IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING TRAVELLING ON FOOT." PROVISIONAL SP
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Jonathan Guy, of 252, Goswell Road, in
the County of Middlesex, Book Mounter, for the Invention of
“IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING TRAVELLING ON FOOT."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Jonathan Guy
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 11th May 1870.
I, THOMAS JONATHAN GUY, of 252, Goswell Road, in the County of
Middlesex, Book Mounter, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING TRAVELLING ON
Foot," to be as follows :-
My improvements consist in mounting the sole or foot plates of foot
velocipedes upon wheels placed on separate axles upon the outside of the
edge or near thereto.
To enable the velocipedes to be used in the streets with safety and
without fear of the ankle of the wearer being twisted or injured in
turning corners, also to admit of a person standing still upon them, or of

page_text: propelling himself over the ground by a motion corresponding to that of
walking, I prefer that the axles should be of tapered form, and that the
wheels should be held upon them by pins, screws, or keys.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas Jonathan Guy in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 11th November 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
JONATHAN GUY, of 252, Goswell Road, in the County of Middlesex,
Book Mounter, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Jonathan Guy, Her, special
licence that I, the said Thomas Jonathan Guy, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Jonathan Guy,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FACILITATING TRAVELLING ON FOOT," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Jonathan Guy,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW “YE, that I, the said Thomas Jonathan Guy, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, that is to say :-

page_text: My improvements consist in mounting the sole or foot plates or foot
velocipedes upon wheels placed upon separate axles upon the outsides of
the edge or near thereto, to enable the velocipedes to be used in the
streets with safety and without fear of the ankle of the wearer being
twisted or injured in turning corners, also to admit of a person standing
still upon them, or of propelling himself over the ground by a motion
corresponding to that of walking. I prefer that the axles should be of
tapered form, and that the wheels should be held upon them by pins,
ay mprovements consist m mounung the sole of foot plates of 100
velocipedes upon wheels placed upon separate axles upon the outsides of
the edge or near thereto, to enable the velocipedes to be used in the
streets with safety and without fear of the ankle of the wearer being
twisted or injured in turning corners, also to admit of a person standing
still upon them, or of propelling himself over the ground by a motion
corresponding to that of walking. I prefer that the axles should be of
tapered form, and that the wheels should be held upon them by pins,
screws, or keys.
The manner in which my Invention is carried into effect will be
understood by referring to the accompanying Drawings, and to tho
following description :—
Figure 1 represents a plan view of one of the apparatus arranged with
four wheels a, a, as before spoken of. These wheels are free to turn
upon axles or pins b, b, projecting from the sides of the main frame c,
which is preferably of skeleton form, for the purpose of making it as
light in weight as possible, but the frame may be solid if such should be
found necessary. The frame c is shaped to suit the curve of the boot,
and is provided with lugs d, d, for clamping the soles between them, in
order to obtain a firm hold thereof. There is also a lug e at the back of
the heel, as shewn at Figure 2. Outside the lugs d, d, the straps by
which the apparatus is secured on the foot are fitted, and these aro
placed in position before the wheels are put on to the axles, the
straps being arranged with eyelets to give them freedom of movement
in conforming to the position into which they may be placed over
the foot.
I prefer that the wheels be made of malleable metal and have the
rims or tyres covered with india-rubber or some other material that may
be found suitable for bearing the weight of a person, and withstand the
wear and tear of the pavement, roadway, or flooring over which the
alipedist may travel.
In the Drawings I have shown the alipede with conical faced tyres
made of rubber in a cured or vulcanized state, the cone shape gives the
least amount of resistance to the forward movement of the wearer, but
of coarse flat, round, or other shaped tyres may be employed.

page_text: In all cases the wheels are on the outside of the apparatus and clear of
the boot, by this means the wheels can be of any diameter and of any
width or distance apart.
The motion of the legs is similar to that of walking, and by fitting the
wheels in the manner described a comparatively high speed of propulsion
can be obtained with a small amount of fatigue compared to that to be
had by the use of any other kind of foot velocipedes.
When the alipede is fastened on the foot by the straps, as before
explained, it will have the appearance as shewn at Figure 3, which is a
perspective view of the apparatus with a boot in it. The straps are
shewn as being provided with buckles, but elastic straps or bands may
be used.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim as my
Invention,-
Firstly. The manufacture and employment of apparatus for facilitating
travelling on foot, as herein-before described and represented in the
accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. I claim the employment of four-wheeled foot velocipedes or
alipedes constructed in the manner described and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Jonathan Guy, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
AT