Improvements in or relating to Pedals for Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: ION.
Improvements in or relating to Pedals for Cycles.
I, HORACE FLEMING of 41, Bold Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Boot Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention has for its object a cycle pedal which will prevent the foot slipping
on the pedal when in use, and which will be retained normally at such an angle as
to be ready to receive the foot when the rider mounts his machine.
In carrying my invention into effect, I form the tread of the pedal, or that portion
which receives the sole of the foot, of such a shape and size as to give a good
support to the foot. This tread may be made in skeleton form, or with serrations
to grip the sole, or in any other suitable manner, and a very convenient shape to
make it in, is to make it approximately similar to that of the sole of a boot. This
tread may be supported on a light frame mounted on the pedal pin or axis. At the
front end of this tread, I provide a toe piece, which is by preference made in
the form of a half dome, but I do not restrict myself to this particular shape.
Underneath the pedal axis, I provide a weight connected to the frame aforesaid, or
to the tread of the pedal, this weight being so arranged as to counterbalance the
weight of the toe piece and to retain the pedal normally horizontal, or in such a
position as shall be most convenient to receive the foot when the rider mounts the
machine. This avoids having to turn the pedal round half a turn more or less, to
get it in the right position to receive the foot, and moreover the arrangement of the
tread and toe cap prevents any slipping of the foot, which is a very important point
in racing and also in ordinary road riding.
Cycles.
I, HORACE FLEMING of 41 Bold Street, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster,
Boot Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
[Pries 8d.]

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object a cycle pedal which will prevent the foot slipping
on the pedal when in use, and which will be retained normally at such an angle as
to be ready to receive the foot when the rider mounts his machine.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is an end elevation of my cycle pedal;
Figure 2, a side elevation thereof; and
Figure 3 a general view.
I form the tread A of the pedal, or that portion which receives the sole of the
foot, of such a shape and size as to give a good support to the foot. This tread A
may be made in skeleton form, as shown in Figure 3, or with serrations to grip the
sole, or in any other suitable manner, and a very convenient shape to make it in, is
to make its edges to follow approximately the shape of the sole of a boot. This
tread is supported on the sleeve B which receives the pedal pin or axis C. At the
front end of this tread, I provide a toe piece D, which is by preference made in
the form of a half dome, but I do not restrict myself to this particular shape. At
the other end the tread is curled at a to form a rounded edge. Underneath the
pedal axis, I provide a weight E suspended from the tread of the pedal preferably
by means of the bracket F, this weight being so arranged as to counter-balance
the weight of the toe piece D and to retain the pedal normally horizontal, or in
such a position as shall be most convenient to receive the foot when the rider
mounts the machine. This avoids having to turn the pedal round balf a turn more
or less, to get it in the right position to receive the foot, and moreover the arrange-
ment of the tread and toe cap prevents any slipping of the foot, which is a very
important point in racing and also in ordinary road riding.
As will be seen from the drawing the weight is made in a rounded form on its
lower side, being in fact approximately concentric with the pedal pivot. This has
the very considerable advantage of reducing the tendency of the pedal to turn to
one side or the other when the bicycle is brought to rest with one pedal resting by
the weight, against a support, such as a curb.
A slot is formed in bracket F to allow of adjustment of the weight E. This can
easily be effected by slackening the pin and tightening it up again after
adjustment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is,
1. The improvement in cycle pedals, which consists in providing them underneath
with a weight, which shall retain the tread of the pedal normally horizontal, or in
such a position as shall be most convenient to receive the foot when the rider
mounts the machine, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a bicycle pedal, of a weight depending therefrom, and
having its lower side approximately concentric with the pedal pivot, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
3. A cycle pedal, in which the front end of that part which receives the sole
of the foot is formed with a toe piece in the shape of a half dome, so arranged
as to receive the toe of the rider's boot, and prevent it slipping longitudinally
substantially as described.
4. In a cycle pedal, the combination of a flat tread made in skeleton form to
receive the sole of the foot, and a half dome shaped toe piece at front end thereof,
so arranged as to receive the toe of the boot and prevent it slipping substantially
as described.

page_text: 5. The application of a pedal foot plate or tread, with half dome shaped toe
piece, to a pedal frame of any suitable kind substantially as set forth.
Dated this 7th day of August 1897.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London, Patent Agents.