Year: 1885

page_text: I HENRY FREDERICK NAPPER of Loxwood, Billingshurst in the County of
Sussex, Solicitor & Landowner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
In velocipedes of the ordinary construction (having a rotary action of the
pedals), the position of the body of the rider, when propelling the vehicle, is
constrained, and the action of legs and feet unnatural.
Now the object of this invention is, while obviating these defects, to utilize the
whole weight of the rider in propelling the vehicle, and to this end the rider
assumes an upright position, and drives the machine by a walking motion.
In carrying out my invention, I prefer to employ a loop or U-frame open at
back, and provided at front with a steering wheel. This U-frame also carries the
bearings of the travelling wheel axles, and also the fulcra of a pair of pedal rods.
The travelling wheel axles are made with cranks, and are carried in bearings
both on the U frame, and also on bridge pieces or brackets secured to each arm
of the frame.
The upper portions of the frame carry stud-pins, upon which are mounted pedal
rods, which may be attached or applied to the cranks by a slot, or in any other
convenient manner; and they severally carry at their lower extremities near the
ground, either a pedal plate provided with toe and heel pieces, or a stirrup or other
suitable contrivance for receiving the foot of the rider. A hand rail is provided to
steady the body of the rider, and a steering rod, or some apparatus for the steering
wheel, will be necessary.
The rider, placing his feet upon the pedal plates, and moving his legs alternately
backwards and forwards, as in the action of walking, will bring the whole weight
of his body first upon one pedal and then upon the other, rocking alternately the
pedal rods, and thereby carrying round the cranks attached to the travelling
wheels.
Brakes, springs, and any other necessary or desirable adjuncts, may of course be
applied if desired.

page_text: I HENRY FREDERICK NAPPER, of Loxwood, Billingshurst in the County of
Sussex, Solicitor and Landowner, 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:-
In velocipedes of the ordinary construction (i.e. having a rotary action of the
pedals), the position of the body of the rider, when propelling the vehicle, is
constrained, and the action of legs and feet unnatural.
Now the object of this invention is to obviate these defects, by permitting the
body of the rider to assume and remain in an upright position, and driving the
machine by a walking motion.
In carrying out my invention, as applied to a three wheeled machine, I employ
a suitable frame, preferably provided with a front steering wheel, and carrying the
bearings of the travelling wheel axles, which may be cranked or carry oranks, and
also the fulcra of a pair of pedal rods.-The pedal rods may be attached or applied
to the cranks by a slot, or in any other convenient manner, and they severally
carry, at their lower extremities, near the ground, either a pedal plate provided
with toe and heel pieces, or a stirrup or other suitable contrivance for receiving
the foot of the rider.
The rider, placing his feet upon the pedal plates, and moving his legs alternately.
backwards and forwards, as in the action of walking, will bring the whole weight
of his body first upon one pedal and then upon the other, rocking alternately the
pedal rods, and thereby carrying round the cranks attached to the travelling
wheels.
:-
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1, Sheet I, is a side elevation of a machine constructed according to my
invention, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3, Sheet II, shows a side
elevation of a slight modification in the form of the frame and the mode of
driving; and Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the same.
The same letters of reference will be used for corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
:
Referring now to Sheet I, A is a loop or U shaped frame, which is provided
with bearings for the driving wheel axles B, and also a head for the steering wheel.
The ends of the frame, which are prolonged beyond the axles B, are turned
upwards and forwards, to carry the bearings or fulcra of the hanging pedal rods C,
and are secured together in front by a bar D, or in any other convenient manner.
The driving wheel axles, are cranked, and the inner bearings for the cranked
axles are formed in brackets or bridgepieces E, firmly secured to the mainframe A,
as seen in Fig. 2.-It will be evident that these brackets or bridgepieces E may, if
so desired, be placed outside the frame A, in which case they will carry the outer
bearings of the wheel axles. The pedal rods or bars C are slotted to receive the
crank pins of the axles B, and are provided at their lower ends with foot plates or
stirrups C, to receive the feet of the rider. As the pedal rods C are swung
backwards and forwards by the walking action of the rider, rotary motion will be
communicated to the driving wheels through the cranked axles B.

page_text: The bar D serves not only to secure together the front part of the frames, but
also as a hand bar for the rider, by means of which he may steady himself while
driving. It will also serve as a supporting bar for the steering gear F, which may
be of the Leicester, Cripper, or any other suitable or convenient pattern.-In the
drawing, the Leicester pattern is shown.
In order to increase the rigidity of the frame, and prevent springing of the same,
I may provide a strengthening bar A¹ at the lower part of the frame, which bar
will also serve to steady the steering handle rod.
Springs will be provided to the machine according to requirements of the rider
and the fancy of the maker.
In Sheet II, I have shown a slight modification in the machine just described,
the objects of the modification being more particularly to obviate any risk of
lateral motion of the driving wheels, and to overcome the friction that may
possibly arise in the connections between the cranks and the pedal rods or bars.
On referring to Sheet II, it will be seen that the frame A of the machine is a
vertical frame, and forms an arch over the head of the rider.-The pedal rods or
bars are hung inside this frame A, and they are connected to the cranked axles B
by connecting rods G G¹, and additional cranks H carried in suitable bearings on
the front part of the frame, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.
The steering gear applied to this modification is of the ordinary bath chair
type, but any other suitable steering gear may be adopted if preferred. In this
arrangement of machine, the arched frame will afford convenience for applying a
sunshade or umbrella to protect the rider from the sun and rain.
It will be evident that other means of connecting the pedal rods to the cranked
axles B than those herein shown, and of communicating rotary motion to the
driving wheels, may be adopted, and also that the shape of that part of the frame
which carries the fulcra of the pedal rods, is obviously capable of modification,
without departing from the nature of my invention.
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:-
1st A velocipede to be driven by a walking action of the rider, constructed and
arranged substantially as herein described and shown in the drawings, or any mere
moditication thereof.
2nd In a velocipede to be driven by a walking action of the rider, the use of
pedal rods or bars pivotted or hung above the axles of the driving wheels, and
connected to said axles by means of cranks, connecting rods, or in any other
convenient manner, so as to produce, by the swinging motion of said pedal rods or
bars, rotary motion of the axles.