Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, JEAN BERTOUX, of Fontainebleau, in the Republic of France, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
My invention relates to velocipedes and consists in transforming, by the
adaptation of an apparatus and a wheel, a bicycle of any kind into a tricycle
for two persons without making in the machine any change interfering with its
primary object.
The facility of the mounting and dismounting enables any person to effect the
transformation in a comparatively short time and to have almost instantaneously at
will either a bicycle or a tricycle for two persons, only one of whom drives the
machine.
In carrying my invention into practice I slightly modify the nut on the right hand
side of the rear wheel of the ordinary bicycle, by prolonging the same by a screw-
threaded steel rod of a length of about 0-6 metres upon which is placed the
coupling nut round the extremity of the additional axle. The aforesaid coupling
nut on the right hand side of the rear wheel of the bicycle is between this wheel
and the additional axle or prolongation. The nut of the bicycle is lengthened and
forms a screw-threaded rod upon which is screwed a coupling nut; the latter bears
with its extremity against a shoulder on an additional axle so that there will
be a firm connection between the said axle and the nut on the right hand side of
the rear wheel.
This simple operation of screwing the coupling nut suffices for producing a
tricycle. To obtain full security as regards strength I provide a rod which is
screwed into the nut, bearing against a shoulder on the said axle; this rod is fixed
on the other band to the saddle support of the bicycle by a sleeve with a screw
passing into the eye of a connecting rod.
The second saddle with which the aforesaid support is provided rests upon the
curved bar and is fastened upon the middle of the axle by means of a plate with
collars; it completes the apparatus. Upon this support prolonged below the axle
and reinforced by a rod is adapted a foot rest.
The second saddle may be turned either to the front or to the rear of the
machine by simply displacing the plate with collars for uniting the same with the
said axle.
Dated this 19th dow of November 1892
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
1, JEAN BERTOUX, of Fontainebleau, in the Republic of France, 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:
My invention relates to velocipedes and consists of a bicycle of any kind which
is so constructed and arranged that it can be converted into a tricycle for two
persons without the necessity of making in the machine any alteration which would
interfere with its primary obiect.

page_text: The facility with which the machine may be mounted as a tricycle or dismounted,
enables any person to effect the conversion in a comparatively short time and to
have almost instantaneously at will, either a bicycle or a tricycle for two persons,
only one of whom can drive the machine. For this purpose I slightly modify the
nut on the right hand side of the rear wheel of an ordinary bicycle, and I secure
thereto a screw-threaded steel rod of a length of about 0-6 metres upon which is
arranged the coupling nut.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention can be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice..
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved bicycle converted into a tricycle.
Figure 2 is a rear end elevation thereof.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the aforesaid coupling nut drawn to a
larger scale.
Figure 4 is a cross section of the said nut.
Figure 5 is an elevation partly in section of the hub of the additional wheel.
Figure 6 is an end elevation of the same and
Figure 7 is a view of a sector hereinafter described.
In carrying the invention into practice the nut e of the bicycle is prolonged as
at a and provided with a screw-thread upon which is screwed the internally screw-
threaded nut or coupling E which is adapted to securely hold the additional axle A
against the nut e by means of a shoulder c on the said axle A. so as to make a firm
connection between the said axle and the nut on the right hand side of the rear
wheel.
To prevent the unscrewing of the nut E it is provided with a disc or
washer Figure 4, having holes c formed therein to receive the extremity of a
screw-threaded key-d engaging with an internally screw-threaded socket on the
support H.
This simple operation of screwing up the coupling nut E is sufficient for
converting the machine into a tricycle. To obtain full security as regards strength
I provide a rod C which is screwed into the socket D, articulated upon a collar c¹
on the said axle A; this rod C is fixed at the opposite end to the saddle support d'
of the bicycle by means of a fork m. The second saddle or seat which is carried
by the support B rests upon the curved bar H and is fastened near the middle of
the axle A in a support K fixed to the axis by welding or otherwise. This
support K carries below a curved tube B₁ held or supported by the rod or stay G,
the said curved tube being adapted to receive a foot rest F.
h
The person who is seated on the second saddle or seat S may aid in propelling
the machine by actuating the third wheel R. For this purpose the nave I (see the
. enlarged scale views Figures 5 and 6) carries a ratchet wheel L with which
engages the pawls g the latter are retained by the ring f fixed to the extremity of
the nave I. These pawls g turn with their tail-pieces in recesses provided in
the interior of a toothed wheel M which is mounted loose upon the nave I. This
wheel M which is also seen in Figure 7, is actuated by pins provided with rollers
which are carried by a sector N pivoted at k upon a support O also fixed to the
supplementary axis A. The sector N carries a lever P which is designed co
be operated by the person who occupies the seat S. By pushing the lever P the
pins / act upon the wheel M the pawls g actuating the ratchet wheel L and with it
the nave of the wheel R. When the sector occupies the position shown in
Figures 1 and 7 the wheel M will not engage with the pins h and the said wheel
can therefore turn freely. There is no necessity for uncoupling.
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,
The herein described improvements in velocipedes by which a bicycle can be
converted into a tricycle by securing to said bicycle a supplementary axle and seat

page_text: without the necessity of altering the machine so as not to interfere with its primary
object, substantially as above described and shown in the drawing.
Dated this 17th day of August 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.