US846033A - Cycle. - Google Patents

Description

' PAATENTBD MAR. 5, 1907.

W. c. KIDNEY.

CYCLE.

MPL10 ATIoN FILED FEB. 21, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

* By P d MV I ATTURNEYS PATBNTED MAR. 5, 1907.--

W. o. KIDNBY.

CYCLE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, V1906.

` ATTUHNEU UNITED STATES WILLIAM C. KIDNEY, OF NEW YRK, N. Y.

CYCLE.

Specication of Letters Patent. Application filed February 2l, 1906. Serial No. 302.295.

Patented March 5, 1907.

,To a/ZZ whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. KIDNEY, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Cycle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pedal-operatedl cycles of the safety type, and it primarily seeks to provide an improved construction of vehicle of the character stated more especially adapted for racing purposes.

Safety-bicycles as ordinarily constructed are arranged to support the body of the rider almost directly over the crank-axle by having a seat or rest disposed above it and in such manner that the rider maintains a substantially upright position with respect to the driving power, and it is well known that in cycles having the body so sustained the rider at the best can obtain only the strength developed from the legs working under a double-lever action, the hip-joint muscles, and the knee power. Again, in the use of ordinary type of safet -bicycles, by reason of the manner in which the rider is supported his body forms a pocket or abutment which forms a resistance for the free passing of the air, which resistance the rider in practice endeavors to minimize by bending the upper part of the body forward and downward to ap roXimately the horizontal plane. It is well known that such positioning of the body restricts the propelling entirely to the legs and also the capacity of leg propulsion, since the stroke or free leg and knee action is restricted by reason of the cramping of the abdominal muscles and preventing the free use of the legs.

My invention in its generic nature comprehends the formation of a seatless cycle-frame with the handles and the pedal-cranks mounted thereon and relatively so arranged and related that in propelling the riders hands, shoulders, body, and feet will be kept in a substantially straight alinement with the propelling-cranks and handle portions and so disposed that the rider in the operative position lies prone and at such an angle with respect to the machine as to meet the air resistance practically head-on, whereby to reduce the said resistance to the minimum.

In its more complete nature my invention embodies an improved construction of framing,whereby when in the operative position the rider, while having the full advantage of propelling in the perpendicular line of the body,

power of the rider will also have the advantage of the pushing force of the arms and shoulders with the arms substantially straight from the body, whereby while obtaining a maximum force of pedal or pushing power a similar pushing force is acquired with the hands, arms, and upper part of the body.

My invention further comprehends an improved construction of bicycle-frame adapted for supporting the body in its perpendicular position and inclined forward and having means for sustaining the upper part of the body in the nature of a body -receiving member adjustable with respect to the framing, whereby the inclination of the body can be readily provided for to suit the convenience of the rider.

Another and essential feature of my invention lies in the connection with a special design of frame whereby to support the rider forwardly inclined with the body fully eX- tended and a propelling means including an accumulative gearing, which joins the pedalcrank aXle with the rear-wheel axle,- and in its more subordinate features my invention consists in certain details of construction and novel arrangement of parts, all of which will hereinafter be described, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which` Figure l is a side elevation of a bicycle embodying the generic features of my invention and showing a preferred arrangement of the power-transmitting-gear connections. Fie. 2 is a similar view showing the crankaXIe geared directly with the drive-wheel axle. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the framing with the crank-axle, handle-bars, and steering-head removed. Fig. e is a view of a portion of the frame and illustrating the manner of connecting the body-rest. Fig. 5 is a view of the said rest detached from the frame.

In the practical application of myinvention, the front or steering wheel A and the rear driving-wheel B, are of the usual construction and are mounted in the bearing-boxes of the tubular framing in the usual manner.

The framing, the special construction of which forms an essential feature of my invention, comprises the front inclined member 1, in which the steering-head 2 is mounted and whose forked end 20 carries the front wheel and whose upper end has a cross-head 21, that connects with the short handlebars 22.

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3 designates the bottom bar of the frame, which joins the front member just above its fork and which extends longitudinally rearward and inclines downwardly and joins with the journal-box 4 for the crank-axle 5, which box is formed at the junction of the bar 3 with the rear frame-bar, which extends upwardly and rearwardly and forms the front arm 6 of a triangular-shaped rear extension 6l of the l'raming, the horizontal member Ga of' which merges with the journalbox 7 for the rear-wheel axle 8, which bearing is i'ormed at the junction of the said iframe member 6EL and the downwardly and rearwardly inclined member 6l ol the triangularl trame portion, as clearly shown in the drawing.

9 designates an upper frame-bar, the lower end of which joins with the other traine members at the point where the bottom bar 3 and the member 6 join, and at the iront end it connects with the steering-head member 1.

I The member 9 in my construction Vlorms a reinforce-bar of the 'l'raine and also the supporting member for the body oit the rider, and for sustaining the body of the rider in a substantially prone position it is disposed at a suitable incline, so that the body of the rider assumes such position with respect to the 'l'ront and rear wheels that the least resistance to atmosphere is presented, and for suoli purpose the said top bar is inclined at approximately thirty degrees with respect to the line of draft of the machine, and this inclination in the practical arrangemei'it oi my bicycle may be modiiied to suit the rider by means of a rest member 10, which is adjustably and detachably secured upon the upper end portion of the bar 9 in the manner best shown in Fig. 4, by reference to which it will be seen the rest member has its liront end curved, as at 10, to evenly deflect the air-pressure against the upper part oi' the riders body, and by raising or lowering the iront end, the rear end being hinged to its bar-attaching socket, and adjusting the clamp-screw 11 the rest member 10 can be elevated to -suit the requirement of the rider. 1t will also be noticed the said member 10 is so disposed with reference to the handle inembers that the rider can obtain the best lever age power from the shoulders and arms to push against the said handles, and yet grasp them in a manner to admit of instantaneous steering and with the line of push directly in alinement with the perpendicular of the body and the line of push action on the pedals.

ln Fig. 1 l. have shown the crank-axle equipped with a large driving-wheel 12, geared through the chain 13 with a small gear-wheel 14 on a stub-shaft or axle 15, mounted tion of the main frame and which also carries a large wheel 16, geared through the l l l drive-chain 17 with the small gear-wheel 18 on the rear drive-wheel axle, as shown, such arrangement oi power-transinitting-gear devices providing a convenient accumulationspeed gear for ruiming the machine to a high speed, and by reason oi the triangular shape oi the rear part of the frame great strength is added to the 'irame with but a minimum increase in weight, as well as providing for a convenient means iior transmitting and accumulating the power 'from the frank-axle to the drive-wheel.

TWhile l pre'l'er to provide a gear mechan ism as shown, the driving power may be transmitted direct from the crank-axle to the drive-wheel by ordinary chain connection, as shown in Fig. 2.

To i'urther brace the framing and materially increase its strength, l provide a second top frame-bar 19, which joins at one end 3() to the apex o1 the triangular frame portion, and with its iront end it joins the iront steering-head member 3 at a point above where the joint o'l the lower bar connects therewith, and the said bar 19 is suitably located or curved, so that the rider in straddling the frame will have ample room to manipulate his legs while propelling the machine, and to still strengthen the frame a truss member 24 is secured between the lower and the inclined bar at the point where the inclined bar and the other upper bar cross and join.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the complete structure and the advantages oi my in* vention, it is believed, will be readily apparent.

It will readily appear from the drawings that since the riders hands, shoulders, and feet are in substantial alineinent with the perpendicular oi' the body enables the rider to utilize his maximum strength to the best advantage and with muscular eilorts of the entire body properly distributed.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. ln a cycle, a wheeled i'rame having means Jfor sustaining the rider in a prone position, said means comprising the pedalcranks and handle members, the latter being disposed in the alinement with the body oi the rider and the pedal-cranks.

2. 1n a cycle, a wheel-mounted i'rame, means for sustaining the body oi the rider in a fully-extended position at a forwardly-in clined angle relatively to the frame, in such position whereby the pedal-action and the handle-bar pressure of the rider are in straight alineinent with the riders body, as set forth.

3. ln a bicycle, a frame constructed to sustain the rider prone with the body fully exin the apex of the triangular portended, a pedal-actuated mechanism connected with the drive-wheel and a steeringhead having its handles disposed in aline- ICO IIO

ment With the body and the pedal thrust of the rider, as set forth.

4. In a bicycle, a frame for supporting the rider in a prone position, a pedal-actuated means for propelling the machine and handle members, the said handle members and the propelling means being in straight alinement with the body of the rider when in a prone position.

5. In a bicycle-trame, means for supporting the riders body forwardly inclined to the horizontal, said means including handles and pedal members located in alinement with the riders body When in a prone position.

6. In a bicycle having pedal-actuated gearing for propelling the machine, and handle-bars located relatively to the pedals whereby to sustain the body of the rider i'ully extended in a forwardly-inclined position.

7. In a bicycle, a frame having a steeringhead at one end, a pedal-actuated means for propelling at the other end and means intermediate the steering-head and the pedal means for sustaining the body in a fully-eX- tended prone position.

8. In a bicycle, a frame having a steeringhead at one end, a crank-axle mechanism at the other end, and means intermediate said steering-head and crank-axle mechanism for sustaining the body of the rider at a forwardly-inclined position, said means including a vertically-adjustable rest for the chest portion ofthe body.

9. A bicycle, a frame having a crank-axle bearing at one end, a steering-head at the other end, an inclined rod that joins the steering-head and the crank-axle bearing, and means on said rod for sustaining the body of the rider in a fully-extended position, for the purposes described.

l0. In a bicycle, a frame constructed to sustain the rider in a prone position, ani having the handle-bars and the pedals in alinement with the extended body of the rider and having members against Which the shoulders of' the rider can bear, for the purposes described.

WILLIAM C. KIDNEY.

Witnesses:

FRED Gr. DIETERICH, JOHN L. FLETCHER.

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