An Improved Tricycle.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 9th Oct., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Tricycle.
I, JOHN WALKER FERRIER ROSE, of 13 Jasper Road, Upper Norwood, in the
County of Surrey, Insurance Broker, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved tricycle, designed to enable the rider to
maintain a standing position when propelling the same, thus providing a form of
exercise very closely approximating to ordinary walking, but with the advantage
of the increased speed obtainable with a tricycle.
For the purpose of my invention I provide a pair of foot-boards, or treadles, for
the rider to stand upright on, and by means of which he can operate the driving
gear of the tricycle. The steering post of the front wheel is extended upwardly to
a sufficient height to enable the steering-handle to be operated easily by the rider.
A suitable bar, or fixed handles, may be connected to the frame of the machine
to enable the rider to steady himself, or to exert extra power. The steering
mechanism may be operated by these handles if desired.
I may, however, provide propelling handles for use when extra power is required,
which enable the rider to pull up one foot board or treadle by hand, while the
other one is being depressed.
According to one arrangement, a pair of two throw crank axles are mounted one
behind the other in the tricycle frame, which is suitably constructed to admit of
this. The footboards or treadles are supported between the corresponding cranks
of each axle, and these latter are caused to turn in unison by means of sprocket
wheels on each of them, over which passes a chain extending also around the
sprocket wheel on the axle of the driving-wheels of the tricycle. As the cranks
thus turn in unison, the footboards or treadles maintain a horizontal position
whilst rising and falling with them, and it is very easy for any one standing on
the said boards or treadles to learn to throw his weight alternately on to one and
the other so as to effect the propulsion. In this arrangement, if propelling handles
be employed; they may be carried by vertical rods, each connected to one of the
driving cranks, and also to an idle crank secured to the frame and serving to keep
the rod constantly in a vertical position. It will be seen that when ascending
hills, or at any other time when required, the rider can easily exert a considerably
increased power by pulling up the rising cranks by means of these handles.
By the above arrangement, the weight of the rider is distributed over the
frame of the tricycle more evenly than is the case in tricycles of the ordinary
construction.
I may provide suitable means for locking the steering wheel in one position
at the time the rider is working the propelling handles, so that the tricycle shall not
be liable to run out of its proper course.
DL 19th day of November 1896

page_text: I, JOHN WALKER FERRIER ROSE, of 13 Jasper Road, Upper Norwood, in the
County of Surrey, Insurance Broker, 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, reference being had to the accom-
panying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
This Invention relates to an improved tricycle designed to enable the rider to
maintain a standing position when propelling the same, thus providing a form of
exercise closely approximating to ordinary walking, but with the advantage of the
increased speed obtainable with a tricycle.
For the purpose of my Invention I provide a pair of foot boards or treadles for
the rider to stand upright on, and by means of which he can operate the driving
gear of the machine. These foot boards or treadles are connected to cranks which
turn in unison, through the medium of suitable mechanism, and enable the foot
boards always to preserve their horizontal position during their rising and falling
movements. The machine is provided at front with a steering head, which carries
a steering post extending upwardly to a sufficient height and furnished with a
steering handle, or handle bar, which can be operated easily by the rider while in
the standing position on the machine.
Suitable bars, or fixed handles, may also be connected to the frame of the
machine to enable the rider to steady himself, or to exert power; and the steering
mechanism may be operated by these bars, or handles, if required.
And in order that my Invention may be readily understood, I will describe the
same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation,
Fig. 2 a plan, and
Fig. 3 an end view of a tricycle constructed in accordance therewith.
In carrying out my Invention, and according to a convenient arrangement, I
mount two pairs of cranks a, a, b, b, on axles a¹ a', one behind the other, and
running in bearings secured to the frame of the machine. These bearings are
made in the form of short-tubes a² to receive the crank axles, and are provided
with balls, in the usual manner. The pair of cranks a, a, are placed on one side
of the frame, and the pair b, b, on the other side. The foot boards or treadles c, c¹
are connected near their ends to, and are supported by, the corresponding cranks
on both sides of the machine. These foot boards or treadles are adapted to receive
the treadle pins e, b*, of the cranks a, a, and b, b, respectively. I also find it
advantageous to provide each footboard or treadle with a piece of roughened
rubber d, a toe clip e, a heel piece f, and a heel stop g.
The cranks are caused to work together and turn in unison, by means of sprocket
wheels h, h, of equal diameter, fixed to the crank axles, and over which passes an
endless chain i. Another sprocket wheel j is also fixed on the rear crank axle, and
an endless chain k connects it with a pinion on the main driving axle of the
machine.
The cranks thus turning in unison cause the footboards or treadles to maintain
a horizontal position whilst rising and falling with 'them, and it is thus very easy
for any one standing on the footboards, or treadles, and holding the steering
handle B (which is connected like ordinary cycle handle bars to the steering post A)
to learn to throw his weight alternately on to one and the other footboard and so
effect the propulsion of the machine.
By the foregoing arrangement, the weight or thrust are distributed over the

page_text: frame and wheels of the machine more evenly than is the case with tricycles of
the ordinary construction.
With my improved tricycle, there is no necessity to provide a saddle, but if
desired a seat or pad m, may be arranged so that it can be used as a rest when
descending slight declines.
A break, of any suitable construction, may be provided, but it will be found
that, after a little practice, back pedalling with the weight of the body, unless
upon steep declines, is sufficient to retard the progress.
Although my Invention has been more particularly devised for use as a tricycle,
yet it is obvious that I can apply it to any vehicle having two or more wheels; and
I wish it also to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise arrange-
ment of driving gear, as shown, as I may use any other appropriate one 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 may be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A tricycle, adapted to be propelled by the combined action of the feet and
weight of the rider, while maintaining a standing position, upon a pair of foot-
boards or treadles each of which is connected to a pair of cranks at each side of the
machine, said footboards or treadles being arranged to preserve their horizontality
during their movement with the cranks which are caused to turn in unison through
suitable mechanism or gear connected to the driving axle of the machine, sub-
stantially as described.
2. In a tricycle, as above claimed, the combination of a pair of footboards or
treadles connected by cranks to a pair of crank axles supported in the frame of
the machine, sprocket wheels, one of which is mounted on the front and the other
on the rear crank axle, and provided with an endless chain, another sprocket wheel
on the rear crank axle, and an endless chain passing over said sprocket wheel and
over a pinion on the main driving axle of the machine, substantially as described
and shewn with reference to the drawings.
3. My improved tricycle in which the rider, instead of sitting, maintains a
standing position when propelling the same, thus providing a form of exercise
closely approximating to ordinary walking, substantially as hereinbefore described
and shewn with reference to the annexed drawings.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 5A, Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.