IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OF VELO- CIPEDES, AND PART TO FORMING A SECURE LOOP AT THE ENDS OF LENGTHS OF WIRE FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Harrington at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 24th October 1877.
JOHN HARRINGTON, of Ryde, in the Isle of Wight. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES,
PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER DESCRIPTIONS OF VELO-
CIPEDES, AND PART TO FORMING A SECURE LOOP AT THE ENDS OF LENGTHS OF WIRE
FOR VARIOUS PURPOSES."
The Invention has for its object, firstly, improvements in the construction of
wheels for bicycles. and other descriptions of velocipedes. For this purpose I fix
to the rim or tyre of the wheel a number of eyes, loops, or hooks; one for each
spoke, and I employ a finer gauge wire for the spokes than that usually adopted.
The wires forming the spokes are passed through the eyes, loops, or hooks in the
rim or tyre, and the ends are then bent over so as to form loops, but instead of
twisting the ends of the wires around the spokes to secure the loops, I cause the
ends of the wires to lie close alongside of the spokes, and then pass over such parts
a small metal ring or ferrule to fit the same, after which I turn up the end of wire
to keep the ferrule or ring in position. These ferrules or rings may be formed of
short tubes, or they may be formned of strips of metal passed around the wires and
pressed tightly together. This mode of forming a secure loop on the ends of wire
may be employed for connecting the ends of wires together, or for the looped ends
of pianoforte strings, and for a great variety of other purposes. The other end of
each wire spoke is passed through a hole formed in the boss of a worm wheel
mounted in a bearing piece fixed to the hub or nave of the wheel, and in this
bearing piece I mount a worm or screw which gears with the worm wheel, and
when desired, can be caused to give rotary motion thereto so as to enable the
required tension to be applied to the wire. I also mount the axis of the worm.wheel
in a slot in the bearing piece so as to cause the strain of the wire to keep the worm
and worm wheel in gear with each other. I form the worm of hardened steel, and
the worm wheel of comparatively soft metal, and I form the bearing piece so as to
give support to the worm along its entire length.
By the above-described means I am enabled to form the spokes of wire so small
that it would be practically impossible to attach them to the hub, or nave, and rim,
or tyre, by screwing in the usual manner.

page_text: "
The Invention relates, secondly, to means for obtaining increased safety on
bicycles when travelling down hill. For this purpose I connect to each side of the
"fork two bars extending backwards, which are connected together at their outer
ends, to which I fix a step, so that when travelling down hill, and there is danger
of the bicycle tipping over on the front wheel, the rider, by putting one or both
feet on the above-mentioned step or steps, will transfer his weight behind the centre
of the front wheel and thereby obtain increased safety.
This Invention relates, thirdly, to means for giving warning of the approach of a
bicycle or other velocipede. For this purpose I mount on the top of the axis of
the "fork" one, or preferably two, bells or gongs, and I mount on the handle one
or two spring hammers which can be operated by the thumb or thumbs. Thus, when
it is desired to give warning of the approach of the bicycle or other velocipede, the
thumbs are caused to give motion to the spring hammer or hammers, and thereby
sound the bell or bells, whilst at other times the bells remain quiet.