Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 23rd Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 29th Mar., 1888
I, ALFRED EASTHOPE of 24 St. John Street, Wolverhampton in the County of
Staffordshire, Bicycle and Tricycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a velocipede that may be converted into either of three
machines, viz. a rear-driving safety bicycle, a single tricycle, and a tandem tricycle,
and also to certain improvements in the parts thereof, which are applicable also to other
types of velocipedes.
In carrying my invention into practical effect I proceed as follows:-I take a rear-
driving safety bicycle of the usual type, steered by the front wheel through the
mechanism of a transverse handle bar, and I mount the steering wheel on its axle so
that after the axle is removed from the fork that carries it, the wheel may readily and
easily be removed from the axle. To convert this machine into a single tricycle, I
take a balance-geared axle having the balance gear fitted in the centre of the axle, and
having a wheel fixed on one end of the axle. On the opposite end of the axle I fit the
steering wheel after it is removed from the front fork of the safety bicycle, and I fix
the ends of the prongs of the said fork to the frame carrying the balance geared axle,
by any convenient device so that it becomes a rigid part of such frame, thereby con-
verting the rear-driving safety bicycle into a rear-driving double front-steering tricycle.
To convert this machine into a tandem tricycle, I fix on the front of the frame carrying
the steering wheels, a frame extending downwards to carry a small safety wheel, and
a pedal crank axle, fitted with the usual cranks, pedals, and chain wheel, which latter
is connected with a chain wheel on the balance gear by a chain in the well known
manner. The frame is extended upwards to carry a seat, and a convenient handle bar,
for the second rider, who thus drives the pair of steering wheels, which are controlled
by the rear rider driving the rear wheel. All the wheels are preferably of the same
diameter and are geared alike.
In order to protect the rider from the vibration set up by the steering wheel or
wheels of this, and other velocipedes steered by a transverse handle bar, I mount the

page_text: bar in the following manner :-On the top of the steering head or post, I fix a flat
plate, or its equivalent, and on to the rear edge of this plate, 1 hinge a similar flat
plate, or its equivalent, carrying the handle bar which is curved rearwards so that the
handles are in the rear of the centre of the hinge or joint. A suitable spring or
springs are provided to keep the plate on the top of the steering head or post in contact
with the one carrying the handle bar, so that the handles are rigid against an upward
pull, but give slightly against a downward pressure which forces the plates apart and
compresses the spring or springs.
Instead of binging the plates in the rear of the centre of the head or steering post,
they may be hinged together in advance thereof, in which case the hinge would take
the form of a knuckle joint to take tho upward thrust, a sufficient distanco being
provided between the faces of the plates to allow of the compression of the spring or
springs by the downward thrust.
The two plates may be hinged or jointed in the vertical, instead of the horizontal
plane if desired, or at any angle therewith as may be found convenient.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.1.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, ALFRED EASTHOPE of 21 St. John Street Wolverhampton, in the county of
Staffordshire, Bicycle and Tricyclo manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to a velocipede that may be converted into either of three
machines, viz. a rear-driving safety bicycle, a single tricycle, and a tandem tricycle,
and also to certain improvements in the parts thereof which are applicable also to other
types of velocipedes.
In carrying my invention into practical effect:-I take a rear-driving safety bicyclo
of the usual type, steered by the front wheel through the medium of a transverse
bandle bar, and I mount the steering wheel on its axle so that after the axlo is removed
from the fork that carries it, the wheel may readily and easily be removed from the
said axle without interfering with the adjustment of the bearings. To convert this
machine into a single tricycle, I take a balance-geared axle having the balance-gear
fitted in the centre of the axle, and having a wheel fixed on one end of the said axle.
On the opposite end of the axle I fit the steering wheel after it is removed from the
axle of the front fork of the safety bicycle. The balance-geared axle is mounted in
the usual manner in four bearings carried by a cross frame, in this case under the said
axle. I fix the ends of the prongs of the steering fork to the cross frame carrying the
balance-geared axle by any convenient device, so that it becomes a rigid part of such
frame, thereby converting the rear-driving safety bicycle into a single rear-driving
double front-steering tricycle.
To convert this machine into a tandem tricycle, I fix on to the front of the frame
carrying the steering wheels, a framo extending downwards to carry a small safety
wheel, and a pedal crank axle fitted with the usual cranks, pedals and chain wheel,
which latter is connected with a chain wheel on the balance-gear by a chain in the
well known manner. The frame is extended upwards to carry a seat and a convenient
handle bar for the second rider, who thus drives the pair of steering wheels, which are
controlled by the rear rider who drives the rear wheel. All the wheels are preferably
of the same diameter and are geared alike.
In order to protect the rider from the vibration set up by the steering wheel or
wheels of this and other velocipedes steered by a transverse handle bar, I mount
the bar in the following manner :-On the top of the steering head or post.1 fix a flat
plate or its equivalent, and on to the rear edge of this plate I hinge a similar flat plate
or its equivalent carrying the handle bar, which is curved rearwards so that the
handles are in the rear of the centre of the hinge or joint. A suitable spring or
springs aro provided to keep the plate on the top of the steering head or post in
contact with the one carrying the handle-bar, so that the handles are rigid against
an upward pull, but give slightly against a downward pressure which forces the
plates apart and compresses the spring or springs.

page_text: Instead of binging the plates in the rear of the centre of the head or steering post,
they may be hinged together in advance thereof, in which caso the hinge would take
the form of a knuckle joint to take the upward thrust, a sufficient distance being
provided between the faces of the plates to allow of the compression of the spring or
springs by the downward pressure.
The two plates may be hinged or jointed together in the vertical instead of the
horizontal plane if desired, or at any anglo therewith as may be found convenient.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will more particularly describe
it making reference to the accompanying drawings throughont the several views of
which, similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
Figure 1 Sheet No. 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved velocipedo
as a tandem tricycle, with one of the steering wheels removed for distinctness.
Figure 2 Sheet No. 1 is a view in sido elevation of my improved velocipede, as a
single tricycle, with one of the steering wheels removed for distinctness. Figure 3
Sheet No. 1 is a broken view in front elevation, showing the method of attaching the
steering fork to the cross frame carrying the balance-geared axle. Figure 4
Sheet No. 1 is a view in side elevation of the detachable frame, for the conversion of
the single tricycle as shown by Figure 2 Sheet No. 1, into the tandem tricycle as
shown by Figure 1 Sheet No 1. Figure 5 Sheet No. 1 is a view in side elevation of
the steering fork and post. Figure 6 Sheet No 2 is a view, in side elevation of my
improved spring handle bar. Figure 7 Sheet No. 2 is a broken view in front elevation
thereof, and Figure 8 Sheet No. 2 is a broken view in plan thereof. Figures 9 and 10
Sheet No 2 are broken views in side elevation of modifications in the construction of
my improved spring handle bar.
Referring to the views on sheet No. 1 of the accompanying drawings:-I take a
rear driving safety bicycle of the ordinary type but having the fork A for carrying the
steering wheel B constructed as illustrated by Figure 5, the prongs of the fork being
extended below the eyes a for carrying the axle of the steering wheel, to form other
open eyes a¹ for attaching the fork to the cross frame carrying the balance-geared
axle, for converting the machine into a tricycle. The frame (carrying the driving
wheel B' may be of the usual or any other convenient construction, and the component
parts such as the spring, saddle, crank axle, pedals, driving chain etc. may be of the
usual kind. I prefer to make the centres of the head connecting the frame B to the
fork A approximately vertical so as to give the best results with both one or two
steering wheels. At the same time if it is preferred that the centres of the head should
rake with the steering post when the machine is used as a bicycle, I form the neck
spindle and the lugs carrying the centres in a manner well known, so that the rake of
the centres of the head may be varied as desired to give perfect steering both when
used as a bicycle and a tricycle.
To convert the bicycle into a tricycle the steering wheel B is taken out of the fork A,
and after being removed from its axle it is mounted on one end of a balance-geared
axle D having the balance-gear d in the centre of its length, and mounted in suitable
bearing e, e etc. carried by a cross frame E.
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On the lugs e¹, el carrying the inner pair of bearings e, e are formed bosses e²,
carrying screw studs ³, or their equivalents, to receive the open eyes a', a¹ at the
ends of the prongs of the fork A which are clamped thereto by nuts e, e. The fork A
is thus made rigid to the frame D, and thus the steering wheels B, Bare under the
control of the transverse handle bar F carried by a pillar Fadjustably fixed in the top
of the steering post A¹.
To convert the single tricycle into a tandem the auxiliary frame as illustrated by
Figure 4 is attached to the front frame of the single tricycle.
This frame consists of a single curved tube G carrying at its upper end an
adjustable pillar II carrying the curved handle bar H' and the seat pillar H³ carrying
the spring and saddle 7. The curved tube G after running down to about the level
of the balance-geared axle D extends forwards to carry the pedal crank axle bracket J,
carrying a pedal crank axle ; fitted with cranks, pedals and chain wheel all of the usual
kind, the chain wheel being connected with the chain wheel d' of the balance-gear don

page_text: the axle D by a chain of any suitable type. The tube G is extended beyond the pedal
crank axle bracket to carry a castor safety tip wheel K, and if desired a pair of foot rests
and a lamp bracket which may be of any convenient construction. This auxiliary frame
is connected to the front frame of the tricycle in the following manner. On to the
tube G at or about its bend is fixed a bracket L from which springs a fork / the ends
of the prongs of which are reduced and provided with a screw-threads and nuts 1, 1.
The ends of this fork fit in snugs d, fixed to the cross frame D and are locked
thereto by the nuts 1, 1. From the bracket L two rods having forked ends,
extend rearwards to embrace the foot-rest pins a², a². On the top of the tubo Gis
fixed an arm M having a reduced end pin m which engages with a snug a³ carried by
the steering post A', and is locked thereto by the nut m¹.
Referring to the views on Sheet 2 of the accompanying drawings:-The trans-
verse handle bar F is mounted in a socket f, and is curved rearwards to bring the
handles in a convenient position for the rider. The socket f forms part of a plate f
which is hinged by a transverse bolt f" to a plate formed on or fixed to the top of
the pillar F. The hinge or joint may either be behind the centre of the socket f
carrying the handle bar as illustrated by Figures 67, 8 and 9 or in advance thereof
as illustrated by Figure 10. In the former case a suitable spring or springs are
employed to keep the two plates and 3 together, and to control the downward move-
ments of the handles F2 carried by the bar F. The springs may be of the shape and
types illustrated, or of any other convenient shape togive the desired result. By using
a volute spring or springs in the manner illustrated by Figure 9 a means of adjusting
the strength of the spring or springs is provided by the nut or nuts on the rod or rods
carrying the springs.
When the hinge is in advance of the centre of the socket fas illustrated by Figure 10.
I make the hinge a knuckle jointed one, so that it will only open a given distance to
define the upward movement of the bar, the plates in their normal state being apart as
shown, with the spring or springs acting upwards.
It will be seen that this handle bar is applicable to all types of velocipedes in which
a curved bar to carry the handles in the rear of the socket carrying the said bar, is
used.
I wish it to be particularly understood that all those parts of a velocipede to which
no special reference has been made, or which have hereinbefore been only generally
described or referred to, form no part of my invention, and may be of the usual typo
or construction.
I also desire to have it known that I do not limit myself to the exact details
of construction hereinbefore described, but hold myself at liberty to make such
changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A velocipede convertible into a single bicycle, a single tricycle and a tandem
tricycle, in the manner set forth.
2. In a velocipede, converting a single rear-driving safety bicycle into a single
tricycle by removing the steering wheel from its fork, and attaching the said fork
to a frame supporting an axle carrying a pair of wheels, as set forth.
3. In a velocipede, converting a single rear-driving safety bicycle into a tandem
tricycle by removing the steering wheel from its fork, attaching the said fork to
a frame carrying a balance-geared axle having a driving wheel at each end, and
attaching to the front of the said fork and frame an auxiliary frame carrying a seat,
handle bar and pedal crank axle for the second rider, as set forth.
4. Converting a single tricycle driven by a central rear wheel and steered by a pair
of front wheels, into a tandem tricycle, by attaching an auxiliary frame carrying a
saddle, pedal crank axle, and handle bar, to the front of the frame of the said tricycle,
and connecting the pedal crank axle to the axle carrying the steering wheels by chain
gearing, as set forth.

page_text: 5. In a velocipede mounting the handle bar in a socket hinged transversely to the top
of its supporting pillar or head, and controlling the movement of the said hinge by
springs as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a velocipedo having a curved handle bar, bringing the handles in the rear of
the socket carrying the said bar, hinging the socket to a plate on the top of the
pillar or head supporting the bar so that the handles have free play in a downward
direction controlled by suitable springs, but are locked against upward movement as
and for the purpose set forth.
8. The improvements in velocipedes as specifically described and shown.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.