Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Nov., 1893-Accepted, 30th June, 1894
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I JOHN SHAKESPEARE Fruit Merchant of 120 Snow Hill Dudley in the
County of Worcester do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
I construct safety velocipedes with frames of less dimentions than those that are
now generally used.
I fix the socket which holds the handle bar stock to the frame underneath the
saddle, which places the handle bar within easy reach to the rider.
The stock on the handle bar is made to pass through and to turn in the socket on
the frame. I screw a bearing on the end of the stock for the socket to bear upon.
I fix the stock of a front steering fork on to the stock of the handle bar above
the socket, or, instead of using a steering fork I make the arms of the handle bar
of sufficient lengths to reach and fit on to the axle of a front steering wheel.
I also make a handle bar the arms fork shaped to fit on two steering wheels one
on each side of the rider.
I make handles adjustable to fit in any convenient position on the handle bar.
Similarly I construct a double framed or tandem safety with the same steering
appliances to be ridden by one or two persons of either sex.
The machines to be termed "Fairy Cycles" on account of their small dimen-
tions.
The principle features of my invention are in constructing chain geared
velocipede frames with the sockets swivels & pivots for canting and steering fixed
underneath, or in close proximity to the saddles ensureing to the rider greater
power over his machine.
1 make a chain geared ordinary bicycle with the driving wheel in the rear,
I fix the socket, on which the back bone swivels, over the driving wheel, I fix the
saddle bar in the se ket and I fix the stock of the handle bar to the back bone in
front of the rider. 1 perform the steering with the rear driving wheel.
When I construct safety velocipedes as herein before described, the socket or
swivel in which the steering is performed, is fixed near the front of the saddle over
the bottom bracket about midway between the front and rear wheels. With this
arrangement and when the handle bar is being manipulated to make a turn the
bracket and frame is canted to one side together with the back part of the front
wheel, the front wheel moves in the space between the cranks near the bracket
without interfereing with the pedaling. I make the same kind of machine a
tricycle by cutting away the front fork from above the swivel and by fixing two
forks and two wheels one on each end of the handle bar, in which case the pedaling
is performed in the space between the two wheels there being no axle between
them.
I make the same kind of tricycle suitable for a lady rider by fixing a cross tube
to the pivot at the end of the stock on the handle bar below the swivel, to rest
underneath the rider. I fit the ends of the cross tube to the stocks of the two
steering forks on which I fix the handles one at each side of the rider.
I make a duplex frame for two riders with one front wheel and two chain geared
rear driving wheels, I join the two frames together at the top of them near to the
saddles by a cross tube, I fix a bearing and pivot on the midle of the cross tube
between the two riders on which is swiveled the end of the stock of the front fork,
I fix the handle bars on to the stock of the front fork in front of the riders, the

page_text: two driving wheels run loose on one axle, the ends of the axle are fixed to the
frame by nuts and screws, the steering is performed by the leverage to be obtained
from the weight bearing on the front wheel, or by one rider checking at the pedals
whilst the other is driving, or the front wheel may be made a steering and driving
wheel over which a third rider may be seated. There are no balance gear required
to any of the above described modifications.
Dated this 1st day of September 1893.
JOHN SHAKESPEARE,
Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, JOHN SHAKESPEARE, of 120 Snow Hill, Dudley, in the County of Worcester,
Fruit Merchant, 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 improvements in, and connected with, chain geared
bicycles, tricycles, and other cycles or velocipedes, such improvements consisting
chiefly in the manner in which I construct and arrange the driving and steering
mechanism whereby the rider has greater power or control over his machine.
In one method of carrying my invention into effect, I construct a chain geared
ordinary bicycle with the driving wheel in the rear, and having a swivelling socket
connected with the backbone fixed over the driving wheel. The saddle bar is
fixed in a socket or eye formed on the backbone, and the handle bar passes through
the swivelling socket to the driving wheel frame; or I sometimes fix the handle
bar to the backbone and fit the saddle bar within the socket. The steering is
performed by canting or turning the rear wheel about the swivelling connecting
socket, and thus the rear wheel is employed both for driving and steering.
In constructing a bicycle of the safety type, I attach or pivot the front wheel
with its forked arm and the handle with handle bar, to a swivelling socket formed
at the upper part of the rear or driving wheel frame about midway between the
front and rear wheels.
When constructing a tricycle in accordance with my present invention, I employ
two leading wheels secured by two separate forks to a handle bar which forms a
pivot for a socket carried, or formed, upon the rear or driving wheel frame. The
driving cranks and pedals are arranged to work in the space between the two
leading wheels. If the tricycle is intended for a lady rider I carry the pivot upon
a cross tube, connecting the two leading wheel forks, and arranged beneath the
saddle. The handles are fixed to the stocks of the leading wheel forks, and are
thus conveniently at hand one on either side of the rider.
I make a tricycle for two riders by employing a duplex frame with two chain
geared rear driving wheels, and one front or leading wheel. The two frames of the
driving wheels are connected by a cross tube near to the saddles. At the
middle of such cross tube I fix a bearing on which is pivoted or swivelled the stock
of the front fork, the handle bars being secured to the upper end of the stock,
preferably above the swivel connection with the cross tube hereinbefore described.
The two driving wheels run loose on one common axle, the ends of such axle being
fixed to the duplex frame.
In order that my invention and the methods of carrying the same into effect may
be the more clearly understood, I append hereunto one sheet of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to.
Figure 1 is an elevation of a chain geared ordinary bicycle made in accordance
with my invention.

page_text: Figure 3 is a bicycle of the safety type.
Figure 4 is a similar machine to Figure 3 but as made for a lady rider.
Figure 5 is a tricycle having one rear driving wheel.
Figure 6 is a similar machine as constructed for a lady rider.
Figure 7 is a duplex framed machine for carrying two riders, and having two rear
driving wheels.
Figure 8 is a machine having three driving wheels, and arranged for carrying
three riders.
Referring to Figure 1, the upper end of the backbone C is attached to, or forms
a part of, the socket D. The stock of the handle bar is carried through this
socket D and secured to the upper part of the triangular frame E. The saddle bar
is passed through an eye formed in the backbone and fixed by a set screw or a
suitable clamping or securing device. The driving chain wheel with the pedalled
cranks are carried by the fore part of triangular frame E, the motion being trans-
mitted by chain gearing in the usual and ordinary manner to the rear driving
wheel A. Steering is effected by the rider canting the rear wheel while grasping
the handles F F, thus causing the rear portion of the machine to turn or swivel
within the socket D. The handles are arranged in a position near to the saddle,
within very easy reach of the driver. The machine is stiffened when required by
a tie piece such as G.
In Figure 2 two front balancing wheels B B are provided, each mounted upon a
separate axle. The rear wheel A is both the driving and steering wheel, steering
being effected by canting or turning the whole rear portion of the machine about
the swivel connection at D. The saddle H is in rigid connection with the rear
portion of the machine, and thus the canting or turning required for steering can be
produced by the body of the rider instead of by his arms, as with the machines at
present in ordinary and general use.
In the illustration at Figure 3 of a small framed safety bicycle, the whole rear
portion of the machine may be turned about the swivelling joint or socket
connection D which I preferably arrange about mid-way between the front and
rear wheels and as directly as may be convenient over the crank axle; this
arrangement brings the handles near to the rider, and thus enables him to have
a good command or power over the pedals. The socket D is mounted on the
handle bar, which is provided with a stay or tie piece at its lower projecting end
for rigidly connecting it to the front fork bar.
Figure 4 illustrates a similar type of machine to that shown at Figure 3, but
arranged to suit a lady rider; in this machine the socket D is connected to
the handle bar and the back wheel and its whole frame turn upon the handle bar as
a centre.
The short framed tricycle at Figure 5 has one rear driving and steering wheel A
and two front or leading wheels B B running upon separate axles. The crank
axle is carried at the front end of the triangular frame E, and the space between
the two front or leading axles allows of the free working or pedalling of the cranks
by the rider. The wheel A with the saddle and rear portion of the machine
swivels with the socket D about the pivot formed by the stalk or centre tail piece d
of the leading wheel forks d'. With this type of machine I sometimes use the hand
levers and supplementary cranks described in my Specification No. 1397 of 1891
for which a Patent has been granted me. I then arrange the swivel connection
some distance in front of the centres of the leading wheels, and such wheels are then
kept in position for steering straight forward by the forward driving motion of the
machine itself. The hands of the rider are thus free.
Figure 6 is a similar type of tricycle to that shown at Figure 5, but arranged
suitably for a lady rider. The cross tube J connecting the two leading wheel forks
carries a pivot, at or about the centre of its length, on which the whole rear portion

page_text: of the machine is caused to swivel in either direction as required for steering as
hereinbefore described.
The duplex framed machine as constructed for two riders is shown at Figure 7.
There are two rear driving and steering wheels AA and one leading wheel B.
The frames E E are connected by the cross tube J near to the saddles, and by the
fixed axle on which revolve independently the driving wheels A. A. At or about
the centre of the cross tube J, I mount the swivelling connecting socket D with
which the rear portion of the machine can be turned in either direction required
for steering. This socket D I attach to the front fork rod C' and I attach a
vertical pillar to the cross piece J for enabling the two wheels and their frames to
turn freely within the socket as a centre. Instead of fixing the seat pillars in the
sockets at the top of the frames E E as shown at Figure 7, 1 sometimes fix them
upon the ends of a second cross tube formed with the swivelling socket D.
Figure 8 is an illustration of a machine arranged for three riders and having a
front driving and steering wheel. The swivelling socket D turns about a pivot
formed with the front fork, the handle bar being secured to the top of this pivot or
stock. The forward saddle is fixed to the front part of the rear frame, near to the
swivel connection. In this machine the two hind wheels with their frames turn
upon the front fork pivot passing through the socket D. I sometimes construct in
like manner a tandem machine for two riders, having the front driving wheel in a
swivelling fork, and also similar machines for carrying any required number of
riders.
To assist in keeping the head of a cycle, made in accordance with my present
invention, in a forward direction during forward driving, I sometimes fix elastic
cords or bands on each side of the swivelling socket connection, in such manner that
any tendency to turn in either direction is checked by the tension of the cords or
bands. By limiting the amount of stretch or elasticity of the cords or bands, they
also serve the purpose of checks or stops for preventing too great an angle being
made when steering the machine either to the right or left hand of the driver.
also limit the angle by means of shields or guards fixed between the pedals and the
inner side of the wheels, or by studs or stops formed upon or in connection with the
swivelling socket joint.
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. The construction of a velocipede or cycle having a rear wheel or wheels driven
by chain gearing from the crank or pedal shaft or shafts, such rear wheel or wheels
being arranged for the purposes of steering, substantially as herein before described
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The construction of a chain geared ordinary bicycle having a rear driving
wheel in connection with a swivelling frame such as E, substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described and as illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. The construction of a chain geared tricycle, having two front or leading
wheels with separate axles, and one rear driving wheel in connection with a
swivelling frame, substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and
as illustrated in Figures 2, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The construction of a safety bicycle having a chain geared rear driving wheel
in connection with a rear frame having a swivelling connection such as D,
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described, and as illustrated in
Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The construction of a chain geared tricycle having one front or leading wheel
and two independent rear driving wheels in connection with a duplex swivelling
frame, substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and as illustrated
in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.
5

page_text: 6. The construction of a cycle for three or more riders having two or more
independent rear driving wheels, and one front or leading driving wheel in
connection with a swivelling frame, substantially as and for the purposes berein-
before described and as illustrated in Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of November 1893.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.