Improvements in Bicycle Pedals.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by THE CHICAGO BICYCLE COMPANY, of
491, Carroll Avenue, in the City of Chicago, County of Cook, State of
Illinois, United States of America.]
Improvements in Bicycle Pedals.
I, SAMUEL SIDNEY BROMHEAD, of 97, Newgate Street, London, Patent
Agent (communicated), 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 of the invention is to provide a construction of the flat rubber-faced
pedals used on bicycles, by which the rubber portion covering the margins of the
pedal frame, will be effectively prevented from turning, by which dust and dirt are
excluded from the bearings, on which the pedal frame rotates about the crank pin,
and by which the pedal is cushioned against the effects of blows, as from falling of
the bicycle sidewise upon the ground.
Other objects of the invention are to provide a simple and effective mode of
adjustment of the ball bearings of the pedal, and a mode of applying the oil to the
bearings calculated to avoid the admission of dirt. To these ends the invention
consists in the features of construction, in the combinations and in the arrangement
of parts as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.
In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this Specification
Figure 1 is a central, longitudinal section of the pedal in the plane of its widest
diameter.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same in the line y-y of Figure 1, looking
toward the left end of said figure.
Figure 3 is an elevation of said pedal as seen from the outer end.
Figure 4 is an end view of a modified form of rubber adapted to the ordinary
form of pedal.
Figure 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the pedal, on the line 2-2, showing
a modification in the attachment of the rubbers to the pedal box.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Referring to the drawing, A is the crank pin or axle, which in its general form
does not differ essentially from those in common use having shoulders a near one
end, and a collar A¹ with similar shoulders at the other end, adapted to serve as
bearings for the balls bb. Instead of having this collar adjustable, as is common,
I screw it up to a shoulder, and set it in that position by a set-screw d. A further
improvement in the axle consists in making the oil-hole in the centre of the same,
and from the inner end, the better to exclude dirt and dust.
On the axle is mounted a box B, having at the inner end (at the right) the usual
counterbore to receive the balls. The two side bars or lateral wings B' B' are
connected to the hub or box proper by thin webs B' B¹. At the outer end of the
axle is mounted a box C of similar construction, its hub telescoping the hub of
the box B, and its flange or web C₁ overlapping the web B¹. The webs are
connected by bolts ce, and to allow for the proper longitudinal adjustment of the
box, the holes in the webs in one or both parts should be somewhat elongated. In
the lateral wings of the outer box CC are screws e e, with their inner ends
abutting on the opposite ends of the wings B' B. By screwing inwardly the parts
are necessarily thrust apart, and a proper adjustment of the box on the balls is
secured thereby.

page_text: The improvement in the construction of the rubbers forming the foot-pad consists
primarily in connecting the parts which cover the two lateral wings and which are
commonly made in two separate pieces, by a central web or webs. In its simplest
form the rubber may be made, as shown in Figure 4, with concave sides to receive
the ball of the foot, a central hole to admit the axle, and lateral holes g g for the
lateral pins or bolts of a pedal as ordinarily constructed. This integral or connected
construction is such as to prevent the marginal rubbers from turning, and allows
the use of a softer and more elastic rubber than can be used where separate rubbers
are employed and are held from turning by other means.
In
A further improvement in the construction of the rubbers has reference to the
protection of the wearing parts of the pedal and consists in completely encasing
them with the elastic foot-pad, and this is accomplished by providing an outer end
piece of rubber, integral with the portions already described and covering the
outer end of the pedal frame, as shown in the other figures of the drawing.
this case, the rubber pad, which is preferably made with the reduced central
connection shown in Figure 2, has a cavity corresponding to the outside of the
pedal frame. The rubber is slipped over the frame from the outer end, and is held
in place thereon by the bolts c c, which, in order to bind the rubber firmly in place,
should be provided with socket washers h h.
This construction not only serves to exclude dust from the parts inside, but
arrests the jar on the pedal and crank when the bicycle falls on its side, and thereby
limits the liability to bend the crank or injure the pedal. This cushioning action
of the rubber may desirably be further increased by forming a boss D₁ on the
outer end.
As a means of preventing the foot from slipping off the pedal sidewise, lugs D'D'
are shown, formed on the rubber at either or both ends and integral with the pad.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1: The combination with a bicycle pedal frame of generally flat form, of an
elastic foot-pad encasing the frame on its sides and edges.
2:In combination with a bicycle pedal frame, an elastic foot-pad encasing said
frame on the sides and outer end.
3: An elastic foot-pad for bicycles encasing the frame of the pedal on the
sides and outer end and having a central enlargement on the said outer end whereby
the pedal is better cushioned against endwise blows.
4: The combination with a bicycle pedal frame and the crank axle on which it
turns, of an elastic foot-pad applied to the frame and provided with an integral
part extending across the outer end of the latter, whereby it excludes dust from
the axle and bearings and serves as a cushion against blows.
5: An elastic foot-pad for bicycles having lugs to retain the foot from lateral
displacement, said lugs being formed integral with the body of the foot-pad,
substantially as set forth.
6: The combination in a bicycle pedal, of an axle having an oil-hole leading to
the bearings from the inner end of said axle, a pedal frame mounted rotatably on
the axle, and a foot-pad applied to said frame and covering the outer end thereof,
whereby dust is excluded from the axle bearing.
7:-The herein described box for bicycle pedals, composed of the hub B
counterbored to form a seat for anti-friction balls and having flanges B¹ B¹ and
wings B2 B3, the extension hub C similarly counterbored, and having flanges C¹ C¹
and wings C C2, connecting bolts c c, and adjusting screws e e, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
8: In a pedal substantially as described, the combination of the extension box,
an enclosing casing of elastic material, as rubber, bolts adapted to connect the two
parts of the box, and washers under the heads and nuts of said bolts having a

page_text: bearing on the box-plate and another bearing on the rubber, whereby all the parts
are held in connection, substantially as described.
Dated at London this 9th dow of March 1901
S. S. BROMHEAD.