Improvements in Pedals for Bicycles and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1896-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by JOSEPH PETER LAVIGNE, of 179 Blatchley
Avenue, Manufacturer, and WILBUR FISK DAY, of 310 York Street,
Banker, both of New Haven, County of New Haven and State of Connecticut,
United States of America.]
Improvements in Pedals for Bicycles and the like.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1, represents a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section of
one form which a pedal constructed in accordance with the invention may
assume.
Figure 2, a view thereof in side elevation.
Figure 3, a view in end elevation showing the pedal adjusted for use as a rat-
trap pedal.
Figure 4, a corresponding view showing the pedal adjusted for use as a rubber-
bar pedal.
Figure 5, a detail view showing one of the frame-plates in transverse section.
Figure 6, a corresponding view of one of the rubber-bars..
Figure 7, a view in end elevation of one of the modified forms which the pedal
may assume.
This invention relates to an improved pedal for bicycles, the object being to
produce a combination pedal having foot-holds or working faces of two types, and
adapted to be convertibly balanced so as to present uppermost to the foot either
one foot-hold or face or the other, according to the disposition of the rider or the
dictation of circumstances, so that one pedal is made to combine the advantages f
two distinct types of pedals, with obvious gain in economy and convenience.
With these ends in view, the invention consists in a combination pedal having
its frame movable with respect to its spindle for shifting the center of gravity of
the frame so as to cause it to balance with either one of its foot-holds uppermost.
The invention further consists in a pedal having certain details of construction
and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the
claims.
For the illustration of the invention a pedal is herein shown which combines
pedals of the rat-trap and rubber-bar type. It is to be understood, however, that
the invention is not limited to combining the rat-trap and rubber-bar types of
pedals, or to the employment of the particular construction shown and described.
As shown in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, the frame of the pedal is articulated and
comprises two flat, wrought-metal frame-plates A. and A', corresponding to each
other, and arranged parallel with each other on the opposite sides of the spindle B
of the pedal. The plate A is furnished with two parallel inwardly projecting
suspension arms A 2 A 3, the inner ends of which are enlarged, and constructed
with perforations a a to adapt them to fit over and turn upon necks e c, formed at
the ends of a long cylindrical hub C having a tapering, long, threaded bore, and
fitting over the spindle B, as shown. At its respective ends the said hub is formed
with flanges C C against which the inner faces of the inner ends of the said arms
bear. The frame plate A' is provided with two corresponding, parallel, suspension

page_text: arms A4 A5, which are enlarged at their inner ends, and constructed with
perforations to adapt them to fit over and turn upon the necks c c aforesaid, the
inner faces of their said ends bearing upon the outer faces of the inner ends of the
said arms A 2 and A 3 of the said frame-plate A. The outer end of the neck c is
threaded for the attachment of the ball-case D, which co-acts with a flange b,
formed upon the spindle in confining a series of anti-friction balls E. The outer
end of the neck of the hub is threaded for the attachment of a ball-case D',
which co-acts with a grooved collar F in confining a series of anti-friction balls E,
the said collar being internally threaded and removably and adjustably mounted
upon the threaded stem B' formed at the termination of the outer end of the
spindle, and held in place by a non-rotatable washer G, and a nut G1, all as shown
in Fig. 1. The extreme inner ends of the arms A 4 and A5 are formed with stop
notches A 6 A 6, receiving stop-pins A7 A7 mounted in the arms A 2 and A 3,
the said pins playing back and forth in the said notches, and limiting the movement
of the two frame-plates and their arms, with respect to each other. The swinging
of the plates A and A' within the limits of movement allowed by the notches A 6 A 6,
so shifts the center of gravity of the frame with respect to the spindle B, that the
frame automatically reverses itself so as to present either one of its faces uppermost,
according to the way in which the frame-plates are shifted, the frame being
rebalanced, as it were, by the shifting of its center of gravity.
The corresponding edge of each of the frame-plates is serrated, as at H, so as to
secure a rat-trap grip or hold upon the foot, the serrations being flanked at either
end by horns H H 2, preventing the foot from sliding laterally. The other edge
of each plate is cut transversely to form a series of retaining-fingers I, which are
alternately set in opposite directions so as to form a skeleton pocket, as it were, for
the reception of the rubber bars J, provided with long ribs J, which are forced
into the said skeleton pockets and there retained. At each end of the series of
fingers are retaining horns I and I 2, having the same functions as the horns H' H2
before mentioned. As herein shown, each of the frame-plates is constructed with
narrow slots a 2 a 2 for the reception of tenons a 3 formed at the outer ends of the
suspension arms. The serrated edges H H of the respective plates together form
what may be called the "rat-trap" foot-hold or working face of the frame, while
the two rubber bars D D co-act to form what may be termed the "rubber-bar"
foot-hold or working face of the frame.
When the frame-plates A and A' are adjusted, as shown in Fig. 3 of the
drawings, the center of gravity of the frame is located below the spindle, and on
the side of the rubber bars J J. The frame is now balanced so that the serrated
edges of its frame-plates will be maintained uppermost and the pedal will have all
the functions of a rat-trap pedal pure and simple. On the other hand, if the plates
are shifted oppositely, as shown in Fig. 4, the center of gravity will be shifted
below the center of the spindle, and on the side of the serrated edges CC of
the frame-plates, so that thereafter the pedal will be balanced with its rubber
bars DD uppermost and have all the functions of a rubber-bar pedal pure and
simple.
The frame-plates may be shifted for converting the pedal either by hand, or by
the feet when the rider is propelling his machine, for it is apparent that by slipping
his foot off from the uppermost face of the pedal and engaging it with the lower
face thereof, he can lift against the frame-plates so as to turn them on the spindle,
thus shifting the center of gravity of the pedal-frame, and causing the same to be
reversed in position, and balanced therein.
It is not necessary, however, that a pedal containing the invention be constructed
as above described, for it may assume a variety of forms without departing from
this invention. Thus, in the construction shown by Fig. 7, the frame-plates K
and K are attached to the opposite ends of two supporting arms L, only one of
which is shown. Each of these arms is constructed with a central slot L, for the
reception of the spindle M, with respect to which the pedal-frame may be shifted
within the limit of movement represented by the length of the slot L', whereby the

page_text: center of gravity of the frame is shifted from one side of the frame to the other.
As shown in Fig. 7, the center of gravity is below the spindle on the side of the
serrated edges N of the frame-plates, but in case the supporting arms L are moved
in the opposite direction within the limits set by the length of the slots L', the
center of gravity of the frame will be shifted to the side of the plates carrying the
bars OO, causing the frame to be reversed and balanced in a position in which
the serrated edges will be uppermost.
It will be understood that this invention is not limited to the exact construction
herein shown and described, but such changes and alterations may be made as
fairly fall within its spirit and scope.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A combination pedal having its frame or members thereof movable with
respect to its spindle for shifting the center of gravity of the frame so as to
balance the same with either of its faces or foot-holds uppermost, substantially as
set forth.
2. A combination rat-trap and rubber-bar pedal having its frame or members
thereof movable with respect to its spindle for shifting the center of gravity of the
frame so as to balance the same with either its rat-trap or rubber bar faces or foot-
holds uppermost, substantially as set forth..
3. A combination pedal having an articulated frame, members of which may be
shifted in position with respect to the spindle of the pedal for shifting the center
of gravity of the frame so as to balance the same with either of its faces or foot-
holds uppermost, substantially as set forth.
4. A combination pedal having a spindle, and a frame comprising two plates
hung from the spindle and movable with respect thereto for changing their
position and hence the center of gravity of the frame so as to cause the same to
balance with either of its two faces or foot-holds uppermost, substantially as
described.
5. In a combination pedal, the combination with the spindle thereof, of two
frame-plates each having two suspension arms which are hung from the spindle,
and which swing to permit the plates to be moved for shifting the center of
gravity of the frame with respect thereto so as to cause the frame to be
balanced with either of its two faces or foot-holds uppermost, substantially as
described.
6. In a combination pedal, the combination with the spindle thereof, of a hub
mounted thereupon, two frame-plates located on opposite sides of the spindle, and
two suspension arms for each frame plate, having their inner ends mounted upon
the hub so as to turn thereupon, the respective edges of the said plates being
adapted to form foot-holds or working faces which are presented to the foot
according to the positions of the plates with respect to the spindle, substantially as
described.
7. In a combination pedal, the combination with the spindle thereof, of two
frame-plates suspended therefrom, and movable with respect to each other to shift
the center of gravity of the frame so as to cause the frame to balance with one of
its faces or foot-holds uppermost, and means for limiting the relative movement of
the two frame-plates, substantially as described.
8. In a bicycle pedal the combination with a frame plate having one of its edges
transversely slit and the fingers thus formed struck in opposite directions to form
an open cage for the reception of a bar, substantially as set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.