Improvements in and relating to Pedals for Cycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Pedals for Cycles.
I, GUSTAV, TOPP, of 55, Schnurgasse, Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of
Germany, Brush Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to pedals for cycles.
When used for some time or in wet weather the treads of rubber pedals
generally become smooth and slippery and thus fail to afford the rider's feet
the requisite hold, so that the feet are liable to slip off the pedals, which is
frequently the cause of serious accidents. Recourse has heretofore been had to
toe-clips and similar devices attached to the pedals and adapted to hold the rider's
feet firmly in position thereon. Such devices, however, as also the toothed
treads of so-called rat-trap pedals, which penetrate into and thus damage the
soles of the rider's shoes, impede the free movement of his feet which, should
he happen to fall, will not be released with sufficient rapidity.
All these drawbacks are to be obviated by my said invention, according to
which the treads of pedals are made of thick and strong vegetable or animal fibres
held in a light sheet-metal or other suitable frame or casing, from which the
ends of said fibres protrude a short distance above and below in order to con-
stitute a roughened or uneven surface of any appropriate kind such as is customary
in the case of rubber treads.
prefer to secure such fibres in the aforesaid frame or casing by providing
their middle portion with glue or other adhesive material, and, after insertion of
the fibres into the frame or casing, forcing the side bars of the latter towards
each other so as to compress the fibres. By pressing the edges of the said side bars
inwards against the fibres these will be held more securely in the frame or
casing.
Instead of fibres alone, I may also use the same in combination with one or
more layers of rubber, cork or like material, such material being placed either
in the middle and having a layer of fibres on each side, or alternating with one
or more layers of fibres in the longitudinal or transverse direction of the treads,
as may be found most expedient in practice.
The end plates of the tread are furnished with screw-threaded pins or other
appropriate means by which they can be fastened in the swinging arms or terminal
plates of the pedal frame.
Besides being very light, durable and cheap, pedals having treads constructed
as herein before set forth possess the important advantage that the fibres will

page_text: always present a rough, non-slippery surface until their ends which project from
the frame or casing are completely worn away.
Dated this 21st day of September 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pedals for Cycles.
I, GUSTAV TOPP, of 55, Schnurgasse, Frankfort-on-the-Main, in the Empire of
Germany, Brush Manufacturer, 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:
My invention relates to pedals for cycles.
When used for some time or in wet weather the treads of rubber pedals
generally become smooth and slippery and thus fail to afford the rider's feet
the requisite hold, so that the feet are liable to slip off the pedals, which is
frequently the cause of serious accidents. . Recourse has heretofore been had to
toe-clips and similar devices attached to the pedals and adapted to hold the rider's
feet firmly in position thereon. Such devices, however, as also the toothed
treads of so-called rat-trap pedals, which penetrate into and thus damage the
soles of the rider's shoes, impede the free movement of his feet which, should
he happen to fall, will not be released with sufficient rapidity.
.
All these drawbacks are to be obviated by my improved pedal illustrated in`
the accompanying drawing, in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation and Fig. 2 a plan of such pedal.
According to my invention the treads of pedals are made of thick and strong
vegetable or animal fibres A held in a light sheet-metal or other suitable frame
or casing B, from which the ends of said fibres protrude a short distance above
and below in order to constitute a roughened or uneven surface a of any appro-
priate kind such as is customary in the case of rubber treads.
I prefer to secure such fibres A in the aforesaid frame or casing B by provid-
ing their middle portion with glue or other adhesive material, and, after in-
sertion of the fibres into the frame or casing, bending inwards the top and bottom
edges 63 of the side bars b so as to grip the fibres.
Instead of fibres alone, I may also use the same in combination with one or
more layers of rubber, cork or like material a' (as indicated on the left of Fig. 2),
such material being placed either in the middle and having a layer of fibres on
each side, or alternating with one or more layers of fibres in the longitudinal or
transverse direction of the treads, as may be found most expedient in practice.
The end plates of the tread are furnished with screw-threaded pins 68 or
other appropriate means by which they can be fastened in the swinging arms or
terminal plates of the pedal frame.
Besides being very light, durable and cheap, pedals having treads constructed
as herein before set forth possess the important advantage that the fibres will
always present a rough, non-slippery surface until their ends which project from
the frame or casing are completely worn away.
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:―
or animal
First. A pedal for cycles, the tread of which consists of vegetable
fibres held in a frame or casing, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

page_text: Second. A pedal for cycles, the tread of which consists of fibres in combination
with layers of rubber, cork or like material, substantially as set forth.
Third. A pedal for cycles, constructed and arranged substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
Dated this 21st day of July 1898
CHARLES JUNGE,
75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.