CONSTRUCTION OF BICYCLES."
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Symes at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th Juno 1880.
JAMES SYMES, of the City of Dublin, Ireland.
CONSTRUCTION OF BICYCLES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
This Invention consists in improvements in the construction of bicycles, by means
of which the machine can be propelled with perfect ease, at a rapid speed, and with
increased safety to the rider as compared with such machines as ordinarily
manufactured, whilst at the samo time, it possesses great simplicity of construction,
and can be easily managed and controlled by the rider.
The two wheels are formed of the same diameter, and, instead of being placed one
in front of the other as is usually the case, they are arranged parallel to each other
on the respective ends of an axle, the centre of which, that is to say, that portion
which is situated between the wheels, is in the form of a hoop or loop. From the
said axle and between the wheels is suspended a frame, on which is mounted, at a
point below the centres of the wheels, the saddle, which is so arrranged as to admit
of its being raised or lowered, in order to adjust it at the proper height from the
ground to suit the length of the rider's legs. Brakes are arranged on each side of
the lower part of the frame so that the rider, by actuating one or both by pressing
thereon with his feet, can guide the machine or arrest the progress thereof, as
desired; when the said pressure is removed the brakes aro brought to their normal
position, clear of the ground, by the action of springs. It will be readily understood
from the above description that the whole of the weight of the rider is suspended or
hung below the centres of the wheels, whereby all danger of the machine being over
balanced is entirely avoided, and as the peripheries of the wheels project beyond the
body of the rider, they serve to protect him from injury in the event of the machine
coming into contact with any obstacle. When the rider is seated on the saddle bis.

page_text: body will pass through the before mentioned hoop or loop of the axle, and, in that
position, by lightly touching the ground with his feet and moving his legs as when
walking, at the same time pushing the hoop or loop with his hands, he can propel
the machine with the greatest ease.
In some cases the frame is extended above the axle, and a pulley or small wheel 5
is mounted on the upper part of each side of such extended portion, and over the
said wheels or pulleys aro passed endless bands, cords, or chains, the same
being also passed over wheels or pulleys connected to the centres of the wheels of
the machine; by means of this arrangement the rider can, with or without the
assistance of his feet, as hereinbefore described, propel and steer the machine by 1
simply pulling the said bands, cords, or chains with his hands.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Symes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
December 1880.
'
JAMES SYMES, of the City of Dublin, Ireland. “IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF BICYCLES."
My said Invention consists in improvements in the construction of bicycles, by
means of which the machine can be propelled with perfect ease, at a rapid speed,
and with increased safety to the rider as compared with such machines as ordinarily
manufactured, whilst at the same time it possesses great simplicity of construction,
and can be easily managed and controlled by the rider.
The two wheels are formed of the same diameter, and, instead of being placed
one in front of the other as is usually the case, they are arranged parallel to each
other on the respective ends of an axle, the centre of which, that is to say, that
portion which is situated between the wheels, is in the form of a hoop or loop.
From the said axle and between the wheels is suspended a frame, on which the
saddle is mounted at a point below the centres of the wheels; the said saddle can be
arranged in any convenient mannor, but, by preference, it is either arranged in
connection with suitable springs on a cross bar of the frame, or it is suspended by an
arrangement of cords connected to the latter, the slight oscillation of the saddle
consequent upon such arrangements giving great ease and assistance to the rider.
It is essential that the saddle should be so arranged as to admit of its being raised
or lowered in order to adjust it at the proper height from the ground to suit the
length of the rider's legs. Brakes are arranged on each side of the lower part of
the frame, so that by actuating one or both brakes by pressing thereon with his
foot or feet, and thus bringing them into contact with the ground, the rider can
guide the machine or arrest the progress thereof, as desired; when the said pressure
is removed the brakes are brought to their normal positions, clear of the ground, by
the action of springs, and such brakes can, when required, sorve as foot rests. The
guiding of the machine can also be effected by the action of the feet on the ground,
as will be well understood. It will be readily seen from the above description
that the whole of the weight of the rider is suspended or hung below the
centres of the wheels, whereby all danger of the machine being over balanced is
entirely avoided, and, as the peripheries of the wheels project beyond the body of
the rider, they serve to protect him from injury in the event of the machine coming
into contact with any obstacle. When the rider is seated on the saddle his body
will pass through the before mentioned hoop or loop of the axle, and in that
position, by lightly touching the ground with his feet and moving his legs as when
walking or skating, at the same time pushing the hoop or loop with his hands, he
can propel the machine with the greatest case.
When desired, the frame may be extended above the axle, and a pulley or small
wheel is mounted on the upper part of cach side of such extended portion, and
over the said wheels or pulleys are passed endless bands, cords, or chains, the same
being also passed over wheels or pulleys connected to the centres of the wheels of
the machine; by means of this arrangement the rider can, with or without the
assistance of his feet, as hereinbefore described, propel and steer the machine by
simply pulling the said bands, cords, or chains, or otherwise causing them to travel.
Although I do not claim the employment of the said pulleys and bands as forming
part of my Invention, they will in some cases be found convenient, especially when
it is desired to rest the legs and feet.
Bicycles constructed as hereinbefore described will be found very convenient and
suitable for the use of ladies.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and

page_text: the manner in which it is to be performed, I would observe, in conclusion, that
what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the
Invention secured to me by the said hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent,
are,―
The improvements in the construction of bicycles, whereby the same are propelled
by the action of the feet of the rider on the ground, substantially as horein before
described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Symes, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty third day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.