Improvements in Pedals for Velocipedes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 6th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pedals for Velocipedes.
I, ENRICO LUINI of No. 176 Quai Jemmapes, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Mechanical Engineer and Engraver, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to pedals for cycles and has for its object to strengthen the
pedal frames of velocipedes with a view to preventing the side-checks carrying
the ball-bearing caps from becoming warped out of shape and position, and it
consists in a cross piece or tie, which may be extensible or not and which is
interposed between each "rack" that is to say each of the plates provided with
toothed edges and the pedal shaft. Each of these cross ties is securely fixed
at one end to the rack while its other end rests upon the pedal shaft or is integral
therewith.
All cyclists must have noticed that the large sides of the pedal frames, that is to
say, the racks whereon the feet of the cyclist rest, become in a short time bent
and flattened down. This deformation of the frames, which is generally owing to
the weight of the cyclists body which is abruptly brought to bear on them in the
act of quickly mounting the machine, or to shocks such as a machine is liable to
receive while in use, frequently causes in the side-checks, containing the ball-
bearing caps, a certain warping effect to be produced, which considerably interferes.
with the satisfactory operation and durability of the pedal.
To avoid these inconveniences I have conceived the novel idea of consolidating
or strengthening the racks by connecting them by means of cross-ties with the
pedal shaft, whereby great rigidity is imparted to the pedal frame so as to prevent.
its deformation on any one of its four sides.
Considered in the vertical direction the large sides or racks of the pedals.
generally offer a sufficient resistance to the strains exercised by the rider's feet
but owing to their small thickness and to the fact that they are as a rule made in
a sort of open work, or in the shape of perforated plates or open frames, they are
apt to be warped and flattened down even under almost insignificant side strains,.
and this deformation also causes the side-checks containing the balls to be
similarly warped. To avoid any such deformation I secure each rack firmly to
a cross-tie having its point of support or fulcrum upon the shaft or axle of
the pedal.
Various means may be employed for fixing or consolidating the cross piece.
where it joins the rack, according to the shape of the latter. The cross-tie may
also be extensible or collapsible so that its length may be adjusted according to the
distance between the racks, in relation to the treadle-shaft, and in order to enable
the said cross-tie to be renioved from the machine when it is desired to clean either.
the pedals or the cross-tie itself.
In one form of the invention I provide an extensible cross-tie consisting of a
tube having a semi-circular notch at one end which enables it to surround or
embrace about one-half of the circumference of the treadle-shaft, while its other
end is screw-threaded and receives a nut with a tapped hole or bore and a shoulder
This shoulder is adapted to enter, or engage with, an aperture provided in a.
corresponding position in the centre of the rack. A screw with a split head.
enables the said rack to be tightened upon the nut. The length of the cross-tie,

page_text: or the distance between the rack and the shaft, is adjusted by screwing the nut a
greater or less distance in the required direction upon the screw rod. It will
therefore be seen that the rack, thus consolidated, can in no case lose its shape
or rigidity, since it is maintained, or firmly gripped, between the head of the
screw and the nut of the cross-tic which by means of its slot or notch fits the
pedal shaft.
I have assumed that the screw-threads on the cross-ties are right hand screw-
threads, though, if desired, they may be threaded in the opposite direction that is
to say, as left hand screws, as this would produce no change either in the object of
the arrangement or in the effects obtained thereby.
According to another method of construction the cross-tie is formed of one tube
only with a tapped bore adapted to receive the tightening screw. The length of
the cross-tic is adjustable by means of washers, a sufficient number of which may
be interposed between the rod and the rack.
When the pedal carries a toe-clip secured to one of the racks by screws, it is
sufficient, in order to prevent the deformation of the rack, to maintain the proper
distance between the shaft and rack by means of an extensible cross-tie consisting
of a tube whereon a large-headed nut, provided with a stud or nipple is screwed
more or less tightly, the said nipple preventing any displacement of the said cross-
tie by passing through a corresponding aperture in the rack.
The two tubes may be soldered or brazed on to the pedal shaft, being
supported upo, or attached to, the racks by any one of the means hereinabove
described.
The tubes may also be brazed to the racks or rivetted thereto.
It is not absolutely necessary for the cross-tie to be fitted exactly in the centre
of the rack (although it is preferable to do so); but, according to the shape of the
racks and more particularly where my improved cross-ties are to be applied to
existing treadles, it is feasible, taking advantage of the perforations or open work
of the racks, to modify the arrangement to suit circumstances, so that the cross-
ties may be secured in place by bolts or screws, or brazed or rivetted, on to the
racks or cranks in the most convenient situation.
It may be mentioned that my invention is by no means limited to the shapes and
dimensions described by way of example, the said invention being applicable to
pedals of every description, while the cross-ties or stiffeners may be made of any
suitable material.
Dated this 6th day of March 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
I, ENRICO LUINI of No. 176 Quai Jemmapes, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Mechanical Engineer and Engraver, 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 :-
"
This invention relates to pedals for cycles more particularly of the kind usually
called "rat trap pedals and has for its object to strengthen the pedal frames of
velocipedes with a view to preventing the side cheeks carrying the ball-bearing
caps from becoming warped out of shape and position, and it consists in the use
and arrangement of a cross stay or tie, which may be extensible or not and which
is interposed between each "rack," that is to say each of the plates provided with
toothed edges, and the pedal bush. Each of these cross stays is securely fixed

page_text: at one end to the rack while its other end rests upon the pedal push of forms part
thereof.
All cyclists must have noticed that the long sides of the pedal frames, that is to
say the racks whereon the feet of the cyclist rest, become in a short time bent andi
twisted. This deformation of the frames, which is generally owing to the weight
of the cyclists body which is abruptly brought to bear on them in the act of quickly
mounting the machine, or to shocks such as a machine is liable to receive while in
use, frequently causes in the side cheeks, containing the ball-bearing caps, a certain
warping effect to be produced, which considerably interferes with the satisfactory
working and durability of the pedal.
To avoid these inconveniences I have conceived the novel idea of consolidating
or strengthening the racks by connecting them by means of cross-stays with the
pedal bush, whereby great rigidity is imparted to the pedal frame so as to prevent
its deformation on any one of its four sides.
Considered in the vertical direction, the long sides or racks of the pedala
generally offer a sufficient resistance to the strains exercised by the rider's feet, but
owing to their small thickness and to the fact that they are as a rule made in a
sort of open work, or in the shape of perforated plates or open frames, they are
apt to be warped and flattened down even under almost insignificant side strains,
and this deformation also causes the side-checks containing the balls to be similarly
warped. To avoid any such deformation I secure each rack firmly to a cross-stay
having its point of support or fulcrum upon the bush of the pedal.
Various means may be employed for fixing or consolidating the cross-stay where
it joins the rack, according to the shape of the latter. The cross-stay may also be
extensible or collapsible so that its length may be adjusted according to the distance
between the racks, in relation to the pedal bush, and in order to enable the said
cross-stay to be removed from the machine when it is desired to clean either the
pedals or the cross stay itself.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I have hereunto appended
two sheets of drawings, on which
Fig. 1 shews a front view of a pedal provided with extensible cross stays;
Fig. 2 a plan of the same;
Fig. 3 a cross section through the pedal, along the centre line of the cross stay
on the left side, and in front of the same. at the right side.
Fig. 4 represents a cross section along the centre line of the cross-stays, showing
on the left a special cross-stay for pedals provided with a toe-clip and on the left
an ordinary cross-stay.
Figs. 5 to 12 show details and different ways of constructing the cross-stays,
which will be hereinafter referred to.
On the drawings several ways of connecting the rack plates and cross-stays and
supporting or attaching the same on the pedal bush are shown as examples how
my invention may be carried out.
The
Figs. 3 and 5 show an extensible cross-stay formed of a tube b cut out or recessed
at one end in a nearly semicircular form so as to embrace about half the circum-.
ference of the pedal bush. The other end is screwed and receives an internally
screwed cap c the end of which is formed with a projection or shoulder e and a
tapped hole d. The shoulder enters into a corresponding, hole formed in the rack
plate a. A screw with a large nicked head ffixes the rack a to the cap c.
length of the cross-stay or the distance of the rack from the bush 9 is regulated
by screwing the cap more or less far upon the tube b. It will be evident that the
rack plate can no longer lose its shape or rigidity, as it is held or gripped between
the screw head f and the cap c screwed upon the tube which bears with its.
concave recess against the bush 9.
On the drawing the stays are shewn with right hand screw threads, but they may
be made with left hand threads without their effect being altered thereby.
In the modified cross-stay shewn by Fig. 4 on the right hand and by Fig. 7, the
cross-stay is formed of a tube b with a closed end which is tapped for the screw h,.

page_text: the length of the cross-stay being regulated by means of washers i of any required
number or thickness, interposed between the tube b and the rack a.
When the pedal carries a toe-clip j, fixed to one of the rack plates a by means of
screws k, it suffices for the prevention of the bending of rack a, to maintain the
distance of the rack from the pedal bush by means of an extensible cross-stay
formed, as shewn by Fig. 4 on the left side and by Fig. 6, of a tube b upon which
is screwed a cap with an enlarged end and a projecting peg or nipple m which
entering into a corresponding hole of the rack prevents the displacement of the
cross-stay.
The two tubes b, may, as shown by Fig. 8, be brazed or soldered to the pedal
bush and abutted on the rack plates a or attached thereto in any of the ways
hereinbefore described.
The tubes may likewise be brazed to the serrated plates (Figs. 9 and 10) or
rivetted thereto (Figs. 11 and 12).
The Figures 9 to 12 further shown that it is not necessary that the cross-stay
should be fixed exactly to the middle of the rack plate, although this is preferable,
but according to the form of the plate, especially in cases where the cross-stays
are to be applied to existing pedals, the openings contained in the rack may be
utilised or altered as may be convenient, for fixing the cross stay to the rack at the
most convenient spot by means of bolts or screws, or by brazing or rivetting them
to the rack, or in any equivalent way.
I do not confine myself to the forms and sizes represented as examples on the
drawings, but the form and mode of attachment of the cross-stays may be varied
and made in any convenient manner for application to different kinds of pedals,
and any suitable material may be used for them. More than one cross-stay may
be used on each side.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. In velocipede pedals, the arrangement of a cross-stay or of cross-stays which
may be adjustable in length or not, between each of the rack plates and the bush
of the pedal and fixed thereto by any suitable means, substantially as hereinbefore
described and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination with the bush and rack plates of a "rat trap" pedal of two
or more cross-stays each consisting of a tube saddled upon or fixed to the pedal
bush at one end of a screwed cap or a fixed end at the other, which cap or end is
fixed to the serrated plate, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
by the drawings..
3. The several constructions or arrangements of cross stays and attachments
for velocipede pedals hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 4th day of January 1896.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.