IMPROVED TREADLE MECHANISM CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR OPERATING SEWING MACHINES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
Office," Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVED TREADLE MECHANISM CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR OPERATING SEWING
MACHINES." -A communication from abroad by George Willey, of
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Haseltine at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 24th December 1870.
I, GEORGE HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," South-
ampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVED TREADLE MECHANISM CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR OPE-
RATING SEWING MACHINES," a communication, to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is the production of a simple, effective,
mechanical movement for driving sewing machines, turning lathes, and
other machines, which will prove less fatiguing to the muscles than the
treadle powers now generally used for this purpose.

page_text: The said improvements consist in a novel method of rotating the band
wheel or driving wheel by means of two cranks, each connected by a
link rod with a vibrating arm on a rock shaft worked by an oscillating
pedal or pendulum, each system of pedals, rock shafts, and vibrating
arms, being independant of the other. By this mode of construction the
operator is enabled to drive the machine by a horizontal swinging motion
of the foot, instead of the usual vertical movement which is believed to
be much more fatiguing to the muscles.
The said improvements also consist in bending or curving the above-
mentioned pendulums in such manner that provision is made for the
knees and clothing of the operator, so that the pendulum may be
suspended at a convenient point upon the under side of the table, and
the foot rest be brought within convenient reach of the operator, while
at the same time the central portion of said pendulum shall not come in
contact with the person or clothing of the operator.
The said improvements further consist in a novel method of
combining a rocking or otherwise constructed and arranged foot rest
with an oscillating pendulum pedal, as herein-after set forth. A table
or frame to support the mechanism is mounted on suitable legs.
Pedals or pendulums are secured to studs on independant rock shafts
by means of set screws passing through slots in the pedals. By this
means the pedals can be raised or lowered to suit operators of different
heights. The lower part of each pendulum is forked, and a shoe or
foot rest is pivotted in a stirrup so as to oscillate vertically in its
bearings. One of the rock shafts may pass through the other, which
is made tubular. The inner shaft extends beyond the driving wheel,
and carries a fixed arm. A link is jointed on the lower end of this
arm and on a crank on the shaft of the driving wheel, which turns
in brackets under the table. The hollow shaft is also connected with
the wheel by an arm, link, and crank. The pedals are oscillated in
alternately opposite directions, imparting a corresponding movement to
the rock shafts and vibrating arms. These impart a continuous rotary
movement to the driving wheel through the links and cranks. If desired
both cranks may be arranged on the same side of the driving wheel, and
the rock shafts arranged in line but not passing through each other.
Two shafts might also be arranged parallel to each other, but not in
the same line. The wheel can be rotated with one pedal only.

page_text: A modification of the above consists in pivotting or connecting each
pendulum independantly of the other directly to the under side of the
table stand, top, or frame, by a broad hinge to give the requisite lateral
steadiness, and so curving the pendulum that the point of attachment to
the stand may be made directly over the knees of the operator, who can
sit close to the machine and operate it without having the pendulums
interfere with his knees or clothing; and it further consists in linking
each pendulum near its centre to separate cranks on the driving shaft,
the said cranks being arranged on opposite sides of the axis on the same
plane, or sufficiently to one side of a common plane to overcome what is
termed their dead points or centres. And it also consists in fastening
the foot rests firmly to the forked or stirrup part of the pendulums.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
led by the said George Haseltine in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 24th June 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," Southampton Buildings,
London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the
thirty-fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said George Haseltine, Her special
licence that I, the said George Haseltine, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said George Haseltine,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVED TREADLE MECHANISM CHIEFLY DESIGNED FOR OPERATING SEWING
MACHINES," a communication to me from abroad by George Willey, of
Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said George Haseltine, my executors or adminis-

page_text: trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Haseltine, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawing forming a part of this Specification.
The object of this Invention is the production of a simple and effective
mechanical movement for driving sewing machines, turning lathes, and
other machines which will prove less fatiguing to the muscles than the
treadle powers now generally used for this purpose.
The said Invention consists in a novel method of rotating the band
wheel or driving wheel by means of two cranks each connected by a
link rod with a vibrating arm on a rock shaft worked by an oscillating
pedal or pendulum, each system of pedals, rock shafts, and vibrating
arms being independent of the other. By this mode of construction
the operator is enabled to drive the machine by a horizontal swinging
motion of the foot instead of the usual vertical movement which is
believed to be much more fatiguing to the muscles.
The said Invention also consists in bending or curving the above
mentioned pendulums in such manner that provision is made for the
knees and clothing of the operator, so that the pendulum may be
suspended at a convenient point upon the under side of the table and
the foot rest be brought within convenient reach of the operator, while
at the same time the central portion of said pendulum shall not come
in contact with the person or clothing of the operator.
The said Invention further consist in a novel method of combining
a rocking or otherwise constructed and arranged foot rest with an
oscillating pendulum pedal, as herein-after set forth.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the said Invention as seen from the 35
front.

page_text: Figure 2 is an elevation as seen from one side.
Figure 3 is a front elevation showing a modification of the said
Invention.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate another modification of the said Inven-
tion.
A table or frame A to support the mechanism is mounted on suitable
legs B.
Pedals or pendulums C, C¹, are secured to studs c, c¹, on
independant rock shafts D, D', by means of set screws c" passing
through slots in the pedals. By this means the pedals can be raised
or lowered to suit operators of different heights. The lower part of
cach pendulum is forked and a shoe or foot rest I is pivoted in a stirrup i
so as to oscillate vertically in its bearings, thus relieving the muscles
of the operator.
In Figures 1 and 2 the shaft D is shown as passing through the other
one D¹ which is made tubular for this purpose so that each can move
independently of the other. The inner shaft D extends beyond the
driving wheel G and carries a fixed arm E. A link e is pin jointed
on the lower end of this arm, and on a crank F on the shaft of the
driving wheel G which turns in suitable brackets H under the table.
The shaft D¹ in like manner is connected with the wheel by its arm E¹
link e¹ and crank F¹. It is preferred to arrange the cranks at a slight
angle to each other instead of diametrically opposite.
The operation of the machine will be readily understood. The pedals
are oscillated in alternately opposite directions, imparting a corresponding
movement to the rock shafts and vibrating arms E, E'. These impart a
continuous rotary movement to the driving wheel through the links e, e¹,
and cranks F, F¹.
In Figure 3 it will be seen that both cranks are arranged on the
same side of the driving wheel, and the rock shafts are arranged in line
but not passing through each other. The operation however is the
same in either case. Two shafts might also be arranged parallel to
each other, but not in the same line and yet work well. The wheel
can be rotated with one pedal only, but the motion is not so uniform as.
when both are employed.
Figure 4 is a front elevation, and Figure 5 a transverse section of a
modification of my Invention herein-before mentioned. This modifi-

page_text: cation consists in pivoting or connecting each pendulum independently
of the other directly to the under sido of the table stand, top, or frame,
by a broad hinge, to give the requisite lateral steadiness and so curving
the pendulum that the point of attachment to the stand may be made
directly over the knees of the operator who can sit close to the machine
and operate it without having the pendulums interfere with his knees
or clothing, and it further consists in linking each pendulum near its
centre to separate cranks on the driving shaft, the said cranks being
arranged on opposite sides of the axis on the same plane or sufficiently
to one side of a common plane to overcome what is termed their dead
points or centres, and it also consists in fastening the foot rests firmly
to the forked or stirrup part of the pendulums.
1 represents the top of the stand or table for supporting the sewing
machine. This top or stand is supported at each end by a framework
and legs 2, 3. The pendulums 4 are forked at their upper ends and
are hinged to pieces 5 which are fastened firmly to the under side of
the table in front of its centre. This hinged connection may be made
in any other way that will give the necessary breadth, and lateral
stiffness. The lower ends of the pendulums are also forked, and to
each is rigidly fastened a foot piece 6. These pendulums are curved so
as to give sufficient room for the knees and clothing of the operator when
sitting in the proper position for conveniently working the machine.
A shaft 7 mounted in metallic bearings on the legs or framework of
the stand has two cranks 8, 9, formed on it which are so arranged as
to stand on opposite sides of shaft 7, or in such position with reference
to each other as to prevent a dead point when in operation. The
pendulums 4 are linked to the cranks by connecting rods 10, 11, so
that the oscillating motion imparted to the pendulum by the feet of
the operator will through the cranks impart a rotary motion to shaft 7
and the band wheel 12 mounted thereon, and through this band wheel 3
the necessary motion may be given to the sewing machine which may
be mounted on the top of the stand.
By curving the pendulums as shewn the point of attachment for
their upper ends is brought directly over the knees of the operator
when sitting in the proper working position, so that in working the 3
pendulums very little motion is imparted to the knees, the feet and
legs below the knees having a swinging motion back and forth on the

page_text: joints of the knees as a centre. This motion is found to be much less
fatiguing than the ordinary method of working sewing machines. A
band or belt from the balance wheel connects with the sewing machine
or other mechanism to be operated in the ordinary way.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I claim,-
First. A pendent curved or bent oscillating pendulum pedal as
described operating as and for the purpose set forth.
Second. The combination in a mechanical movement for sewing
machines of a cranked shaft for the pendent curved or bent oscillating
pendulum pedal for operating the said shaft through connecting devices.
substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination as set forth with an oscillating pendulum
pedal of the rocking foot rest,
Fourth. The pendulum 4 forked at its upper end and supported at
two points substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The arrangement of bent pendulums 4, links or connecting
rods 10, 11, and crank shaft 7, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination of an oscillating pendulum pedal and foot
rest, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Haseltine, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.S.)
Witness,
W. ROB. LAKE,