IMPROVEMENT
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Singer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd May 1881.
GEORGE SINGER, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick.
IN VELOCIPEDES."
"IMPROVEMENTS
My improvements relate to a means, as hereafter described, of contracting the
width of tricycles or other velocipedes, so that they may be taken through a narrow
space without difficulty, and may be expanded to the necessary width for safety
when ridden.
To effect this I form the framework to which the wheels are attached in two
main parts. These are connected by two or more cross-pieces, the ends of which
are hinged are jointed to the framework at equal distances from each other in such
a manner that they move in parallel lines with each other in whatever direction
they may be placed. Thus the framework will also move in parallel lines, and the
wheels moving with it being parallel the tricycle or other velocipede can be wheeled
instead of requiring to be carried, as is the case in other folding tricycles. The
cross pieces are retained in position by a diagonal rod connecting one of the opposite
ends of each of them, or by any other suitable contrivance. In order to make the
driving crank to which the pedals are attached easily detachable to admit the
closing of the framework, I make it preferably in two parts, and connect them by
means of a detachable socket; or I disconnect the end of the crank which is
immediately connected with the driving wheel, and by hinging the other end of it,
it can be turned upwards and thus clear the framework. The steering wheel may
be either in front or behind the rider, and these arrangements can be adapted to
double or single tricycles.
I also construct the framework in such a manner that both the length and width.
of the machine can be reduced simultaneously.
To effect this I divide the frame into three main parts, two of them carrying the
side wheels, and the third situated between them and carrying the third wheel. To

page_text: this centre part the two side parts are connected by two or more cross pieces, which
are hinged to both ends in such a manner that the jointed cross pieces move in
parallel lines with each other in whatever position they are placed, consequently the
side pieces to which they are attached move in parallel lines also. The cross pieces
may stand at any angle with the side pieces, but I prefer that they stand pointing
in the direction in which the machine is propelled, so that the strain upon them
may be more easily resisted, and also to facilitate the fixing of a seat upon the
machine. These cross pieces are retained in position by means of diagonal rods or
by other suitable means, such as lock nuts or screws. The crank and other parts
requiring to be disconnected before folding the machine, is effected by similar means
to these already described.
When the machine is required to close the diagonal rods are disconnected, and
the wheels can then be moved laterally, and they will at the same time move
longitudinally, so that the machine can be reduced to a length equal to the diameter
of its largest wheel, and width equal to the width of side wheels combined, or
even less, by moving the sides unequally, which will enable the wide part of one
wheel to pass the other, while only slightly increasing the length of the folded
machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Singer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd November
1881.
GEORGE SINGER, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick.
VELOCIPEDES.'
"
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My improvements relate to means, as hereafter described, of contracting tricycles
or other velocipedes, so that they may be taken through a narrow space without
difficulty, and may be expanded to the necessary width for safety when ridden.
In carrying my Invention into effect I construct the framework in such manner
that both the length and width of the machine, or the width alone, can be reduced
simultaneously. To effect this I divide the frame into three main parts, two of
them carrying the side wheels, and the third situated between them and carrying
the third wheel. The Invention will be best understood by reference to the
accompanying Drawing, which shows in two plan views so much of a tricycle as
will be necessary to illustrate and to describe clearly how the Invention may be
conveniently carried into effect.
Figure 1 shows the tricycle when ready for use; Figure 2 shows it folded or
contracted.
a, a, are the two side parallel parts or bars which carry the side wheels W, W;
b is a third part, bar, or rod, which carries the third wheel E; c, c, c, c, are cross
pieces, each two being parallel to one another, connecting the side parallel parts a, a,
with the third part b. These cross pieces are hinged to the parallel parts or
bars a, a, and to the part 6 in such manner that the jointed cross pieces c, c, c, c,
move in parallel lines with each other in whatever position they are placed, conse-
quently the side pieces a, a, to which they are attached, move in parallel lines also.
The cross pieces c, c, c, c, may stand at any convenient angle with the side pieces,
but I prefer that they stand pointing in the direction in which the machine is
propelled, so that the strain upon them may be more easily resisted, and also to
facilitate the fixing of a seat upon the machine. d, d, are diagonal rods for retaining
the cross pieces c, c, c, c, in position, or other suitable means may be used for this
purpose, such as lock nuts or screws.
In order to make the driving crank to which the pedals are attached easily
detachable, to admit the closing of the framework, I make it preferably in two
parts, and connect them by means of a detachable socket; or I disconnect the ends
of the crank, which is immediately connected with the driving wheel, and by
hinging the other end of it, it can be turned upwards and thus clear the
framework.
To close up the machine disengage the diagonal rods d, d, or the lock nuts and
screws or other holding appliances that may be used instead of the diagonal rods,
but which latter I prefer. This done the side wheels can, as shown at Figure 2, be
moved laterally, and they will at the same time move longitudinally so that the
machine can be reduced to a length approximately equal to the diameter of its
largest wheel, and width nearly equal to double the width of the side wheels
combined.
The steering wheel E may be either in front or behind the rider.
D is the part
to which the seat or saddle is fixed. This means of folding or contracting is
applicable to single or double tricycles or other velocipedes.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I lay no claim to the Invention of a folding
tricycle or other folding velocipede except when the folding or contracting is
obtained in and by the means as hereafter claimed, but I claim,―
In a velocipede the construction of the framing thereof with three main parts,

page_text: which by parallel rods are connected in such manner that the vehicle when closed
is simultaneously contracted in width and length, while the driving and carrying
wheels remain opposite and parallel to one another, all substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Singer, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty first day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
GEORGE SINGER.
(L.S.)