A NEW OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR THE FEET TO BE USED EITHER FOR LOCOMOTION ON WHEELS, OR AS A STILT and
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
=
I SAMUEL DAVIES of N° 1 Devonshire Street Portland Place in the County of
Middlesex Hotel Keeper do hereby declare the nature of my invention for A NEW
OR IMPROVED MACHINE FOR THE FEET TO BE USED EITHER FOR LOCOMOTION ON
WHEELS, OR AS A STILT 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 a new or improved machine termed a wheel
stilt to be used either as a velocipede or stilt Such machine combines the
essential advantages of simplicity, portability, convenience and economy.
Fig: 1 of the accompanying Drawings gives a view in side elevation and Fig: 2
a view in front elevation of such machine which is constructed as follows:
A single wheel (a), preferably from 9 to 12 inches in diameter, is mounted upon
a short hollow axle (b) through which a scrow bolt (k) is passed from the inside;
the end of which projects through the axle on the outside and forms a spindle to
carry a connecting rod (c). The lower extremity of this connecting rod has an eye
formed theroin through which the spindle passes and wherein it is secured by a
nut-The rod is made of any convenient length and is furnished at the top with a
handle (d)-A shoulder (h) is likewise formed thereon near its lower end, to which
a foot plate (e) is fastened by a bolt and nut passing through lugs (e¹) formed on
the outer end of such foot plate-This latter terminates on the inside in a curved
lateral arm (f) forming a bearing which is securely fastened at its lower end to
the axle (6) by the bolt ()-A ratchet wheel (g) is fastened upon this hub of the
wheel. Such ratchet is controlled by a pawl (m) and spring (n) carried on the
inside of the arm (f) thus preventing the backward travel of the wheel and
imparting steadiness to the machine-The foot plate carries a pedal or shoe (o)
while fitted underneath such foot plate is a brake (p), mounted on a horizontal bar
carried in two eyes rivetted into the foot plate.
Such brake is actuated by a connecting wiro (8) fastened at the bottom to a pro-
jecting arm (t) formed on the brake; from whence such connecting wiro passes
upwards obliquely, and is fastened at the top to a movable arm (u) fitted to the
upper end of the connecting rod in such a position that it can be readily depressed
with the thumb-When so depressed the wire becomes taut thereby raising the
arm (t) and depressing the brake thus immediately arresting the forward travel of

page_text: the wheel-The brake may be rigidly, fixed in position and kept depressed by
means of a catch (v) actuated by a spring such catch and spring being mounted
upon the handle (d)-In order to release the brake at will an eye (w) is fixed to
the steering rod just below the shoulder (h)-To this eye one end of a coiled
spring (a) is attached while the other. end is secured to the extremity of the
arm (t).
So long as. the arm (u) is depressed. this coiled spring remains expanded; but
immediately such arm is released the spring recoils and lifts the brake off the
wheel.
Figs 3. 4. 5 shew detail views of the screw bolt (k)-shoe (o)-and foot plate (e)
with lugs (e) and curved lateral arm (f.), and Fig: 6. shews a detail view of the
brake (p) with its curved arm. (t).
The operation of my invention is as follows:-Being furnished with two
machines, one for the right and one for the left foot, the rider places his feet upon
the pedals or shoes:-he then grips the handles, takes off the brakes, and imparts
travel to the wheels by a forward movement of each foot-In order to maintain
such travel it is only necessary to advance each foot alternately when an easy
gliding motion is obtained. Or the brakes may be fixed rigid and the machines
used as stilts.
In conclusion I would observe that I do not confine myself to the precise details
of construction herein before specified as the same admit of modification in some
minor respects.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
A wheel stilt having its various parts constructed, arranged, combined and
fitted substantially in the manner and for the purposes bereinbefore specified.
Dated this 13th day of November 1884.
SAMUEL DAVIES.
Elt & Co., Agents,
33, Southampton Buildings, Holborn,
London.