IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BICYCLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Beale, of East Greenwich, in the County of Kent,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
BICYCLES"
Sealed the 9th July 1878, and dated the 25th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Beale at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th January 1878.
JOHN BEALE, of East Greenwich, in the County of Kent, Engineer.. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BICYCLES."
My Invention has for its object the construction of bicycles in such a manner as
to promote safety and protect riders from the strain in the region of the loins to
which they are exposed by the use of ordinary bicycles:
And my Invention consists in elongating or extending the ordinary fork downwards
beyond the axle of the wheel, and connecting or jointing to its lower end radius
rods, the reverse ends of which are connected to the stirrups, which form the
terminations of two connecting rods for working the cranks.
The saddle is for safety placed by preference well behind the axle of the wheel,
and at such a height as to admit of a rider being able to reach the ground with his
feet, and the stirrups are to be so placed in relation to the saddle as to correspond
in distance in front thereof with the ordinary natural length of a step in walking,
thereby avoiding the liability to undue strain of the rider in the region of the
loins.
By means of the arrangement and construction above described, the mounting of
the bicycle will be facilitated, and the cranks thereof will be worked through the
stirrup ended connecting rods or their equivalents combined with radius rods jointed.
to the elongated fork, and thereby afford ease to the rider, with freedom from the
liability to the ordinary strain caused by the unnatural action of the legs in
working the cranks.

page_text: Bame, partly in section.
A is the fore or driving wheel; B, B, are elongations of the ordinary fork, which
are jointed at their lower ends to the connecting rods E, E, by means of the radius
rods D, D. The connecting rods E, E, being caused to act upon the cranks F, F,
drive the fore wheel A as required. C is the ordinary back-bone; H, the saddle;
and G the steering handle.
The saddle H is, by preference, placed for safety lower down on the back-bone C
than is usual, so as to be well behind the axle of the wheel A, and at such a height
from the ground that a rider is able to reach the same with his feet. The stirrups
at the lower end of the connecting rods E, E, are so placed in relation to the
saddle Has to correspond in distance in front thereof with the ordinary length of
a person's step in walking, thereby avoiding the liability to undue strain of the
rider in the region of the loins.
The bicycle may be propelled as required by working the stirrups at the end of
the connecting rods E, E, as required.
If preferred, the bicycle may be propelled by exerting pedal power on elongations
of the radius rods D, D, beyond the ends of the connecting rods E, E, which radius
rods may be fitted with stirrups or otherwise for the purpose.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I would remark that I do not confine myself to the
exact proportions or forms of the parts shewn, nor do I claim as of my Invention
any of the parts described when taken separately, but what I do claim as of my

page_text: Invention is, the elongation of the ordinary fork of a bicycle, and the working of
the cranks through the intervention of connecting rods, as and for the purpose
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Beale, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Ninth day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
WILLIAM SPENCE,
8, Quality Court,
Chancery Lane.
JOHN BEALE. (L.S.)