An Improved Arrangement by means of which the Steering Wheel of the Safety and other Bicycle is Made to the Wheel unless Caused to Deviate to One or the Other Side by the Handles of the Machine or otherwise.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Mar., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Arrangement by means of which the Steering Wheel
of the Safety and other Bicycle is Made to Keep in Line with
the other Wheel unless Caused to Deviate to One or the Other
Side by the Handles of the Machine or otherwise.
I, JOHN FISHER LE PAGE of 17 The Crescent, Salford, in the County of
Lancaster, Doctor of Medicine do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
-
I construct a spiral spring which is at rest when the wheels of the bicycle are in
line, but which is under tension when there is any deviation of the steering wheel
from the straight line on either side, and I construct it in the following manner :
The handles A of the bicycle are in union with the shaft B. B. C. C, through
which the shaft works, is in union with the rigid frame of the bicycle. D is the
spiral spring, the upper extremity of which is firmly attached to the shaft at E, and
the lower extremity is attached to C. C. at F. Any movement of the shaft Bis
communicated to the spiral spring D causing, if on one side, lateral contraction, or
on the other lateral expansion of the coils.
By a variation in the mode of attachment 1 adapt my invention to bicycles of
different patterns.
The advantages claimed for this my invention are these that by means of it the
tendency of the steering wheel to continually take a lateral course is obviated and
the bicycle is made to tend to follow a straight line, as the wheels are kept in line,
unless intentionally deviated from by the use of the handles or otherwise.
With the spiral spring it is possible to ride a safety bicycle without using the
handles, and to guide it by a swaying movement of the body, so that the hands are
free for other use.
Dated this Tenth day of March 1891.
JOHN FISHER LE PAGE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Arrangement by means of which the Steering Wheel
of the Safety and other Bicycle is Made to Keep in Line with
the other Wheel unless Caused to Deviate to One or the Other
Side by the Handles of the Machine or otherwise.
I, JOHN FISHER LE PAGE 17 The Crescent Salford Doctor of Medicine, 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:-
1 construct a spiral spring, D in the drawings left with the Provisional
Specification, and adapt it in the following manner. The handles A. of the machine
are in union with the steering post B. B. C. C. is the steering barrel. The upper
extremity of the spiral spring D is firmly attached to the steering post at E, and
the lower extremity is attached to the steering barrel C. C. at F. I alter the inode
and place of the attachment of the spring to suit various forms of bicycles,
velocipedes and other vehicles. The spiral spring D is at rest when the wheels of
the machine are in line, and is under tension when the direction of the steering
wheel deviates to one or the other side. Any movement of the steering post B. B.
is communicated to the spiral spring D, and causes, if on one side, lateral
contraction, or, if on the other, lateral expansion of the coils.

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 :
(1.) That by means of one spiral spring the tendency of the stearing wheel of the
bicycle or other vehicle to take a side course is obviated, as the wheels are kept in
line, unless the direction of the steering wheel is intentionally altered by the
handles of the machine or otherwise.
(2.) That it is possible to ride a bicycle or other machine to which my invention
is applied, without using the handles to guide the machine, by a movement of the
body of the rider, so that the hands are free for other use.
(3.) That these objects are attained by the resistance to lateral contraction and
expansion of one spiral spring which is so adjusted that it is at rest when the wheel
is in line, but acts on the least movement of the steering post.
Dated this Twelfth day of December 1891.
JOHN FISHER LE PAGE.