Improvements in Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application 19th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
ANNIE HALL 116 Mildmay Road, Mildmay Park, London (married), do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In the ordinary safety bicycle, the crank axle is carried in a framework just
beyond the rim of the driving wheel and horizontal, or nearly so, to the axle of the
said driving wheel, now my invention consists in arranging the crank axle over the
top of the driving wheel and perpendicular or nearly so, to the axle of the said
driving wheel, the said crank axle being carried in bearings which are secured to
the main fork upon which the rider usually sits. And in order that the feet of the
rider may come as near to the ground as in the ordinary safety bicycle I reduce
the size of the driving wheel to about one half its usual size. I then arrange a
chain in the ordinary way over two wheels, one fixed to the crank shaft and one
fixed to the axle of the driving wheel and by adjusting the sizes of the said wheels,
I cause the driving wheel to travel the same distance for each revolution of the
cranks as is usual in the ordinary geared up machines. By this means I am enabled
to use, when desired, the driving wheel as the steering wheel in. bicycles. Greater
rigidity is also secured with less weight and extent of framework than is usual in
the ordinary safety bicycles now in use. The wheel other than the driving wheel,
in a bicycle, may be any convenient size. My invention is also applicable for
tricycles and other velocipedes.
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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
ANNIE HALL of 116 Mildmay Road London N. Authoress, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
The object of my invention is to secure for bicycles a front steering and driving
action, combined with the use of smaller wheels (with multiplied speed) than are
commonly used thus retaining all the advantages of safety comfort and speed.
In the construction of a bicycle I make the usual front fork with handle bar at
the head and the same carries two prongs at the lower end within which the driving
wheel is fixed by means of suitable bearings. The said driving wheel I prefer to
make about 20 inches diameter and immediately above the said wheel where the
prongs of the forks meet together I attach the crank wheel securely to the main
fork, or to the two prongs aforesaid within suitable bearings. The cranks and
pedals are now fixed to the said crank wheel and the latter communicates its
motion to a small fixed wheel upon the axle of the driving wheel by means of
ordinary chain gearing or by means of spur wheels with suitable intervening steel
wheel carried in bearings upon one of the said prongs, or by means of friction
gearing and in this case with the use of a wheel of rubber or like material in place
of the said steel intermediary wheel.
I am aware that front driving bicycles have been used and driven by means of
double chains or other gearings from the crank wheel, the latter being situate upon
the prongs of the said forks either above or beneath the main axle and also
horizontal thereto or thereabouts and also that a single chain gearing has been used

page_text: from a horizontal position, or thereabouts and to the rear of the said main axle,
but my invention consists essentially in the improved method aforesaid of directing
the chain or other gearing from the crank axle singly and perpendicular, or there-
abouts to the main axle of the said front driving wheel.
I affix the usual form of backbone which swivels in a head upon the said fork
and which carries at its base a suitable back wheel fixed within its prongs in the
ordinary way.
Fig. 1 of the annexed drawing shews a side view of a bicycle constructed in
accordance with my invention.
"A" is the main fork, "B" the handle bar "C" the driving wheel and "D"
the crank wheel. "E" is the small wheel fixed to the axle of the main wheel and
"K, K" shews the chain gearing. "F" is the back bone, “G” the saddle and
"H" the back wheel as carried in a bicycle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner it is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
A combined front driving and steering safety bicycle driven by means of gearing
on one side only of the front wheel, directed from a pedal axle carried immediately
above the tyre of the said front wheel and perpendicular, or nearly so, to the axle
thereof substantially as set forth.
Dated this 17th day of Wobovery 1000
J. CASTLE HALL,
Agent for the said Applicant.