Improvements in Safety Cycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 13th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 23rd May, 1896
Improvements in Safety Cycles.
1, GEORGE STEGMANN of No. 69 St. John's Hill Clapham Junction in the County
of Surrey Electrician do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in safety cycles whereby greater
security is afforded to the rider than heretofore, the machine is equally balanced
and at the same time it can be brought to a standstill without the rider dismounting.
According to this invention I construct a cycle similar in shape and design to an
ordinary safety bicycle and instead of employing two wheels I use four wheels two in
front and two in rear. The front wheels are secured together by means of a double
hub arranged so as to leave a space between the rims of the wheels of about
two inches.
The rear or driving wheels are also joined together by a double hub but it is
formed in two parts so as to enable the chain wheel to be secured centrally between
the two wheels, the two parts may either be bolted together or they may be formed
with a screw thread and screwed together.
Thus it will be seen that a machine may be built which will be well balanced and
that additional safety will be afforded to the rider.
Dated this 26th day of August 1895.
I, GEORGE STEGMANN of No. 69 St. John's Hill Clapham Junction in the County
of Surrey Electrician do hereby declare the nature of the said 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 has for its object improvements in safety cycles whereby greater
security is afforded to the rider than heretofore, the machine equally balanced and
at the same time it can be brought to a standstill without the rider dismounting.
According to this invention I construct a cycle similar in shape and design to an
ordinary safety bicycle and instead of employing two wheels, I use four wheels two in
front and two in rear. The front wheels are secured together by means of a double
hub arranged so as to leave a space between the rims of the wheels of about
two inches.
The rear or driving wheels are also joined together by a double hub but it is
formed in two parts so as to enable the chain wheel to be secured centrally between
the two wheels, the two parts may either be bolted together or they may be formed
with a screw thread and screwed together.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect I will describe the same fully, aided by the accompany drawings.
Figure 1. is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of the rear wheel and
hub constructed according to my invention.

page_text: Figure 2. is a side elevation of the cycle and
Figure 3. is a diagrammatic view shewing the position of the wheels and driving
gear.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct a cycle similar in shape and design
to an ordinary safety bicycle but instead of employing two wheels I employ four
wheels two in front and two in rear.
The front or steering wheels a are secured together by a double hub b which is
formed in one piece and is so arranged as to leave a space between the rims c of the
wheels a of about two inches, or of a distance apart sufficient to support the cycle in a
vertical position.
The rear or driving wheels d are also joined together by a double hub E but such
hub is formed in two parts c, e¹, so as to enable the chain wheelf to be secured
centrally thereon. The part e of the hub E is turned down to receive said chain
wheel and a screw thread e2 is formed thereon to allow of the part el being screwed
up to the boss f¹ of the chain wheel, such chain wheel is further secured to the part e
by means of a key or feather or a flat may be formed on the part e and the chain
wheelfitted thereon.
On either side of the chain wheelf the forked ends g of the bottom back stays h fit
and are made adjustable in any of the well known methods.
The outer ends of the hub E are formed in any preferred manner to suit the
bearings of the rear fork.
The front chain wheel is fitted in the bottom bracket so that the two chain wheels
and chain are in the centre of the machine.
It will thus be seen that a cycle constructed according to this invention will be
equally balanced and that additional safety is afforded to the rider.
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 :-
1. A safety cycle having four wheels, two in front and two in rear and directly in
line with each other, joined together by means of double hubs constructed and
arranged substantially as herein described and shown in the accompanying
drawings.
2. A safety cycle having four wheels, two in front and two in rear, such wheels
being secured together by means of double hubs and driven by chain wheels and
chain fitted centrally on the hub of the rear or driving wheel and bottom bracket to
ensure an even balance substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 13th day of Anril 1896.