Improvements in Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1897--Accepted, 6th Nov., 1897
Improvements in Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
I, FREDERIC MARDEN WAKEHAM, of 1 Summer Row, Birmingham, in the County
of Warwick, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention as
communicated to me from abroad by Giovanni Antonio Philipon, of Lima, Peru,
South America, Watchmaker, and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has for its object improvements in bicycles and other velocipedes
which are operated by a forward instead of a downward pressure of the foot
propelling mechanism by which I secure a more advantageous application of the
muscular power, at the same time enabling the rider to keep his balance more
easily.
In order that my invention may be more clearly understood and easily carried
into practical effect I have appended hereunto two double sized sheets of drawings
upon which I have illustrated examples of my improvements.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a velocipede constructed according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of the hanger or bottom bracket.
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the chain wheel.
Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the slotted portion of the pedal levers K.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of Figure 5.
Figures 7 and 8 are plan and elevation respectively of my pedals.
In carrying my invention into practice I form my cycle frame of an upper
bar A, a ball head or steering socket B which carries the forks C as usual, a
double back stay or rear fork 1), a bottom fork tube E extending in a straight
line from the back stay D to the bottom of the steering head B, and a down tube F
connected to the tube E at the crank hanger or bottom bracket H and to the lug J.
This construction of frame is very strong on account of the straight bottom tube E
extending from the front to the rear of the frame. The down tube l' is pre-
ferably connected to the bracket H by screwing but the connection may be made
in various ways.
The pedal levers K and K' are pivotted at 2 to the upper bar A. so as to swing
at each side of the machine and these levers are provided at their lower ends with
the stirrups or pedals L preferably attached so as to be capable of swinging upwards
as shown in dotted lines at Figure 2, which prevents them from breaking in
case of a fall. Each of the pedal levers K has a longitudinal slot 3 at about the
same height as the bottom bracket and is provided with a cover plate to close
the said slots on the outside. The pedal lever K engages with the roller 15 which
works in the slot 3 and is secured on the stud fixed eccentrically to the chain
wheel S, the roller being mounted in the ball bearings so as to lessen the
friction as shown at Figures 5 and 6. The other lever K¹ also engages with a
similar roller working in the slot formed in this lever and this roller is secured
to the stud or spindle n¹ formed or attached to the end of the crank N fixed at
right angles to the opposite end of the chain wheel spindle P as clearly shown
at Figure 4. The transmission of power from the pedal shafts to the driving

page_text: wheel is effected by the driving chain X which gears with the sprocket wheels S
and S, or any other driving medium may be employed.
The driving action is as follows:-
The rider swings his legs forward and rearward imparting a like movement to
the suspended levers K and K' which owing to their engagement with the rollers
fixed to the sprocket wheel imparts motion thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
CLAIMS.
First. In a bicycle or like machine a frame comprising a head for the steering
wheel and a fork for the rear wheel, a connection extending from the upper ends
of the said fork and head and a straight bar or tube connecting the lower end
of the fork to the lower end of the head substantially as described and shown.
Second. In a bicycle or like machine a frame comprising a head for the steering
wheel and a fork for the rear wheel, connections extending from the upper end
of the said fork and head, a straight bar or tube connecting the lower end of
the fork to the lower end of the head, a bearing or bracket located
straight bar or tube and a seat post or tube extending from the said bearing or
the said
upon
bracket to the upper end of the said fork substantially as described and shown.
Third. In a bicycle or like machine the combination of the swinging levers
pivotted at their upper ends having longitudinal slots with covers to close them
and connected to the driving medium in the manner substantially as described
and shown.
Fourth. In a bicycle or like machine the combination with the pedal levers and
driving mechanism of the pedals pivotted to the ends of the said levers in the
manner and for the purpose substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 24th day of August, 1897.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.