IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Langshaw, of Nottingham, in the County of
Nottingham, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER
VELOCIPEDES."
Sealed the 28th November 1879, and dated the 7th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Langshaw at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th June 1879.
"IM-
WILLIAM LANGSHAW, of Nottingham, in the County of Nottingham.
PROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES."
This Invention has for its object the prevention or aleviation of the present
annoyance caused to velocipede riders by the wheels coming in contact with stones
and other irregularities of surface.
1st. I construct the machine with two hind wheels on a jointed axle kept straight
in the normal condition of things by springs, one spring to each half of the axle.
When the wheel meets a stone the spring gives way and allows the wheel to mount
over it, the other wheel continuing as before. There are various ways of jointing
the axle, and, if desired, two independent axles can be used, each kept right by a
spring or springs, but I prefer making the back bone or fork like that of an ordinary
bicycle, but instead of being forked at the end I secure it rigidly in a conical or
square socket forming part of a bracket, and to this bracket I bolt or rivet the
springs and joint the axles. The springs are also attached at their other ends to
the axles as close as possible to the wheels. As a very heavy jolt might sometime
break a spring, I construct each joint with a stop catch or its equivalent so that the
axles or jointed parts of the axle shall not be able to take too great an angle with
each other.
2nd. In going down hill a stone coming in contact with the front wheel is apt
to stop a bicycle or like machine and to send the rider flying over the front. To
obviate this I sometimes construct the saddle on a pivot in such a manner that
while it generally lies in the accustomed position by leaning back the rider can
overbalance it so that it rests more over the hind wheel or wheels. In this position
it requires a very great impediment to cause the aforo described accident.

page_text: •
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Langshaw in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th
December 1879.
WILLIAM LANGSHAW, of Nottingham, in the County of Nottingham.
PROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES."
"IM-
This Invention has for its object the prevention or aleviation of the present
annoyance caused to velocipede riders by the wheels coming in contact with stones
or other irregularities of surface.
As
I construct the machine with two hind wheels A on a jointed axle B kept
straight in the normal condition of things by springs C, one spring to each half
of the axle. When the wheel A meets a stone the spring C gives way and
allows the wheel to mount over it, the other wheel continuing as before. There
are various ways of jointing the axle, and, if desired, two independent axles can
be used, each kept right by a spring or springs, but I prefer making the back bone
or fork E like that of an ordinary bicycle, but instead of being forked at the end I
secure it rigidly in a conical or square socket F forming part of a bracket I, and to
this bracket I bolt or rivet the springs C and joint the axle B.
The springs are
also attached at their other ends to the axles as close as possible to the wheels.
a very heavy jolt might sometimes break a spring I construct each joint with a
stop catch G or its equivalent, so that the axles or jointed parts of the axle shall
not be able to take too great an angle with each other. Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, illus-
trate this part of my Invention, Fig. 1 being an end elevation of a pair of velocipede
wheels fitted according to my Invention; Fig. 2, a side elevation showing joint in
axle B; Fig. 3, plan of axle and joint with wheels removed; Fig. 4, end elevation
of adjusting screw D. In these, A are the wheels; B, the axle; C, springs which
retain the axle in place; D, adjusting screw for regulating the tension of the
springs C according to the weight to be borne by the machine; E, back bone; F,
socket for securing back bone; G, stop catch on axle; I, bracket to which the
springs and joints of the axle are attached; H, front wheel.
In going down hill a stone coming in contact with the front wheel is apt to stop
a bicycle or like machine and to send the rider flying over the front. To obviate
this I sometimes construct the saddle on a pivot in such manner that while it
generally lies in the accustomed position by leaning back the rider can overbalance
it so that it rests more over the hind wheel or wheels. In this position it requires
a very great impediment to cause the aforedescribed accident. Figs. 5 and 6 illus-
trate this part of my Invention, Fig. 5 showing a side elevation, and Fig. 6 an end
elevation. a is the saddle; b, triple joint rivetted to saddle at 62; b', flats to
prevent the saddle coming too forward or backwards when the rider puts
himself in either position; c, plate to be attached to an ordinary bicycle or tricycle
spring with a double joint on c'; d,joint pin; e, plate to cramp the saddle to the
spring, spring fastened to the saddle at g to assist the rider to keep his position.
When the rider is going down hill and puts himself on the back of the saddle the
latter counterbalances, falls over on to flat b¹, and at the same time deflects the
spring nearer the saddle. When the level ground is reached the rider sits upright
and the spring helps the rider's weight to right the saddle.
Having now described my Invention and the best modes known to me of
carrying it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new
and desire to protect under the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,
1st. The construction of velocipedes of 3 or more wheels with a jointed axle or
axles kept in normal position by a spring or its nechanical equivalent, substantially
as and for the purposes described.
2nd. An axle for a velocipede constructed with a joint or joints in the centre and
a stop-catch, substantially as described.

page_text: 3rd. The construction of saddles for bicycles mounted on a pivot and held in
normal position by a spring but capable of being overbalanced at the will of the
rider, substantially as and for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Langshaw, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
WILLIAM LANGSHAW. (L.S.)