Improvements in Velocipedes or Cycles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 31st Mar., 1890-Accepted, 3rd May, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes or Cycles.
I GUSTAVE BIEBUYCK of 52 Rue de Spa Brussels in the Kingdom of Belgium
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows :-
This Invention relates to the construction of velocipedes or cycles and it consists
essentially in enabling these vehicles to be propelled by a movement of the body of
the rider as hereinafter explained in place of by movements of the feet of the rider
acting upon pedals as heretofore. With this object I may employ any suitable
combination of mechanism but the following description of a tricycle constructed
according to my invention may be taken as an example in order that the principle of.
my invention may be clearly understood. The seat or saddle is attached to the free
end of an arm or lever oscillating on a centre carried by the frame and on the driving
axle is keyed a disc embraced by a steel spring or band the extremities of which are
attached to two plates or levers having their fulcrum on the driving axle. The
extremities of these levers are connected by a suitable connecting rod with the lever
carrying the seat or saddle. The rider being seated on the seat or saddle with his
feet resting on stirrups steps or other suitable supports suspended from or otherwise
carried by the frame depresses by his weight the lever carrying the seat and transmits
motion to the driving axle by the action of the spring or band which is so arranged
as to tighten or bind on the disc on the axle when the levers are depressed and
cause the axle to rotate in the required direction for propelling the tricycle. The
rider then relieves the seat or saddle of the whole or part of his weight and
blade, coiled, or other springs then raise the seat whilst the spring or band on the
driving disc slips backwards over the latter which continues its rotary motion and
receives a fresh impulse each time that the spring acts upon it in consequence of
the rider depressing the seat. These alternate rising and falling movements of the
seat produced by the movements of the body of the rider are thus caused to propel the
machine. In place of the spring or band and disc any other suitable devices such
as a pawl and ratchet for example may be employed for converting the reciprocating
movement of the seat into the rotary motion required for the driving axle. The
machine may be constructed with any suitable number of driving or travelling wheels
and may be steered either by the hands or by feet of the rider acting on supports
connected to the axle of the steering wheel for example.
This improved construction of velocipedes or cycles presents numerous advantages
the movement is less difficult and fatiguing than the usual movement. The art of
riding can be more quickly acquired as the movement is very similar to that of
riding on horseback and is much more agreeable than working cranks with the feet.
Dated this 29th day of June 1990.
1000
J. H. JOHNSON & CO.,
47. Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
0
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes or Cycles.
I GUSTAVE BIEBUYCк of 52 Rue de Spa Brussells in the Kingdom of Belgium
Engineer 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 the construction of velocipedes or cycles and has for its
object to provide means whereby these vehicles may be propelled by the movement of

page_text: the body of the rider as hereinafter described in place of by movements of the feet
of the rider acting upon pedals as heretofore. I will describe my Invention with
reference to the accompanying drawings which represent my Invention as applied to
tricycles but I wish it to be understood that it is not restricted to this description of
machine but is also applicable to bicycles and other velocipedes or cycles, the following
description of a tricycle constructed according to my invention may however be taken
as an example in order that the principle of my invention may be clearly understood.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 the seat or saddle A is connected to the frame C of
the machine so as to oscillate on a centre B and is also connected by a rod D to a
crank E on the axle F of the large running wheels G, which axle rotates in bearings a
in the frame C. Attached to the under side of the saddle A are springs H which are
also connected to the frame C, and tend by expansion to maintain the saddle in an
elevated position as shewn in Figure 1. Suspended by straps 6 from the frame C, are
stirrups c which may be adjusted in height to suit different riders. The front wheel d
is carried in a fork e, the stem g of which is mounted in bearings f in the frame C and
is provided with steering handles h as usual.
The rider being seated on the seat or saddle A with his feet resting on the stirrups c
or on other suitable supports suspended from or otherwise carried by the frame C,
depresses by his weight the seat or saddle A, thereby causing it to turn on the centre B,
and thus compress the springs H and transmit through the rod D and crank E a
partial rotation to the driving axle F. After the saddle has been depressed the
weight of the body is removed therefrom by exerting pressure by the feet on the
stirrups c or other supports whereupon the springs H will expand so as to raise
the saddle and impart through the connecting rod D and crank E a continued rotary
motion to the shaft F-thus by the repeated depressions of the saddle by the rider and
the elevation thereof by the springs Ĥ continuous rotation is imparted through the
rod D and crank E to the axle F and thus the propulsion of the vehicle is effected.
The steering of the vehicle is effected by the driver by means of the handles h in the
usual manner.
In place of the crauk E hereinbefore described a disc E as shewn in Figures 4, 5
and 6, may be provided on the axle F surrounding which disc is a band spring I,
connected at one end to arms E mounted loosely on the axle F, the opposite free end
of the spring bearing on the said arms. The arms E are connected by the rod D
to the saddle or seat A which saddle is acted on by springs H¹ which tends to
maintain the saddle in its elevated position. When the rider depresses the saddle by
the weight of his body as hereinbefore described, a partial rotation is imparted to the
axle F through the rod D arms E and the frictional contact of the spring I on the
dise H, but when the weight of the body is removed from the saddle the said saddle
is elevated by the springs H¹ whereupon the arms E, by bearing against the free
ends of the spring band I removes the pressure thereof from the disc E, thereby
allowing the axle F to continue its rotation by the impetus given to it by the
..depression of the saddle so that by the alternate depression and elevation of the saddle
by the movement of the body of the rider, the vehicle is propelled as hereinbefore
described. Other means may be employed for utilising the weight of the body on the
saddle for actuating the axle F for example, a pawl and ratchet may be employed in
place of the disc H and spring band I, for converting the reciprocating movement of
the seat into the rotary motion required for the driving axle. The machine may be
constructed with any suitable number of driving or travelling wheels and may be
steered either by the hands as described and shewn, or instead of the stirrups herein-
before described, for the feet of the rider, supports for the feet may be connected to
the axle of the steering wheel, so that these supports may be also utilised for steering
by means of the feet.
This improved construction of velocipedes or cycles presents numerous advantages,
the movement is less difficult and fatigueing than the usual movement. The art of
riding can be more quickly acquired as the movement is very similar to that
of riding on horseback and is much more agreeable than working cranks with
the feet.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a velocipede or cycle a moveable seat or saddle connected to the driving axle
in such a manner that by the weight and movement of the body of the rider
rotation may be given to the axle for propelling the vehicle substantially as herein-
before described.
.
2. In a velocipede or cycle a moveable seat or saddle in combination with a
connecting rod and crank or with a pawl and ratchet wheel or equivalent device for
effecting the propulsion of the vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The combination of parts constituting means whereby a velocipede may be
propelled by the movement and weight of the body of the rider substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 and in Figures 4, 5 and 6
of the accompanying drawings.