Improvements in Bicycles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 10th Oct., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles.
We JAMES HALL, of 43 Croft Terrace, Jarrow, in the County of Durham,
Engineer, and EDWARD HALL REED, of Red House Farm, Jarrow, in the County.
of Durham, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object the reduction of the space usually occupied by
the handles and treadles of a bicycle when not in use." Such reduction being
rendered desirable by the acknowledged inconvenience usually incurred when a
bicycle with handles and treadles of the ordinary construction is placed or
attempted to be placed in a narrow or restricted passage way or space, or in any
other place where space is of importance as for example, when being carried from
one place to another, by land or water.
In carrying out that part of our present invention relating to the handles, the
shank or nearly vertical spindle to which the handle crossbar is attached, is con-
structed with a hinged joint, so arranged that the handles with a short piece of the
shank may be moved sideways from the approximately horizontal position which
they usually occupy, to an approximately vertical position.
The levers and rods for actuating the brake we so arrange as to allow the
handles to be moved as above described without the necessity of detaching any
part of this brake gear.
The method by which we secure the handles in a working position is by placing
on the shank referred to a moveable sleeve..
When the handles are placed in a working position with the hinged parts of the
shank in one line, the sleeve is moved up or down as may be arranged, so as to
cover the hinged joint and also embrace the portion of the shank immediately above
and below this joint.
By preference we make the portions of the shank that are to be einbraced by 'the
sleeve slightly tapered, and also form a screw or thread at the large end of the
taper, the sleeve is formed with a taper and thread corresponding with that of
the shank.
By placing the sleeve on the tapered part and screwing it up tightly the two
parts of the shank are firmly locked together.
The screwed part may if desired be placed on the small end of taper, or the
shank and sleeve may be made parallel instead of tapered or partly parallel and
partly tapered, but still screwed at one end, or the shank may be made parallel
but without any screwed part, the sleeve being constructed in two parts, divided
vertically and having a hinge at one side and a tightening or pinching screw at the
other. Instead of the hinge the sleeve may be made solid at that side but
sufficiently thin to allow of it being sprung apart or together.
When this sleeve is slipped over the hinged part of shank and then pinched up
tightly the handles will be firmly secured.
In carrying out that part of our invention relating to the treadles, the arm or
crank to which the treadle is attached is constructed in two principal parts, one
part being socketed into the other in such a manner as to allow of that part
carrying the treadle being revolved a part or the whole of a circle. By revolving
it half a circle the treadle is placed directly inside the crank instead of the ordinary
working position outside.
The socket may be on either part of the crank arm, but by preference we put
it on that part attached to the axle.
'

page_text: To secure the moveable part of crank arm in the ordinary working position or
in the position desired when not in use, we form the part, which enters the socket
of circular cross-section by preference only for that part of its length which goes
farthest into the socket, but that part nearest the mouth we form with two or
any even number of flat sides, and we form the mouth of the socket in a corre-
sponding manner. By. preference we adopt four flat sides.
We however may make the cross-section circular throughout and fit one or more
keys or feathers at the neck of that part entering the socket and form two or more
keyways in the socket to suit the keys or the keys may be fixed in the socket and.
the keyways cut in the spindle.
A suitable stop pin is fitted to the socket and corresponding grooves cut in the
spindle to allow of the moveable part being withdrawn sufficiently far to allow it
to revolve but not to come entirely out.
A spring catch is fitted to the socket to retain & lock the moveable part of arm
when right home, after being revolved to the desired position.
To operate this part of our invention we release the spring catch and partly
withdraw the part of crank arm, then revolve it so that the treadle is in desired
position and finally push it home, when it is immediately secured by the afore-
mentioned spring catch.
By the adoption of our invention as described in this Specification, we reduce
the space usually occupied by the handles & treadles when not in use to about one.
third of that occupied by the handles and treadles when in use.
Dated this 3rd day of June 1892.
JAMES HALL.
EDWARD HALL REED.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles
We JAMES HALL of 43 Croft Terrace, Jarrow, in the County of Durham
Engineer, and EDWARD HALL REED, of Red House Farm, Jarrow, in the County
of Durham, 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 has for its object the reduction of the space usually occupied by
the handles and treadles of a bicycle when not in use. Such reduction being
rendered desirable by the acknowledged inconvenience usually incurred when
a bicycle with handles and treadles of the ordinary construction is placed or
attempted to be placed in a narrow or restricted passage way or space, or in any
other place where space is of importance as for example when being carried from
one place to another by land or water.
In carrying out that part of our present invention relating to the handles, the
shank or nearly vertical spindle to which the handle cross bar is attached is
constructed with a hinged joint, so arranged that the handles with a short piece of
the shank may be moved sideways from the approximately horizontal position
which they usually occupy to an approximately vertical position.
The levers and rods for actuating the brake we so arrange as to allow the
handles to be moved as above described without the necessity of detaching any,
part of this brake gear.
The method by which we secure the handles in a working position is by placing
on the shank referred to a moveable sleeve. When the handles are placed in a
working position with the hinged parts of the shank in one line, the sleeve is
moved up or down as may be arranged so as to cover the hinged joint, and also
embrace the portion of the shank immediately above and below this joint.

page_text: By preference we make the portions of the shank that are to be embraced by
the sleeve slightly tapered, and also form a screw or thread at the large end of the
taper, the sleeve is formed with a taper and thread corresponding with that of the
shank.
By placing the sleeve on the tapered part and screwing it up tightly the two
parts of the shank are firmly locked together.
The screwed part may if desired be placed on the small end of taper, or the
shank and sleeve may be made parallel instead of tapered or partly parallel and
partly tapered but still screwed at one end, or the shank may be made parallel but
without any screwed part, the sleeve being constructed in two parts divided
vertically and having a hinge at one side and a tightening or pinching screw at the
other, instead of the hinge the sleeve may be made solid at that side but sufficiently
thin to allow of it being sprung apart or together. When this sleeve is slipped
over the hinged part of shank and then pinched up tightly the handles will be
firmly secured.
In carrying out that part of our invention relating to the treadles, the arm or
crank to which the treadle is attached is constructed in two principal parts, one
part being socketed into the other in such a manner as to allow of that part carrying
the treadle being revolved a part or the whole of a circle. By revolving it half a
circle the treadle is placed directly inside the crank instead of the ordinary working
position outside. The socket may be on either part of the crank arm, but by
preference we put it in that part attached to the axle. To secure the moveable
part of crank arm in the ordinary working position or in the position desired when
not in use, we form the part which enters the socket of circular cross-section by
preference only for that part of its length which goes farthest into the socket, but
that part nearest the mouth we form with two or any even number of flat sides, and
we form the mouth of the socket in a corresponding manner. By preference we
adopt four flat sides. We however may make the cross-section circular throughout
and fit one or more keys or feathers at the neck of that part entering the socket
and form two or more keyways in the socket to suit the keys, or the keys may be
fixed in the socket and the keyway cut in the spindle.
A suitable stop pin is fitted to the socket and corresponding grooves cut in the
spindle to allow of the moveable part being withdrawn sufficiently far to allow it to
revolve but not to come entirely out. A spring catch is fitted to the socket to
retain and lock the moveable part of arm when right home after having revolved
to the desired position. This spring catch is formed with a hinge joint at one end,
and is produced beyond the projection or tongue piece sufficiently lar to allow of a
hole being formed in it, to pass over a hasp or button which is intended to retain it
in position. This position of the catch is formed with a slight amount of spring
on it and also with a slightly notched recess or groove across the outer side, so that
when it is placed home and the button or hasp turned round the catch will spring
back and cause the aforementioned to be locked into the recess or groove referred
to, this contrivance finally locks the whole or parts of the crank arm in position.
To operate this part of our invention we release the spring catch and partly
withdraw the part of crank arm then revolve it so that the treadle is in desired
position and finally push it home when it is immediately secured by the afore-
mentioned spring catch.
By the adoption of our invention as described in. this Specification we reduce the
space usually occupied by the handles and treadles when not in use to about one
third of that occupied by the handles and treadles when in use.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood we will further proceed to
explain and describe the same by the aid of the accompanying drawings.
In these drawings the same letters of reference indicate the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
(2) Figures 1, 2, 3, & 9 are views of that part of our invention relating to the
handles and shows one of the methods described. A is the upper and B the lower

page_text: part of the shank connected by the hinged joint C. Dis the moveable sleeve shewn
in section, which in Figure 1 is shewn in position over the joint and in Figure 2 it
is shewn unscrewed and dropped down below the joint, the part of the shank A
being shewn hinged down into an approximately horizontal position, putting the
handle crossbar E into an approximately vertical position. In Figure 9 shewn on
a smaller scale the handle crossbar E is shewn in the ordinary working position by
full lines, and in the approximately vertical position by dotted lines thus shewing
clearly the great reduction of space.
Figure 3 is a side view of the hinged joint shewing the screw F through the
centre of the hinged joint.
Figure 9 we show a method of constructing the brake gear so that it will
accommodate itself to the hinging of the handle, in this arrangement the axes which
connects the brake lever with the brake rod is made to coincide with the axes
in the shank of the handle. the brake lever is shewn along with the two
corresponding positions of the handle.
(3) Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 & 11 are views of that part of our invention relating
to the treadles, G is the portion of the crank armato which the treadle is attached
and H the portion of the arm which is attached to the axle, the portion G is
extended so as to form the parts marked J & K, J being shewn with four flat
sides & K being of circular-section but with two grooves L in it and with a
groove M carried right round K and an elongated hole N pierced through it, the
portion of the arm H has a socket formed in circular section where it is entered
by K and of rectangular section where it is entered by J. O is a screw stop pin
screwed into the arm H and projecting into the groove L, this prevents the arm G
being entirely drawn out of the socket in H. P is the spring catch with the hinge
joint Q, the piece R to which the catch P is hinged being shewn secured for con-
venience on the end of the tapered key S, the catch P has a projection a tongue
piece T shewn entered into the hole N in the inner portion of the arm G. in the
position shewn entirely prevents the arm G being moved in the socket. V is a stud
screwed into H having a swiveling cross piece or button U. The spring catch P
has a hole in it so formed and placed that when the button U is placed in a longi-
tudinal position this catch P will pass over it into the position shewn, on the outer
side of P there is placed crosswise a slightly notched recess or groove W. When P
is put into the position shewn in Figure 5 and the upper end of it pressed close
against the arm H, the button U is turned through an angle of 90° into the position
corresponding with the recess W. P then springs back the distance equal to the
depth of the recess W. The button U thus having its wing in the aforesaid
recess W prevents it moving. In Figures 7 & 8 the button U has been turned
into a longitudinal direction, and the catch P is shewn released and hinged back
sufficiently far to bring the projection T entirely out of K. The part G is shewn
drawn out to its full extent so that the rectangular part J is clear of the end
of H and thus it is in a position where it is capable of being revolved as required.
Figure 11 shews the crank G H with the treadles X in their ordinary working
position and Figure 10 shews the same but with the treadles X turned into the
position desired when not in use, shewing clearly the great reduction of space in
- addition to saving space by revolving the treadles in the manner described we
obtain a simple means of preventing the wheels of the machine revolving, thus
preventing the machine from running away when set upon an incline.
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 :-
CLAIMS.
First. The construction of the shank supporting the cross handle bar of a bicycle
with a hinge in the aforementioned shank and with a moveable locking sleeve in

page_text: Secondly. The construction of the crank arms of a bicycle in such a manner as to-
allow the treadles being revolved into the position mentioned & carried out in the
manner herein before described and partly illustrated.
Dated this 8th day of October 1892.
JAMES HALL.
EDWARD HALL REED..