IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM PARNALL of 108 Victoria Street in the City and county of Bristol,
Scale maker do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
VELOCIPEDES to be as follows:-
The same is more clearly understood by reference to the accompaning drawings.
Fig 1 represents a side view of my invention and Fig 2 a back view of the same
The large ring A is composed of a hollow steel rim varying in diameter from four to
eight feet, and is of ordinary construction. To the hollow periphery of this rim is
fixed an india-rubber tyre the india-rubber tyre being the part which comes in
contact with the ground B is a smaller ring or series of rings joined together, and
by preference I make the smaller ring B of two circles of hollow steel tubing with
an ordinary cresent-shape rim fixed between them as shown at B Fig 2, also
at Fig 3, Fig 3 being an enlarged view in section. D Fig 3 is the india-rubber
which comes in contact with the ground. E is the ordinary cresent shape rim of
steel. F is a steel nut tapped to fit on the ends of the wires C C. G Fig 1 is the
driving wheel immediately in front of the operator, the periphery or tyre of which
is of india rubber and fitted to a hollow or cresent rim, the india rubber is the part
which runs in the cresent rim E Fig 3. H is an ordinary bicycle wheel from
9 to 12 inches in diameter more or less, this wheel is also fitted with an india
rubber tyre and runs in the cresent rim E Fig 3. I is a smaller wheel of the same
construction as the H wheel and runs in the same rim E Fig 3. The wheels H
and I are fitted with guides J, K, these guides are intended to prevent the
wheels H, I from jumping out of the recess or groove in the cresent rim E Fig 3.
L is the centre portion of the wheel G and forms the hub into which the wires or
spokes are screwed in forming the wheel G. M are the wheels or drums which
give motion to L the centre portion of the wheel G.
NN, are endless perforated india-rubber bands, inside of which are enclosed flat
steel or metallic bands of similar shape, these bands work on the drums L, the said
drums having projections passing through the flat surface upon which the bands
work, or I may cast, rivet, screw, or braze these projections to the surface of the
said wheels or drums. O Fig 1, is a small wheel constructed the same as H but
provided with a mud guard, and connected with the wheel M by means of a spring
and crank as shown. This wheel O, spring and crank are detachable and may be
dispensed with entirely when useing wheel P forks Q and R, and rods S. This said

page_text: wheel P, forks Q and R and rods S are also detachable, and wheel O, with spring
and crank allowed to remain on the velocipede for the purpose of preventing the
operator from tipping too far forward. The wheel O may be fitted with a fork
as Q.
TT are foot rests attached to a steel tube brazed to the double seat fork U.
V is a single or double steel spring to the end of which is attached the small
wheel I. W is the handle passing through the hub of wheel L this said handle
I may make of hollow steel tube and in one piece, or I may make it as shown at
W W Fig 2, with a joint on either side. To this handle I attach two steel or
metallic ribbons or bands one on either side of the wheel see X Fig 1 showing one
side only, two ends of these ribbons or bands are fixed to the brake Y the other two
ends being attached to the handle-bar W. This said brake Y is made to rub the
perhipery of the wheel G by revolving the handle W, by this method the bands or
ribbons are wound around the handle bar, and the brake drawn down until it
presses tightly against the india-rubber tyre of the wheel G. Z is a mud scraper
and brush, which are intended to prevent dust or dirt from being picked up by the
india-rubber tyre and dropped upon the operator who sits upon the saddle Z A.
Dated the 3rd day of January 1884.

page_text: I WILLIAM PARNALL of 108 Victoria Street in the city and county of Bristol,
Scale Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
VELOCIPEDES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The same is more clearly understood by reference to the drawings accompanying
my Provisional Specification. Fig 1 represents a side view of my invention and
Fig 2 a back view of the same. The large ring A is composed of a hollow steel rim
varying in diameter from four to eight feet and is of ordinary construction, to the
hollow periphery of this rim is fixed an india-rubber tyre, the india-rubber tyre
being the part which comes in contact with the ground. B is a smaller ring or
series of rings joined together, and by preference I make the smaller ring B of two
circles of hollow steel tubing with an ordinary crescent-shape rim fixed between
them as shown at B Fig 2 also at Fig 3. fig 3 being an enlarged view in section.
D Fig 3 is the india-rubber which comes in contact with the ground. E is
the ordinary cresent shape rim of steel. F is a steel nut tapped to fit on the
ends of the wires C. C. G Fig 1 is the driving wheel immediately in front of the
operator, the perhipery or tyre of which is of india-rubber and fitted to a hollow
or cresent rim, the india-rubber is the part which runs in the cresent rim E Fig 3.
H is an ordinary bicycle wheel from 0 to 12 inches in diameter more or less this
wheel is also fitted with an india-rubber tyre and runs in the cresent rim E Fig 3-
I is a smaller wheel of the same construction as the H wheel and runs in the same
rim E Fig 3. The wheels H and I are fitted with guides J K these guides are
intended to prevent the wheels H I from jumping out of the recess or groove in
the cresent rim E Fig 3.
L is the centre portion of the wheel G and forms the hub into which the wires
of spokes are screwed in forming the wheel G. M are the wheels or drums which
give motion to L the centre portion of the wheel G. N N are endless perforated
india-rubber bands inside of which are enclosed flat steel or metallic bands of
similar shape, these bands work on the drums L the said drums having projections
passing through the flat surface upon which the bands work, or I may cast, rivet,
screw, or braze these projections to the surface of the said wheels or drums.
O Fig. 1 is small wheel constructed the same as H but provided with a mud
guard, and connected with the wheel M by means of a spring and crank as shown
This wheel O spring and crank are detachable and may be dispensed with entirely
when useing wheel P forks Q and R and rods S.
This said wheel P forks Q & R and rods S are also detachable and wheel with
spring and crank allowed to remain on the Velocipede for the purpose of preventing
the operator from tipping too far forward.
The wheel Oinay be fitted with a fork, as Q, T. T. are foot rests attached to a
steel tube brazed to the double seat fork U.
V is a single or double steel spring to the end of which is attached the small
wheel I.
W is the handle passing through the hub of wheel L this said handle I may
make of hollow steel tube and in one piece or I may make it as shown at W. W
Fig 2 with a joint on either side.
To this handle I atta h two steel or metallic ribbons or bands one on either side
of the wheel see X Fig 1 showing one side only, two ends of these ribbons or bands
are fixed to the brake Y the other two ends being attached to the handle bar W.

page_text: This said brake Y is made to rub the perhipery of the wheel G by revolving the
handle W by this method the bands or ribbons are wound around the handle-bar,
and the brake drawn down until it presses tightly against the india rubber tyre of
the wheel G. Z is a mud scraper and brush which are intended to prevent dust
or dirt from being picked up by the india rubber tyre and dropped upon the
operator who sits upon the saddle Z A. The fork & tube connection between
wheels LM is composed of two telescopic forks holding or carrying the wheels M.
said forks fitting into hollow metallic tubes end of said tubes holding the handle
bar upon which the wheel G L rotates. The lower ends of these tubes are split to
allow the ends to be drawn into a smaller circle or space. When drawn in they
grasp firmly the top end or shank of the forks which hold the wheel M. These
split ends are closed in by means of screwed bolts, or bolts and nuts. The ends of
the forks which hold the wheels M are fitted with ball bearings or I may make
them with plain cone or any other kind of bearing, but I prefer ball bearings these
latter producing less friction. For the purpose of reducing the friction on all
rotating or wearing parts as far as possible I fit ball bearings to the wheels P. O HIL
& G and also to the foot pedals or I may attach ball bearings to the ends of the
forks holding said wheels, or for the purpose of producing a less costly machine or
velocipede of this description I may make the ordinary cone parallel or other
Buitable bearings to these wheels or forks.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention,
and in what manner the same is to be formed, I declare that what I claim is :
1. A hollow metallic rim A Figs 1. 2. 3 forming part of a wheel substantially as
described and explained by A CB.
2. A metallic crescent rim E Fig 3 held in position by two metallic or steel
tubes B figs 1. 2. 3 or held in position by a flange on either side to prevent.
twisting.
3. Metal wires C Figs 1. 2. 3 passing through one side of the metallic tubes B
and being checked by the opposite side of tube and head of said wires, the opposite
end of each wire or spoke being screwed and held in position by a metallic nut F
Fig 3 substantially as described hereinbefore.
4. A wheel G Fig 1 having an indiarubber tyre, running in a groove or crescent
rim as shown at E Fig 3 as hereinbefore described.
5. A wheel G Fig 1 the centre or hub of which is a double drum L with
projections on the face of the said drums, into said hub or drum is screwed or
laced wires forming the wheel G Fig 1 substantially as herein before described.
6. A wheel H Fig 1 with an india-rubber tyre said tyre running in a cresent rim
as shown at E Fig 3.
7. A wheel I with an india-rubber tyre said tyre running in a cresent rim
as shown at E Fig 3.
8. A hollow tube U with a fork at each end holding in position 2 wheels GH,
said wheels running in a cresent rim as at E Fig 3 and said wheels having india-
rubber tyres.
9. A spring brake Y Fig 1 attached to a hollow tube U and pressing upon an
india-rubber tyre, said tyre being a part of the wheel G in front of the operator.
10. Two metallic bands or ribbons attached to a brake as last described.
11. A wheel H Fig 1 to which is attached a guard K holding a mud scraper
and brusb.
12. A wheel I with a guard J for preventing said wheel from jumping out of the
cresent rim E Fig 3.
13. Endless india-rubber bands perforated, inside of which is enclosed flat steel
or metallic bands of a similar shape-, said bands communicating motion from
wheels M to drums L and wheel G.
14. Wheels M Figs 1 and 2 rotating by cranks and pedals, said cranks and
pedals being driven by the feet of the operator when seated on the saddle or
seat Z A
15. Foot rests T figs 1 and 2 connected to the hollow tube U shown at T Fig 1.

page_text: 16. Wheel O connected to wheels M by a double fork and spring the whole
being detachable and fitted with a mud guard.
17. Two telescopic forks holding wheels M said forks fitting into hollow tubes
holding hubs L the lower ends of these tubes being split to allow the ends being
drawn in for the purpose of grasping the top end or shank of forks holding M.
The ends are drawn in by means of screwed bolts, or bolts and nuts.
18. A wheel P fitted with Ball bearings or any other convenient form of bearing
or ball bearing n ends of fork said wheel being in front of the operator and
attached to a one wheel velocipede by means of a fork R, said wheel acting as the
steering wheel and moved by rods S attached to a handle bar W.
19. Handles and handle bar W Figs 1 & 2 with joints on either side of wheel G
Fig 1 and L Fig 2.
20. A velocipede complete and as a whole substantially as herein before described
in detail and illustrated by the drawings referred to.
п T
1000
WILLIAM PARNALL