Year: 1898

page_text: I, WILLIAM ANTHONY RUFFELL, of 71, Princes Street, Edinburgh, Commission
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to auxiliary means for use in propelling bicycles and
consists in the application of hand power in addition to foot power, for the
purpose of propelling the bicycle.
In accordance with my invention, I pivot the end of a lever upon the bolt
which tightens the socket of the seat pillar. To say the middle of the said lever.
I attach a rod which is connected to the pedal pin. The free end of the pivotted
lever is in proximity with the handle of the bicycle, the arrangement being
such that the rider when he desires to use the auxiliary hand power, takes his
right hand off the steering handle of the bicycle and with it grasps the free
end of the pivotted lever which he works with an up and down motion.
The mode of mounting the auxiliary or hand lever, may be varied in many
ways, for example, the lever may be pivotted to the bolt which is attached to
the head of the bicycle in which case the said lever may be curved upwards so
that its free end comes over the top of the steering handle.
The levers may be mounted on either side of the bicycle.
JOHNSONS,
Petitioner's Agents,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow,
I, WILLIAM ANTHONY RUFFELL, of 71, Princes Street, Edinburgh, Commission
Agent, 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:-
This invention relates to auxiliary means for use in propelling bicycles and
consists in the application of hand power, in addition to foot power, for the
purpose of propelling the bicycle.
But in order that my said invention may be more readily understood and
easily carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the same with reference to
the accompanying drawings in which

page_text: Fig. 2 a plan of a portion of the framing of a bicycle shewing the auxiliary
propelling means applied thereto.
Fig. 3 is an elevation similar to Fig. 1 but with the auxiliary propelling
means 'out of gear.
晕
Referring to the said drawings I employ a lever A pivoted upon the bolt a
which tightens the socket of the seat pillar. At any convenient position upon
the lever I attach a rod B, the extremity of which is connected to the pedal
pin in any convenient way. The free end of the lever A is in proximity with
the handle bar of the bicycle, the arrangement being such that the rider, when
he desires to use the auxiliary hand power, takes his right hand off the steering
handle of the bicycle and with it grasps the pivoted lever which he works with
an up and down motion.
'
The said rod B is formed with an angled fork C, as shewn, to facilitate its
connection to the lever A and to prevent the rod coming into contact therewith
during its travel.
In order to allow the lever A to lie inactive when the auxiliary means are
not required, I form a double hinge or pivot D at or near the centre of the rod B.
A sleeve E slides upon the upper portion of the rod B in such a manner that
it can be lowered over the hinge or point D and thus keep the rod perfectly rigid.
The sleeve E may be retained in the position shewn in Fig. 3 by means of a
suitable flat spring or otherwise..
Fig. 1 shews the rod as it appears when the auxiliary means are in use, the
lever A being almost at the end of its downward stroke. Fig. 3 shews the rod
with the joint free and the handle of the lever resting inactively upon the
horizontal bar of the cycle frame.
The tightening bolt a to which the end of the lever A is pivoted is extended
sideways for a short distance to form a sufficiently broad bearing to prevent
side play of the lever, and in order to facilitate the action of the auxiliary means
the various pivots are provided with ball bearings.
The foregoing serves as an example of one method of carrying out my inven
tion but I desire it to be understood that the mode of mounting the auxiliary
or hand lever, may be varied in many ways, for example, the lever may be
pivoted to the bolt which is attached to the head of the bicycle in which case
the said lever may be curved upwards so that its free end comes over the top
of the steering handle.
The levers also may be mounted on either side of the bicycle as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The auxiliary means for use in propelling bicycles; constructed, arranged
and operating substantially in the manner as herein before described and shewn
in the accompanying drawings.
2. In auxiliary means for use in propelling bicycles, the hand lever A pivoted
to any convenient part of the bicycle frame, arranged to he actuated with an up
and down movement and communicating its motion to the crank of the bicycle,
substantially in the manner as herein before described and shewn in the accom
panying drawings.
Dated this 5th day of Ion 1900