Improvements in Cycles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb.. 1895-Accepted, 23rd Mar.. 1895
I, JOSEPH FAIRLESS, of 2 Romberg Road, Upper Tooting, in the County
of Surrey, Carpenter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention has reference to improvements in cycles whereby a rider is able
to utilise, to a large extent and when desired, the weight of his body for actuating
the driving mechanism of the cycle, thereby enabling the cycle to be more readily
propelled than usual-up gradients.
According thereto the driving shaft from which the driving wheel of the
machine is actuated through any suitable mechanism, such as by a pair of chain
wheels and an endless chain, is rotated 'from a pair of treadles, each connected to
or supported by a cross head or carrier arranged to reciprocate on a vertical or
nearly vertical guide rod suitably secured to the framework of the machine, cach
cross head or carrier being connected to one end of the said driving shaft by a
connecting rod and crank arm, and the two crank arms being arranged at 180 or
other suitable number of degrees apart. The cross heads or carriers may be
provided with guide rollers arranged to work against the guide bars and so
diminish friction, and each treadle may be constructed with a spring or yielding
foot plate or support.
To a suitable part of the framework of the machine is or may be fixed a fork-
shaped support adapted to fit under the arms or against the shoulders of a rider
and assist in supporting him in position; whilst working the pedals by the weight
of his body, and at which time he may be in an upright or practically upright
attitude. Conveniently this fork-shaped support may extend upward through a
hollow steering rod which is capable of turning motion independently of the said
fork-shaped support and is provided with a steering handle.
Improvements in Cycles.
I, JOSEPH FAIRLESS, of 2 Romberg Road, Upper Tooting, in the County
of Surrey, Carpenter, 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 :-
This invention has reference to improvements in cycles whereby a rider is able
to utilize, to a large extent and when desired, the weight of his body for actuating
the driving mechanism of the cycle, thereby enabling the cycle to be more readily
propelled than usual up gradients.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a side elevation;
Fig. 2. a rear elevation partly in section; and
Fig. 3 a plan, also partly in section showing a bicycle constructed according to
this invention.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are detail views to a larger scale,
Fig. 4 being a side elevation showing one half of the driving mechanism, the
treadle being removed.
Fig. 5 a horizontal section on the line of Fig. 4; and
Fig. 6 a side view of a treadle.
1,1 are short driving shafts from each of which the driving wheel 2 of the
machine is actuated through any suitable mechanism such as a pair of chain
wheels 3 and 4 secured respectively upon one end of the corresponding shaft 1
and of the hub of the wheel 2, and an endless chain 5, the two shafts or axles
being rotated from a pair of treadles 6 each of which is carried by a cross-head or
carrier that is arranged to reciprocate on a vertical or nearly vertical guide 8
secured to the frame-work of the machine and is connected to the outer end of the
corresponding shaft 1 by a connecting rod 9 and crank arm 10, the two crank
arms 10 being arranged at 180 or other suitable number of degrees apart. The
framework of the machine comprises a main member a carrying a head in which
the steering rod is fitted as usual, the rear portion of the member a being formed
with two forked arms c and d arranged one above the other and within which the
driving wheel 2 is mounted to rotate. The upper forked arm c is provided with
vertical extensions e which are united at their upper ends to a tubular part that
serves as a seat pillar. Struts f, f and g, g connect the upper forked arm c with
the upper part of the extensions e and with the lower forked arm & respectively.
The axles 1 are carried in bearings formed upon the extensions e. The forked
portions of the arm care connected together at their rear ends as shown, as also
are the corresponding portions of the forked arm d. Each of the vertical guides 8
comprises a pair of parallel bars secured at their lower ends to the corresponding
limb of the lower forked arm d which is bent outwards as shewn in Fig. 2. to
enable this to be done. At their upper ends the bars are united and extended
upwards above the axles 1 where they are connected to the extensions e. The
upper forked arm e carries a fixed axle 11, which extends between the forked
portions of the said arm and upon which the driving wheel 2 is mounted to revolve
by ball bearings as usual.
By the construction described the weight of the rider will be located directly
above the centre of the driving wheel which is very desirable as it permits of the
frame being constructed of lighter material than would otherwise be the case.
The cross heads or carriers 7 are each provided with guide rollers 12 arranged
to work against the guide bars 8 (Figs. 4 and 5), and so diminish friction. The
guide rollers 12 are preferably mounted on pins 13 as shown screwed through the
cross-head, the arrangement being such that two rollers bear against the opposite
sides and one against the inner edge of each guide bar. Each treadle 7 is
constructed with a spring or yielding foot plate or support (Fig. 6),
For this purpose each treadle consists of a lower plate or frame rigidly secured
to the cross-head, and an upper foot-plate hinged thereto at its front end and
supported at its other end by a spring 14 arranged between the upper and lower
plates. By this arrangement there is no liability of jar being transmitted to the
rider's foot and the heel is kept in contact with the treadle.
To a suitable part of the framework of the machine may be fixed a fork-shaped
support adapted to fit under the arms or against the shoulders of a rider and assist
in supporting him in position, whilst working the treadles by the weight of his
body, and at which time he may be in an upright or practically upright attitude.
In the arrangement illustrated a fork-shaped support 15 extends upward through
the hollow steering rod 17 which is capable of turning motion independently of
the said fork-shaped support and is provided with a steering handle. Although

page_text: I have shown and described my invention as applied to a bicycle it can of course be
applied to tricycles, the framework of the machine being varied to suit the
particular requirements of case; tricycles so constructed are specially suitable
for trade purposes.
Various modifications may be made in the above described arrangement without
departure from the essence of the invention; for instance the chain wheels and
chain may be replaced by spur gear wheels or other suitable gearing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :--
1. A cycle wherein the driving wheel (or wheels) of the machine is (or are)
rotated from a pair of treadles each connected to or supported by a cross-head or
carrier arranged to reciprocate on a vertical or approximately vertical guide rod
and connected through suitable mechanism with the said wheel (or wheels) the
arrangement being such that a rider will be able to utilize to a large extent and
when desired, the weight of his body in propelling the machine, substantially as
herein described.
2. A bicycle of the kind referred to in the preceding claim constructed
substantially as described and shown or modified as set forth, whether or not a
support be provided adapted to fit under the arms or against the shoulders of a
rider to assist in supporting him in position whilst working the treadles by the
weight of his body.
Dated thin 10th da
F
1005
W. Lloyd Wise,
J. FAIRLESS.
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.