IMPROVED VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1885

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I FREDERICK WALTER HARE of the firm of I. Hare and Son of 171 Hunters
Lane Birmingham in the County of Stafford Music Smiths and Spring Makers do
"AN IMPROVED STEP FOR
hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
VELOCIPEDES to be as follows, that is to say :-
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My invention has for its object an improved step for velocipedes which is easily
adjustable to various sized machine frames and can be verry securely fixed and
when it is fixed it is more durable and far less likely to be broken than those now
in use which frequently break when trod upon at all unevenly. There is also less
liability of injuring the polish or paint of machines in taking it putting it on
or taking it off.
My step is made from one piece of sheet metal which is cut out to a somewhat
ornamental shape at the under side as looked at sidewise. The narrow part of the
metal is at the centre of its length which is also the shallowest part which forms
the front portion of the tread. The metal strip is bent over and the ends form two
ears at the back of the step through which a small adjusting bolt or screw passes.
I also pass through both sides of the steps a secondary bolt which enables me to
tighten both sides of the step where it clips the machine thus giving increased
security to it. There is a slight taper in the socket part but apart from any taper
it would very easily adapt itself to any slight change of size or section.
GEORGE BARKER,
Agent for the Applicant,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, FREDRICK WALTER HARE of the firm of I. Hare and Son of 171 Hunters
Lane Birmingham in the County of Stafford Music Smiths and Spring Makers do
hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "AN IMPROVED STEP FOR
VELOCIPEDES" and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement as follows that is
to say :-
My Invention has for its object an improved step for velocipedes which is easily
adjustable to various sized machine frames and can be very securely fixed and
when it is fixed it is more durable and far less likely to be broken than those now
in use which frequently break when trod upon at all unevenly. There is also less
liability of injuring the polish or paint of machines in taking it off or putting
it on.
My step is made from one piece of sheet metal which is cut out to a somewhat
ornamental shape at the under side as looked at sidewise.
The narrow part of the metal is at the centre of its length which is also the
shallowest part which forms the front portion of the tread. The metal strip is bent
over and the ends form two ears at the back of the step through which a small
adjusting bolt or screw passes. I also pass through both sides of the steps a
secondary bolt which enables me to tighten both sides of the step where it clips the
machine thus giving increased security to it. There is a slight taper in the secret
part but apart from any taper it would very easily adapt itself to any slight change
of size or section.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings upon which I have
illustrated its application to a part of a machine as well as its mechanical
construction.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved adjustable step.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same.
Figure 3 is an alternative plan of the same with one bolt.
Figure 4. is a perspective view showing its application to the limb of a
machine.
Figure 5. illustrates a flat plate of metal partly prepared for the manufacture of
the said steps and just ready for forming the various curves and for afterwards
bending round.
It will be clearly observed that my step is solid at the centre part A and that
the division occurs at the back B of the connection. It will also be observed that
I do not contine myself to the bolt C but that my step is designed to receive also a
bolt D which enables the step to most securely clip the limb E of the machine. In
cases however where one bolt is preferable I bend the plate in as shown by the
alternative plan Figure 3 at K and K¹ which forms an abutment without a bolt.

page_text: step is also easier opened and manipulated from one machine to another because the
solid part A occurs at the part which naturally by the rules of design the least in
depth. In steps split at the part A one side frequently falls lower than the other
and sometimes even breaks off This fault is avoided by my invention. While I
prefer steel for the manufacture of these steps it is evident that they may be made
in any other suitable metal or material. It is also evident that the outer
configuration or design may be varied considerably without departing from the
nature of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what I
claim is
The improved step for velocipedes so formed as to have the front part A solid
for the tread of the foot and either secured by one or two bolts.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1885.
GEORGE BARKER,
Agent for the Applicant,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.