IMPROVEMENTS. IN TRICYCLES AND BICYCLES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Harrington, of Norman's Buildings, Old Street,
St. Luke's, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS.
IN TRICYCLES AND BICYCLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Harrington at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th February 1881.
JOHN HARRINGTON, of Norman's Buildings, Old Street, St. Luke's, in the County
of Middlesex. " IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND BICYCLES."
The Invention has for its object improvements in tricycles and bicycles, and
relates, firstly, to improvements upon an Invention for which I obtained
Provisional protection dated December 24, 1880, No. 5432. For this purpose I
mount the seat upon guides or ways with capability of sliding to and fro across the
width of the machine in order to enable the rider of a tricycle when travelling on
a curve to place his weight nearer to that side of the machine running on the inside
of the curve. In connection with such sliding seat, and to assist the moving of the
same at the time desired, and at the same time to effect the steering of the machine,
the handles for throwing the wheels into and out of gear are placed on opposite
sides of the machine to those of the clutches they operate, and are by cross links
connected with such clutches, by which means, when the rider desires to turn
round, he presses against the clutch handle on the opposite side of the machine to
that on which he desires to turn; this action causes the seat with the rider thereon
to move towards the inside of the desired curve, throws the wheel on that side out
of gear, and by acting upon a lever applies the break to such wheel, thereby
effectually steering the machine, or such travelling of the seat may by suitable
connections be caused to steer the leading or trailing wheel. I also in such class
of machines mount a break lever at the back of the rider, so that by leaning back
against such lever the rider can apply the break to both wheels simultaneously;
this may be carried out in various ways, but the method I have found to answer
consists in attaching such break lever to a cross shaft which by suitable connections
operates the break apparatus.

page_text: The Invention relates, secondly, to improvements in the construction of wheels
for tricycles and bicycles in order to obtain greater compactness in the machine.
For this purpose I form the felloc of the wheel tubular and sufficiently strong
in itself to carry the desired weight. On the outside of this tubular felloe I fix
the ordinary half tube which forms a socket to receive the rubber tyre. The felloe
of the said wheel is connected to the hub thereof by means of a few strong spokes
so as to enable the wheel to be built in a narrow compass instead of (as when
using wire spokes) having to employ a brood hub and to spread the spokes out on
both sides thereof. When using such description of wheel in a bicycle, and in some
description of tricycles, I am enabled to place the treadles much nearer together
than when employing wheels of the ordinary construction, thereby giving the
rider greater power and ease in riding, and more control over the machine, whilst
the appearance in riding is much more graceful.
My Invention relates, thirdly, to means for preventing the continuous vibration
of the wheel being communicated to the rider of a bicycle.
For this purpose I
mount the bearings for the wheels in or upon guides formed at the lower ends of
the forks, and I interpose springs between such bearings and the forks. By these
means the bearings are rigidly governed sideways in their guides, but are capable
of moving up and down vertically therein without communicating the vibration
thereof to the fork and spine of the machine.
The Invention relates, fourthly, to means for preventing the fatigue and pain to
the hand resulting from the excessive vibration of the handle of a bicycle or tricycle.
For this purpose I form that part of the handle which receives the pressure of the
hand with a spring surface capable of giving to the vibrations communicated to
the handle whilst the rest of the handle is rigid as heretofore.
The Invention relates, fifthly, to improvements in the mode of connecting the
spine to the head of a bicycle or tricycle, and relates to means whereby greater
strength and rigidity are obtained.
For this purpose instead of forming the end or pin of the neck solid and
mounting the lower end in a coned bearing and forming a coned recess in the
upper end to receive a bearing pin screwed through the upper part of the head, I
form the end or pin of the neck larger than heretofore, and bore it through from
end to end thereof to fit a tapered pin screwed into the lower part of the head;
both the upper and lower ends of the neck pin are coned to fit into coned bearings
screwed into the head.
A nut screwing onto the tapered pin is employed to hold the parts firmly in
position.
Or the ends of the neck pin may be formed with one or more rings or grooves
around the same to fit corresponding bearings formed or fixed in the head, such
bearings being necessarily formed in halves to permit the insertion and removal of
the neck pin.
The Invention relates, sixthly, to a novel construction of tyre for bicycles and
tricycles. For this purpose I dispense with the rubber tyre usually employed and
employ in lieu thereof a tyre formed of cork, preferably covered with canvas or
other suitable fabric; or I form it of rope, and saturate both with a waterproofing
composition. This improved tyre is specially designed for racing purposes.

page_text: Figure 1 represents a vertical section through the head of a bicycle or tricycle
showing one mode of connecting the spine thereto according to my Invention;
Figures 2 and 3 are cross sections of the same, drawn respectively on the lines 1, 1,
and 2, 2, of Figure 1; Figures 4 and 5 are respectively a plan or edge view, and
a vertical elevation of one of the upper bearing pieces; and Figures 6 and 7 are
respectively a plan or edge view and a vertical elevation of one of the lower
bearing pieces.
Figure 8 represents a vertical elevation partly in section, and Figure 9 is a plan
of another method of carrying my Invention into effect.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 8, and 9, are drawn half size; and Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, are
drawn full size.
In all the Figures like parts are marked with similar letters of reference.
In Figures 1 to 7 a represents the head of a bicycle or tricycle and b the neck
of the spine, which latter is formed at its ends b1, b2, with a number of grooves and
rings around the same; the lower end of the neck b fits a pair of bearing pieces c,
each forming nearly half a circle. These bearing pieces c are formed conical on the
exterior to fit a recess or seat formed for them in the lower part of the head a; the
upper end b² of the neck b fits a pair of bearing pieces d forming each nearly half
a circle, and coned on the exterior thereof to fit the interior of the lower end of a
hollow screw e screwing into the top of the head a.
In order to prevent rotation of the bearing pieces c, c, d, d, screws f, g, are
employed, the ends of which enter the spaces between each pair of such bearing
pieces. If wear should take place of the ends 61, 62, of the neck b and of the
bearing pieces c, c, d, d, the same can be readily adjusted by means of the hollow
screw e which, when screwed downwards, forces together the parts of the bearing
pieces.
In Figures 8 and 9 the bearing pieces c, c, d,'d, and the screws e, f, and g are
dispensed with and the ends 61, 62, of the neck b, which are formed as before
described with respect to Figures 1 to 7, fit correspondingly shaped half bearings a¹
formed for them in the head a, the other half bearings being formed in removeable
caps a which are screwed to the head a, and are formed so as to be capable of
adjustment for wear.

page_text: I would here remark that the other heads of Invention described in my
Provisional Specification do not possess such an amount of utility as to render it
advisable further to describe the same, and for this reason I desire to disclaim, and
I do hereby disclaim such heads of Invention.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and two modes in which
I carry the same into effect, I would have it understood that what I claim is,
forming rings and grooves around the ends of the neck pin of a bicycle or tricycle
to fit correspondingly shaped bearings formed or fixed in the head, substantially as
herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Harrington, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
JOHN HARRINGTON. (L.S.)