Improvements in and relating to Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 10th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 29th May, 1897
Improvements in and relating to Cycles.
I. ARTHUR WILLIAM COOPER, of 14 James Place, Broughty Ferry, in the County
of Forfar, Scotland, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in cycles, the objects being to steer cycles.
easily, to apply the driving power in a new and efficient manner, and to provide
suitable brakes and tyres.
In carrying out my invention, I employ a fixed front hand bracket which can be
adjusted to any suitable height, its purpose being to steady the person who is actuating
the vehicle. The steering gear is controlled by separate handles preferably moved, by
turning the wrists or by the action of the thumbs, such handles, if required, acting
through a spring locking gear, in order that the tendency of the machine to swerve
may be minimized.
The cycle may be driven by three cranks, preferably set at 120°, so that a more
constant effort may be transmitted to the driving chain if such be used. Two of
the cranks are driven by the feet, while the third crank is actuated by an up and
down motion of the body acting through the seat. The foot pedals or cranks would
follow each other while after them would come the seat crank that is to say as
the foot cranks descended the seat crank would rise and conversely. Such seat.
would be geared to its crank in the most approved manner by links or roller gear
acting through connecting rods, and it may be supported upon suitable springs to
aid its rising. One of the chain wheels may be provided with suitable clutch or
friction gear, such gear being controlled by the hand or by the foot, as may be
found most desirable. The machine may be so arranged, that the foot pedals may
be stationary when running down a hill. The speed of the machine may be
controlled by the seat pedal alone, or in conjunction with the foot pedals and
the brake.
In some cases the rotation of the two foot cranks may synchronize, that is to say
the two foot cranks may be opposed and balanced by the seat crank.
Sometimes I may only use the seat crank to drive the machine, the feet being, in
that case, supported on suitable foot rests.
The brake may consist of a front mud guard whose inner surface is faced with
rubber or other suitable material. It is hinged at or about its lowest point and it is
attached to the brake handle at the other and upper extremity in the known way, and
is so arranged as to bear on the periphery of the wheel nearly uniformly.
The cover of the tyre may be of rubber or other suitable material, and it may be of
the ordinary horse shoe section and attached to the rim by polished rings of metal
whose section is preferably a segment of a circle. Such rings may be laced to the
rim. The core may consist of a number of packing rings stuffed with hair or wool,
such wool being preferably knitted. These rings may be provided with a central core
of pith or any other suitable light elastic material, such as paper, wood, or air.
1800
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
41 Reform Street, Dundee, Agents for Applicant.

page_text: improvements in and relating to by cies.
I, ARTHUR WILLIAM COOPER, of 14 James Place, Broughty Ferry, in the County
of Forfar, Scotland, 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 improvements in cycles, the objects being to steer cycles
easily, to apply the driving power in a new and efficient manner, and to provide
suitable brakes and tyres.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing or carrying the
same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended.
two explanatory sheets of drawings in which the same reference numerals are used to
indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown.
Figure 1. (Sheet 1) is a side elevation of a bicycle constructed according to my
invention.
Figure 2. (Sheet 1) is a cross-section at A. A. (Figure 1) showing the three
throw crank.
Figure 3. (Sheet 1) is a view looking on the steering gear in the direction of the
arrow Z. (Figure 1).
Figure 4. (Sheet 1) is a cross-section of a pneumatic tyre.
Figure 5., (Sheet 2) is a side elevation of another modification of a bicycle
constructed according to my invention.
Figure 6. (Sheet 2) is a cross-section at B. B. (Figure 5) showing the three
throw crank.
Figure 7. (Sheet 3) is a side elevation of a third modification of a bicycle
constructed according to my invention.
Figure 8. (Sheet 3) is a view similar to Figure 3. (Sheet 1).
Figure 9. (Sheet 3) is a cross-section at C. C. (Figure 7) showing the three
throw crank.
In carrying out my invention, I employ a fixed front hand bracket 10. which can
be adjusted to any suitable height, its purpose being to steady the person who is
actuating the vehicle. The steering gear consists of separate handles or levers 11.
also adjustable to suitable height for easy steering. With the hands resting on the
fixed bracket, the steering is accomplished by the pressure of the thumbs on the
steering levers by a twisting motion of the wrists. The steering lever is capable
of being gripped and used without the fixed bracket, such fixed bracket being kept
somewhat clear of the steering lever, and in a convenient position for resting the
hands when required. For locking or steadying the front fork in a central position,
a spring 12. is preferably attached to the bottom bar 13. of the machine and
coupled to a stud upon the back of the fork at 14, so that the inclination of the
front wheel will be to keep straight and not swerve. By steering the machine in
the manner above described vibration will be reduced and the rider will have
greater freedom of action. By such an arrangement the hands will have firm
support and the handle can be pulled in any direction without causing the machine
to swerve. Although I have described the above mentioned type of steering gear
I may use instead the ordinary steering gear. The machine may be driven preferably
by three cranks 15. set at about an angle of 120° so that a more constant effort
may be transmitted to the wheels and that by a chain or otherwise.
Such an
arrangement allows of the machine being under more perfect control either when
going up or coming down a declivity. Two of the cranks 16. are driven by the
feet while the third crank 17. is actuated by an up and down motion of the body
'

page_text: acting through the seat 18. by connections with the third crank, such connections:
consisting of, as in Figure 1, two rods 19. and 20. and vibrating links 21. and 22 ;:
or, as in Figure 5, a slotted link or cross-tail 23. actuated by a rod 24. which
supports the seat; or, as in Figure 7. a rod 19. and vibrating link 21. In the-
drawing (Figure 5) I have shown the slotted link by means of dotted lines, that is to.
say the cross-tail is converted into a slotted link by the addition of the part shown by
the dotted lines. When the rod 24. terminates in a cross-tail, a slit motion or catch
may be employed to retain the saddle and the rod at their highest position, that is to
say the cross-tail may not remain in contact with the central crank 17. By thus
stopping the rising and falling of the saddle the rider can allow the machine to run,
down a declivity without direct bodily effort, the speed of the machine being controlled
by the brake.
Although I have not shown nor described specially, yet it is obvious that provision
may be made for discontinuing the motion of the saddle at will in combination with
my other modifications. All these joints and bearings may be provided with the
known frictionless devices, or ball bearings. In driving, the ordinary sequence would
be for the foot pedals or cranks to follow each other, while after them would come the
seat crank. One of the chain wheels may be provided with suitable clutch or friction.
gear, such gear being controlled by the hand or by the foot, as may be found most.
desirable. The machine may be so arranged that the foot pedals may be stationary
when running down a hill. The speed of the machine may be controlled by the seat
crank alone, or in conjunction with the foot pedals and the brake.
In some cases the rotation of the two foot cranks may synchronize, that is to say-
the two foot cranks may be opposed and balanced by the seat crank.
With the three cranks set at about 120° there will be little danger of the machine.
becoming unmanageable coming down hill, as there is always a more constant thrust:
resisting the turning moment, while in going up there is the same advantage.
The cover 25. of the tyre may be of rubber or other suitable material, and it may
be of the ordinary horse shoe section and attached to the rim 26. by polished rings or
tubes of metal 27. Such rings may be laced to the rim. The core 28. may consist of
a number of packing rings stuffed with hair or wool, such wool being preferably
knitted. These rings may be provided with a central core 29. of pith, or any other
suitable light elastic material, such as paper, wood, or air. 30. is the elastic tube or
tyre filled with compressed air, and the cover is held in position by the inflation of
same, the rings 27. being kept from spreading laterally by the balanced forces due to.
the tension in the cover and the inflation of the air tube.
The machine as a whole is designed with the view of making its use more healthful
and safe than at present. Its arrangement gives more power to the person over all.
the motions and permits of the body assuming freer and more unconstrained positions.
Speed and power is gained by the new machine along with a greater measure of safety
for all classes of riders, either ladies or gentlemen. The gearing is suitable for all.
types of machines.
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 cycles, the combination and arrangement of parts for steering the machine.
and supporting the rider, consisting of a fixed front hand bracket, steering lever,
spring centering gear and their appurtenances, substantially as described.
(2) In cycles, the combination and arrangement of parts for actuating the
machine consisting of the three cranks, seat, rods, vibrating links and their
appurtenances, substantially as described and illustrated by Figures 1. and 2. of
the annexed drawings.
(3) In cycles, the combination and arrangement of parts for actuating the machine.
consisting of the three cranks, seat, slotted link or. cross-tail and rod and their
appurtenances, substantially as described and illustrated by Figures 5. and 6. of the
annexed drawings.

page_text: (4) In cycles, the combination and arrangement of parts for actuating the machine
consisting of the three cranks, seat,. rod, link and their appurtenances, substantially as
described and illustrated by Figures 7. and 9. of the annexed drawings.
(5) In cycles, the combination and arrangement of parts for actuating the machine
consisting of two foot cranks opposed and balanced by the seat crank as described.
(6) In tyres, the combination and arrangement of parts consisting of an inflatable
tyre and separate cover constructed and held in position as described and illustrated
by Figure 4. of the annexed drawings.
(7) In cycles, the general combination and arrangement of parts for actuating the
machine, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 9th day of April 1897
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
41 Reform Street, Dundee, Agents for Applicant.