Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 31st Aug., 1892-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
1, CHARLES CHALMERS FONTAINE of 16 Overton Road, Brixton, London, S. W.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of velocipedes, whereby
the hands of the rider may be utilized as well as the feet for propelling the
machine.
In carrying my invention into practice, I fix in any suitable manner to the frame
of a bicycle or tricycle, mechanism of any suitable construction connected by means
of a chain, belt or otherwise with the driving gear of the said machine, such
mechanism being actuated by cranks or levers operated by the hand for the purpose
of aiding the propulsion of the machine or of effecting this propulsion alone.
I may further provide a head-rest connected to the steering wheel by suitable
gear whereby the head may assist in the steering of the vehicle.
A whistle or horn provided preferably with an india-rubber mouth-piece may be
arranged for the rider's mouth, so that he may be able to use it without altering
his position. This whistle or alarm may take the form of a horn or tube, which
will also be arranged to do the duty of acting as brake, lever and will act as handle
bar for steering of the machine when required.
The steering may be effected as aforesaid or with one hand, or by balancing at
the option of the rider, who will be able therefore to devote all his limbs to the
propulsion, so as to attain a very high speed with less exertion than heretofore.
The aforesaid head-rest and combination alarm and steering-bar and brake-bar,
may be suitably attached and connected to the body of the machine by joints and
springs as may be found most desirable and effective."
Dated this 1st day of Danaushor 1901
G. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
improvements in Velocipedes.
I, CHARLES CHALMERS FONTAINE of 16 Overton Road Brixton London S.W.
Artist do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of velocipedes,
whereby the hands of the rider may be utilized as well as the feet, for propelling
the machine.
In carrying my invention into practice, I fix in any suitable manner to the frame
of a bicycle or tricycle, mechanism of any suitable construction connected by means
of a chain, belt or otherwise, with the driving gear of the said machine, such
mechanism being actuated by cranks operated by hand, for the purpose of aiding
the propulsion of the machine, or of effecting this propulsion alone.
.
I may further provide a head rest, connected to the steering wheel by suitable
gear, whereby the head may assist in the steering of the vehicle. A whistle or
horn, provided preferably with an indiarubber mouthpiece, may be arranged for
the rider's mouth, so that he may be able to use it without altering his position.
1017

page_text: This whistle or alarm may take the form of a horn or tube, which will also be
arranged to do the duty of acting as brake lever, and will act as handle bar for
steering of the machine when required.
The steering may be effected as aforesaid or with one hand, or by balancing, at
the option of the rider, who will be able therefore to devote all his limbs to the
propulsion, so as to attain a very high speed with less exertion than heretofore.
The aforesaid head rest and combination alarm and steering bar, and brake bar,
may be suitably attached and connected to the body of the machine, by joints and
springs, as may be found most desirable and effective.
In order that my invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle with my invention applied,
Fig. 2 a detail view of the hand driving gear, and
Figs. 3 to 5 are detail views of the steering arrangement, horn, brake and
head rest.
A is the frame of the cycle, carrying the driving wheel B, and the second
wheel C, connected, by the chain D, to the hand driving device. This consists of
arms E and F, connected to the front and top of the frame by means of the hinged
loops G, which can be released when required. These arms carry a bearing H,
which can be adjusted to any desired position, by shifting the loops up or down the
required amount, one of the arms being hinged, to allow of this being done more
readily. The spindle Jis supported in this adjustable bearing, and carries the
chain wheel K connected to the wheel C, above mentioned, being provided with
the crank arms L and handles M, by means of which the power is applied, all the
revolving parts turning in ball bearings.
The handles and crank arms are preferably situated so that the pull may occur
n opposition to the stroke of the pedals on the same side.
Referring to the steering brake and horn arrangement, more fully shown in
Figs. 3, 4 and 5, N is the steering spindle, carrying the fork and supported in the
usual manner by the frame, having a small bracket N' at top, to which is pivotted
the horn O. This horn carries the head rest P, consisting as shown in Fig. 5, of a
steel semicircular band, with loop for fastening to the end of the horn, and an air
tube of indiarubber or other flexible material, fixed to its inner side. The horn is
arranged to be adjustable in its length, so that the head rest may be shifted to any
desired position, according to the requirements of the rider. The rider places his
forehead in the semicircular rest, against the air cushion, and by moving it slightly
to one side or the other, steers the cycle in the required direction, or, if this be
inconvenient, one hand may be used. The end of the rod carrying the horn is
connected to the upper end of the brake rod Q, forming a lever, so that when the
horn is raised or lowered the brake will be applied, the rider using one hand to lift
the horn, if arranged as shown in the drawings. The spiral spring N on the lower
end of brake rod, between the brake and crown piece or fork, serves to lessen the
vibration of the head rest. When it is arranged to apply the brake by a down-
ward motion the bracket N is reversed so as to be situated on the other side of
the brake rod, the brake being applied by pushing downwards with the head. The
two parts of the brake rod can be adjusted in the usual manner by the set screw Q',
thus turning the horn and head rest around its pivot, and raising or lowering it as
required, thus the head rest can be adjusted in two directions. If the brake is not
required, the horn will be rigidly attached to the steering spindle. The mouth-
piece of the horn is arranged so that when the head of the rider is supported by
the rest, it will project between his lips, in a suitable position for blowing.
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 1
claim is :-
:-
(1) In à cycle, the combination with the usual foot driving gear, of a second
driving arrangement comprising cranks, actuated by hand in the inanner described,

page_text: and connected with the first, fastened to the frame, substantially as described and
for the purposes specified.
(2) Inn cycle, the combination with the usual foot driving gear, of a second
driving arrangement, connected with the first in any suitable manner, consisting of
a wheel,K, cranks L, with handles M, spindle J carried in a bearing, supported by
the adjustable arms E and F, substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
(3) In a cycle, the combination with a hand and foot driving gear, of a head
rest, arranged to operate the steering spindle of the front wheel, substantially as
described.
(4) In a cycle of the kind described, an adjustable horn O, attached to the
steering spindle, and carrying a head rest P, substantially as described and for the
purposes specified.
(5) In a cycle of the kind described, the combination of a horn O), carrying the
head rest P, and the brake rod Q, passing through the steering spindle, and
attached to the end of the horn, in such a manner that the brake can be applied by
lifting or pushing down the horn substantially as described and shown.
(6) A cycle, arranged to be driven by hand and foot, substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 31st day of August 1892.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.