IMPROVE. MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Trappes, of No. 44, Rue d'Amsterdam,
Paris, in the Empire of France, now residing at No. 12, Ely Place,
in the City of London, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE.
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES,"
Sealed the 24th August 1869, and dated the 7th July 1869.

page_text: grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assigns, Her Royal
Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that I
am the first and true Inventor of the said Invention.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Francis Trappes, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal,
fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed,
that is to say :-
The object of my Invention is by a simple adaptation to velocipedes of
the apparatus herein-after described to considerably diminish the labour
of the rider, particularly when ascending inclines.
Taking an ordinary velocipede at the top of the fork immediately
above and under the nut which fixes the handle to the fork I place the
instrument herein-after described, which enables the rider by means of
a belt round his waist and a strap to attach his body to this instrument
and thereby greatly to relieve the labour hitherto thrown on the feet and
legs of the rider. This instrument is a stem of metal of a cylindrical
form, having at the upper extremity a horizontal branch at one side of
the stem flattened and pierced.
In the Drawing, Figure 1, A represents the cylindrical stem, and B
the horizontal branch pierced at b. This is represented in full size for
an ordinary velocipede for mans' size. The other Drawings are
diminished.
When the handle C, Figure 2, is placed at the top of the fork D,
Figure 2, and before the nut E is screwed down to fix the handle to
the fork, I place the instrument over the top of the fork which passes
through the hole 6, Figure 1, having the stem A, Figure 1, towards the
rider, the point downwards; I then fasten the whole with the nut E.
The rider wears an ordinary gymnastic or other suitable belt round
the waist to give support to the back. In front of this belt is fastened
a chain and ring or strap which can be regulated to the required length
with a loop, the loop end when required is passed under on to the
stem A.
Figure 3 shews the upper part of a velocipede with the parts together.
The adjustment at b must be made so as not to prevent the working
of the handle for guiding the velocipede.

page_text: The object of the belt and apparatus is to support and sustain the
driver in his seat, so that when an extra pressure is required to be given
to the treadles the force is sustained from the back of the rider, who is
kept in his seat by means of the belt and strap attached to the stem A,
Figure 1; the labour of the rider is by these meaus considerably
diminished, leaving the hands and arins wholly free and available for
guiding alone. The strap can easily be disengaged from the stem by the
rider leaning forward, by which the strap will loosen and drop without the
use of the hands. The instrument A, Fig. 1, can be attached to or form
part of the guiding handle or of the machine itself, retaining the required
position.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be carried into effect, and the object of its use,
I desire it to be understood that I do not claim the different parts as
independent Inventions; but what I do claim is the use of the apparatus
above described, in the manner and for the purpose above described as
applied to velocipedes.
In witness whercof, I, the said Francis Trappes, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of July One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-nine.
F. TRAPPES. (L.S.)