A New or Improved Device for Folding the Pedals of Cycles and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 6th July, 1897-Accepted. 7th Aug. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Device for Folding the Pedals of Cycles and
the like.
I, HENRY AUGUSTUS WILLIAMS, of 9 Avondale Street, Lincoln, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
For the purpose of my invention I connect the Pedal Spindle of the Cycle to the
C:ank by means of a hinge, so that it can be folded up or lowered down as may be
required. By means of a bolt or other suitable method I secure the Pedal Spindle
to the Crank when required for use, or release it from the Crank for folding up
when not in use.
The pedal can be retained in the folded position by a spring or other suitable
arrangement.
Dated this Fifth day of October 1896.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Device for Folding the Pedals of Cycles and
the like.
I, HENRY AUGUSTUS WILLIAMS of 9, Avondale Street, Lincoln, in the County
of Lincoln, Gentleman, 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 consists in certain improvements in the method of connecting
and attaching cycle and like pedals to their cranks which will enable the same to
be easily stowed away out of position, without detachment, when they are not
required for use, but to be capable of being easily placed again in position for use
when required. The said connection means is a simple hinge, but the particular
construction of that device and the manner in which the pedal is made positively
rigid with the crank, when in a position for use, form extremely important
elements in the invention.
By the aid of the accompanying sheet of drawings the invention will be clearly
understood, as the construction and arrangement of the connection and the manner
in which the pedal folds back out of a protruding or "in use" position is clearly
set forth. On the said sheet, Fig. 1 shows in elevation a crank and pedal with
their connection device broken partly in section. Fig. 2 is a like view as Fig. 1,
but shows the pedal thrown back folded or out of a position for use. Fig. 3 shows an
elevation of the inner side of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 an elevation of the outer side of
Fig. 2, whilst Fig. 5 is a transverse section upon the dotted line A, Fig. 3, showing

page_text: clearly the wedge formation or the he and she construction. Fig 6 is a slight
modification of the connection device Figs 1-5, and will be hereinafter more
fully described.
The connection device is distinguished by a rectangular wedge-like shaped
biock, lug, or plug a2, formed upon and carried by the extreme inner end a of the
pedal pin a of the pedal a, hinged to the pedal attachment end c² of the crank c
So as to fit within a rectangular slot, socket, or niche 3 formed within and through
the metal of the said crank end. The top and bottom sides d, d, and also the
outer end, of the block or lug a, as aforesaid, are, and is, inclined and coned,
as likewise is the top and bottom sides c, c, and the end of the slot, socket, or
niche, and these parts are adapted to fit plug and socket like one within or over
the other, and to make a rigid connection with each other. The lug or block a³,
which carries the pedal, is primarily connected to the pedal attachment end of the
crank by a screw bolt e forming the joint upon which the pedal is thrown back,
and this bolt is provided with a screw nut e, which enables the pedal to be bodily
detached from the crank if necessity should so require. An affixment pin g,
passing crosswise through a hole in the lug or block, and also through
holes g, g, within the metal of the crank end abounding the socket c, serves the
purpose of permanently fixing the pedal in its "in use position as shown in
Fig. 1, but this pin, which is provided with a screw nut, is a common one for the
affixment of the pedal in its folded hack position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4;
the said pin taking through the opposite holes h, h2, within the end of the crank at
such a time.
Now it is obvious that by the coned formation of the sides of the lug or block
and the socket or slot a perfectly rigid connection is the result, and that to fold
back the pedal it is only necessary to remove the affixing pin "g. from the
holes g, and g. When folded back if it should be required to be there fixed the
affixment pin g is simply passed through the coincident holes h, 2, when it will
form a stop against the movement of the pedal.
In the modification Fig. 6 the construction of the connection device is practically
the same, the exception being that the lug or block a² is formed upon the end of
the crank instead of upon the pedal pin, and the socket or niche e upon the end
of the pedal pin instead of the crank, but in either cases the wedging and hinging
actions are the same. ...
The affixment pin g may be made conical, or like a wedge, the pulling-in of
which, by the screwing up of the nut, will tend to pull in the lug or block to a
good fit within the slot or socket to receive it. The sides of the lug or block and
also those of the slot or socket may be level or parallel, but it is preferable that
they are inclined or tapered as shown.
The advantages of this invention are numerous, inasmuch as a cycle can be
stowed away in many places where it could not hitherto. In railway transit it
will prevent such a large space being occupied by a cycle, and also the breaking
of spokes by getting them entangled with the pedals of other machines, and
therefore cycles may be placed one on the top of the other or side by side. It
also materially aids in the security of a cycle against theft, as a rider can throw
back his pedals when leaving his machine and they will again require to be reset
before the thief could ride the machine away.
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
First. Connecting cycle and like pedals to their cranks by hinging the inner end
of the pedal pin to the pedal attachment end of the crank, so that the said pedal
may be folded inwardly to lie flat against the outer side of the crank, substantially
as described and set forth.
Second. In cycle and like pedals and cranks, connecting the one part to the
other by a hinge-like joint constructed so as to allow the pedal to fold inwards and

page_text: lie flat against the side of the crank when not in use, and to be rigidly connected
to the said crank plug-and-socket-wise when required for use, substantially as
described and set forth.
Third. A pedal and crank connection means comprising a lug or block a
carried by the one part, and a slot socket or niche carried by the other part,
tho said parts fitting one into the other and being hinged together and provided
with a locking affixment pin g, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In crank and pedal connection means, the combination of a taper sided
and ended slot or socket carried by the crank arm, a taper sided and ended lug
or block carried by the pedal pin and hingedly connected to the said crank
arm, adjacent to the slot or niche, and which is adapted to fit tight within the
said slot or socket, and affixment means consisting of a removable bolt g, and
coincident holes g, g, g, h, and has set forth.
Fifth. The general arrangement construction and combination of the parts
forming the pedal and crank connection means as set forth.
Dated a 1
1807
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Also at Liverpool, London, and Manchester, Agents for Applicant.