Improvements in Cycles and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 30th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 30th Mar., 1894
1
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycles and the like.
I, JAMES WILLIAM BOYCE, of Ebenezer Villa, Whitecross Square, Cheltenham
in the County of Gloucester, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention for Improvements in Cycles and the like has for its object to
construct a brake apparatus, or a combined brake and foot rest apparatus, specially
applicable to cycles and the like, which shall be easily and readily operated and
controlled by the rider, effective in operation and not liable to become deranged
or inoperative when in use.
In one arrangement of apparatus constructed according to this invention, a lever
arrangement carrying at one end a roller or other brake surface, is pivotally
connected to a frame bracket or equivalent fixing secured by any suitable fastening
device to the fork or other convenient part of the frame of the vehicle, while to the
other end of the said lever is connected foot pedals which, when pressed in one
direction, operate the lever to press the roller or equivalent surface on to the
periphery of the wheel of the vehicle, but which act as foot rests, only when the
feet are allowed to rest upon them in the ordinary manner.
The said apparatus is held in its normal or inoperative position when not in use
by means of suitable springs or by gravity; or I form a slot in the said brake lever,
which is suitably curved or inclined, and connect it to the pedals in such manner
that on pushing the said pedals forward the lever is displaced and forces the brake
surface against the periphery of the wheel.
In a modified arrangement of apparatus the above described lever is dispensed
with, the roller or the brake surface being connected to the pedals by links or
equivalent connections, and being guided on to the periphery of the wheel by means
of suitable slots or other guiding surfaces in, or attached to, the supporting bracket
or fixing. This apparatus is held in its normal or inoperative position by suitable
springs.
In order that the brake may be automatically maintained in action when
necessary, I provide a ratchet lever which, by means of a spring or gravity,
automatically engages with the roller lever or other moving part of the brake
apparatus and prevents its disengagement until removed by the foot or by hand.
The traversing motion of the roller or equivalent device is controlled or limited
by suitable projections, or by means of slot against or in which some appropriate
moving part of the mechanism acts.
Dated this 30th day of March 1893.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycles and the like.
I, JAMES WILLIAM BOYCE, of Ebenezer Villa, Whitecross Square, Cheltenham,
in the County of Gloucester, Manufacturer, 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 is to construct an apparatus for conveying brake-power as exercised

page_text: by the feet of the operator to the periphery of the wheels of cycles, and similar
vehicles, and which will at the same time, or alternately, afford means of resting
the feet of the operator, and which may also be easily attached to, or detached
from the vehicle, and in order that my invention may be thoroughly understood I
now proceed to describe the accompanying drawings thereof, reference being made
to letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 represents an elevated section of rotating lever brake with adjustable
lid or top.
Figure 2 represents a plan of rotating lever brake with adjustable lid or top.
Figure 3 represents an elevated section of fixed brake surface as adjusted to stay
or cross tie of lever.
Figure 4 represents horizontal section of elongated extremity of fixed brake
surface as adjusted to stay or cross-tie of lever.
Figure 5 represents elevated section of rotating lever brake without adjustable
lid or top.
Figure 6 represents a plan of rotating lever brake without adjustable lid or top.
Figure 7 represents elevated section of slotted lever brake with toothed pedals.
Figure 8 represents a plan of slotted lever brake with toothed pedals.
Figure 9 represents an elevated section of sliding lever brake.
Figure 10 represents a plan of sliding lever brake.
Figure 11 represents elevated section of rotating lever brake.
Figure 12 represents a plan of rotating lever brake.
Figure 13 represents an elcyated section of pivotted link brake with covered.
top.
Figure 14 represents a plan of pivotted link brake, without covered top..
Figure 15 represents an elevated section of rotating lever brake.
Figure 16 represents a plan of rotating lever brake.
Figure 17 represents an elevated section of rotating lever brake with covered
top.
Figure 18 represents a plan of rotating lever brake with covered top removed.
The brake power is effected by the operator placing his feet upon the pedals and
pressing them either in a forward or downward direction, or both, as required, and
thereby operating the mechanism, to which is attached the roller or fixed brake surface.
Upon the removal of the feet, the mechanism is pushed by means of suitable
springs into the inoperative brake, or actual foot-rest position. A modification,
however, of this arrangement is shown in Fig. 7, whereby the pedals may be pressed
into a recess in the edges of the slut, so arranged as to maintain the lever in
action until relieved by suitable foot pressure upon the pedals-by the aid of
small springs operating against the forward edge of the said pedals, and in Figs. 17
and 18 a modification whereby a ratchet lever operates automatically upon the
brake lever and maintains the latter in action until foot pressure is exercised upon
the rear of the aforesaid ratchet lever.
The foot-rest principle is effected by the operator allowing his feet to remain
inert upon the pedal surface, or, as in Figs. 1 and 2, by placing his feet upon the
extremity of the bracket. The drawings represent the brackets as for fitting to
the fork of cycles.
In order to effect the arrangement referred to in the foregoing, a cast bracket a.
Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8, of sundry designs is secured to the front fork of the cycles,
and similar vehicles, by means of the forward end of the said bracket being cast
with plain edges, and having slots, b. Figs. 5 and 13, the latter carrying pieces of
spring steel which encircle the fork uprights and are secured at forward end by
screws and nuts, or the forward end of the bracket is cast with fork edges, c.
Figs. 2, 8, and 12, which are met by pieces of spring steel encircling the fork
uprights of the vehicle, and which pass thence inside the fork edge of the bracket
and emerging at recess d. Figs. 1, 7, and 11, are secured by screws and nuts, or the
bracket may be secured by other or similar methods to those hereinbefore and
hereinafter referred to.

page_text: The bracket lid or top, with raised projections e. Figs. 1, and 2, may be cast
separately and secured to bracket by means of four screws driven vertically. A
rotating lever, f. Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 15 and 16, is secured to the bracket by
means of a rod g. being passed through the tubular stay h. of the lever, and its
threaded ends operated upon by plain or wing nuts. The lever may be extended
beyond the sides of the bracket in order to afford greater pedal surface, Fig. 6.
The roller i. Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 13, and 14, encircles a tube j. and the ends of this
tube fit against the bosses k. Figs. 2, 6, and 14, on the lever, and the spindle /
Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 13, 14 is passed through the aforesaid tube, and is allowed to
project beyond the sides of the lever and bracket, each projection is then encircled
by a plain, or flange, end collar m. Figs. 2, 6, and 14, and this collar in turn is
encircled by the rubber n. or other pedal surface, and nuts, o. Figs. 2, and 6, are
then placed upon the threaded extremities of the spindle, or a fixed brake surface in
the shape of a concave or convex piece of wood or metal, having an elongated
upper surface p. Figs. 3 and 4, may be secured to the rear cross-tie or stay q. of
the lever, by means of the said elongated upper surface being placed in a recess
which may be made in stay or cross-tie of lever, and being met from above by a
screw driven vertically through the stay or cross-tie, or this fixed brake surface
may be secured in position on the cross-tie of the aforesaid lever by means of a
hole-of corresponding diameter to the tubular portion of the stay or cross-tie-
being drilled horizontally through the aforesaid elongated surface, which would
then encircle, and be secured in position in the recess in cross-tie of lever by means
of the pedal or other rod r. Figs. 3 and 4, as such rod is passed through the stay or
cross-tie of the lever.
The spring s. Figs. 1, 2, 7, 8, 15, and 16, is made of flat steel, and being passed
into slot in the stay or transom t. of the bracket is secured by means of a screw
driven vertically; the stay of the bracket having been tapped to admit thereof,
and the reverse end of the spring is passed under the rear stay of the lever, or
spiral springs u. Fig. 5, may encircle rods v. having their lower extremities passed
into recesses in the bracket, and their upper extremities passed through the lever
and through the rear cross-tie or stay w. Figs. 5 and 6, of the bracket, and being
secured in position by nuts placed upon their threaded ends.
The slotted lever fin Figs. 7 and 8 is fitted with cast pedals r. which are passed
through slots in the sides of the bracket a, and slot in lever, and are individually
pivotted upon a screw or pin y passed vertically through them; and through and
secured to the hollow cross-tie or stay of the lever.
The slots in the bracket a are curved and have either one or two notches or
recesses in their rear edges: the upper recess being for the purpose of admitting
the pedals, and thereby effecting the foot rest, whilst the lever is in the inoperative
position for brake purposes: the lower recess is for the purpose of admitting the
pedals, whilst the lever is in the operative brake position. The pedals are operated
upon at their forward edges by small springs a', which automatically secure the
said pedals in the recesses, until such pedals are pressed forward by the feet of the
operator. The inner ends of the pedals are fitted with teeth for the purpose of
securing their combined action, and the small springs already referred to are
secured to the hollow cross-tie or stay of lever in such a position as to operate
against the forward edge of the pedals: these springs are secured to the stay or
cross-tie of the lever by means of screws passed vertically through said stay or
cross-tie, such screws being encircled in their passage by the aforesaid springs.
The roller spindle I may be secured to the lever by means of nuts acting upon its
threaded ends, and fitting up to the sides of the lever, or the ends of the spindle
may be rivetted; the spindle may be encircled by a collar, which in turn would be
encircled by the roller. The spring s is made of flat steel and being passed into a
slot in the stay, or transom t of the bracket; is secured by means of a screw driven
vertically; the stay of the bracket having been tapped to admit thereof; the
reverse end of this spring is passed through the rear part of the tubular stay or
cross-tie of the lever, the surface of which may be suitably bossed if desired, and

page_text: the boss may be slotted to admit the end of the spring. The lever is secured to
bracket by means of a rod y. being passed through the tubular stay of the said
lever, and the threaded ends of the rod are operated upon by plain or wing nuts;
the lever is suitably bossed near its rear extremity for the purpose of affording
suitable bearing surface for the ends of the roller.
The sliding leverf Figs. 9 and 10 is pivotted on pedal rod 61 said rod being
passed through two flange wheels C¹ which are fitted to run in the slot d' of the
bracket a.
The projecting ends of this rod are encircled by flange end collars m.
carrying the rubbers, or other pedal surface; and its extremities are threaded and
are operated upon by nuts.o. for the purpose of securing it in position. The spring el
is secured to upper edge of bracket by means of a screw driven vertically, and
operates upon the forward end of the lever. The roller i is secured in position, as
already described in regard to Figs. 7 and 8. The bracket is secured to the
vehicle by means of clamps and four screws carrying wing nuts.
The rotating lever Figs. 11 and 12 is connected to the bracket a by means of
thread end pivots f¹ which are secured in position by nuts operating thereon. The
pedal rod 6 is passed through the forward tubular cross-tie or stay 9' of the lever,
and through the slots d' of the bracket, and the projecting ends are encircled by
flange end collars carrying pedal rubbers and are secured as already described in
regard to Fig. 10. The rear tubular cross-tie or stay of the lever encircles a
rod h¹ which is passed through bracket slot, and said rod is secured in position by
nuts acting upon its threaded ends. The roller is secured in position as already
described in regard to Fig. 8, with the exception that the ends of the spindle
project through slots in bracket, and are there secured, or the rear tubular stay of
the lever may be left without a rod and the ends of the roller spindle 1. may
terminate flush with the sides of the lever instead of working through the slots in
the bracket; and when the latter is made for fixing at the forward edge of a cycle
fork, the said bracket must be cast with the declivity of its slots reversed. The
spiral springs u. encircle rods, v. which are passed through bosses ¹ on the outside
of the lever, the said bosses projecting beyond the sides of the bracket by means of
slots d' in which the said bosses traverse.
Each of the aforesaid rods is passed through bosses on the outside of the
bracket, and is secured in position by nuts operating upon its threaded ends.
Pivotted links, Figs. 13 and 14, are secured to bracket a. by means of pivots
with the threaded ends being passed through forward end of front link k³, and
maintained in position by suitable nuts o., and upon the aforesaid pivots the forward
link rotates. The tubular cross-tie or stay at the rear extremity of this forward
link is recessed 1, for the purpose of admitting the forward extremity of the
rear link m² through which a corresponding hole is drilled; the links are placed
end to end, and a rod is passed through them, which serves as a pivot upon which
the rear link-which is suitably cross-tied-rotates. The beaded slot dis
traversed by flange wheels, which revolve upon the roller spindle l. and this spindle
is encircled inside the bracket by a tube or collar j. which in turn is encircled by
the roller i. and the ends of this spindle project beyond the sides of the bracket,
and are fitted with pedal rubbers n. in the same manner as previously described in
regard to Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6.
The spring is secured to the forward cross-tie or stay t. of the bracket by a
screw driven vertically and operates upon the tubular stay of the forward link.
The rotating lever f. Figs. 15 and 16, is pivotted to bracket a. by means of
a rod g. passed through the tubular stay h. of the lever, and its threaded ends
secured by nuts. The roller i. is secured in position in the manner previously
described in regard to Figs. 8 and 10. The pedal rod b' is in two parts, each
being studded at its inner end, and passed through the lower end of the lever,
which is suitably bossed; the rod is then encircled by a flange collar m. carrying the
pedal rubber n. and is secured in position by nuts acting upon its threaded outer end.
The flat springs. is secured to recess in cross-tie or stay t. of bracket by mean
of a screw driven vertically, and the reverse end of the spring is passed under the

page_text: cross-tie, or stay 7. of the lever. The bracket is secured to the fork of a cycle.
by means of a piece of T shape spring steel n¹ being passed through slots in
bracket, and being secured to rear end of bracket by screws and nuts.
The rotating levers Figs. 17 and 18 work through horizontal slots in the sides of
the bracket a. and are pivotted to bosses o¹ on the said bracket, by means of
screws or pins p₁ driven vertically, and secured by means of suitable nuts, or by
rivets. The bosses may extend three fourths, or the entire depth of the bracket
and may be of any desired width consistent with the size of the bracket slots,
thereby forming at the upper and lower edges of the said slots, a bearing surface.
for the levers. The outer end of each lever is representative of a pedal, whilst
the inner end of each lever is fitted with geared cog teeth 7' for the purpose of
securing the combined action of the levers; and a fixed brake surface forms the
base of that portion of the lever which is inside the bracket, by extending
downwards at or about a right angle; and this brake surface may be cast as a
permanent part of the said lever; or concave, or convex shape pieces of metal,
or wood with, or without rubber face may be secured to the under part of the
lever by means of screws driven vertically through the lever, and into the upper-
edge of this brake surface; or by means of any other ordinary process. The
spiral springs . which are for the purpose of automatically operating the levers.
out of the actual brake position; encircle curved rods which are secured to the
sides of the bracket by means of screws passed through their rear ends; their
reverse ends being threaded and passed through bosses & on the levers, and they
are secured in position by nuts. The ratchet lever 'which is suitably swelled,.
or bossed, at, or about its centre; is passed through a horizontal slot at the rear
of the bracket, and is pivotted to bosses u' at each extremity of the said slot
by means of a suitable rod being passed through the swelled or bossed portion of said
ratchet lever this rod may be driven through either side of the bracket when
necessary for the purpose of adjustment, and it may be encircled by a collar on
each side of the ratchet lever, such collar extending to boss on bracket. The
ends of the aforesaid rod may be plain or threaded, and secured to boss accordingly.
The inner or forward end of the ratchet lever is made fork shape, with angular
teeth which drop into recesses in the rotating levers, when the latter are
operated into the actual position for effecting brake power; the rear end of this.
ratchet lever is splayed to afford pedal surface. A Hat spring wo is secured to
recess in boss at the rear of the bracket by means of a screw driven vertically,.
and this spring operates upon the ratchet lever, and automatically maintains the
latter in action until it is released by the exercise of foot pressure upon the
aforesaid pedal surface. The bracket is secured to the fork of a cycle by means
of the clips at forward end being made in section; the outer or permanent halves
are formed by means of the extension of the sides of the bracket; the inuer or
portable halves Y¹ being pivotted to permanent halves by means of vertical rods
or pins Z' with threaded ends operated upon by nuts. The permanent halves of
said clips may be cast with or without shoulder pieces: the vertical rods or pins
aforesaid are passed through the permanent halves of the clips, immediately in
front of the forward cross-tie of bracket, and thence through the rear of portable
halves, and through bosses branching inwardly from lower edges of bracket; and
secured, as already described, or by means of rivets.
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 foot brake the combination of a bracket, lever or levers, springs,.
pedals, slots, bosses, rods, collars, flange wheels, ratchet-lever, pivots, spindles,
rollers, nuts, concave or convex pieces of metal or wood, all severally operating
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In a foot brake the combination of a bracket, pivotted links, flange wheels,
springs, pedals, slots, bosses, rods, collars, flanges, pivots, spindles, rollers, nuts,.

page_text: concave or convex pieces of metal or wood, all severally operating substantially
as hereiubefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
3. In a foot brake the combination of a bracket, lever or levers, springs,
pedals, slots, bosses, rods, collars, flange wheels, ratchet levers, pivots, spindles,
rollers, nuts, concave or convex pieces of metal or wood, all severally operating
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
4. In a foot brake the combination of a bracket, pivotted links, flange wheels,
springs, pedals, slots, bosses, rods, collars, pivots, spindles, rollers, nuts, concave or
convex pieces of metal or wood, all severally operating as and for the purposes
herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
5. In a foot rest the combination of a bracket, bracket top, lever or levers,
springs, pedals, slots, bosses, rods, collars, pivots, spindles, all severally operating
as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
6. In a foot rest the combination of a bracket, bracket top, pivotted links,
springs, pedals, slots, bosses, rods, collars, pivots, spindles, all severally operating as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
7. In a foot rest the combination of a bracket, bracket top, lever or levers,
springs, pedals, slots, bosses, rods, collars, pivots, spindles, all severally operating
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
8. In a foot rest the combination of a bracket, bracket top, pivotted links,
springs, pedals, slots, bosses, rods, collars, pivots, spindles, all severally operating
as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
9. In a foot brake and foot rest the combination of the brake and foot rest
mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the drawings.
10. The general construction, arrangement and combination of the several and
respective parts together as forming the foot brake, applicable also as a foot rest,
and as secured to the front fork, or the frame of cycles and similar vehicles, thereby
forming my invention for improvements in cycles and the like, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of January 1894.
.
JAMES WILLIAM BOYCE.