AN IMPROVED FLOATING VELOCIPEDE
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Edward Lucas, of Allhallows Chambers,
Lombard Street, in the City of London, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED FLOATING VELOCIPEDE."-A communication from abroad by
John G. Holbrooke, of the City and State of New York, United
States of America.
Sealed the 17th August 1869, and dated the 20th February 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Edward Lucas
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 20th February 1869.
I, JOHN EDWARD LUCAS, of Allhallows Chambers, Lombard Street,
in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "AN IMPROVED FLOATING VELOCIPEDE," a communication, to be as
follows:-
The nature of my said Invention consists in obtaining the requisite
buoyancy in a velocipede for navigating the water by means of the
propelling wheels and rudder, and for this purpose the rudder and
wheels are each preferably constructed with one or more air-tight

page_text: chambers or compartments. This arrangement obviates the necessity
of a supporting frame, rendering the velocipede less expensive, more
easily propelled, and less liable to be overturned by the waves.
In constructing a floating velocipede according to said Invention
upon a deck or platform of any suitable size, shape, and material I fix
posts in which bearings are formed or secured. A horizontal crank
shaft is placed in these bearings, and upon the ends thereof are secured
the wheels with one or more air-tight
more air-tight compartments or chambers.
These propelling wheels may be provided with paddles, though in
practice this will not generally be found necessary. Upon the deck
or platform is secured a scat for the operator. The rudder, which is
preferably formed of a hollow air-tight cylinder with one or both ends
pointed, though it may be formed of solid wood or other buoyant
material, is suspended from the rear part of the deck or platform by
means of a swivel post or universal joint. The rudder is connected
by a rope or chain with an upright shaft arranged in front of the
operator's seat. This shaft has upon its upper end a hand wheel by
means of which the operator can make it revolve. The rope or chain
is conducted through guides so arranged that by turning the shaft
it will wind the said rope upon the post or unwind the same, thereby
causing the rudder to turn upon its pivot and giving the desired
direction to the velocipede in the water. The portion of the wheel
that projects above the deck may be covered with a cap to keep the
water away from the operator, who propels the craft by placing his
fect upon the cranks of the said shaft or upon treadles connected with
the said cranks.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Edward Lucas in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th August 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
EDWARD LUCAS, of Allhallows Chambers, Lombard Street, in the City
of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters. Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of February, in the

page_text: ferably formed of a hollow air-tight cylinder with one or both ends
pointed, though it may be formed of solid wood or other buoyant
material; the said rudder is suspended from the rear part of the deck or
platform by means of a swivel post or universal joint. The rudder is
connected by a rope or chain with an upright shaft arranged in front
of the operator's seat. This shaft has upon its upper end a hand wheel
by means of which the operator can make it revolve. The rope or
chain is conducted through guides so arranged that by turning the
shaft it will wind the rope upon the post or unwind the same, thereby
causing the rudder to turn upon its pivot and giving the desired
direction to the velocipede in the water. The portion of the wheel
that projects above the deck may be covered with a cap to keep the
water away from the operator, who propels the craft by placing his
feet upon the cranks of the said shaft or upon treadles connected
with the said cranks.
Figure 1 is a plan of my improved floating velocipede; Figure 2 is a
vertical longitudinal section on the line x, x, Figure 1; Figure 3 is
a similar section illustrating a modification in a portion of the said
velocipede. Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the
Drawing.
A is the deck or platform, which may be of wood or other suitable
material, and on which are mounted the standards or posts a; B is the
horizontal crank shaft, which is supported in bearings carried by the
said posts, and on whose ends are fixed the hollow air-tight drums or
wheels C; B' are the cranks or treadles upon which the power of the
operator is excrted to turn the said shaft; D is the seat for the operator,
who is supported thereon in the position shewn in Figures 2 and 3; E is
the hollow air-tight or other vessel forming the rudder, which is con-
nected to the rear end of the deck or platform A by a swivelling or
universal joint F; G, G, are the ropes whereby the said hollow vessel is
connected to the upright shaft H, which is supported on the platform
and in the bracket a¹ attached to the post a. The upper end of the said
shaft is provided with the hand wheel b, by turning which in either
direction the ropes G are wound upon and unwound from the barrel H¹
on the shaft H, the vessel E being thereby turned on its pivot
according to the direction in which it is desired to steer the velocipede.

page_text: year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said John Edward Lucas, Her
special licence that I, the said John Edward Lucas, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Edward
Lucas, 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 "AN
IMPROVED FLOATING ELCCIPEDE," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said John Edward Lucas, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
scals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be perforined, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Scal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Edward Lucas, 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 accompanying
Drawing forming a part of this Specification:-
The nature of my said Invention consists in obtaining the requisite
buoyancy in a velocipede for navigating the water by means of the
propelling wheels and rudder, and for this purpose the rudder and
wheels are each constructed with one or more air-tight chambers or
compartments. This arrangement obviates the necessity of a supporting
frame, rendering the velocipede less expensive, more easily propelled,
and less liable to be overturned by the waves.
In constructing a floating velocipede according to the said Invention
upon a deck or platform of any suitable size, shape, and material I fix
posts in which bearings are formed or secured. A horizontal crank.
shaft is placed on these bearings, and upon the ends thereof are secured
the wheels with one or more air-tight compartments or chambers.
These propelling wheels may be provided with paddles, though in
practice this may not generally be found necessary. Upon the deck
or platform is secured a seat for the operator. The rudder is pre-

page_text: The vessel E instead of being cylindrical with its ends pointed, as shewn
in Figures 1 and 2, may be made somewhat in the form of a boat, as
represented in Figure 3. I, I, are the caps or covers of the wheels or
drums C.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I wish it understood that I do not
limit myself to the precise details of form, construction, and arrange-
ment of the parts herein set forth, as these may be varied within such
limits as not to impair the efficiency of the velocipede or substantially
change it in respect of those peculiarities which form the main features
of this Invention; but I claim, a floating velocipede provided with
hollow wheels or drums C and with a hollow or otherwise buoyant
rudder E, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Edward Lucas, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Twentieth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.