Improvements in Foot Cycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Feb., 1896-Accepted, 7th Mar.,
1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Foot Cycles.
We, ROBERT ANDERSON, Manufacturer of Sports Appliances and GEORGE
ANDERSON, Civil Engineer, both of 67 Princes Street, Edinburgh, North Britain,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in foot cycles.
-
The cycle consists of two or more wheels for each foot, with, in the case of a
two-wheeled cycle, a metal frame portion between the toe wheel and the heel
wheel, the said frame carrying the toe and heel plates upon which the foot or
boot rests.
As more particularly applicable to such a two-wheel cycle as above referred to,
the said metal frame consists of a blade with a forked portion at toe and heel,
the said forks receiving the wheels which are preferably of the well-known wire
spoke pattern with india rubber tyres: the arrangement of the wheels being such
as to admit of the boot being between the two wheels, that is to say with the front
wheel in front of the toe of the boot and the rear wheel behind the heel of the
boot, the said arrangement being such that the sole of the boot may be near to
the level of the axles of the wheels, or below the said level, so as to effect a maximum
of safety to the cyclist, all in accordance with Sherriff and Audersons Patent
No. 18733 of 6th October 1893.
Our present improvements consist in strengthening the middle portion or blade
of the said metal frame by forming it of a section thus I or section thus T
approximately. When embodying a double flange as in the first section, we prefer
to make the under flange of a Hattened rail head shape: or of a somewhat similar
section rouuded.
The use of top and bottom flange and web, in combination with the forks admits
of the most economical distribution of metal and ensures a stronger, more rigid,
and at same time lighter frame for carrying the rider, than any other existing
system.
The section also admits of an easy and secure method of attaching the foot
to the frame by means of toe and heel plates rivetted to the top flange or by.
widening out the flange to form toe and heel plates. The arms of the forks may
also be formed with either top or bottom flanges or with both. The whole frame
may be solid-in one piece-or it may be in sections to facilitate construction.
Preferably when formed in sections, the frame is made in two halves divided
longitudinally along the web and flanges, and having each half frame composed of
half top and bottom flange and web and having an arm or half of fork at each end,
and afterwards connecting the divided frame or forked blade by any suitable
means. The whole frame may also be formed of sheet metal pressed to the.
required shape and sections in one piece, or it may be formed in sectious prefer-
ably in two halves longitudinally and afterwards connected by any suitable
means.
As regards the securing of the boot to the toe and heel plates, we may
employ leather straps and buckle or buckles, fastened to the top flange or toe
plate, or to both toe plate and top flange or other part of frame. The heel
and ankle may be secured to the frame by means of a leather gaiter portion
fastened to the lugs at each side of the heel plate of the framing and also by
straps rivetted to the underside of heel plate with buckle. The gaiter may

page_text: ":
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be formed in two halves, or split down the line of back seam, either for the whole
or any required length of the back seam, to admit the cycle being easily and
quickly put on and taken off. By so forming the gaiter the two halves can be
turned back, and thus allow the foot to be pushed home into position in the toe-cap
or leather toe straps and then the foot and heel can be pushed into position on the
heel plate and within the gaiter. All that is then needed to make the foot fast to
the frame and also to support the ankle is to pull the ankle and heel straps tight
and buckle them. The adjusting and fastening of the two halves or edges of the
gaiter or upper may be effected by means of straps with buckles around that
part of the boot, or by means of straps fastened to each side of opening, the one
carrying a buckle at its free end passing around one side of ankle, and the other
baving its free end pointed passing around the other side of ankle, and through the
buckle of the first strap. The closing and fastening of the "upper" or gaiter may
also be effected by means of short straps and buckles fastened on each side of opening
down the back of heel and simply overlapping the opening. To secure the gaiter
to the toe cap or to the leather toe straps, connecting straps may be used. This will
eusure the shaped portion at back of heel being kept closer up to the boot thus
preventing any possible play of foot at heel.
Dated this 27th day of April 1895.
JOHNSONS,
115 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.
Improvements in Foot Cycles.
We, ROBERT ANDERSON, Manufacturer of Sport Appliances and GEORGE
ANDERSON, Civil Engineer, both of 67 Princes Street, Edinburgh, North Britain,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
This invention relates to improvements in the foot cycle described in the
Specification of Patent No. 18733 of 6th October 1893. The cycle consists of two
wheels for each foot, with a metal frame portion between the toe wheel and the
heel wheel the said frame carrying the toe and heel plates upon which the foot or
boot rests. The said metal frame consists of a blade with a forked portion at toc
and heel, the said forks receiving the wheels which are preferably of the well known
wire spoke pattern with india rubber tyres; the arrangement of the wheels being
such as to admit of the boot being between the two wheels that is to say with the
front wheel in front of the toe of the boot and the rear wheel behind the heel of
the boot, and also so that the sole of the boot may be near to the level of the axes
of the wheels or below the said level so as to effect a maximum of safety to the
cyclist.
Our present improvements consist in strengthening the blade of the said metal
frame by forming it of a rail shape in section; or approximately of that section ;
with certain other improvements hereinafter referred to.
But in order that our said invention may be more readily understood and easily
carried into effect we will proceed to describe the same with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure 1 is an elevation, Figure 2 a plan and Figure 3 a detail, of a two-wheeled
cycle constructed according to our invention.
We employ a metal frame A of a rail shape in section as shewn in Figure 3,
having forked portions B, B' at the toe and heel ends, which receive the wheels C, C',
said wheels being preferably of the well known wire spoke pattern with india
rubber tyres the arrangement of the wheels being such as to admit of the foot

page_text: being between the two wheels that is to say the front wheel C in front of the toe
and the rear wheel C' behind the heel; the said arrangement also being such that
the sole of the boot is near to the ground, level with the axes of the wheels, though
preferably below the said level, as shewn, so as to effect a maximum of safety to
the cyclist.
The use of the rail shaped frame A having top and bottom flanges and central web
in combination with the forks, admits of the most economical distribution of metal,
and ensures a stronger, more rigid, and at the same time a lighter frame for carrying
the rider than those hitherto employed.
As a modification, we may employ a blade or frame of I or T shape in section ;
or analogous section.
The section of the frame A also admits of an easy and secure method of attaching
the boot to the frame A by widening out the upper flange to form toe and heel
plates E, E. The toe plate E is preferably inclined, as shown in Figure 1, in
order to form an easy rest or support for the front part of the boot. The arms of
the forks B, B' may be formed with or without flanges.
The whole frame may be solid, in one piece, or it may be in sections to facilitate
construction. Preferably when formed in sections, the frame is made in two halves
divided longitudinally along the web and flanges and having each half frame
composed of half top and bottom flange and web and having an arm or half of fork
at each end and afterwards connecting the divided frame or forked blade by any
suitable means.
The whole frame may also be formed of sheet metal pressed to the required
shape and sections in one piece or it may be formed in sections preferably in
two halves longitudinally and afterwards connected by any suitable means.
As a further modification the blade may be lightened by forging, pressing or
casting the blade with holes or openings through the web, in which case the blade
would preferably be made somewhat deeper.
The toe and heel plates may also be formed separately from the frame and
rivetted or otherwise attached thereto.
In order to secure the boot in position in the cycle, we may rivet two double ended
straps to the toe plate E or top flange, one strap on each side of the boot, and
secure them together above the boot by means of a short strap and buckle F'.
Two straps G are also rivetted to the heel plate E' or top flange which straps may
be connected to each other above the boot by the buckle G. Or the straps may be
passed through the holes or openings in the central web of the blade of the frame
when such a formation of blade is used.
In order to further support the foot we rivet to the heel plate E' a leather ankle
support or gaiter portion H, said portion H being rivetted to one or more lugs h
on the heel plate E'. The said portion H may be secured around the top of the
boot by means of the straps and buckle J.
The gaiter portion H may be formed in two halves, or split down the line of
the back seam, either for the whole or any part of the length of the back seam, so
as to permit of the cycle being easily and quickly put on and taken off.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. The arrangement and construction of parts constituting our improved foot
cycle, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the accompanying
drawings.
2nd. Constructing the blade A of the metal frame of a rail shape, or analogous
shape in section, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
shewn in the accompanying drawings.
3rd. The construction of the inetal frame A with the toe and heel plates or
portions E E', substantially as herein before described and shown in the accom-
panying drawings.

page_text: 4th. The construction of the frame (that is to say the blade and forks) with toe
and heel plates or portions, solid in one piece, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
5th. The construction of the frame in sections, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
6th. The arrangement and combination with the foot plate, of the ankle support
or gaiter portion, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the
accompanying drawings.
7th. The arrangement of straps and buckles in combination with the foot
plate, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 30th day of January 1896.
JOHNSONS,
115 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.