AN IMPROVED TRICYCLE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Herbert Hazard, of 54 Marylebone Lane, Oxford
Street, London, Middlesex, Engineer, for an invention of "AN IMPROVED
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Herbert Hazard at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd May 1882.
HENRY HERBERT HAZARD, of 54 Marylebone Lane, Oxford Street, London,
Middlesex, Engineer. "AN IMPROVED TRICYCLE
"
My invention relates to the making of a Tricycle in such a way that it can be
folded or so reduced in width that it may be taken through any doorway or opening
that is even of less than sufficient width to admit of the passage of an ordinary
Bicycle and it is also so arranged that it may be easily taken to pieces for convenience
of carriage or stowage..
The Tricycles generally in use measure from thirty to thirty six inches in width
and those which are called folding Tricycles occupy almost as much space. The
rider on these machines is generally seated low down between the wheels and
apply his power in an indirect manner.
My invention consists essentially in the addition of an extra hind wheel to an
ordinary Bicycle. I place the two hind wheels parallel to each other at such
suitable distance apart as to obtain a firm bearing upon the road. Instead of the
upright fork such as is used for the driving wheel of a Bicycle I construct a metal
or wood frame or open ended loop having proper bearings for the axle of the
driving wheel and which frame extends in an horizontal line (or any suitable
angle) to a distance beyond the periphery of the driving wheel and I connect it to
an arch shaped bridged piece which with proper axle pieces forms the hind
carriage of the Machine the said axle pieces are prepared for the reception of the
two hind wheels and are so curved or bent that being hinged or centred to the
Bridge piece allow of the two hind wheels being folded inwards or outwards or
placed so as to occupy a position in a line with the driving wheel and so as to
take up no more width than the width of the driving wheel and frame. The
Bridge piece is so constructed that the centres of the hind wheels may be placed

page_text: at a greater or less distance apart from the centre of the driving wheel in order to
suit the machine to its general purposes, Pins, bolts, or keys fix the axle pieces of
the hind wheels in either position.
The connection between the Bridge piece and the frame is also a revolving centre
in order that the hind wheels may act as the steering wheels.
The seat of the rider is fixed upon the frame and is placed at about the angle of
forty five degrees with the centre of the driving wheel and the feet of the rider
communicate power to the treadles as in ordinary bicycle but the rider being
placed farther back than is usual with a bicycle he obtains a safer seat and works
his legs in a less vertical position. My Treadles are so constructed that I can fix
upon both or either of them a rod or lever of either wood or metal in order that
the hands of the rider may be used for propelling the machine either when the feet
are on the Treadles or when they are at rest upon the frame, these rods or levers
are removeable at pleasure. The mode of steering the machine may be by the
ordinary cross bar as in a bicycle or by turning a handle or rod as in a Tricycle, or
by the movement of the elbows against the back of seat or by pressing the feet
upon levers fixed to the frame, or by a lever handle close to the front or side of
seat, All or any one or more of these methods may be used but in each case a
suitable connection must be made to the Bridge piece in order to effect the turning
of the same. The frame may be made with projecting ends in order to carry
additional seat or luggage and in case of the additional seat being used to carry a
second person or persons I can utilize their power for propelling the machine by
means of the rods or levers before described as being attached to the Treadles.
In addition to the foregoing I can at pleasure turn my seat around and by
fixing side levers to the frame with connections to the Treadles I can convert my
machine into a ladies tricycle.
I fix my break in the usual way either on the driving wheel or on one or both
of the hind wheels or by the steering lever pressing on the Driving wheel.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Herbert Hazard in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd November 1882.
HENRY HERBERT HAZARD, of 54 Marylebone Lane, Oxford Street, London,
Middlesex, Engineer, "AN IMPROVED TRICYCLE,"
My invention relates to the making of a Tricycle in such a way that it can be
folded or so reduced in width that it may be taken through any doorway or
opening that is even of insufficient width to admit of the passage of an ordinary
bicycle, and it is also so arranged that it may be easily taken to pieces for
convenience of carriage or stowage.
The Tricycles generally in use measure from thirty to thirty six inches in width,
and those which are called folding Tricycles occupy almost as much space. The
Rider on these machines is generally seated low down between the wheels and
applies his power in an indirect manner.

page_text: My Invention consists essentially in the addition of an extra hind wheel to an
ordinary bicycle. I place the two hind wheels parallel to each other at such
suitable distance apart as to obtain a firm bearing upon the road. Instead of the
upright fork, such as is used for the driving wheel of a bicycle, I construct a metal
or wood frame or open ended loop having proper bearings for the axle of the
driving wheel, and which frame extends in a horizontal line (or any suitable angle)
to a distance beyond the periphery of the driving wheel and I connect it to an
arch shaped bridge piece which with proper axle pieces forms the hind carriage of
the machine; the said axle pieces are prepared for the reception of the two hind
wheels and are so curved or bent that being hinged or centred to the bridge piece
as to allow of the two hind wheels being folded inwards or outwards, or placed so
as to occupy a position in a line with the driving wheel and so to take up no more
width than the width of the driving wheel, frame, and pedals. The bridge piece
is so constructed that the centres of the hind wheels may be placed at a greater
or less distance apart from the centre of the driving wheel in order to suit the
machine to its general purposes. Pins, bolts, or keys fix the axle pieces of the
hind wheels in either position. The connection between the bridge piece and the
frame is also a revolving centre in order that the hind wheels may act as the
steering wheels.
The seat of the Rider is fixed upon the frame and is placed at about the angle of
forty five degrees with the centre of the driving wheel, and the feet of the rider
communicate power to the treadles as in an ordinary bicycle, but the Rider being
placed farther back than is usual with a bicycle he obtains a safer seat and works
his legs in a less vertical position. My treadles are so constructed that I can fix
upon both or either of them a rod chain or lever of either wood metal or otherwise
in order that the hands of an additional rider may be used for propelling the
machine, these rods, levers or chains are removable at pleasure. The frame may
be made with projecting ends in order to carry an additional seat or luggage, and
in case of the additional seat being used to carry one or more person or persons, I
can utilise their power for propelling the machine by means of the rods levers or
chains before described as being attached to the treadles.
In addition to the foregoing I can at pleasure turn the seat in an opposite
direction, and by fixing side levers to the frame, with connections to the Treadles,
I can convert my machine into a Ladies Tricycle.
Having thus described the nature of my said invention, I will now more
particularly describe the same by means of the accompanying drawings and the
letters and figures thereon, similar letters of reference indicating corresponding
parts in the several figures.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tricycle constructed in accordance with my
invention. a is the driving wheel, b one of the hind wheels, c is one of the pedals
attached to one of the driving cranks, d d is the framing, e is a thin shield of
metal or other material to prevent splashing, fis that portion of the frame which
supports the saddle g. h is a curved revolving cross-bar, firmly attached to the
toothed wheel i and controlled by such wheel, for the purpose of steering by the
hind wheels. It will be observed that the bar h has a certain amount of incline
or "rake" for the purpose of enabling the tricycle to be safely driven round curves,
after the manner of a bicycle which can be inclined by the Rider when travelling
round a curve. This "rake is an essential feature in the construction of my
invention, the amount of rake being regulated to suit the machine. The pinion k
gears into the wheel . This pinion is fitted with an universal joint to which the
steering bar is fitted. The steering bar is capable of motion in the curve shewn
by dotted lines at m m, Fig. 1; it is also capable of lateral motion. The Rider
holds the two handles firmly, and by drawing them and the steering bar towards
himself he can increase the thrust of his feet upon the pedals. The steering bar
may be provided with a chain or light tension rod n in order to check the backward
pull. The steering handle is also used as a brake. This is effected by placing one
of the portions of the steering handle marked o'.in contact with the driving wheel

page_text: as shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 1 at o. p p are the steps for mounting, as shewn
in Figs 1 and 2. q Fig. 1, represents, in dotted lines, an additional seat for a
second rider, which is detachable. The steering gear ik may be as shewn, or
bevel gear may be used, or other well known equivalent contrivances may be
adopted. The plan view Fig. 2 clearly shews the details which do not all appear
in Fig. 1. The wheels bb are carried by curved brackets rr fitted to the curved
cross-bar h. The brackets are fitted to the bar h in such a manner that they
can be folded inwards, as seen in Figs 3 and 5, for convenience of taking indoors
or packing away. The position of the brackets, and consequently of the wheels bb,
is controlled by the locking device shewn at 8 8, Figs 4 and 5, and enlarged in
Figs 6 and 7. Fig. 7 being a section on the line x x of Fig. 6. The device being
a common and well known mode of locking a sleeve upon a shaft, with notches
opposite each other. tt are small additional crank pins which may be occasionally
utilised by means of detachable connecting rods or connecting chains, leading to
the rider on the back seat, who can by these means assist in driving the front
wheel.
Figs 2 and 3 shew clearly the difference of space occupied by the hind wheels.
Fig. 2 shewing them extended, and Fig. 3 folded in, the upper works being
omitted in Fig. 3, to make the diagram plain.
Figs 4 and 5 are merely back elevations of the wheels b b, brackets rr, and
cross bar h, and locking device 8.
The seat or saddle g may be reversed or altered in form, and the wheels bb
may be made to be and used as the front wheels, pedal levers being used to actuate
the cranks in such case. In this latter arrangement it is also suitable for use as a
Ladies Tricycle.
Having thus particularly described the nature and object of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. The arrangement, construction and method of mounting the steering wheels
of Tricycles, so as to enable them to be extended for travelling and folded for
packing away, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn on the drawings.
2. The method of providing "rake" to Tricycles in combination with the
folding arrangements, for the purpose of safely travelling in curves, substantially
as herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
3. The general arrangement, construction and combination of parts respectively,
together forming my improved Tricycle, substantially as herein before described
and shewn on the drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Herbert Hazard have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty second day of November in the year of our Lord
one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.