Improvements relating to the Pedals and Cranks of Velocipedes and in the Means Employed for Connecting the same Together.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 6th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 10th Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Pedals and Cranks of Velocipedes and
in the Means Employed for Connecting the same Together.
"
We, GEORGE LEONARD MORRIS, WILLIAM THOMAS WILSON and NATHANIEL
HENRY STRICKLAND, trading as G. L. Morris, Wilson & Co., of the "Referee
Cycle Works, 66 Turnmill Street, London E.C. Cycle Makers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to certain improvements in the pedals of velocipedes and has
reference more particularly to the means employed for connecting same to the crank
ends. This we effect in such a manner that the pedals whilst adding little to the
weight of the machine are simple in construction and work, when in use, with
the least possible friction.
Heretoforein velocipede pedals as ordinarily constructed it has been usual to mount
same loosely in bearings on a pin or rod which is rigidly bolted in a slot formed at
the crank end, the pedal and pin or rod being separate from each other.
Our invention consists in forming the pedal frame, or other support for the
rider's foot, in combination with its pin or spindle, the latter being secured to one, or
both sides of, and working with, the pedal frame; said pin or spindle being carried in
or about the crank end. Velocipede pedals thus constructed possess several important
advantages over those at present employed of the type before referred to.
In carrying out our invention we employ, as the support for the foot of the rider,
preferably, an open framework formed in one piece by brazing the sides thereof
together. The crank end is hollowed out, or otherwise formed, to receive a single
or double row of balls to reduce friction. The pin or spindle passes through the
end of the crank and is provided with a fixed and a loose cone, capable of lateral
adjustment, the pin or spindle being formed with a screw thread, externally, for a
portion only of its length. The pin or spindle has a flattened portion passing
through and engaging in an opening corresponding thereto formed in the side of the
pedal frame, a lock nut being employed for retaining the pedal frame, pin or spindle,
and bearing cones rigidly together. Suitable provision is made for altering the
position of the pedal relatively to the crank axis.
In a somewhat similar form of pedal to that above described, but slightly
inodified in construction, we employ a hollow pin or spindle and form the inner side
of the pedal frame, adjacent to the crank end, with a central boss which acts as a
cone for one side of the bearing case formed by the crank end, a groove in the boss
being provided for the reception of a number of balls to reduce friction; an adjust-
able cone, on the opposite side of the bearing case formed by the crank end, being
screwed in the hollow pin or spindle and locked in position by a nut as previously
described. By this invention the pedal frame if injured may be readily removed and
a fresh one substituted at will.
We do not limit our invention to the precise details herein specified nor to the
particular arrangements described, as same may be varied, in practice, to suit
different requirements and circumstances.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Pedals and Cranks of Velocipedes and
in the Means Employed for Connecting the same Together
We, GEORGE LEONARD MORRIS, WILLIAM THOMAS WILSON, and NATHANIEL
HENRY STRICKLAND, trading as G. L. Morris, Wilson & Co., of the "Referee "Cycle
Works, 66 Turninill Street, London, E.C., Cycle Makers, 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:-
Our invention relates to certain improvements in the pedals of velocipedes and has
reference more particularly to the means employed for connecting same to the crank
ends. This we effect in such a nanner that the pedals whilst adding little to the
weight of the machine are simple in construction and very strong, with the important
advantage that when in use they work with the least possible amount of friction.
Heretofore, in velocipede pedals as ordinarily constructed, it has been usual to
mount same loosely in bearings on a pin or spindle, rigidly bolted, at one end in a
slot formed at the crank end, the pedal and pin or spindle being separate from
each other.
Our invention consists in forming the pedal frame or other support for the rider's
foot in combination with its pin or spindle; that is to say, the pin or spindle is formed
in one piece with the pedal frame, or it may be made separately in which case it
would be rigidly secured to the latter. The pin or spindle is preferably secured or
formed on one side only of the pedal frame and is carried freely in bearings in the
crank end. Velocipede pedals thus constructed possess several important advantages
over those of the type at present employed as hereinbefore specified.
In the accompanying explanatory sheet of drawings Figure 1 is an end elevation of
our improved crank with the pedal removed, and Figure 2 a longitudinal sectional
elevation. Figure 3 is an end elevation and Figure 4 a longitudinal sectional elevation
of a modification of our improved crank and pedal showing the several component
parts arranged in a slightly different manner to that shown in Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 5 is an end elevation and Figure 6 a side elevation of a further modification.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts or members throughout.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 it will be seen that in carrying out our invention we
employ as the pedal or support for the foot of the rider an open framework A formed
or built up in separate pieces or in one piece, the sides being screwed or brazed
together. The crank end B is somewhat enlarged and is hollowed out or otherwise
formed to serve as a chamber, recess or case within which a double row of balls a, b,
are introduced to reduce friction. A hollow pin or spindle C passes through the
end B of the crank and is provided with a fixed cone or collar c and a loose cone d
capable of lateral adjustment, the pin or spindle C being formed with a screw thread
externally for a portion only of its length. The pin or spindle C has a flattened
portion e passing through and engaging in an opening corresponding thereto forined
in the side of the pedal frame A, a lock nut f being employed for retaining the pedal
frame A, pin or spindle C, and bearing cones c, d, rigidly together. Suitable provision
might if desired be made for altering the position of the pedal axis relatively to the
crank axis. A convenient way of doing this would be to form the crank end B
separately from the crank and attach it adjustably to the crank.
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, we employ a hollow pin or spindle C and we form
the inner side of that portion of the pedal frame A, adjacent to the crank end B,
with a central bearing boss ceither as part of the pin C or separate and afterwards
rigidly secured thereto-which acts as the fixed cone for one side of the bearing
case formed by the crank end B, a double row of balls being introduced between
the wearing surfaces to reduce the friction, whilst an adjustable cone d, on the
opposite side of the bearing case B, is screwed on the hollow pin or spindle C and
locked in position by the nut f as previously described.
In Figures 5 and 6 the boss d of the pedal A constitutes the loose or adjustable

page_text: cone which is retained in place by the locking flange or collar f which may be
milled on its outer circumferential edge to facilitate its manipulation or be formed
with holes g.
By this invention the pedal frame, if injured, may be readily removed and a fresh
one substituted at will for a comparatively small cost.
We do not limit our invention to the precise details herein specified, nor to the
particular arrangements described, as may be varied in practice to suit different
requirements and circumstances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The improvements in the pedals and cranks of velocipedes substantially as
herein set forth and shown Figures 1 to 6 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
Second. The combination with a crank formed at its outer end B with a recess or
chamber to serve as a bearing case of a pedal frame A having its pin or spindle C
either permanently or detachably secured thereto and free to rotate or oscillate in
the crank end bearing case, fixed and loose cones or flanges c, d, and means for
locking the several parts together substantially as herein set forth and shown and for
the purposes specified.
Dated this
day of
1890.
JAMES STEVENSON,
Gray's Inn Chambers, 20, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agent for Applicants.