Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 29th Apr., 1887.
I, ELENTERIO CALL HERNANDEZ of Boston in the County of Suffolk, State of
Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Hack-driver, 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 :―
My invention relates more especially to that class of bicycles which are adapted
to be converted into unicycles; and it consists in a novel construction and arrange-
ment of parts as hereinafter set forth the object being to produce a simpler and more
effective device of this character than is now in ordinary use.
The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all
conversant with such matters from the following explanation.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved bicycle, and
Figure 2 a front elevation of the same.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures of the
drawing.
A represents the main or drive-wheel and B the body of the bicycle.
The body consists of two broad upright standards m, m, disposed on the axle &, and
connected at their tops by a cross-bar y, the seat D and handles C being secured.to
said cross-bar.
The wheel A is secured on an axle x which is journalled horizontally in the lower
ends of the standards m.
Mounted on the axle x, between the hubs and standards m, m, and secured to said
axle, are ratchet-wheels H, J; and pivotted on the inner faces of said standards are
retaining pawls E adapted to engage said ratchet-wheels, said pawls being held in

page_text: position by springs N. The wheels H, Jare arranged on the axle. in such a manner
that the teeth of the wheel H shall alternate with the teeth of the wheel J, or so that
when the machine is in motion the teeth of one of said wheels will be engaged by its
pawl while the pawl of the other is out of action, or not engaged, thereby preventing
the driving-wheel from turning backward.
-☑
Pedals are journalled on crank-shafts which are disposed on the ends of
the axle a in the usual manner; and rigidly connected to said pedals are upright
standards R.
In the upper ends of the standards R are disposed bolts S, the inner ends of which
are adapted to travel on longitudinally arranged rods T, around which are disposed
coiled springs v, said rods being secured in slots cut in slides F, which are adapted
to travel in vertically arranged ways or guides ff secured to the standards m, m.
The object of the standards R is to retain the pedals in a horizontal. position, the
coiled spring yielding sufficiently to permit a slight lateral play or motion to said
standards, thus preventing the pedals being caught "on the centre "when the machine
is in use.
The backbone of the bicycle consists of two armis, G, L, hinged at d. The hind
wheel K is disposed in the usual manner in the lower end of the long arm G, and the
upper end of said arm is secured to a triangular-shaped block 9: which is pivotted at /
on the inner side of one of the standards m.
A spiral spring i is fastened at one end to the inner side of said standard m and has
its other end secured at k to the upper side of the block g, the object of said spring
being to retain the backbone in a horizontal position when it is desired to run the
machine as a unicycle.
The short arm L of the backbone has its upper end resting against the cross-bar y,
and is held in position by a button p pivotted at e to said cross-bar.
In the use of my improvement, when it is desired to convert the bicycle into a
unicycle, the button p is turned, releasing the short arm L of the backbone, which falls
down onto the long arm, G, thereby permitting the spring to elevate the arms, as
shown by the dotted lines G, L.
By means of the ratchet-wheels J, H, which prevent the wheel A from turning
back, the pedals M. being retained in a horizontal position by the standards R and
affording a steady foot-hold, the rider is enabled to maintain a vertical position above
the axle a when the machine is used as a unicycle.
I do not confine myself to making the body B of one broad standard m on either
side of the wheel A as two or more smaller standards may be used; nor to disposing
the ways or runs for the slide F upon said standards, as where two or more standards
are used they may be made to serve the purpose of said slides.
Neither do I confine myself to making the ratchet-wheels H, J, of the same size, as
one may be made small with coarse teeth and the other large with fine teeth and serve
the same purpose.
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 :
First. In a bicycle, the combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit; a
main driving-wheel provided with an axle to which it is rigidly attached; a body
mounted on said axle and provided with handles and a seat for the rider, a ratchet
mechanism for preventing the wheel from turning backward; a crank rigidly attached
to either end of said axle; a pedal mounted on the wrist-pin of each of said. cranks
and provided with an upwardly projecting standard for keeping the pedal in a horizontal
position or nearly so; a slide pivotted to the upper end of each of said standards and
adapted to work vertically on said body; a spring connected with each of said
standards and adapted to yield to permit the cranks to pass the centre" and a back-
bone or arm provided with a trundle-wheel at its lower end and adapted to be elevated
and secured in an elevated position to convert the bicycle into a unicycle, substantially
as described.

page_text: Second. In a bicycle, the combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit:-
the arm G provided with the wheel K and secured to the block; and the arm L
hinged to the upper end of the arm G; the block g, being pivotted to the body B and
provided with spring for holding the arm G in an elevated position, and said body
provided with the button P adapted to engage the short arm L and keep the arm &
depressed, substantially as set forth.
Third. In a bicycle, the slide F fitted to work in the ways on the body B, and
provided with the rod T and spring in combination with the pedal M provided with
the rigid standard R having the bolt S, substantially as described.
Fourth. In a bicycle the ratchet-wheels H, J provided with the pawls E in
combination with the wheel A and body B, said ratchet-wheels being arranged in such
a manner that the spaces between the teeth of one of said wheels will stand opposite
the teeth in the other, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Dated this 30th day of March 1887
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.