Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept.. 1895
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1896-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1896
.
I CHARLES GEORGE VIRGO of Queen's Park Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Art Museum Curator do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My improvements in cycles with three or more wheels, consist of a steering
combination which gives an oblique or leaning direction simultaneously to all the
wheels when steering to the right or left, similar to the oblique or leaning direction
taken by both wheels of a bicycle when rounding curves; also of an arrangement
for readily dividing or folding the cycle frame to easily pass narrow doorways; or
to occupy limited space when not in use.
The combination of steering and at the same time giving an oblique or leaning
direction simultaneously to all the wheels, is effected by connecting with a fixed
cross bar or cross bars, two tubes or fittings of steering frame in which the forks
or other fittings of two steering wheels work, and the forks or other fittings working
freely in such steering frame tubes or fittings being connected by a double hinge
jointed rod or rods. The driving wheel, or wheels portion of the cycle frame, is
attached to the fixed cross bar or bars of the steering frame by a socket or
tube joint. The driving wheel, or wheels frame, is also attached to the double
hinge jointed rod or rods by a connection which when actuated for steering gives a
corresponding oblique direction to the driving and steering wheels.
The handles for steering may be fixed direct to the forks or other fittings of
steering wheels; or may be fixed at any suitable point or points of the cross bar
or bars between the two steering wheels, suitable connection therewith being
made to the double hinge jointed steering rod or rods actuating the steering
combination.
To pass narrow doorways, or take up a limited space when not in use, the driving
frame can be readily separated from the steering frame, at the cross bar or bars
socket or tube joint and steering combination attachment, or a hinge joint in the
driving frame near the cross bar or bars socket or tube joint, will readily admit
of the parts being folded to effect the same object.
Dated the Fifth day of September 1895.
1 CHARLES GEORGE VIRGO of Queen's Park Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Art Museum Curator 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 improvements in cycles with three or more wheels consists of a steering
combination which gives an oblique or leaning direction simultaneously to all the
wheels when steering to the right or left, similar to the oblique or leaning direction
87 I

page_text: taken by both wheels of a bycicle when rounding curves; an arrangement for
actuating the movement for giving an oblique direction to the driving wheel or
wheels independantly of the steering movement; an arrangement for utilization of
the conjoint power of hands and feet by hand cranks and stirrup pedals; an
arrangement for lifting the driving wheel or wheels by small wheel or wheels
brought into position by the driving gear frame acting as a lever; also of an
arrangement for readily dividing or folding the cycle frame so as to admit of easy
passing through narrow doorways or to occupy limited space when not in use.
The combination of steering and at the same time giving an oblique or leaning
direction simultaneously to all the wheels, is effected by connecting with a fixed
cross bar or bars two tubes or fittings of steering frame in which the forks or other
fittings of two steering wheels work, and the forks or other fittings working freely
in such steering tubes or fittings, heing connected by chain or cable, working on
wheels, semi wheels, or quadrants; or by a double hinge jointed rod or rods.
The driving wheel or wheels portion of the cycle frame is attached to the
fixed cross bar or bars of the steering frame by a socket or tube joint or joints,
the driving wheel or wheels frame is also attaclied to the chain, cable, or hinge
jointed rod or rods by a connection which when actuated for steering gives a
corresponding oblique direction to the driving and steering wheel or wheels.
Handles for steering may be dispensed with, or may be fixed direct to the fork
or other fittings of the steering wheels; or may be fixed at any suitable point or
points of cross bar or bars between the two steering wheels, suitable connection
therewith being made to the chain, cable, or double hinge jointed rod or rods
actuating the steering or steering combination; or the steering movement may be
disconnected from the movement for giving an oblique direction to the driving
wheel or wheels, and the driving wheel or wheels held in position by springs, which
by a leaning movement of the rider to the right or left would actuate and give
any required oblique direction to such driving wheel or wheels.
The conjoint power of hands and feet is obtained by stirrup pedals being
suspended from hand cranks, the stirrup pedals being at full power when the hand
crauks are at dead point, and the hand cranks at full power when the stirrup pedals
are at dead point.
The band crank driving frame is also extended downwards from axle of driving
wheel or wheels, and one or two small wheels fixed thereon near the ground line,
such wheel or wheels being brought into contact with the ground and the driving
wheel or wheels lifted therefrom by a forward lever movement of the hand crank
driving frame.
To pass narrow doorways or take up limited space when not in use, I separate
the steering frame at or near the cross bar or bars socket or tube joint and
steering combination; or insert thereat suitable hinge joint to admit of the parts
being folded to effect the same object.
It must be distinctly understood that I do not confine myself to the precise form
or shape of the various parts or fittings, as various arrangements and forms thereof
effecting the same object may be made to suit various requirements.
The drawings appended Sheet 1. shews a tricycle in perspective, and Sheets 2
and 3 some separate parts thereof to shew construction.
A. Driving frame fittings, which work freely in steering frame tube A. A.
B. Steering fork fittings, which work freely in steering frame tubes B B.
C. C. Steering frame forks.
D. D. Connecting steering frame to driving frame.
E. Saddle bar.
F.F. Frame for actuating steering gear or driving frame by a leaning movement
of body.
G. Chain or cable connecting steering frame fork wheels H. H. and driving
frame semi wheel J.
KK. Stirrup pedals.

page_text: Mr. Chain gear wheel.
N. N. Driving frame chain gear, which when moved forward as shewn by dotted
lines O. O. will lower small wheel or wheels P. and act as lever to lift the driving
wheel from the ground, the forward movement of hand crank gear frame also
renders easy the mounting and dismounting of rider.
R. Shews a portion of hand crank gear frane slide, with the frame slightly
raised forward.
Independant oblique direction to driving wheel or wheels, is effected by dis-
connecting semi wheel J. from chain gear G. and connecting semi wheel J to
tubes B B. B B. by springs, so as to keep the driving wheel upright when uncon-
trolled by the rider. The chain G. may also be connected to the tubes B B. B B.
by springs, so as to keep the cycle running straight when uncontrolled by the
rider, or such springs may be used separately or conjointly with the steering
combination.
The drawings on Sheets 2 and 3 are referred to by the same letters as the
drawings on Sheet 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same may be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
The construction of cycles with a steering combination which gives an oblique
or leaning direction simultaneously to all the wheels when steering to the right or
left; an arrangement for actuating the movement for giving an oblique direction
to the driving wheel or wheels independently of the steering movement; an
arrangement for utilization of the separate or conjoint power of hands and feet by
hand cranks and stirrup pedals; an arrangement for lifting the driving wheel or
wheels from the ground by lever acting on small wheel or wheels; and an arrange-
ment for readily dividing or folding cycle frames substantially and for the purposes
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 4th day of June 1896.
CHAS, GEO. VIRGO.