Improvements in the Steering Gear of Rear-steering Front-driving Safety Bicycles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1891
Complet: Specification Left, 29th July, 1891-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Steering Gear of Rear-steering Front-driving
Safety Bicycles.
I, JOHN ROBERT STARBUCK, Rope Merchant, of 97 Leadenhall Street, in the
City of London, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
The present invention consists of improvements in the steering gear of that kind
of safety bicycle which is propelled by the front wheel and steered by the rear
wheel; the effect of the said improvements being to make the steering of the said
machine identical with that of the front-steering safety bicycle; that is to say, to
make the machine turn to the left when the left handle is pulled, and vice versa.
For this purpose, a crank or cranks, wheel or wheels, or other suitable gearing
is attached to the perpendicular bar to which the handle or steering bar is fastened
or fixed in the most convenient position or positions in connection therewith; and
a crank or cranks, wheel or wheels, or such other gearing as may be suitable, is
attached to the fork or to the bar terminating the fork of the rear wheel; and a
rod or rods, chain or chains, cord, band, or other suitable means connects the said
gearing on the perpendicular bar, or in connection therewith, with the said gearing
on the said bar or fork of the rear wheel, the said connection being made in such a
manner that the effect described is produced.
Dated this 28th day of May 1891.
WILLIAM JORDAN,
120, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Steering Gear of Rear-steering Front-driving
Safety Bicycles.
I, JOHN ROBERT STARBUCK, Rope Merchant, of 97 Leadenhall Street, in the
City of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to he performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
My invention relates to safety bicycles fitted with rear-steering wheels, and
front-driving wheels, and its object is to effect improvements in the construction of
such machines.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a safety bicycle fitted with my improvements.
Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 are horizontal views showing various methods of working
the steering wheel.
a is the front driving wheel; b is the fork, rigidly attached to the back bone, c,
of the frame; d is the telescopic adjustable steering stem, mounted in bearings e e,
so as to turn on its own centre; is the head of the back fork, mounted so as to
turn in the bearings g; his the handle bar; & is an attachinent to the steering
stem d; and m is a similar attachment to the head, f, of the back fork.
The attachments k m are so constructed that, when the handle bar his turned to
the right or left, the steering wheel is turned in a contrary direction to the
handle bar h and stem d; the bicycle being thereby steered to the right or left, as
in the case of a front-steering machine.

page_text: .
One method of carrying out this object is shown in Figure 2. is a pinion fast
on the steering stem d; and m is a similar pinion fast on the head of the back
fork; nn are connecting rods, attached to pitch chains n' n', in gear with the
pinions k m.
In Figure 3, is a pinion fast on the steering stem d; is a similar pinion
running loose on the head of the fork b; m' is a cross head fast on the head of
the steering fork; n n are connecting rods pivoted to the pinion and cross
head m as shown.
In Figure 4, 2 is a cross head fast on the steering stem d; and m' is a similar
cross head fast on the head of the back fork; nn are two connecting rods,
pivoted to the cross heads 2 as shown.
In Figure 5, k is a pinion fast on the steering stem d; m² is a single armed cross
head, fast on the head f; o is a guide carried by the head of the fork ; n' is a
toothed rack in gear with the pinion k; n is a connecting rod, attached to the
rack n' and cross head m2, as shown.
Other well-known mechanical equivalents may be substituted for those shown in
Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5.
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: -
1. In rear-steering front-driving safety bicycles, the combination of the front,
independently rotating, telescopic steering stem d, and the rear, independently
rotating head of the back fork, so arranged that ou turning the handle bar and
the stem d to the right or left, the head and wheel a are turned in a contrary
direction, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. The general construction, arrangement, and combination of thet several and
respective parts together forming my invention of improvements in the steering
gear of rear-steering front-driving safety bicycles, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated this 20th day of July 1891
JOHN ROBERT STARBUCK,
By his Agent, Williain Jordan,
120, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.