Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1887
Complete Left, 9th Apr., 1888
Complete Accepted, 11th May, 1888
GEORGE JAMES CHAPMAN 32 Pembury Avenue Tottenham Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the general arrangement and steering of rear-driving
bicycles and tricycles.
The object of my invention is to modify the mode of steering set forth in my com-
plete specification No. 368-1887 therein illustrated by Figs. 4 and 6 so as to allow
the front wheel to be deflected to the same side as the saddle instead of to the
opposite side-In my improved method I construct a bicycle or tricycle wherein the
saddle is operated laterally by means of the handle bar or pedals as shewn in my
Complete Specification above mentioned, but instead of the saddle being attached to
the front wheel by a complete frame having one centre, I make the frame for the
front wheel and saddle in two parts and provide each part with a centre for attaching.
same to the frame carrying the handle bar and back wheel-I so connect the two
parts of the front frame to one another by teeth links or other equivalent as to
cause the front wheel to move to the side to which the saddle is operated.
Dated this 30th day of December 1887

page_text: I GEORGE JAMES CHAPMAN, of 32 Penbury Avenue, Tottenham, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention relates to the general arrangement and steering of rear-driving
bicycles, tricycles, and other velocipedes, and it has for its object the improvement of
the steering arrangement set forth in my prior Patent No. 368 of 1887. which covers
a particular arrangement for controlling the steering wheel by the rider's body from the
saddle. In this arrangement the saddle moves in an opposite direction to that in
which the steering wheel is deflected, thus throwing the centre of gravity outwards
instead of inwards. Now by my present invention the saddle is deffected, in the act
of steering the machine, to the same side as the steering wheel, thereby moving the
centre of gravity towards the centre of the path of motion of the machine instead of
from it.
I carry my invention into practical effect as illustrated in the accompanying
drawing in which Figure 1. is a view of a rear driving bicycle-is side elevation-
embodying my invention, and Figure 2. is a view in side elevation of a modification
thereof.
Throughout these view similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The driving wheel A. is mounted in a frame B. of the usual type terminating at its
forward extremity in a neck or socket b. to engage with the head or steering post c.
of the fork C. carrying the steering wheel D. The frame B. carries the pedal crank
axle which is fitted in the usual manner and is connected to the driving wheel A. or
axle thereof by chain or any other gearing. On the forward part of the frame B. is
pivotted on a pin or centre a rocking lever E. the rear end of which is constructed
to receive a pillar e. carrying a saddle and spring of the usual type. The forward
end of the rocking lover E. is connected to an arm or lever c¹ fixed to or forming
part of the head or post c. of the fork C. carrying the steering wheel, by a rotating
and sliding block and slot, or by toothed quadrants or by any other suitable device so
that the motion of the arin or lever c¹ produces a reverse motion at the rear end of
the rocking lever E. carrying the saddle. The lengths of the arms of the rocking
lever E. and of the arm or lever c¹ may be varied as desired to give the best results
in steering.
The handle bar F. may either be mounted on the extension of the head or post c.
as illustrated by Figure 1. or on the frame B. as shown by Figure 2.
Those parts to which no special reference has been made and which are not illus
trated in the accompanying drawing present no novel features and may be of the
usual type and construction.
It will be seen that by the use of the rocking lever or its equivalent, and the
secondary socket or centres, the saddle and front steering wheel are caused to deflect
in unison towards the same side, thus giving the rider perfect control over the steering

page_text: of the machine without the use of his hands, and ensuring his safety by causing the
centre of gravity to move towards the centre of the path of motion when running in
a curved path.
Although my invention is herein before described and shown as applied to a rear-
driving bicycle it is also applicable to all other types of cycles driven by the rear
wheel or wheels and steered by the front wheel or wheels.
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. In a cycle driven by the rear wheel or wheels, and steered by the front wheel
or wheels, the method of operating and controlling the steering wheel or wheels
specifically as set forth.
2nd. In a rear-driving cycle the combination with the steering wheel mounted in a
fork pivotted to the main frame of the machine by the usual head or socket, of a
rocking lever pivotted in the rear of the head or socket on which the steering wheel
turns, and carrying the seat or saddle at one end, and connected with the steering
head or socket at the other, as and for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In a rear-driving cycle mounting the saddle on a rocking lever pivotted in the
rear of the centre on which the steering wheel turns, and connecting it with the said
centre so that the saddle and steering wheel deflect together towards the same side of
the machine in the act of steering, as and for the purpose set forth.
4th. In a rear-driving cycle, the combination with the steering wheel mounted in
a fork pivotted to the main frame of the machine by the usual head or socket and
prolonged upwards to carry a transverse handle bar, of a rocking lever pivotted on
the main frame of the machine in the rear of the head or socket on which the steering
wheel turns, and carrying the seat or saddle at the rear end, and connected with the
steering head or fork at the front end, as and for the purpose set forth.
5th. In a rear-driving cycle the combination of the arm or lever c¹ fixed to or
forming part of the head c, of the fork C. carrying the steering wheel D, the rocking
lever E. pivotted on a pin b' or its equivalent mounted on the frame B. carrying the
driving wheel A, the seat pillar e. mounted on the rear end of the rocking lever E,
and the handle bar F. fixed to the frame B. all combined, arranged and operating, as
and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 9th day of April 1888.