IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Josiah Jackson, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick,
Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Josiah Jackson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th January 1876.
JOSIAH JACKSON, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Machinist. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BICYCLES."
In my improved machine I provide a slot in the cross bearing for the spindle, to
which the handles are attached, and I so construct it that the said slot terminates
a short distance from each end of the said bearing, and at right angles with the
said slot I provide suitable screws, which are for the purpose of closing the said
bearing to the required degree, so that the said spindle may be held at the required
tension.
The spring of my machine is constructed with a hole through its front part,
which is for the purpose of allowing the break cord to pass through, and also to
lighten the said spring from the hole to any convenient length, thereby giving it
greater elasticity.
I construct the foot rest in the following improved manner :-Having provided
a suitable box fitted with a short helical spring within it, in any suitable manner
it is secured to the fork of the machine at the point required, the said spring being
connected with a lever working in a suitable recess, and is so arranged that the
said lever is held close up to the fork of the machine when it is not in use; the
other end of the said lever is formed into a ring into which I compress india-
rubber, so that the foot may have a firm hold upon the rest when it is desired to
be used. The treadle is cast in one piece having suitable grooves formed therein
to allow of india-rubber being affixed within them by means of cement, and it is
also fitted with a cap or oil holder similar to those used in carriages. It is bored
to receive the shaft through it, which has cones at either end and is held in position
by the outer cone working upon a D piece which in its turn is held is position
by two nuts working respectively on right and left screws.
My improved step may be constructed in either of the following manners:-In
the one case the step is formed in the usual manner, but having a segment of tube

page_text: upon its top, and within this segment is fitted a suitable piece of india-rubber; or
in the other I construct it with a ring at the end, and in this case I compress
india-rubber within the said ring, as described in the improved foot rest.
The bearing in which the driving wheel revolves are turned to a segment of a
circle of a suitable radius.
The break is constructed to work in a bearing on a right line with the centre of
the back wheel of the machine, so that when it is desired to be used it is by
suitable levers caused to press upon the ground, and the friction so caused tends to
reduce the speed at which the machine is travelling.
".
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Josiah Jackson in the Great Seal Patent Office, on the 5th July 1876.
JOSIAH JACKSON, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Machinist. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BICYCLES."
The nature of my Invention is fully described in the Provisional Specification
already filed. I do not therefore think it necessary to repeat here what is there
said, but I will proceed at once to describe the details of my said Invention as
the same appear in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle containing the improvements I desire to
claim, the first of which relates to the handle, and is shown enlarged in Figs. 2
and 3. a is the vertical socket, to which is attached the arms b and the cross
socket c. The spindle d to which the handles are attached passes through the said
cross sockets c, and the latter are slotted at-e, and are provided with screws f, so
that the said socket c may be closed upon the said spindle d, which may thus be
adjusted to turn without shake. The said slots e do not extend to the outer ends
of the said sockets c but stop short thereof, as shewn. The length of the said slots
is however sufficient to allow the central portions of the said sockets to yield to the
pressure of the said screws f
My improved spring g is shewn in Figs. 1 and 4. h is a hole through which the
break cord passes, the said hole h may be extended along the spring to any con-
venient length, so as to lighten the spring to any desired extent.
My improved foot rest is shewn in position in Fig. 1, and in detail in Figs. 5
and 6, where k is a box secured to the fork of the machine; m is a lever turning
upon a pin n, and acted upon by the coiled spring o in such manner as to cause
the said lever m to be held close up to the fork when the foot is not resting
upon it. At its outer end the lever m has an eye or ring p, into which is com-
pressed a piece of india-rubber q; or the end of the foot rest may be formed in the
usual manner, but with the addition of a segmental piece of tube, within which
is secured a suitable piece of india-rubber. When the foot is placed upon the said
piece of india-rubber 9 the coiled spring o is overcome and the lever m is
forced into the position shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 1. A stop prevents it from
descending any farther, and a suitable support for the foot is thus obtained. A
modification of the ring or eye is shewn in Figs. 5 and 6, in which the said ring
or eye is jointed upon a pin r, whereby it can be turned into a position within the
fork, by which it is thereby concealed and protected.
My improved treadle is shewn in detail in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, where s is the
metallic frame of the treadle, which is cast in one piece with the boss t, and
which has grooves or openings within which the india-rubber u is secured, either
by means of cement or by means of pins V introduced within the fold of the
rubber in such a manner as to expand it and prevent its escape from the said
frame S. My improved treadle also has a cap or oil holder W similar to those used
in carriages.
Further, my improved treadle is bored out conically at either end, as shewn in
section in Fig. 8, and is adjusted to revolve steadily upon the crank pin
by

page_text: means of two cones y and y¹, the latter being loose and being adjusted endwise
by means of the nut z. The loose cone y¹ is prevented from turning upon the
crank pin x by having its interior formed of a D shape, the crank pin x being also
similarly shaped, as shewn in section in Fig. 9. One of the bearings of the driving
shaft is shewn at A in Fig. 8, but I prefer to give it a curved outline, as shewn by
the dotted lines.
My improved break is shewn in Fig. 1 only. It consists of a lever B turning
upon the same centre C as that of the back wheel of the machine, and so arranged
that the tension of the cord D causes the lower end E of the break to bear upon
the ground instead of upon the periphery of the back wheel, as is usually the
the case.
Instead of mounting the break lever upon the same centre as the back
wheel as aforesaid I sometimes form arms upon the frame of the machine, and
fix therein pins upon which the said lever turns.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner in which
the same is to be carried into effect, I desire it to be understood that without limiting
myself to the precise details herein-before contained (as these may be to some
extent varied or modified without departing from the nature of my said Invention),
I desire it to be understood that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by
the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The slotted sockets for the handle and the adjusting screw in connection
therewith, as and for the purpose herein-before described, and as illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. The hole in the spring, as and for the purpose herein-before described and
as illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The peculiar construction of the foot rest, substantially as herein-before
described, and as illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The peculiar construction of the treadle, substantially as herein-before
described, and as illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. Causing the break to act upon the ground instead of upon the periphery
of the back wheel, substantially in the manner herein-before described, and as illus-
trated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof I, the said Josiah Jackson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord, One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness.
P. EMERY DAVIES,
Clerk to Mr. G. R. Holland,
Birmingham.
JOSIAH JACKSON. (L.S.)