Improvements in or relating to Bicycles, Tricycles, or the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 4th July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 7th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Bicycles, Tricycles, or the like.
We, JOSEPH FINEBERG, of Melville Chambers, 50 Lord Street, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, Capitalist, and JAMES CLAYTON, of 210, Vauxhall Road,
Liverpool, aforesaid, Master Mariner, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in bicycles, tricycles or the like.
In carrying our invention into effect as applied to bicycles, we provide a machine
with a fork having a considerable rake in it, the saddle being located over the back
wheel and the cranks attached direct to the front wheel axle; or rotatable on
pivots fixed to the fork and geared to the axle by means of a chain and chain
wheels or their equivalent. We propose to make the front wheel larger than the
back, and to arrange the cranks on a level with the saddle or rather below. The
saddle is provided with a back. The rider in working the machine leans back in
his seat and works with his legs in a horizontal or sloping position, the support. for
his back assisting him in exerting considerable force. The steering gear consists
of a bar attached rigidly to the steering fork, rods pivoted to opposite ends of this
bar, and guides for holding the rods up in position. These rods are provided with
handles at one end which are within easy reach of the rider. It will be seen that
by pulling one or other of these handles, the machine can be steered in the direction
desired. Means may be provided for locking the steering gear, so that the machine
will travel straight, or in a curve of any given radius. Also an indicator or tell
tale may be provided for enabling the rider to set his machine so as to travel in a
straight line or in a curve. By making the chain wheels of the driving gear in
suitable relative proportions, a very high rate of speed or a low rate of speed can
be obtained as desired.
An audible alarm may be fixed to the machine, consisting of a series of bells
arranged in a circle on a disc and adapted to rotate with one of the axles of the
wheels, the rotation of which causes the bells to ring.
We have described one way in which our invention may be carried into effect
but it is obvious that its details may be varied and that it can be applied to tricycles
or other velocipedes. The above description will, however, serve sufficiently to
indicate the nature of our invention and the manner of carrying it into effect.
Dated this 3rd day of July 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Bicycles, Tricycles, or the like.
We, JOSEPH FINEBERG, of Melville Chambers, 50 Lord Street, Liverpool, in
the County of Lancaster, Capitalist, and JAMES CLAYTON of 210 Vauxhall Road,
Liverpool aforesaid, Master Mariner, 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:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in bicycles, tricycles or the like.

page_text: The invention will be best understood from the following description, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle arranged in accordance with our
invention ;
Figure 2 a plan view thereof; and
Figure 3 a detail view.
In these figures, A is the fork having a considerable rake in it, B the saddle
located over the back wheel and C the cranks attached direct to the front wheel
axle; or rotatable on pivots mounted on the fork and geared to the axle by means
of a chain c and chain wheels or their equivalent. The front wheel is made
larger than the back, and the cranks C are arranged on a level with the saddle B
or rather below. The saddle is provided with a back E. The rider in working
the machine leans back in his saddle B and works with his legs in a horizontal or
sloping position, the support E for his back assisting him in exerting considerable
force. The steering gear consists of a bar F attached rigidly to the steering
fork A, rods G pivoted to opposite ends of this bar F, and guides H for holding
the rods G up in position. These rods G are provided with handles I at one end
which are within easy reach of the rider. It will be seen that by pulling one or
other of these haudles I, the machine can be steered in the direction desired: J is
an indicator or tell tale for enabling the rider to steer in a straight line or in a
curve of any required radius, and K a screw for locking the steering gear, so that
the machine will travel in the direction decided upon. By making the chain wheels
of the driving gear in suitable relative proportions, a very high rate of speed or a
low rate of speed can be obtained as desired.
An audible alarm L may be fixed to the back wheel, consisting of a series of
bells arranged in a circle on a disc and adapted to rotate with the wheel, the
rotation of which causes the bells to ring. The pivots on which the cranks C
rotate may be mounted adjustably on the fork, as shown in Figures 1 to 3, whereby
the driving chains can be tightened or loosened as required.
We have described one way in which our invention may be carried into effect
but it is obvious that its details may be varied and that it can be applied to
tricycles or other velocipedes. The above description will, however, serve
sufficiently to indicate the nature of our invention and the manner of carrying it
into effect.
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 :-
1. The improvement in bicycles, tricycles or the like, which consists in locating
at the rear of the machine a saddle provided with a back, and in arranging the
cranks in front of the saddle and on a level therewith or somewhat below, whereby
the rider in working the machine can lean back in the saddle and work with his
legs in a horizontal or sloping position, instead of in an approximately vertical
position as formerly, the support for the back enabling him to exert considerable
force on the cranks.
2. The arrangements of parts consisting of the saddle B, back-support E,
together with the driving gear consisting of the driving chains, chain wheels c¹
and the cranks C mounted adjustably on the fork, and on a level with or rather
below the saddle B, whereby in a bicycle, tricycle or the like the rider is enabled
to sit with his legs in a horizontal or sloping position, the support for his back
enabling him to exert considerable force for driving the machine, substantially as
described.
3. The application to a bicycle, tricycle or the like of an indicator or tell tale for
enabling the rider to set his machine so as to travel in a straight line or on a curve
of the required radius, and means for locking the steering gear in the position
required, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 4. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts, substantially as
herein described.
Dated this 6th day of November 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, and London,
Patent Agents.