Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 1st Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 6th Jan., 1888
I, ROBERT WALKER SMITH, of No. 6, York Street, Coventry, in the county of
Warwick, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements applicable to rear driving safety bicycles
and to those tricycles constructed with a single steering wheel in front, the object of
such improvements being to absorb or lessen the vibration of the body of the
machine.
The ends of the fork of the steering rod or pillar, instead of being connected
directly with the bearings of the front wheel, are pivoted, at a point in rear or in front
of the said bearings, to levers carrying the latter. The free ends of the fork and of
the said levers are extended beyond the pivot, and the extremities of such extensions
are connected together by coil springs. When any weight is placed on the machine
or anything obstructs the steering wheel, the main portions of the fork and levers
are approached and the springs connecting the ends of the fork and levers are
extended whereby the effect of any vibration on the body of the machine is con-
siderably lessened. In some cases, the before mentioned pivots are prolonged, such
prolongations serving as foot rests.
Dated this Fourth day of March 1887.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles and Tricycles.
I, ROBERT WALKER SMITH, of No. 6, York Street, Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Machinist, 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 said invention relates to improvements applicable to rear driving safety
bicycles and to tricycles constructed with a single steering wheel in front, the object
of such improvements being to absorb or lessen the vibration of the body of the
machine.
The fork at the lower ends of the steering rod or pillar, instead of being connected
directly with the axle bearings of the front wheel, is pivoted, at a point in rear, or in
front, of the said bearings, to levers carrying the latter. The free ends of the fork
and of the said levers are extended beyond the pivot, and the extremities of such
extensions are connected together by coil springs.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1. is a side elevation of a bicycle, con-
structed in accordance with this invention, and Figure 2. is a sectional view of the
foot rest and of portions of the ends of the fork and lever which are pivoted together
by the end of the pin of the foot rest. In these Figures A. is the fork of the steering
rod or pillar C. the lever carrying the axle bearings of the front wheel; B. is the
foot rest, on which the end of the fork A. and the lever C. are pivoted; and D. is a
spring between extremities of the fork A. and the lever (). In Figure 2. the
cylinder e. is shown attached to the lever C.; the pin H. of the foot rest passes
through the cylinder e., the lever C. and the end of the fork A. and is secured by
the nut c¹.
When a weight is placed on the machine or anything obstructs the steering wheel,
the main portions of the fork and the levers are approached and the springs con-
necting the outer ends of the fork and levers are extended whereby the effect of any
vibration on the body of the machine is considerably lessened.
Although the levers C. and ends of the fork A. are hereinbetore described as being
bolted together by the end of the foot rest, it will be readily understood that they may
be bolted or pivoted together by an ordinary pin or bolt.
In the accompanying drawings the levers C. and end of the fork A. are shown
bolted together in rear of the axle of the steering wheel, but, in some cases, I arrange
the lever C. projecting forward from the said axle and secure the end of the fork
thereto at a point in front of the latter.
Both ends of the fork A. are arranged in a like manner in connection with
levers C.

page_text: 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
In bicycles and tricycles of the nature hereinbefore referred to, pivoting the ends
of the fork to levers carrying the bearings of the axle of the steering wheels, and
connecting the extremities of the fork and the said levers by a spring, substantially,
as and for the purpose, herein before described.
Dated this first love of Donamba- 1007
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.