AN IMPROVED VELOCIPEDE IN THE FORM OF A CIRCULAR OR CYLINDRICAL CAGE, TURNING AS ONE WHEEL, AND REVOLVING OVER, AROUND, AND UNDER THE PERSON OR PERSONS USING THE SAME, AND HAVING THREE OR FIVE SEPARATE TYRES."
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Ernest Smythe at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 11th January 1878.
"
ERNEST SMYTHE, of Exchequer Chambers, and No. 21, Blair Street, Edinburgh, in
the County of Mid Lothian, Scotland. AN IMPROVED VELOCIPEDE IN THE FORM
OF A CIRCULAR OR CYLINDRICAL CAGE, TURNING AS ONE WHEEL, AND REVOLVING
OVER, AROUND, AND UNDER THE PERSON OR PERSONS USING THE SAME, AND HAVING
THREE OR FIVE SEPARATE TYRES."
An improved velocipede in the form of a circular or cylindrical cage having
the shape and appearance that is presented if the tyres or felloes of two wheels be
joined by any number of bars of any substance to a third tyre or felloe containing
no spokes; this third tyre or felloe being somewhat larger than and situated
between the tyres or felloes of the two wheels aforesaid, and connected or joined to
the tyres or felloes of the said two wheels in the manner aforesaid.
The middle tyre only is used for purposes of ordinary progression, and the side
tyres for the turning or guiding of the machine. The said side tyres are brought
into use by inclining the machine sideways so as to cause one or other of them to
touch the ground in addition to the middle tyre. The contact of the side tyre with
the ground on account of its circumference being smaller than that of the middle
tyre, causes the velocipede, if in progression, to perform the arc of a circle in the
direction desired, or a whole circle if desired. The side tyres also afford support to
the velocipede when stationary by the contact of one or other of them, in addition
to the middle tyre with the ground.
At or near the centre of each interior side of the velocipede is fixed a crank, and
to each crank a rod terminating in a foot rest. Each of the said cranks is terminated
inwards by a pin, each of which pins turns in a socket, each of which sockets is
sunk in the handle or handles, scat or seats, or such other apparatus for the support
of the person or persons using the velocipede, as may be found expedient. The
sockets and pins aforesaid are each and all concentric with the whole machine, and
with the axles or centres of the wheels or sides of the machine.
The person or persons using the velocipede, by treading alternately the foot rests
attached to the two rods aforesaid, work the two cranks, and place and keep the

page_text: velocipede in motion, and are supported by the handles or other apparatus afore-
said.
In cases in which greater safety is desired, the velocipede may be widened or
produced outwards on each side in the manner following:-To the tyres or felloes
of the two wheels or sides of the machine may be attached, by any number of bars
of any substance, two extra outside wheels, tyres, or felloes, with or without spokes,
being one on each side. The said two extra wheels, tyres, or felloes may be placed
at any desired distance from the actual sides of the velocipede, and the machine
may in this manner be widened to any desired extent with a view to provide
against its being overturned or capsized sideways.
The velocipede may be constructed with or without hinges or joints for the
folding up or taking to pieces of the whole, and may be used with or without a
brake or other apparatus for the controlling of speed in descending inclines, as may
be found expedient.
The velocipede may be fitted with any description of seat or seats desired, or
with a structure to conceal the person or persons inside from public view, or may
be used without a seat, in which case the person or persons using the machine will
obtain support from handles attached to the cranks in the sides of the machine, and
from the foot rests depending from the cranks.