pedal is particularly applicable to
tricycles; Figure 4 is a plan, and Figure 5 is a side elevation of a pedal constructed
according to my Invention, but of a somewhat different pattern to that shown in
the foregoing Figures, and particularly applicable to bicycles. Figures 6 and 7
show in side elevation and end view, and Figures 8 and 9 also in side elevation
and end view, blocks of different shape to the blocks previously shown, and the
whole block made in one piece of material if desired. The shape of the blocks
may, it will be understood from what has been before stated, be considerably
varied in shape without departing from the Invention.
a, a, are two cross pieces introduced between the side plates of the pedal, one on
each side of the centre piece. These cross pieces a, a, contain one or more per-
forations or rings b, preferably three in each of them, and as shown in the
Drawings. These may be about 3/4" in diameter, and of any suitable shape. In
these perforations or rings I place blocks of india-rubber c, which may be about 1'/,"
long, and which are either compressed into the holes or are specially moulded with
a groove c' round them, which will retain them in the position required; one of
these blocks is shown detached at Figure 10. The foot rests upon the ends of
these blocks instead of upon the sides of them, as is the case in ordinary pedals now
used. The length, shape, and thickness of these blocks may be increased as
required, and the height of the pedal from the centre of the pin or shaft which
carries it can thus be increased considerably. The pressure of the foot is sufficient
to keep the blocks in their positions, as the block will expand from pressure.
Greater elasticity is obtained by this arrangement, and consequently less vibration
on rough roads will be felt in the foot of the rider.
I may use other material instead of india-rubber, and can make the opposite
sides of the pedal different in design, material, or height. This pedal is applicable
to either bicycles or tricycles.
The next part of my Invention refers to an improved form of detachable handle
rod, chiefly applicable to bicycles, and specially applicable where the handle rod is
required to be of a curved shape.
At present curved handle rods can only be bent when in the fork head of the
bicycle, and after being bent can only be removed or altered with great difficulty.
To obviate this I propose to make the handle rod in two or more pieces and screw
or fix them together, previously bending the parts when required.
A convenient way to carry this out is to make the handle rod in three pieces, the
centre piece being fixed in the fork head, and the ends projecting about 1" on
either side of the same.
Figure 11 shows in front elevation, and Figure 12 in vertical cross section
through the line a, b, of Figure 11, an arrangement for carrying this part of my

page_text: Invention into effect, and Figure 13 shows in front elevation a modified arrange-
ment for connecting the end pieces to the centre piece.
The end pieces c and d are made with a socket upon one end of them which fits
the screw upon the centre pieco e. A split lug g, as shown at Figures 11 and 12,
projects from this socket piece, and by tightening a screw ƒ in the lug g, the two
parts of the handle become locked together; or instead of a lug a set screw h, as
shown at Figure 13, may for example be used, or other means may be adopted for
effecting the junction.
The rod may be in two parts, one end being longer than the other, and fixed in
the fork head, the other being fixed as before described.
I may in some cases screw the parts of the handle rods into the fork head itself,
and lock the screws by means of a transverse screw pin or key in the required
position.
By these arrangements the position of the handles may, if the rod be curved, be
altered by turning the rods slightly in or out of the sockets. The handles being
readily detachable great facilities will be afforded for alterations, repairs, and the
reduction of width for packing and other purposes, while the weight and stability
will not be affected.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my aforesaid improvements
in velocipedes,-
First. The construction and employment of pedals for bicycles and other veloci-
pedes, whereby the foot is raised clear of the frame of the pedal, and vibration to
the foot is greatly diminished in and by the employment of elastic blocks, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated with reference to Figures 1 to 10 of the
accompanying Drawings, together with any mere modifications thereof.
Second. In velocipedes, the constructions and arrangements of bent detachable
handle bars capable of being readily applied and removed when required, sub-
stantially in the manner described and illustrated with reference to Figures 11, 12,
and 13 of the accompanying Drawings, together with any mere modification or
modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Singer, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.