Improvements in or relating to Steering Mechanism for Velocipedes.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Steering Mechanism for Velocipedes.
I GEORGE LILWALL of Avonside House Bidford, Stratford-on-Avon, in the County
of Warwick, Gentleman, 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 :-
The accompanying drawings shew the Improved Invention thus:-
Figure I shews the bridle guide fixed for riding, screwed up taut but not rigid.
O is the ordinary curved guiding bar as now used, on which the hands rest.
Figure II shews the comparative distance between the seat-saddle and eye of bridle
support bar, to which the screw B is attached by means of a spring hook or ring, and
shews room for play of knees of the rider.
B. B are the two screws by aid of which the bridle is tightened or slackened: when
riding round a ring one screw is tightened up slightly more than the other so that
the machine travels as on a straight line without any muscular effort to turn the
circle.
A. A are the springs attached by means of a swivel spring catch to screws B. B,
the other end of springs (coiled) are slipped on, by means of a ring, to the ordinary
curved bar O; the hand pieces, as shewn in figure IV, being first unscrewed.
(shews the bridle support bar curved upward and slipped loosely (not rigid) on to
the seat pillar before the seat pillar is fixed in its socket. S is an ordinary seat-
saddle.
Figure III shows the bridle Invention viewed from the seat-saddle. Figure IV
shews the handle unscrewed from the ordinary guiding bar, and also shew the spring
bridle fixed on.
Figure V shews the screw attached to coiled spring and bridle support bar.
A rider can fix the bridle to his ordinary machine; before mounting the screws
are adjusted, thus the front wheel of the machine is steadied, so that the rider can
mount with ease, hence avoiding that wabbling action when mounting: beginners
may thus learn to ride with ease.
When in the saddle the forced bend of the body, and desperate grip of the handle
bar, with muscular force, is entirely absent because the bridle keeps the machine from
turning out of the straight course; and yet curves, or circles, can be made by aid of
the hands when necessary and the velocipide will again right itself, or if obstructed
by a stone.
The screws can be adjusted from the saddle to the greatest nicety.
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 :-
First No. 1. The features of novelty are that the risk of deformity of the body in
the growing young rider is avoided, because compulsory muscular stooping is abolished;
and speed will be increased, with a saving of power, by the absence of wabbling of
the front wheel.
No. 2. That the busy thoroughfares may be traversed with less danger and greater
ease, and over rough roads the machine will right itself.

page_text: the spring bridle guides the velocipede: and that a rifle may be fired, and re-loaded,
without dismounting from the saddle by an expert rider that three or four may ride
in close rank without danger of collision.
GEORGE LILWALL