An Improvement connected with the Pedals and Foot Rests of Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 20th June, 1893-Accepted, 29th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement connected with the Pedals and Foot Rests of
Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
I, JOSIAH COOPER, of Felt Works, Little King Street, Birmingham,
Warwickshire, Felt Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to the treads of pedals and foot rests of bicycles
tricycles and other velocipedes. Heretofore it has been customary to make the
said treads of india rubber or an india rubber compound and they are respectively
known as 66
pedal rubbers" and "foot rest rubbers."
Now according to this invention I make the said treads from blocks of tough
felt which are turned and bored in a lathe or are otherwise formed to the required
shape and size which may or may not be similar to any of the forms in which the
said rubber treads are now made.
When the said treads are made of felt in accordance with this invention they are
much lighter than when made of rubber and this saving of weight is a great
consideration to the rider.
Dated this 19th day of September 1892.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement connected with the Pedals and Foot Rests of
Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
I, JOSIAH COOPER of Felt Works, Little King Street, Birmingham,
Warwickshire, Felt Manufacturer, 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 the treads of pedals and foot rests of bicycles
tricycles and other velocipedes. Heretofore it has been customary to make the
said treads of india rubber or an india rubber compound and they are respectively
known as "pedal rubbers" and "foot rest rubbers."
Now according to this invention I make the said treads from blocks of tough
felt which are turned and bored in a lathe or they are sawn or cut with knives
(as are other felt articles) or they are otherwise formed to the required shape and
size which may or may not be similar to any of the forms in which the said rubber
treads are now made.
When the said treads are made of felt in accordance with this invention they are
much lighter than when made of rubber and this saving of weight is a great
consideration to the rider. They also afford a very good foot hold and they will
last a long time in wear.
The accompanying drawings illustrate various well known shapes of pedal treads
and foot rest treads made of felt in accordance with my invention but it is to be
understood that my invention is not limited to the particular forms shewn as my
invention is applicable to pedal treads and foot rest treads of any shape. For
instance my improved felt pedal treads A may as shewn in Fig. 1 be square in
cross section or round (Fig. 2) or square fluted (Fig. 3) or hexagonal (Fig. 4) or
octagonal (Fig. 5). In each of these cases the felt is sawn into blocks and turned
and bored at a' in a lathe to thread on to the usual cross pin. Or as shewn by

page_text: Fig. 8 the central part (or other parts) of the tread may be turned off so as to
further lighten the tread. Or the said treads may each consist of a bar or strip of
felt A let into a trough section pedal bar b (see Fig. 6) which latter and the lower
part a² of the tread A are made of a dovetailed cross section to secure the tread A
more firmly; or as shewn by Fig. 7 the tread A may consist of a strip or bar of
felt which is held between the two plates forming the pedal bar. Or the felt
tread may be made in the form of studs let into holes in a metal bar and secured by
cement or other means in the same way as treads are now sometimes formed of
india rubber studs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Making treads for the pedals and foot rests of bicycles tricycles and other
velocipedes from blocks of tough felt substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. Treads for the pedals and foot rests of bicycles tricycles and other velocipedes
composed of tough felt substantially as herein before set forth.
3. The use and sale of felt treads for the pedals and foot rests of bicycles
tricycles and other velocipedes such treads being made from blocks of tough felt
substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 19th day of June 1893.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.