Improvements in Cycles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Nov., 1890-Accepted, 3rd Jan., 1851
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycles.
We, BERNARD MERVYN DRAKE and JOHN MARSHALL GORHAM, Electrical Engineers,
both of 2 Princes Mansions, Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The usual method of adjusting the distance between the axis of the pedal and the
centre of the driving axle is to bolt the pedal to a crank which has a slot in it in which
slot the pedal can be fixed at a radius which varies from say 5 to 7 inches according
to the build and requirements of the machine. To make this adjustment it is usually
necessary to dismount and unscrew and screw up again the nut on each pedal. The
object of our invention is to enable the rider to vary the position of the pedals without
dismounting so that on ascending a hill the advantage of a long crank may be obtained
and on the level the pedal may be returned to the position nearer the centre and this
while the machine is in motion.
In the improved apparatus the position of the pedal is maintained by a spring which
presses it into two or more recesses cut in the interior of a longitudinal slot. In
propelling the machine the pressure of the foot merely forces the pedal more firmly
into the recess, but it is evident that if pressure be applied on the backward or upward
part of the stroke the spring will give and the pedal will then be free to take up a new
position.
If the pressure be applied during the first half of the back stroke the pedal will be
pressed outwards and will be retained by the spring in one of the outward notches; if
on the other hand the pressure be applied during the last half of the back stroke
the pedal will be pressed inwards and retained by the spring at a point nearer the
centre.
Dated 22nd day of January 1890.
BERNARD MERVYN DRAKE.
JOHN MARSHALL GORHAM.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycles.
We, BERNARD MERVYN DRAKE and JOHN MARSHALL GORHAM, Electrical Engineers,
both of 2 Princes Mansions, Victoria Street, in the City of Westminster, 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 usual method of adjusting the distance between the axis of the pedal and the
centre of the driving axle is to bolt the pedal to a crank which has a slot in it, in
which slot the pedal can be fixed at a radius which varies from say 5 to 7 inches
according to the build and requirements of the machine. To make this adjustment it
is usually necessary to dismount and unscrew & screw up again the nut on each pedal.
The object of our invention is to enable the rider to vary the position of the pedals
without dismounting so that on ascending a hill the advantage of a long crank may be
obtained and on the level the pedal may be returned to the position nearer the centre,
and this while the machine is in motion. In the improved apparatus the position of
the pedal c. is maintained by a spring a. which presses it into two or more recesses b. b¹
cut in the interior of a longitudinal slot.-In propelling the machine the pressure of
the foot merely forces the pedal more firmly into the recess b. or 6', but it is evident
that if pressure be applied on the backward, or upward part of the stroke the spring a.
will give and the pedal will then be free to take up a new position.
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page_text: If the pressure be applied during the first half of the back stroke the pedal will be
pressed outwards and will be retained by the spring in one of the outward notches b¹
if on the other hand the pressure be applied during the last half of the back stroke
the pedal will be pressed inwards and retained by the spring at a point b. nearer the
centre.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
The arrangement of a sliding pedal with two or more recesses and a spring substan-
tially as described, the pedal to be adjustable by means of pressure applied by the foot
on the up or back stroke without dismounting.
Dated this Twenty-first day of November 1890.
BERNARD MERVYN DRAKE.
JOHN MARSHALL GORHAM.