IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Lang at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 4th July 1877.
JAMES LANG, of Cockspur Street, Pall Mall, in the County of Middlesex, Gun
Maker. " IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES."
My Invention relates to velocipedes adapted for juvenile use, and for the use of
adults, and consists of an improved arrangement and combination of parts whereby
great simplicity of construction, with economy in the cost of manufacture and
increased durability, are obtained, whilst facility is afforded for renewing any por-
tion, when worn, and for converting the velocipede from a tricycle into a bicycle,
and vice versa, as desired, also for exchanging certain of the parts in order to
adapt the same vehicle for the use of youths of all sizes, and of adults when
required.
In carrying out my Invention as applied, for example, to the construction of a
tricycle, I dispense with the ordinary spring backbone and employ a rigid frame
consisting of two rods of metal tubing, wood, or other suitable light material, placed
in an inclined position, and meeting at their upper ends, at which part they are
connected, as herein-after described, and diverging towards their lower ends, to
which are attached by screwing or otherwise bearings or fittings of brass, gun
metal, malleable cast iron or other suitable material, for the reception of the axle of
the hind wheels.
The seat for the rider is constructed, by preference, of malleable cast iron, and is
supported on the two rods at a suitable intermediate point between their two
extremities. The upper ends of the rods are connected by a cap piece of brass, gun
metal, or other suitable material, constituting a bearing, in which may turn a
vertical rod or spindle, such rod or spindle forming part of the fork of the fore
wheel, and having attached at its upper end the steering handle. The prong or
branches of this fork consist of two rods of metal tubing, wood, or other suitable
light material, to the lower ends of which are attached, by screwing or otherwise,
bearings or fittings of brass, gun metal, or other suitable material, to receive and
support the cranked axle (the wheel being situate between them), whilst their upper
ends are united by a cap piece of brass, gun metal, or other suitable material,
n
071

page_text: attached by screwing or otherwise, which cap piece also forms the connection with
the rod or spindle of the steering handle.
The cap piece uniting the upper ends of the rods which constitute the frame is
so shaped as to form in conjunction with the cap piece on the fork of the fore wheel
stops for limiting the swivelling motion of such wheel in either direction.
If it is required to convert the tricycle into a bicycle, the two hind wheels
may be replaced by a single wheel situate between the two links of the frame.
By removing also the rods constituting the main frame of the vehicle, and of
the fork of the fore wheel, and substituting others of different length, and fitting
wheels of different dimensions, the velocipede may be converted from a toy to a
vehicle for a full grown adult, or vice versa, or be adapted for the use of youths
of all sizes as required.