A New or Improved Footrest for Velocipedes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 21st Nov., 1892-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1893
'
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Footrest for Velocipedes.
I, THOMAS GROVES of Psycho Villas, Starley Road, Coventry in the County
of Warwick Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to footrests for velocipedes especially those which are
attached to the forksides of the steering wheel and has for its objects, the
prevention of injury to the parts of the machine to which the footrests are attached,
increased comfort to the rider, security of attachment, ease of adjustment and
smallness of weight and cost.
To attain these ends I employ band clips and two pieces of spring wire which
also form the foot pieces or rests.
A metal band of suitable dimensions, strength and flexibility has its ends joined
by rivetting or other suitable means and the ring so formed is passed over the part
of the machine to which the footrest is to be attached (hereinafter referred to as
the supporting object') which it is more than large enough to encompass, and the
excess is drawn up into a rib or ridge parallel to the supporting object. This rib
is slotted transversely, the slot extending beyond the sides of the rib. The spring
wire is bent round double at the centre and the ends are laid pointing downwards
one on each side of the rib if the supporting object be vertical or approximately
vertical. A bar is laid transversely in the slot and is of such a length that its
ends being turned down partly encompass the ends of the spring wire and prevent
their escaping sideways. A second bar, longer than the slot in the band is wide,
is then inserted in the rib of the band, across the top of the transverse bar and
parallel or approximately parallel to the supporting object. This bar has a
threaded hole in the centre and the point of the screw passing through the hole
bears perpendicularly on the transverse bar. The middle portion of the double
wire, forming a loop, is bent out at a suitable angle each part preferably making
one or more complete coils at or near the angle and both lying in the same
horizontal or approximately horizontal plane. The length of the wire is regulated
so that the loop forms a rest or foot piece of convenient size. Tightening the screw
forces the transverse bar and the ends of the spring wire towards the supporting
object and draws the excess of the band away from it, either or both, causing the
main part of the band to wrap tightly round more than half of the girth of
the supporting object and thus securing the footrest in position. More than one
slot may be made in the band if preferred or the excess may be drawn through a
slot in a plate by a bar passed between the excess and the plate and having screws
working through its ends and bearing against the plate, and other modifications in
the clip or the wire rest may be made as, when the supporting object is not vertical
or approximately vertical and otherwise. A pad of india rubber or other suitable
material may be attached to the wire foot-piece or rest by forming it with a
peripheral groove with which the wire loop would be made to engage.
The depth and flexibility of the band and the elasticity of the spring wire under
the weight placed on it diminish the risk of nipping and breaking the supporting
object; the elasticity of the wire increases the comfort of the rider by diminishing
the vibration; the construction of the clip makes the attachment secure, and the
adjustment easy; the parts are light, inexpensive and easy to work up.
Deted this 10th day of February 1892.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Footrest for Velocipedes.
I, THOMAS GROVES, of Psycho Villas, Starley Road, Coventry, in the County
of Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in wha
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to footrests for velocipedes especially those which are
attached to the forksides of the steering wheel and has for its objects, the prevention
of injury to the parts of the machine to which the footrests are attached, increased
comfort to the rider, security of attachment, ease of adjustment and smallness of
weight and cost.
In the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 an end elevation and Figure 3 a sectional
side elevation of one form of my improved footrest shown in position on the fork
side of a velocipede.
Figure 4 is a side elevation and Figure 5 a plan of another form of my
improved footrest.
In carrying my invention into effect in the manner shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3,
1 employ a band clip A and two pieces or a bow of spring wire B for the foot
piece or rest. I arrange a metal band A of suitable dimensions, strength and
flexibility in the form shown, and I join the ends by rivetting or other suitable
means, and the ring or loop band so formed is passed over the part of the machine
to which the footrest is to be attached. The loop or band A shown in detail plan
at Figure 6 and in elevation at Figure 7, I make more than large enough to
encompass the fork side C, and the excess of metal being drawn up into a rib or
ridge A parallel to the supporting object C. This rib A' I slot or cut transversely,
the slot A² extending beyond the sides of the rib. The spring wire or rest loop
shown in detail at Figure 8, I bend round preferably double at the centre forming
a "half Arab" coil spring B³ and the ends B', B' I place one on each side of the
rib. To secure the ends B1, B2 a bar D is laid transversely in the slot and is of
such a length that its ends being turned down partly encompass the ends of the
spring wire and prevent their movement sideways a second bar or lever plate E,
longer than the width of the slot A2 in the band I insert in the rib of the band
across the top of the transverse bar D, and parallel or approximately parallel to
the supporting object or fork side C. This bar has a threaded hole in the centre
and the point of the screw F passing through the hole bears perpendicularly on
the transverse bar D. The middle portion of the double wire forming a loop is
bent out at a suitable angle each part preferably making one or more complete
coils at or near the angle and both lying in the same horizontal or approximately
horizontal plane. The length of the wire is regulated so that the loop forms a rest
or foot piece of convenient size. Tightening the screw F, forces the transverse
bar D, and the ends of the spring wire B', B2 towards the supporting object and
draws the excess of the band or upper loop A¹ away from it, causing the main part
or lower loop A, of the band to wrap tightly round more than half of the
circumference or outer surface of the supporting object, thus securing the footrest
in position. More than one slot may be made in the band if preferred, or the
excess may be drawn through a slot in a plate by a bar passed between the excess
and the plate and having screws working through its ends and bearing against the
plate and other modifications in the clip or the wire rest may be made.
I prefer to place a pad of india-rubber or other suitable material G, which may
be attached to the wire foot piece or rest by forming it with a peripheral groove g,
with which the wire loop can engage.
I sometimes form my clip band as shown in Figures 4 and 5 the ends H¹, H² of
the band H being arranged to receive the ends of the spring loop B¹, B².
I cause

page_text: the band H to clip on to the fork side or other object by means of a screw or
bolt K, and nut L. I place two blocks or coupling bars M, M¹ between the
slots h, of the band, through which the ends of the wire pass and through which
in an opposite direction I pass my tightening screw or bolt K. The tightening of
the nut L upon the screw draws the hand tightly upon the forkside and at the
same time clips the ends of the wire loop rest.
The depth and flexibility of the band and the elasticity of the spring wire under
the weight placed on it diminish the risk of nipping and breaking the supporting
object; the elasticity of the wire increases the comfort of the rider by diminishing
the vibration; the construction of the clip makes the attachment secure and the
adjustment easy; the whole of the parts are light in weight and simple of
construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The construction and arrangements of footrests for velocipedes having a loop
of wire connected by its ends to a metal clipping band in which the tightening of
one screw causes the ends of the wire loop or rest to be firmly secured, while at the
same time making a rigid attachment to the fork side or other supporting object.
2. The construction of footrests for velocipedes from metal wire such as B,.
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement of a footrest for velocipedes substantially
as and for the purposes herein before described and as illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 6, 7,
and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The construction of wire footrests such as B having an india-rubber or other
central pad such as G arranged thereon, substantially as and for the purposes.
hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of November 1892.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant..