IM- PROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Walter Crutwell at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 11th November 1878.
WALTER CRUTWELL, of Sturford Cottage, Corsley, Wiltshire, Solicitor. "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES."
Firstly. A second seat is added to the back bone of the bicycle capable of being
ridden by a second person. This seat is placed over the back wheel behind and
below the seat at present in use, and is secured to and supported by an arm or
bracket projecting from the backbone, or it may be attached in any other way
either to the backbone or hind wheel fork; or the hind wheel may be made a
tension wheel with a fork, in the same manner as that applied to the driving wheel,
and the weight of the second rider may be made to rest wholly or partially on this
fork. A handle is fixed to the backbone for the convenience of the second rider.
A second pair of cranks is attached to an arm projecting from the backbone between
the driving and hind wheels. This arm revolves in a socket which shall itself be
attached to the arm in such a manner as to turn horizontally to either side, so as to
conform to the movements of the cranks and axle of the driving wheel, the pairs
of cranks on either side to be respectively connected by rods, so that each set in
revolving shall cause the other set to revolve at the same time.
Secondly. I employ an improved treadle which prevents the feet from slipping by
the following means:- -The rest for the foot to consist of a flat or partially flat.
surface with raised edges to prevent the feet from slipping off sideways, and a raised
edge in front against which the toe of the boot may be pressed, such last-mentioned
compound edge to be capable or not of being shortened or lengthened to suit the length
of the foot, or to vary the part of the foot which shall be immediately over the
treadle-pin; the treadle to have two sides corresponding with each other for facility
in catching it.
Thirdly. I employ a novel brake. A small wheel is securely fixed to or cast in
one with the hub of the driving wheel, and is situate between the hub and spokes
and the fork. Above this wheel is the brake which works up and down on the fork
and may be pressed against the brake wheel by the rider's foot by means of a pro-
jection attached to the brake extending to the outside of the fork. The brake when.
77

page_text: not in use is kept free of the brake wheel by means of a spring or other convenient
method. This brake and brake wheel may be applied either to one or both sides of
the fork and driving wheel.
Fourthly. For the greater security of the rider I fix an arm to the bottom of
the fork on one side of the driving wheel which extends perpendicularly downwards
to within a short distance of the ground. To the end of this I fix a rod extending
a little distance beyond the tyre of the driving wheel at a proper height from the
ground, and to this I fix a stone-guard, which extends across the front of the tyre.
I keep this rod secure and rigid by fixing a second rod at its front extremity
and connecting it with the perpendicular arm higher up, so as to form a triangle.
The two rods may be made adjustable by screws or otherwise, so as to bring the
stone-guard into any required position.