A New or Improved Mounting Step for Velocipedes and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Mounting Step for Velocipedes and the like.
I, FREDERICK ROBERT BODLEY, of 71, Croxted Road, West Dulwich, London, S.E.,
Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention relates to a new or improved mounting step for velocipedes, motor-
cycles, and the like, and which is more particularly designed for use in connection with
ladies machines, the object being to provide a mounting step carried normally in a
plane with the velocipede, but which, by a simple action, can be thrown out at right
angles and brought into contact with the ground, for the purpose of facilitating the
mounting of the machine, the said step automatically recovering its normal position,
which as afore stated is in a vertical plane with the machine, upon pressure being
removed from same.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed to describe
same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a velocipede having my improved
mounting step applied thereto.
Fig 2 is a side elevation of the mounting step and the lower portion of the frame of
the velocipede to which it is attached.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the case containing the operating mechanism, the view
being taken at right angles to Fig. 2, and
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the said case.
Fig. 5 is a plan of the step proper.
My improved device consists of the step proper a which may be of any convenient
shape and of a suitable height, the reduced portion or cylindrical body b of such step
passing through a ring c at the extremity of the rod d and bearing against a preferably
rubber ring e, (Fig. 2). The arm or rod d is bent up at right angles and enters the
case f where it is furnished at its upper extremity with a disc or boss g, and between
said disc or boss and the cap of the case f a helical spring his arranged which tends
to keep the rod d in its raised position and consequently well above the ground, the
height of which can be arranged according to requirements.
The boss or disc g is furnished with a projecting pin p passing through a spirally
curved slot k in the case f, said slot extending from near the top of the back of the
case for a sufficient distance down upon one side, and in such a manner that as the
dise or boss g is depressed, it is caused to make about a quarter of a turn, and by this
means the rod d and step a which is depressed with it, and which normally occupies a
position in a vertical plane with the machine, is in its downward travel also turned or
thrown in an outward direction until, when coming into contact with the ground it is
in a position approximately at right angles to the velocipede.
The mounting is then effected by the foot of the rider being placed upon the step a
when the saddle can be easily reached and by this means the use of a kerb or other
raised projecting part is dispensed with, while as soon as a convenient position upon
the saddle has been obtained, the machine is started by pressure being applied to the
pedal on the opposite side of the machine to that on which the step is situated, the

page_text: weight of the rider being then removed from the said step, which is automatically
returned to its normal position above the ground and in a vertical plane with the
machine by means of the spring h.
Suitable means may be employed for depressing the rod d, such for instance as
hinged rods m, m¹, carried in guiding clamps secured to the main down tube t of
the velocipede, the end of the rod m bearing on the disc or boss g, the upper end of
the rod m¹ being furnished with a thumb-piece 8 by means of which it may be
conveniently depressed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The new or improved mounting step for velocipedes, substantially as herein
described and shown, and for the purposes specified.
2nd. The application to a velocipede or the like of a mounting step carried normally
in a plane with the machine and designed to be swung out for use approximately at
right angles to same, and having an automatic replacement, the whole arranged
constructed, and operated substantially as herein described and shown, and for the
purposes specified.
Dated this 24th day of January 1896.
F. G. CASSELL
(Of Cassell & Co.),
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicant.