IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR PRODUCING ROTARY MOTION IN OTHER MACHINES
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR PRODUCING ROTARY
MOTION IN OTHER MACHINES."-A communication from abroad by
George Avery, of Ottawa, in the County of Lassalle, and State of
Illinois, United States of America.
Sealed the 10th June 1873, and dated the 16th January 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 16th January 1873.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR PRODUCING
ROTARY MOTION IN OTHER MACHINES," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to construct a machine to be propelled
by the weight and strength of one or more persons, which shall be more
easily made and require less power than other machines of a similar
nature, and it consists in two or more knuckle joint bars, by means of
which a rotating motion is produced, and in the construction and
arrangement of parts, as herein-after described.

page_text: In this description of the Invention the improvement is applied for
propelling a machine by foot power, but I do not confine myself to this
particular application, as the toggle or knee jointed bars may be applied
for other purposes, as for instance, for rotating a crank shaft for driving
light machinery or for other purposes.
.
The rear axle has cranks for each of the two treadles, and the treadles
or bars are attached thereto with boxes and straps in the usual manner,
the treadle being knee jointed near the point at which the power is
applied, and jointed to the frame of the machine at the front end. The
cranks are so arranged that the bars are made to act alternately on the
axle, the weight of the driver being thrown first upon one treadle and
then upon the other, the power being applied when the cranks are in a
horizontal position or when the power applied will produce the greatest
effect.
A holding bar for the driver is provided, by means of which he may
increase his propelling power with his hands. Foot pieces are provided
on each of the treadles near the knee joint. By his weight the driver
gives the down motion to the joint, and thereby applies power to the
axle. As before stated such power is applied alternately to the cranks
with the resulting rotating motion of the axle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 26th June 1873.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the
thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time.

page_text: agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES, APPLICABLE ALSO FOR PRODUCING ROTARY
MOTION IN OTHER MACHINES," a communication to me from abroad by
George Avery, of Ottawa, in the County of Lassalle, and State of
Illinois, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say) :-
The object of this Invention is to construct a machine to be propelled
by the weight and strength of one or more persons, which shall be more
casily made and require less power than other machines of a similar
nature. It consists in two or more knuckle joint bars, by means of
which a rotating motion is produced, and in the construction and
arrangement of parts as herein-after described.
In the accompanying Drawing Figure 1 represents a vertical, longi-
tudinal section of Figure 2 taken on the line x, x. Figure 2 is a top or
plan view. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
In this example of the Invention the improvement is applied for
propelling a machine by foot power, but I do not confine myself to this
particular application, as the toggle or knee jointed bar may be applied.
for other purposes, as for instance, for rotating a crank shaft for driving
light machinery or for other purposes.
The Drawing represents a velocipede of four wheels. A are the
wheels; B, B, the axles; and C, C, the knee jointed bars or treadles.

page_text: The rear axle has cranks D for each of the two treadles, and the
treadles or bars are attached thereto with boxes and straps in the usual
manner. The cranks D, D, are so arranged that the bars are made to
act alternately on the axle, the weight of the driver being thrown first
upon one treadle and then upon the other, the power being applied when
the cranks are in a horizontal position or when the power applied will
produce the greatest effect. E is the steering lever; F is the driver's
seat or back rest as he stands upon the bars or treadles C, C.
may
increase
G is a holding bar for the driver, by means of which he
his propelling power with his hands. The bars C, C, are jointed to the
frame H at the points I, I. J, J, are foot pieces on each of the treadles.
By his weight the driver gives the down motion to the joint, and thereby
applies power to the axle. As before stated such power is applied
alternately to the cranks, with the resulting rotating motion of the
axle..
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim as the
Invention to be protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
1st. The jointed bars or treadles C, C, in combination with an axle or
crank shaft, applied substantially as shown and described.
2ndly. The combination of the jointed bars or treadles C, C, crank D,
frame H, wheels A, steering lever E, and holding bar G, as and for the
purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of June,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
thune
Witness,
HENRY W. DEWEY,
53, Chancery Lane.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)