IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for an
invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES."-A communication from
abroad by Alexandro Winkler, of Paris, in the Republic of France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Edward Newton at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents ou the 18th April 1882.
"
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents 66 Chancery Lane in the
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES."
County of Middlesex Civil Engineer,
[A communication from abroad by Alexandro Winkler, of Paris, in the Republic
of France.]
This Invention relates to a novel construction of velocipede in which the driving
power is obtained partly from the positions assumed by the ridor and partly from
the rider touching the ground with his feet.
The machine consists of two large wheels placed at opposite ends of an axle and
running loosely on the same. From the axle depends a scat or a trapeze on which
the rider sits or stands as may be preferred.
The axle may be cranked for about two thirds its length or not and it carries
inside the wheels guard plates to prevent the dress of the rider becoming entangled
in the moving parts.
Secured to the guard plates is a framework for supporting an awning of any
suitable construction.
On the nave of each wheel is secured a grooved pulley round which passes a band
or cord to form a brake. One end of the band or cord is attached to the guard
plate and the other to a suitably placed lever by which the band or cord may be
tightened as required.
The steering of the machine may be effected by means of the brakes.
To drive the machine the rider seats himself on the seat or stands on the trapoze
and interlaces his arms with the axle. This position produces a certain amount of

page_text: motion to the machine inasmuch as the centre of gravity of the body falls on one
sido of a vertical line drawn through the centre of the axle of the wheels,
It is necessary that this position should be preserved during the progress of tho
machine, and for this purpose it will be necessary for the rider from time to time
to touch the ground with his feet, for the body boing so to sponk suspended from the 5
axle will have a tendency to assumo its position of equilibrium, in which caso the
machine would soon come to rest.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th October 1882.
D
-
HENRY EDWARD NEWTON of the Office for Patents GG Chancery Lane in
the County of Middlesex Civil Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
A communication from Abroad by Alexandro Winkler of Paris in the Republic
of France,
Hitherto the velocipede has been considered only in relation to facility and
rapidity of movement. It has however another good side, viz that of wholesome
and beneficial exercise of the body, serving to develop power and render the bearing
graceful, for which cause it should be classed amongst the indispensable apparatus
necessary for gymnastics.
It is then in considering tho velocipede from this point of view that the Inventor
lins constructed the machine now to be described.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig: 1 is a front view, partly in section, of a
velocipedo constructed according to this Invention, and Fig: 2 is a side clevation
partly in section of the same.
All the parts constituting the machine, will be described separately.
The Wheels The two wheels R and R' have such a diameter that the axle A
on which they are mounted shall be, say, at the height of the breast of the rider.-
The distance between the wheels shall be such that the rider may conveniently
place himself between them,
To the axle A is suspended either, a trapeze T or a scat S.-In either case tho
length of the suspension cords, chains or straps c must be such as to allow of the
rider, whether seated, standing, or in any other position, touching the ground with
his toes.
The wheels R and R. are constructed in any convenient and well known manner
combining lightness with strength.
The Axle. The axle A is cranked from a to blo give to the body and to the
arms, which should be thrown as far back as possible, a natural and comfortable
position.
This axle is hollow and has at either end a fixed journal on which the wheels
turn.

page_text: It carries also two guard plates g of metal to protect the rider from contact,
through carelessness, with the moving parts.
On the axle are also fixed, near the guard plates, two rings or hooks to which
the suspension cords, chains, or straps c of the seat S or trapeze T are attached.
The cranked part of the axle carries a bracket or support & serving to carry a
havresack or other receptacle for food.
The horizontal part of the support is hinged so that it can be removed when not
required.
The Seat The seat, which consists of a leather strap or a plaited band of some
other suitable material provided with a cushion, is attached to the suspension cords,
chains or straps c.
To the back of the seat is adapted a basket m to maintain the clothes round the
rider and prevent their getting entangled in the wheels.-Under the Seat are hooks d
from which any small luggage may be suspended.
Awning Above the seat or the trapeze is arranged an awning B, the mechanisın
of which, similar to the runners, ribs and stretchers of an umbrella, will be readily
understood from the drawing.
This awning is rolled up automatically on the spring rollor i¹. when not required,
and ribs e provided with stretchers e¹, and pivotted to runners c². sliding on the
rods f, which are securely attached to the guard plates, are employed to distend
the awning when required.
The rods at the same time serve to support a small metal roof g' intended to
shelter the awning when raised.
To this roof are fixed bells and a lantern of any suitable construction.
The tie rod of the rods f carries a knitted or other bag k for provisions, or for
other use, and also several hooks for suspending canes, umbrellas, and similar
objects. Small straps o are provided whereby such objects, and also the ribs e,
when the awning is raised, may be secured to the rods f
The Brake The brakes, of which there are two, are of the class known as band
brakes, and each consists of a grooved pulley p fixed on the nave of each wheel.-
In the groove of the pulloy a steel band or wire is placed, one end of which is
secured to the guard plate and the other to a lever handle pivotted to the guard
plate. The handle is so placed as to be easily reached by the hand of the rider,
and a notch is made in the plate g into which the handle knob enters when the
brake is off, it being held therein by a spring suitably placed for the purpose.
Working The working of the machine is as simple as the construction.
The rider seats himself on the seat S or stands on the trapezo T, leaning his back
or chest, as the case may be, against the cranked part ab of the axle and lacing his
arms with the axle in order to tie himself, so to speak, firmly to the fixed portion
of the machine.
This in itself causes the movement of the machine, inasmuch as the centre of
gravity of the body falls on one side of a vertical line drawn through the centre of
the wheels.
It is therefore necessary to preserve this attitude during the working, which is
effected by touching from time to time the ground with the feet, for the body being,
so to speak suspended from the axle, will always have a tendency to assuine a
position of equilibrium, a position in which the motion of the machine would
gradually cease.
According as the point at which the feet touch the ground is in advance or in
rear of the vertical diameter of the wheels, so the speed of movement will be
increased or diminished.
The direction of travel may be regulated by turning the body in the direction
required, or by creating a resistance by means of the feet in the direction it is
required to turn, or by using one of the brakes.
The speed at which the machine can be driven depends of course on the effort
employed; thus an equivalent to the power exerted to walk at the rate of about
two and a half miles (three kilometres) per hour, will be sufficient to propel the

page_text: machine at between six nud six and a half miles (eight and a half kilometres)
an hour.
It will thus be seen that if the ground be touched as many times as in walking
quickly or in running, or if the pressure of the feet on the ground be augmented in
the samo degree, considerable speed may be obtained.
The machine described above is equally applicable to both sexes and to persons
of all ages, and its use is particularly favorable to the development of the chest and
the muscles, and gives grace and agility to the movements of the body.
Having now set forth the nature of this Invention of " Improvements in
Velocipedes" as communicated to me by my Foreign Correspondent, and explained
the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish it to be understood that I
claim :-
A velocipede constructed and operated substantially as herein shown and
described.
In witness whereof I the said Henry Edward Newton have hereunto set my
hand and seal the 17th day of October in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.