IMPROVE- .MENTS IN BICYCLES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Edmund Gorse of the firm of William Gorse & Sons
of Birmingham in the County of Warwick, for an invention of "IMPROVE-
.MENTS IN BICYCLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Edmund Gorse at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th April 1882.
ARTHUR EDWARD GORSE of the Firm of William Gorse & Son of Birmingham
in the County of Warwick "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES
"
My Invention has particular reference to the necks of Bicycles which enables me
first:—To lessen the oscillating motion caused by the alternate pressure of the
feet upon the pedals, Second:-To produce a tendency for the machine to steer
itself and for the machine to take a straight line in running.
To accomplish these desirable objects I add to the back of the head of the Bicycle
two cars or projections, or other arrangement to enable me to form a convenient
pivot or pivots top and bottom into which I hinge the back bone of the machine,
in such a manner that the hinge, hinges or pivot or pivots is, or are formed behind
the ordinary centre of the wheel or head at any convenient distance according to
the design and size of the particular machine.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Arthur Edmund Gorse in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th September 1882.
ARTHUR EDMUND GORSE of the firm of William Gorse and Sons of Birmingham
in the County of Warwick IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES"
сс
My Invention has particular reference to the necks of Bicycles which enables
me firstly to lessen the oscillating motion caused by the alternate pressure of the
foot upon the pedals, and secondly to produce a tendency for the machine to take
a straight line in running.
To accomplish these desirable objects I add to the back of the head of the
Bicycle two ears or projections or other arrangement to enable me to form a
convenient pivot or pivots top and bottom into which I hinge the back-bone of
the machine, in such a manner that the hinge, hinges or pivot or pivots is or are
formed. behind the ordinary centres of the wheel or head at any convenient
distance according to the design and size of the particular machine. And in order
that my invention may be more easily understood and carried into practical effect
I have illustrated the same on the.accompanying drawings of which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a part of a machine showing one adaptation of
my invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of part of the same machine with the back-bone in line with
the machine.
Figure 3 is a plan of part of the same machine with the back-bone somewhat
turned out of line for the purpose of showing the position of the pivot to the head
in a marked and unmistakable manner..
. Now referring to the drawing Figure 1, A. is the front fork for carrying the
journals of the driving wheel B, B. C is a projecting head from the fork A which
would ordinarily form the pivot of the back-bone. But instead of this I pivot the
back-bone D, D at E, E by means of the two ears or projections H and K
behind C at any convenient distance which would be regulated according to the
design and purpose of the machine. Reference to the plan Figure 2 will show the
back-bone D in line with the front or driving wheel B, B and therefore with
the cars K, K. and H, H which are fast to the neck C whereas Figure 3 shows the
machine when turning a corner, i.c. with the back-bone D at an angle with the
driving wheel B, B and ears K, K and H, H.
It will be very readily' understood that the principle of my invention' may be
carried into practical effect in a number of various ways without departing from
the spirit of my invention. For instance, one ear instead of two might be used, or
the part E, E might be made one with the neck C and the part H and K might be
one with the back-bone and at the same time the effect of the invention would be
nearly the same, but the plan illustrated will be found amongst the most satisfactory
and practical of the possible modifications as combining efficiency with endurance
of parts. It will also be evident that the invention may be applied to machines
having more than two wheels.
Having therefore now explained my said invention of Improvements in
Bicycles and in what manner the same is to be performed I would have it clearly
understood that I do not confine myself to the exact mode herein set forth of
carrying it out but what I do claim is:

page_text: The construction of Bicycles in such a manner that the back-bone is pivoted
somewhat behind the centre line of the front fork and as herein set forth and
illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Arthur Edmund Gorse have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Twenty sixth day of September in the year of Our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
ARTHUR EDMUND GORSE. (L.S.)