Improvements in Motors Driven by the Muscular Strength of the Human Body.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Mar., 1890-Accepted, 5th Apr.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Motors Driven by the Muscular Strength of the
Human Body.
I, JOHN BAPTIST CHARLES SCHEUER, Engineer, 14, Dean Street, Fetter Lane,
London, E.C., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows.-
The highest amount of physical strength of which the human body is capable 15
obtained when a man, in a standing position, bears a burden upon his shoulders,
& when, at the same time, his shoulders being sustained by fulcra conveniently
applied before & behind, his arms are allowed to move horizontally to & fro,
their strength being applied to some movable resistance. In such conditions
both the chains of muscles extending from the shoulders to the extremity
of the legs & from the shoulders to the extremity of the arms are or can be
utilized to their full capacity. The feet of the man are upon a solid ground forming
an absolute resistance to his body, whilst the legs & upper part of his body keep a
certain elasticity & are at liberty to move down & upwards within a certain limit
depending on the weight of the burden.
The object of the present invention is to reverse the above described conditions,
with regard to the body & legs so as to utilize the full energy of the body at the
extremity of the legs or arms, or both, while the shoulders bear against a resistance
of any desirable construction, & apply the power produced to the motion of
engines
Whatever may the motor be & its purpose, when the rotary movement is to be
produced by the legs & feet acting alternately upon pedals, treadles, etc, it will suffice,
in order to get a maximum effect, to prevent, by a resistance hxed at a convenient
height, the possibility of any upward movement of the shoulders, the body being
sustained in a vertical position, or nearly so, by a small seat, or saddle, or lateral
supports, or other appliance
When the necessary power has to be produced by the arms & hands pushing for-
wards, the fulcrum has to be placed behind the shoulders;-& when to be produced
by pulling, the fulcrum will have to be placed before the shoulders & chest
The resistance instead of being applied at the shoulders, thus causing the whole
chain of muscles from the feet to the shoulders to be actively engaged, can be
adapted at the waist, bearing upon the hips & leaving the upper part of the body
perfectly free.
This invention can be usefully applied to all mechanical combinations where human
energy is to be transformed in a rotary movement, such as velocipedes, quadricycles
for railways, as also to other vehicles, to the propelling machinery of boats, lathes,
printing machines, etc.
The means of adapting my invention in a practical way to the said machines are
very plain
The following are convenient arrangements for velocipedes & other engines
with a more or less similar driving gear
Belt. A strap is fixed at a suitable point behind the saddle; at the extremity of
this strap is attached, at its middle point, an open belt; both extremities of the belt
are provided with rings -Another strap is fixed at a suitable point in front of the
saddle; this strap is provided with a clasp grasping together both rings of the belt,
fixing it around the waist of the rider, & enabling him to free himself completely by
one single movement. Both straps & the belt are provided with buckles for the
purpose of shortening or lengthening them at will. Both straps may be partially
made of an elastic material, the elasticity not exceeding a certain limit because,
otherwise, it would limit the resistance & prevent the rider from developing eventually
his utmost strength.
Braces Braces, provided with buckles & partially elastic, can be utilized being

page_text: fixed directly to the velocipede at suitable points in front of & behind the saddle, &
placed over the shoulders A more convenient at rangement will be to utilize them
jointly with the aforesaid belt. In this case the braces will have to be fixed at the
extremity of the back-strap, at the same point as the belt, the fore-extremities being
attached at the corresponding extremities of the bolt The belt will have to be rather
loose A single pressure upon the grasp will free the rider from the belt & braces.
Fulcra. A vertical fulcrum can be applied in front of the saddle in a barrel allowing
it to turn round, & to be heightened or lowered At the upper extremity the support
carries a horizontal fork, the two branches of which are hinged & fitted underneath
with cushions, under & against which the rider has to put his shoulders. The fork
has 'to a certain extent to be elastic. The vertical bar may be formed of two parts
united by a hinge so as to allow the rider to bend it over, in the direction of the
fork
The described fulcrum may be fixed behind the saddle &, instead of being vertical,
may be any other shape according to taste or the hind of cycle
When the energy of the arms & hands is to be utilized, the support has to be
adapted either behind or in front of the shoulders, or even upon both parts of the
body simultaneously.
The possibility given by my invention to utilize the entire strength of the human
frame will render it easy to increase in a large proportion either the velocity of any
cycle or vehicle, or the load which it will be capable of carrying
Dated this First day of May 1980
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Motors Driven by the Muscular Strength of the
Human Body.
I, JOHN BAPTIST CHARLES SOHEUER, Engineer, of 14 Dean Street, Fetter Lane
London, EC. 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
-
The object of this invention is to utilize the full energy of the human body at the
extremity of the legs or arms or both while the shoulders or hips or both bear against
a resistance of any desirable construction and to apply the resultant power to the
motion of engines.
The invention is applicable to all mechanical combinations where human energy is
to be transformed in a rotary movement such as and especially velocipedes, quadri-
cycles, the propelling machinery of boats, to lathes, printing machines &c.
When the rotary movement is to be produced by the legs and feet acting alternately
upon pedals, treadles &c. it will suffice, in order to get a maximum effect to
prevent by a resistance, fixed at a convenient height, the possibility of any upward
movement of the shoulders the body being sustained in a vertical position, or,
nearly so by a small seat or saddle, or lateral supports or other appliance.
When the necessary power has to be produced by the arms and hands pushing
forwards, the fulcrum has to be placed behind the shoulders, and, when to be
produced by pulling, the fulcrum will have to be placed before the shoulders and
chest.
The resistance, instead of being applied at the shoulders, thus causing the whole
chain of muscles from the feet to the shoulders to be actively engaged, can be applied
at the waist bearing upon the hips and leaving the upper part of the body perfectly
free, or it may be applied at the shoulders and waist conjointly.
The means of adapting the invention in a practical way to the said machines are
simple. The following are convenient arrangements for velocipedes and other engines
with a more or less similar driving gear.
Belt. A strap is fixed at a suitable point behind the saddle; at the extremity of
this strap is attached at its middle point, an open belt; both extremities of the

page_text: belt are provided with a clasp grasping together both rings of the belt, fixing it
around the waist of the rider and enabling him to free himself completely by one
single movement; both straps, and the belt being provided with buckles for the
purpose of shortening or lengthening them at will Both straps may be partially
made of an elastic material the elasticity not exceeding a certain limit because,
otherwise, it would limit the resistance and prevent the rider from developing
eventually his utmost strength.
Braces Braces provided with buckles and partially elastic can be utilized, being
fixed duectly to the velocipede at suitable points in front of and behind the saddle and
placed over the shoulders, they can be utilized jointly with the aforesaid belt. In
the latter case the braces will have to be fixed at the extremity of the back-strap
at the same point as the belt, the fore-extremities being attached at the corresponding
extremities of the belt. The belt will have to be rather loose. A single pressure
upon the grasp will free the rider from the belt and braces.
Fulcra A vertical fulcrum can be applied in front of the saddle in a barrel
allowing it to turn round and to be heightened or lowered. At the upper extremity
the support carries a horizontal fork the two branches of which are hinged and fitted
underneath with cushions under and against which the rider has to put his shoulders
The fork has, to a certain extent, to be elastic. The vertical bar may be formed of
two parts united by a hinge so as to allow the rider to bend it over in the direction of
the fork.
The described fulcrum may be fixed behind the saddle and, instead of being
vertical, may be any other shape according to fancy or the kind of cyclo
When the energy of the arms and hands is to be utilized the support has to be
adapted either behind or in front of the shoulders or even upon both parts of the body
simultaneously.
The utilization according to this invention of the entire strength of the human
frame will render it easy to increase in a large proportion either the velocity of any
cycle or vehicle, or the load which it will be possible to carry.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1 The combination substantially as described whereby an adapted resistance of any
convenient construction whether at the shoulders or at the waist enables the rider of a
velocipede or similar machine to utilize more completely the energy of the body at
the extremity of the legs or arms or both so as to apply increased power to the
motion of the engine
2. The arrangements substantially as described for providing convenient forms of
resistance as applicable to velocipedes and similar machines.
3. The application of the particular arrangements set forth to all mechanical
combinations where human energy is to be transformed in a rotary movement.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1890.
J. AUGUSTUS BAKER,
Agent for J. B. C. Scheuer.