US354535A - Bicycle - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

- A. A. CARTER.

BIGYGLEL- V N0..354,535. Patented Dec. 21, 18786.

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ANSON A. CARTER, OF NEWVARK, NEV JERSEY.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 354,535,6lated December 21, 1886.

Application filed May 25, 1886.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Anson A. CARTER, a citizen of the United States, residingin Newark, Essex county, New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycle Goasting Foot-Rests, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to an improvement in that class of bicycles wherein the steering mechanism is actuated by a rod extending down toward the ground before the drivingwheel, and in which the riders seat is too near the steering-handles to rest his legs thereon when riding downhill.

The so-called Star bicycle is a type of this class of machines, and has heretofore been furnished with no means to comfortably support the riders feet when removed from the driving-pedals. The rider has therefore been compelled to retain his posit-ion at such times by folding his legs across the front of the steeringrod and bracing himself upon his seat by the handlebar F with considerable muscular exertion of his arms. Having no support for his feet, a small obstacle in the road suffices to jar the machine and rider and throw him forward on the saddle. As coasting or riding downhill by mere momentum is the highest pleasure of the cyclist, it is obviously very desirable to relieve the rider from such muscular effort at a time when the machine is propelled without his aid. Such relief I afford by furnishing the steering-rod with a foot-rest adapted to support the riders feet when removed from the pedals. Such foot-rest is preferably made adjustable upon the rod, to suit different riders, and is projected at each side of the rod, to afford a separate support for each foot. Where the steering-rod operates inside a tubular casing, the combination of the foot-rest and the rod is effected by securing the rest to the casing. The construction will be understood by reference to the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a Star bicycle in perspective with my improvement applied to the steering-rod. Fig. 2 represents the foot-rest in plan; Fig. 3, in side elevation; and Fig. 4 shows an interior View of the clamping-socket parted on line a: a: in Fig. 2.

Serial No. 203,188. (No model.)

A is the main driving-wheel; B, the frame of the bicycle; G, the pedals; D, the seat; E, the front steering-wheel; F, the steering-handle, and G the steeringrod connecting the steering wheel and handle.

The foot-rest is shown at a a secured upon the rod G by a clamp-socket, b. In Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive,.the clamp socket is shown split into halves and united at one side by a hinge-joint, c, and at the other by a bolt, (1. From each side of the socket one of the foot-rests a projects at right angles with the rod G, and thus affords, in a natural location nearly level with the pedals O,a support for each foot when the machine and rider are moving by acquired momentum. The construction of the socket in halves greatly facilitates its application to and removal from the steering-rod, as well as its adjustment vertically, to suit the convenience of the rider. Such adjustment may be effected by clamping the foot-rest upon the rod in any other convenient manner.

In machines where the steering-rod operates within a hollow casing which is rigidly fixed to-the frame of the machine the desired combination is effected by clamping or otherwise securing the foot-rest upon such casing. I do not therefore limit myself to the construction herein shown and described, but consider the essential part of my improvement to consist in the combination of the foot-rest with the steering-rod or its casing, the support afforded to the riders feet being precisely the same in either case, and the modes of attachment being precise equivalents in respect to one another for the purposes of my invention.

I am aware that a step or construction analogous to my foot-rest has been combined with a bicycle-frame at such points as would assist the rider to gain his seat; but the location of my foot-rest entirely precludes its use for such a purpose, and indicates very clearly the entirely different function which it possesses in my invention.

N'Vhat I claim herein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a bicycle having a steering-rod before the driving-wheel, the combination, with the steering-rod or its casing,0f a foot-rest adapted to support the feet of the rider.

2. In a bicycle having asteering-rod before the driving-wheel, the combination, with the steering-rod or its casing, of an adjustable footrest adapted to support the feet of the rider.

3. In a bicycle having a steering-rod arranged to carry a steering-Wheel before the driving-Wheel and having treadle-levers to actuate the driving-wheel, the combination, with such steering-rod, of a foot-rest projecting at each side of thesteering-rod and adapted to support the riders feet when removed from the treadle-levers.

4. The combination, with the steering-rod G, or its casing, of the socket I), having a footrest, a, projecting at each side, as and for the purpose set forth.

Anson A. CARTER.

Witnesses:

THOS. S. CRANE, FREDK. A. CARTER.

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