IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Tebbutt Harrison, of Abbot's Lodge, Lower
College Green, Bristol, in the County of Bristol, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES."
(Void by reason of the Patentee having neglected to file a Specification in
pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Tebbutt Harrison
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th October 1881.
THOMAS TEBBUTT HARRISON, of Abbot's Lodge, Lower College Green, Bristol,
in the County of Bristol. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES."
In order to effect my improvements, I remove those parts of the bicycle known
respectively as the steering-head and shoulders, the cross bar used for guiding
purposes, the fork or forks attached to the front wheel, and also the neck attached
to the forward end of the backbone.
Instead, I bolt or otherwise fix to the bearings on each side of the front wheel
a new form of steering rod in two portions, to which said portions I give an upward
direction to the top of the front wheel, where they are joined by brazing or other
method of fixture, or by a crosspiece. The said two portions of the steering rod
are then carried backward to a point where they may safely be curved outwards
behind the rider's legs, where they are continued in an upward direction to a
position convenient to the rider's hands. Sometimes I dispense with the aforesaid
cross-piece and make the steering-rod in one piece, and place the said steering-rod
across the front wheel, whore the said steering rod is joined by passing through at
a convenient angle, or by brazing, or other method of fixture to two rods provided
for the purpose, the lower ends of which said rods are bolted or otherwise fixed to
the front wheel bearings. The above mentioned steering-rod is then carried back-
ward and curved outward behind the legs of the rider in the manner described
above. The above described supporting rods, and both forms of steering-rods, as
also the crosspiece, may be of one, two, or more pieces, either hollow or solid, of any

page_text: suitable metal and of any section. To form a secure support for the backbone I
then braze or otherwise fix a pivot or pin provided with one or more grooves to
the steering-rod above the front wheel, or to the crosspiece.
I then braze or otherwise fix into the upper or forward end of the backbone a
case containing one or more rows of balls which revolve in the grooves of the pin
described as fixed to the crosspiece or to the steering-rod.
Sometimes I reverse the positions of the case holding the balls and of the pin
described, and pass the pin through the forward end of the backbone, and
bolt or otherwise fix it there. I then bolt or braze the case holding the balls
to the crosspiece or to the steering rod. Above, and covering each and either
of the above methods of steering, I fix by means of screws or other method
of fixture a dust-cap, which may be of any suitable form and of any metal.
In order to further improve my Invention, I sometimes form the backbone one
foot or more of a novel section, thus, which section is to enable the rider
to use a larger wheel. To afford a suitable support, and to utilize the
advantages of the new section of the backbone, I make a fork shaped spring,
one end of which is bolted or otherwise fixed to the forward end of the backbone
near or beneath the above mentioned dust-cap, the forked end is attached to the
backbone beneath the saddle by means of a single or double shackle. As a means
of placing the rider still nearer the backbone, I make a saddle plate of novel form,
and after cutting away the central portion of the said saddle-plate I make a
depression on each side of the said cutting, and place in the said depressions and
across the before mentioned cutting an india-rubber pad or cushion, shaped like
the figure 8, or other suitable shape, which said pad may or may not be inflated
with air. Further, I extend the above described saddle plate beyond the dimensions
required for a seat, and form therewith the roof and sides of a valise or satchel.
The whole is then covered with leather or other suitable material, thus forming a
combined saddle and valise.
In reference to the above mentioned ball-bearings attached to the cross piece,
to the backbone, or to the steering-rod, I further state that I do not confine myself
to the exclusive use of the ball-bearings, but may in some instances use coned or
other suitable bearing.