Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 26th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 25th May, 1889
A communication from abroad by WILLIAM E. SMITH, of Washington, in the County
of Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America, Inventor.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.L.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6. Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, & 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to that class of pedals which are used upon the cranks and
crank-shafts of bicycles, tricycles, and kindred machines, and consists, first, in the
bearing surfaces for the foot of the rider which are placed at an inclination from the
horizontal, their outer ends being higher than the inner, whereby the rider is enabled
to operate them and to retain his feet more firmly in position thereon; and, second,
in a peculiar construction and combination of the operative parts which jointly
constitute the ball-bearing.
The ordinary steering and propelling wheel of a bicycle may be mounted in the
lower end of a steering fork and provided at the ends of its axle with oppositely
projecting cranks carrying at their outer ends the pedals. The steering fork is
provided with a steering bar or handle, and is swivolled to the front of a reach or
backbone which supports the seat or saddle, directly over the wheel. The foregoing
parts may be, except as to the details of the pedal, of the ordinary construction and
arrangement in all respects.
The pedal is of the familiar type in which a central spinille carries a frame containing
on opposite sides of the spindle, two bearing pieces of rubber or other material to
receive the foot of the rider.
The two end plates may loosely encircle the spindle and are rigidly connected by

page_text: two cross-bars which are screwed, rivoted or otherwise attached to the plates. Each
of the cross bars is covered or encircled by a foot-piece of rubber or other suitable
material. This foot-piece differs from those in that it is made of tapering form
externally, and arranged with its greater diameter at the outer end of the pedal so
that its upper surface is presented, in an inclined position. In other words, the
upper or hearing surface of the foot-piece on which the foot of the rider is placed, have
an upward inclination toward their onter ends instead of presenting horizontal surfaces
as in the pedals now in use. The advantage of this inclination resides in the fact that
the upper surface is thus placed at right angles, or substantially right angles, to the
longitudinal axis of the rider's leg: or, in other words at right angles to lines dropped
from the saddle to the top of the pedals. In the use of the machine, the spreading of
the rider's fort causes the pressure to be exerted not only in a downward, but also in
an ontward direction, that is to say, in a direction away from the side of the wheel.
When, therefore, the machine is in action there is a constant tendency of the feat to
slide toward or from the outer ends of the pedals, and it frequently happens as a
consequence that the foot slips from the pedals with serious results to the rider.
Another disadvantage of the pedal having the horizontal upper surface, lies in the
fact that it compels the foot to pay in a very tirosome manner upon the ankle joint
in order to follow the surface of the win! as the limb rises and falls with the crank.
By the improved construction this difficulty is overcome, and the rider enabled to
propel the machine with less exertion than heretofore.
While it is preferable to employ foot pieces of rubber, it is to be understood that
this improvement as regards the inclination of the upper surface of the pedal, is
applicable to any and all pluis now in use: to those which consist of skeleton metal
frames known as racing or rat-tiap pedals, as well as others. The upper inclined
surface may be continuous or broken as preferred, the only requirement being that
the surface upon which the foot rests, shall be higher it the outer than at tho
inner ond.
Referring now to the details of the bearing by which the pedal frame is supported
on the spindle, each of the end plates is provided, in addition to the central perforation
for the passage of the spindle, with a circular recess or cavity in its outer face. This
cavity presents a flat vertical or substantially vertical face containing an annular
concentric groove of a semi-circular or substantially semi-circular form, in cross-section,
to receive the series of anti-friction balls. The spindle is made of mild steel or
equivalent material, which is free from liability to fracture under sudden strains, and
is made of tapering form with a collar or enlargement at its inner end, and a threaded
neck at the outer end. Upon the inner and against the outer face of the collar, a
hardened steel ring or bearing plate is seated, adapted to fit closely but loosely within
the recess in the end plate, and provided on its inner face with an annular groove to
receive the outer sides of the balls. Thus it will be seen that the balls at the
inner and of the pedal are confined between a ring and an und plate of the frame,
the ring serving to support the hails, and the latter in turn serving to carry the
end plate. At the outer end of the pedal, the spindle is secured upon a hardened
stoel ring or plato, corresponding in form and construction with the plate, and
adapted to enter the recess in the outer end plate and receive the balls. This outer
plate is confined in position by a check-nut screwed upon the spindle behind it. The
inner bearing plate is commonly secured in place upon the spindle by soft solder, or
in other words, sweated in place upon the spindle; this operation serving to secura
the plato firmly in position without destroying its temper, and allowing it to bo
readily removed by the application of a suitable degree of heat.
It will be observed that the improved construction admits of the employment of a
spindle of great strength, and of a material which prevents it from being fractured in
the event of the falling of the machine. It also admits of using both surfaces of very
hard material well adapted to resist the woar, and of a size and form which adunits of
their being readily and uniformly tempered or hardened. The end plates are ench
stamped complete from steel, and their hard wearing surfaces suitably tempered and
hardened.

page_text: In order to compensate for wear and keep the bearings tight, it is only necessary
to screw the plate inward and tighten the nut behind it, the effect being to force the
opposing plates at the two ends of the bearing toward each other.
It will be observed that by the employment of the semi-circular grooves in the
opposing plates, the end plates can be sustained, not only by the balls which are for
the time being above the spindle, but also by those which are below the spindle, each
ball bearing on the bottom of the groove in one plate and in the top of the groove
on the opposite plate. In this regard the bearing is much superior to those in which
the balls are introduced between male and female cones, so that the entire support is
received by the balls which are for the time being at the top of the bearing.
Dated this 25th day of June 1888.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in
the County of Lancaster, and 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention nnl in what manner the
sume is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to that class of pedals which are used upon the cranks and
crank-shafts of bicycles, tricycles, and kindrod machines, and consists, first, in the
hearing surfaces for the foot of the rider which are placed at an inclination from the
horizontal, their outer ends being higher than the inner, whereby the rider is enabled
to operate them and to retain his feet more firmly in position thereon, and, second,
in a peculiar construction and combination of the operative parts which jointly
constitute the ball-bearing.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of an ordinary bicycle provided with the improved
pedals.
Figure 2 is an edge view of one of the pedals.
Figure 3 is a horizontal axial section of the pedal on the line of Figure 2.
Figure is a perspective view of one of the end plates.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the circular bearing plates.
Figure is a perspective view of a skeloton podal with the invention embodied
therein.
Referring to Figure 1, A represents the ordinary steering and propelling wheel of
n bicycle mounted in the lower end of a steering fork B, and provided at the ends of
its axle with oppositely projecting cranks C, carrying at their outer ends the
pedals DD. The stoering fork is provided with a steering bar or handle E and is
swivelled to the front of a reach or backbone which supports the seat or saddle F
directly over the wheel. The foregoing parts may be, except as to the details of the
pedal, of the ordinary construction and arrangement in all respects.
The pedal is of the familiar typo in which a central spindle carries a frame,
containing on opposite sides of the spindle, two bearing pieces of rubber or other
material to receive the foot of the rider.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, d represents the spindle; d' d' the two and plates
loosoly encircling the spindle, and rigidly connected by two cross bars which aro
screwed, riveted or otherwise attached to the platos. Each of the cross-hars d³ is i

page_text: covered or encircled by a foot-piece d³ of rubber or other suitable material. This
font-piece differs from thoso in that it is male of tapering form externally, and
arranged with its greater diameter at the outer end of the pedal so that its upper
surface is presented, as shown in Figure 2, in an inclined position. In other words,
the upper or bearing surfaces of the foot pieces d³, on which the foot of the rider is
place, have an upward inclination toward their outer ends instead of presenting
horizontal surfaces as in the pedals hitherto in use. The advantage of this inclination
resides in the fact that the upper surface is thus placed at right angles or substantially
right angles to the longitudinal axis of the rider's log; or in other words, at right
angles to lines dropped from the saddle to the top of the pedals. In the nse of the
machine the spreading of the rider's feet causes the pressure to be exerted not only in
a downward but also in an outward direction, that is to say, in a direction away from
the side of the wheel. When, therefore, the machine is in action there is a constant
tendency of the feet to slide toward or from the outer ends of the pedals, and it
frequently happens as a consequence that the foot slips from the pedals with serious
results to the rider.
Another disadvantage of the pedal having the horizontal upper surface, lies in the
fact, that it compels the foot to play in a very tiresome manner upon the ankle joint
in order to follow the surface of the pedal as the limb rises and falls with the crank.
By the improvel construction this difficulty is overcome, and the rider enabled to
propel the machine with less exertion than lieretofore.
While it is preferable to employ foot pieces of rubber, it is to he understood that
this improvement as regards the inclination of the upper surface of the pedal, is
applicable to any and all "pedals now in use; to those which consist of skeleton metal
frames known as racing or ral-trap podals, as well as others. In Figure 6 is
illustrated a rat-trap pedal with the upper edges of its metal foot-bearings inclined in
this manner: The upper inclined surface may be continuous or broken as preferred,
the only requirement being that the surfice upon which the foot rests shall be higher
at the outer than at the inner end.
Referring now to the details of the bearing by which the pedal frame is supported
on the spindle, attention is directed particularly to Figures 3, 4, and 5, in which it
will be seon that each of the end plates d¹ is provided, in addition to the central
perforation for the passage of the spindle, with a circular recess or cavity din its
outer face. This cavity presents a flat vertical or substantially vertical face containing
an annular concentric groove, of a semi-circular or substantially semi-circular
form, in cross section, to receive the series of antifriction balls d. The spindle d is
made of mild steel or equivalent material, which is free from liability to fracture
under sullen strains, and is made of tapering form with a collar or enlargement d' at
its inner end, and a threaded neck at the outer end. Upon the inner end against
the outer face of the collar d', a hardened steel ring or bearing plate d is seated,
aslapted to fit closely but loosely within the recess in the end plate d and provided in
its inner face with an annular groove to receive the outer sides of the balls.
Thus it will be seen that the balls at the inner end of the pedal are confined between
the ring and the end plate of the frame, the ring d' serving to support the balls
and the latter in turn serving to carry the end plate. At the outer end of the pedal
there is secured upon the spinille. a hardened steel ring or plate d" corresponding in
form and construction with the plate d' and adapted to enter the recess in the outer
end plate d, and receive the balls. This outer plate d" is confined in position by a
check-nut d, screwed upon the spindle behind it. The inner bearing plate dis
commonly secured in place upon the spindle by soft solder, or in other words, sweated
in place upon the spindle, this operation serving to secure the plate firmly in position
without destroying its temper and allowing it to be readily removed by the application
of a suitable degree of heat.
It will be observel that the improved construction admits of the employment of a
spindle of great strength, and of a material which prevents it from being fractured in
the event of the falling of the machine. It also adinits of using both surfaces of very
hard material well adapted to resist the wear, and of a size and form which admits of

page_text: their being readily and uniformly tempered or hardened. The end plates d' are each
stamped complate from steel, and their hard wearing surfaces suitably tampered and
hardened.
•
In order to compensate for wear and keep the bearings tight, it is only necessary to
screw the plate inward and tighten the nut behind it. the effect being to force the
opposing plates at the two ends of the bearing toward each other.
It will be observed that by the employment of the semi-circular grooves in the
opposing plates, the end pintes can be sustained not only by the balls which are for
the time being above the spindle, but also by those which are below the spindle, each
ball bearing on the bottom of the groove in one plate and in the top of the groove on
the opposite plate. In this regard the bearing is much superior to those in which the
balls are introduced between male and female conos, so that the entire support is
received by the halls which are for the time being at the top of the hearing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. A bicycle or analogous machine, provided with propelling pedals, the foot-
receiving surfaces of which are inclined upward and outward substantially as described
and shown.
2. A bicycle pedal, mounted on a central axis and provided on opposite ends of the
axis with foot-receiving bars or surfaces having an upward inclination toward the outer
end of the pedal.
3. In a pedal a soft metal spindle in combination with the hardened grooved ring
fixed on one end, the hardened grooved plate secured on the outer end, the check
nut, the rotary frame having foot-receiving surfaces, and the grooved end plate d'
and the balls seated in the grooves substantially as described.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.