Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1886.
Complete Left, 8th July, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 9th Aug., 1887.
I, ARTHUR CHARLES DOWNING of "The Hollies," Oakfield Road, Upper Tollington
Park, in the County of Middlesex, Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of
my said invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to manufacture velocipedes in such a manner that
they may be capable of conversion into various forms and arrangements, and rendered
suitable for a greater number of requirements than hitherto; each separate arrange-
ment being complete in itself.
In carrying out my invention I construct the velocipede, in its entire form, as a
tandem," having four wheels, the front wheel being the steering wheel: the hind
wheel being a
geared follower," and the two intermediate wheels being also geared
drivers.
In the entire form the follower wheel is so attached to the driven axle of the main
wheels, that it can rise and fall freely without stress upon the framing.
My improved velocipede may be converted into :-
1. A "Cripper" pattern tricycle.
2. A hind driving wheel tricycle.
3. Two "safety" bicycles.
The work in coupling and uncoupling is also greatly reduced, and rendered more
simple, compared to that of other convertible velocipedes.
In converting the complete vehicle into a Cripper pattern tricycle, I remove the
hind (follower) wheel and frame by unscrewing two of the coupling nuts, or releasing
any other form of connection used therewith.
In converting the complete vehicle into a hind driving wheel tricycle, I remove
the front steering wheel and frame by releasing the connections and the driving chain.
In converting the complete vehicle into two separate and distinct safety bicycles,
I remove the main axle from the two large wheels, and connect one of the large
wheels with the front steering wheel, and the other with the hind follower wheel.
Dated 8th October 1886

page_text: I, ARTHUR CHARLES DOWNING of "The Hollies" Oakfield Road, Upper Tollington
Park, in the County of Middlesex, Draughtsman do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement
The object of my invention is to manufacture velocipedes in such a manner that
they may be capable of conversion into various forms and arrangements, and rendered
suitable for a greater number of requirements than hitherto; each separate arrange-
ment being complete in itself.
In carrying out my invention I construct the velocipede, in its entire form, as a
"tandem," having four wheels, the front wheel being the steering wheel: the hind
wheel being a "geared follower," and the two intermediate wheels being also geared
drivers.
In the entire form the follower wheel is so attached to the driven axle_of_the_main
wheels, that it can rise and fall freely without stress upon the framing.
My improved velocipede may be converted into :-
1. A "Cripper" pattern tricycle.
2. A hind driving wheel tricycle.
3. Two "safety" bicycles.
The work in coupling and uncoupling is also greatly reduced, and rendered more
simple, compared to that of other convertible velocipedes.
In converting the complete vehicle into a Cripper pattern tricycle, I remove the
hind (follower) wheel and frame by unscrewing two of the coupling nuts, or releasing
any other form of connection used therewith.
In converting the complete vehicle into a hind driving wheel tricycle, I remove the
front steering wheel and frame by releasing the connections and the driving chain.
In converting the complete vehicle into two separate and distinct safety bicycles,
I remove the main axle from the two main driving wheels, and connect one of such
wheels with the front steering wheel, and the other with the hind follower wheel.
I am aware that convertible velocipedes have already been formed so as to be
capable of conversion into two tricycles, and I wish it to be understood that I lay no
claim to such conversion.
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
Fig. 1 is an elevation of my invention, in its entire form, as a
"tandem" velocipede.

page_text: Fig. 2 is an elevation, shewing the method of converting the tandem into a
"Cripper" pattern tricycle.
Fig. 3 is an elevation, shewing the method of converting the "tandem" into a hind
driving wheel tricycle.
Figs. 4 and 5 are elevations, shewing the method of converting the "tandem" into
two separate "safety" bicycles.
Figs. 6 to 15 shew various details of my invention.
As shewn in Fig. 1 the tandem consists of a front steering wheel a, two main driving
wheels b and c, side by side, fitted to one axle, and a hind driving "follower" wheel d.
The four wheels a, b, c and d are preferably (but not necessarily) made of the same
diameter. e is the fork, fitted to the axle g, and f is the inclined fork, uniting the
axle with the fork of the front steering wheel a. Brakes hh are fitted to the
wheels a and d, as shewn. h² is the coupling fitted to the axle g; an enlarged view
of which is shewn in Figs. 12 and 13, in order to shew more clearly the method of
attachment of the two forks e and f; e being attached by means of the bolt and nut r,
and being similarly attached by the bolt and nut ¹. The coupling shewn in Fig. 12
is formed with plates s and s¹, these plates carrying lugs & and t, which secure the
forks e and f. Fig. 13 is a section on the line y, z of Fig. 12, shewing the method
of uniting the fork f to s; the fork e being united in a similar manner to s, as that
shewn in Fig. 13.
At i in Fig. 1 a joint is shewn, and Figs. 14 and 15 are enlarged elevation and plan
of the same, whereby the fork e' is united to the plate and head ; the arrangement
being clearly shewn in the drawings.
Fig. 6 shews the general arrangement of the main axle. m is any ordinary driving
gear. b and c shew the positions of the main driving wheels. The wheels b and c
are united to their respective axles, or axle and sleeve by means of the discs jj. Bolts
and nuts, studs and nuts, or screws are used to unite the hubs of the wheels to the
discs jj, and by unscrewing the same such wheels may be readily detached from
the axle.
Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 are enlarged detail views and section; Fig. 8 is a section
of the hub of one of the wheels of my improved velocipede, fitted with ball bearings,
for use when arranged as a bicycle, but which ball bearings do not come into action
when the wheel is attached to a tricycle, the sleeve n being then fixed in the hub and
rotating therewith.
Fig. 7 shews a method of forming the end of the axle g. The end o¹ is made to fit
the central sleeve of the hub shewn in Fig. 8, being made square, hexagonal or other-
wise so as not to revolve in the sleeve. The pins p p enter the holes p' p¹, and a nut
is fitted to the end o. When so fitted the whole revolves together. Fig. 9 is an end
view of the hub shewn in Fig. 8.
axle
When the wheel, of which Fig. 8 shews the hub, is to be used as a bicycle wheel, the
q shewn in Fig. 10 is used, the nut q' being moveable. When so fitted the fork
is attached to each end of the axle q in the usual manner, and the ball bearings then
come into play.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I claim is :-
;-
1. The manufacture and use of convertible tandem velocipedes, constructed,
arranged, and operating substantially as herein before described and shewn on the
drawings.
2. The manufacture and use of convertible tandem velocipedes, so constructed as to
be capable of being converted into two safety bicycles, substantially as herein before
described and shewn on the drawings.
3. In convertible tandem velocipedes, the methods and means of converting the
same into the several forms and arrangements of velocipedes, substantially as herein
before described and shewn on the drawings.

page_text: 4. In convertible tandem velocipedes, the application and use of lugs t¹ t¹, and tt,
and bolts, studs, or screws and nuts r¹, substantially as herein before described and
shewn in Figs. 12 and 13 of the drawings.
5. In convertible tandem velocipedes, the method of constructing the hub of the
wheel with an internal sleeve n, on which the hub is capable of revolving, substantially
as herein before described, and shewn in Fig. 8 of the drawings.
6. In convertible tandem velocipedes, the method and means of attaching the hub
of the wheel shewn in Fig. 8 to the main axle (Fig. 7) and to the axle 7 (Fig. 10)
substantially as herein before described and shewn in Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, of the
drawings.
7. The general arrangement, and the several constructions and combinations of the
respective parts, forming and constituting my improvements in convertible velocipedes,
substantially as herein before described and shewn on the drawings.