Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1889-Accepted, 6th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
Wo HENRY WADKIN of 6 Dunstalf Street Wolverhampton Mechanical Engineer,
and GEORGE STROUD of Kingsheath Railway Station Master do hereby declare the
nature of our said invention to be as follows :-
--
Our invention relates to improvements in the means of propelling a bicycle and
consists substantially of the following arrangement of parts.
In place of the ordinary revolving pedals we introduce two swinging levers which
hang upon either side of the head of the machine and are free to swing backwards
and fordwards in the direction of the length of the machine and may be of any con-
venient length to suit the rider, near to the lower ends of the levers are pedals of any
suitable form, by means of which the rider brings pressure to bear upon the levers in
a forward or horizontal direction this motion is transmitted by means of connecting
rods to cranks on the centre axis of the front or driving wheel of the machine which
wheel is by this means caused to revolve and propel the machine forward.
The swinging levers above mentioned may be straight or bont to allow room for the
riders knees while working the machine. They may also be provided with slots or a
series of holes to allow of the adjustment of the pedals to any suitable height according
to the requirement of the rider.
To the head of the bicycle we also attach a spring which is connected with the
saddle bar or backbone of the machine and is so arranged as to resist any side way
motion of the landing wheel of the bicycle, and so assist the rider in keeping the
machine in a straight track and also lessening the danger caused by the wheel striking
any obstacle while travelling. This spring is sufficiently pliable to allow of the
steering of the bicycle by the handle bar in the ordinary way while at the same time
it is sufficiently rigid to resist any moderate shock which may meet it in ordinary
riding.
THOS. KENDRICK,
Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
We HENRY WADKIN of 6 Dunstalf Street Wolverhampton Mechanical Engineer
and GEORGE STROUD of Kingsheath Railway Station Master, do hereby declare the
nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
Our Invention relates to improvements in the means of Propelling a bicycle and
consists substantially of the following arrangement of parts.
:-
In place of the ordinary revolving pedals we introduce two swinging levers which
hang upon either side of the head of the Machine and are free to swing backwards
and forwards in the direction of the length of the machine and may be of any con-
venient length to suit the rider, near to the lower ends of the levers are pedals of any
suitable form, by means of which the rider brings pressure to bear upon the levers in
a forward or horizontal direction this motion is transmitted by means of connecting
rods to cranks on the centre axis of the front or driving wheel of the machine which
wheel is by this means caused to revolve and propel the machine forward.
The swinging levers above mentioned may be straight or bent to allow room for the
riders knees while working the machine. They may also be provided with slots or
a series of holes to allow of the adjustment of the pedals to any suitable height
according to the requirement of the rider.

page_text: To the head of the bicycle we also attach a spring which is connected with the
saddle bar or backbone of the machine and is so arranged as to resist any side way
motion of the leading wheel of the bicycle, and so assist the rider in keeping the
machine in a straight track and also lessening the danger caused by the wheel striking
any obstacle while travelling. This spring is sufficiently pliable to allow of the steering
of the bicycle by the handle bar in the ordinary way while at the same time it is
sufficiently rigid to resist any moderate shock which may meet it in the ordinary
riding.
And in order that this our said Invention may be more clearly understood we
have prepared the accompanying sheet of drawings by the aid of which we will
proceed more particularly to describe it. Similar letters of reference denote similar
parts in each figure where they occur.
Fig. 1. is a front view elevation of a bicycle of that type known as a "Safety."
Fig. 2. is a side view elevation of same.
Fig. 3. is a plan view of same.
Fig. 4 is a view of the head and parts of the backbone, and fork of a bicycle of
the ordinary kind.
a, a, are two swinging levers working freely upon the bar b, at ¹¹, which is
parallel to the handle bar c, being one swinging lever to each side of the head c¹, of
the machine, and move to and fro on a line with the length of the machine. At the
ends of the swinging levers a, a, are arranged the pedals d, d, in pedal frames d'd,
and by these means the rider brings pressure to bear by the feet alternatively upon the
levers a, a, in a forward or horizontal direction and this motion is transmitted by means
of the connecting rods e, e, to the cranks ff, of the chain wheel g, which is geared to
the chain wheel, on the centre axis of the driving wheel m, by means of the chain
and thus drive or propel the machine forward, the said swinging levers a, a, may be
bent to any form, and the pedal frames d', d', to any configuration according to the
requirement. We may construct the said frames d, d, with slots or holes in each side
and with a screw pin and nut thereon adjust the same to a height according to the
requirement of the rider.
The limit of the swing of the levers a, a, and the throw of the cranks f, f, is by the
adjustment of e, which is constructed for the smaller tube to slide into the larger to a
required length and then secured by a set screw at n.
The frames d' d with pedals d d, may be considered dangerous in dismounting or
by a fall as the feet may not readily be released, to remedy this we should dispense
with the frames d' d' and arrange d, d, on the outer surface of a a, somewhat as the
pedals are now arranged to Safeties and bicycles.
O, is a spring arranged to the head c³, the ends p, one being on each side of the
backbone or saddle bar r, and will resist any side way motion of the leading wheel, it
is sufficiently pliable to yield or allow the steering by the handle bar c.
The parts unlettered have no bearing upon our Invention being of the ordinary
kind (that is to say) such as are employed for or to this class of machine.
Our invention is applicable to bicycles of all kinds those in process of manufacture,
and with slight modifications to those in use.
We would observe in conclusion that we do not confine ourselves to the precise
details and arrangement of parts as herein given and set forth and shewn on the
accompanying sheet of drawings, but that we hold ourselves at liberty to alter or
modify the same, without departing essentially from the principle of this our said
Invention, we do not claim the construction of parts taken separately or apart from
each other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Iriven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
1st. The construction and application of the swinging levers a, a, with pedals d, d,
in combination with the connecting rods e, e, and cranks f, f, as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in 1

page_text: 2nd. The construction and application of the spring O, to the head c, and backboner,
as herein before described and illustrated in Fig. 4.
3rd. The general arrangement and combination of parts for the purposes as
described in the foregoing specification and shewn on the accompanying sheet of
drawings, the whole forming "Improvements in Velocipedes."
Dated 30th May 1889
THOS. KENDRICK,
Agent for Applicants.