IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Francis Best at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th October 1880.
THOMAS FRANCIS BEST, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES."
My improvements relate to velocipedes as follows:-
This velocipede may consist of three or more wheels, propelled either by foot or
hand applied independently or simultaneously; a fly wheel is fitted to the axle,
with or without a weight, as found most desirable, or with a bar and weight, by
which means the driving power is stored up, thereby either increasing the speed of
the machine or the power to ascond inclines; it also facilitates an easy action to
the rider, a most desirable object.
The axle revolves, and one or more wheels act as driving wheels.
To one or more cranks a foot treadle is attached, and one or more cranks is
worked by either hand or foot independently or simultaneously.
A break will be supplied at discretion.
A counterpoise to the crank is obtained by a weight on the fly wheel or bar.
Over the frame work of the velocipede is a platform for the feet, which can be
used also for luggage.
The seat is so situated that the rider can stand on the platform at will, and so
exert the whole of his weight by direct action on the treadle, thus giving immense
impetus to the fly wheel or bar weight.
The guiding rod is sustained by a ratchet bar in connection with the hand action,
thus freeing the rider's hand or hands at discretion.
In the accompanying Drawings Figure 1 is a side view of the velocipede, in
which A represents a driving wheel; B, a revolving wheel; C, a guide wheel; D, a
fly wheel with weight to revolve with axle; E, a seat placed sufficiently high for
the rider to stand on the treadle H at will, the seat is clevated or depressed by
screws resting on springs across the frame work; F, a guide rod or hinge, and
resting on a ratchet cross bar, thereby freeing the rider's hand at discretion;
G represents a hand action, which works up and down in a socket, and is in
connection with a second crank, which acts as a follower to the first or treadle
crank; H, a treadle for the foot crank; I, a platform for feet or luggage; J, two
upright iron rods to carry hand action and frame work of seat; K, supports for
frame work of seat resting on the axle, which revolves through them. Figure 2 is
a front view.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Francis Best in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th April 1881.
THOMAS FRANCIS BEST, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Merchant.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES."
The object of the Invention is to construct a velocipede which may be worked
either by the hands or by the feet or both simultaneously, and to provide a footboard
or platform, on which the rider may rest his feet or stand upright, or on which
luggage may be carried.
The Drawing annexed shews a velocipede constructed according to my Invention;
Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Figure 2 a plan view of the velocipede.
A is the crank or driving axle carrying a wheel at each of its ends, one wheel
only being fixed to the axle, and used as a driving wheel; B, B, are treadle levers
coupled by links C to the cranks of the shaft A. The treadle levers at their rear
ends turn on a fulcrum rod D, and at their front ends carry treadles E; F is an
upright rod with handles G standing out from it at the top. The rod can be
worked up and down by hand, and is connected by a link H with one of the
treadle levers B, so that if the rod F is moved up and down it will drive the axle A.
The link H can whenever desired be disconnected from the treadle lever, so that
then if the treadles are being worked by the feet the rod F shall not be moved up
and down.
The upper end of the rod F is square, and passes through a corresponding hole
formed through a short spindle I; projecting from this spindle are two lever arms K,
which by links L are connected to other arms on the vertical axis of a fork M,
which carries the spindle of the leading and steering wheel N.
The rod F can thus not only be used for propelling the velocipede, but also for
turning the steering wheel; O is the frame; P is a platform or foot board fixed to
the frame. This platform enables the rider to mount or dismount with ease, and
can be employed as a foot rest when going down hill; Q is a seat placed nearly
vertically above the axle A, so that the rider may place his whole weight or nearly
so on to the treadle levers, if he requires to do so.
Having thus described my Invention, and how the same may be advantageously
carried into practice, I would have it understood that I claim,—
First. The combination of mechanism, substantially as described, for driving the
axle of a velocipede, so that it may be driven either by hand or by foot or by both
simultaneously.
Second. The construction of a velocipede with a platform P in front of the rider's
seat, substantially as described.
Third. The construction of velocipedes, substantially as herein before described
and illustrated in the Drawing annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Francis Best, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one,
RITAN
NAIO BROW
THOMAS FRANCIS BEST. (L.S.)