US287566A - o brien - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) Q V 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. OBRIEN.

TRIGYGLE.

No. 287,566. Patented Oct. 30., 1883.

" UNITED; STATES THOMAS OBRIEN, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

TRICYCILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 287,566, dated October 30, 1883.

' l o Application filed March 15,1883. (X0 model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS OBRVIEN, of,

the city and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Velocipedes, of which the following is aspecification.

This device I term a pendulous-seat tricycle, and in it I make use of seats for two persons, the said seats being suspended, so as to be swung, and from these there are connectingrods to the driving-cranks. I also provide means for bringing the power of the feet and hands into action in swinging the seats, and I employ a steering-wheel to guide the apparatus, and sometimes a third seat is combined with the pendulous seat, so that a person can drive the tricycle alone .or aid in its propulsion. This allows for three or more persons enjoying a ride together and for obtaining the exhilarating effect of the swinging movement as well as that from propulsion.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view with part of the upper frame removed. Fig. 2 is a side view, with one wheel and the side frame removed, at the line 00 w,- and Fig. 3 is a detached view, in larger size, of the crankshaft and treadle-bars.

The driving-wheels a a are upon an axle, b, and there are springs 1) between the said axle and a frame, a c, that is connected with the frame 6?, and extends forward and'supports the propelling crank-shaft d, and it also is provided with front bearings, c c, for the vertical pivot e of the steering-wheel c. I The crank-shaft d has upon it a pulley or band-wheel, f, with a band or chain, 2, to the wheel g upon the axle I). These wheels f and g may be of any desired relative size. The front wheel, f, will usually be the largest, so that the wheel 9 and axle b will revolve the fastest.

At the end of the crank-shaft (i there are cranks h. They are preferably crank -pins projecting from the wheels h, that form flywheels to the crank-shaft d.

Above the axle b the frame a c is supported by the springs b, and provided with a top frame, 0, that may have upon it an awning or cover, to protect the parties riding in the hanging seats Z Z.

The frame is provided with pivots for the suspension-bars 13 1", which are pivoted at their lower ends to the platforms a, there being four of these suspension-bars to each platform, so v that the platform will remain level,,or nearly so, as it is swung vback and forth. Upon these.

platforms there are the chairs or seats Z Z, and below the platforms the connecting-rods 0 0 "to the crank-pins h h are pivoted, so that the the person can step upon the cross-bar orspring o and'upon either platform.

In order to allow the occupants of the seat the opportunity to exert the strength of 'the' hands or feet, I employ a cross-bar, p, with chains or cords p, which can be pulled upon by the occupants of the swings as they go for ward; or such chains may be attached to leverhandles 1;, that are pivoted at 15 between the suspending-bars i i, and there is a foot piece,

6, to each pair of lever-handles, so that the same can be pushed 'upon by the feet as the upper end of the handle and thechain are drawn upon in propelling the machine.

At the upper end of the pivot of the steering-wheel there is a grooved wheel, q, and steering cords or chains passing back in any convenient manner, so as to be operated upon by the-parties riding in the -velocipede. I have, however, shown a saddle, r, for a third rider, in front ofwhom is a wheel, 1', with cords or chains to the wheel q, the same passing around the guide-wheels s, and being fastened, respectively, to the said wheels qand r, and to the wheel 1" a lever-handle, 5, is applied, so that a person seated upon the saddle r can turn the wheel 1 and steer thetricycle in any desired direction.

When the seat 1' is provided, it is usual to employ cranks a s on the crank-shaft d, between the fly-wheels h h and the central bandwheel, f, and to connect with those cranks s the treadle-bars t, to therea-r ends of which there are links 1;, and there are foot pieces or bearings upon these treadle-bars, sothat the person who is seated upon the saddle r may propel the tricycle himself alone, by his feet acting upon the bearing-pieces, treadle-bars,

and cranks to revolve the shaft and the axle b,- or the vehicle may be propelled by thejoint 5 action of all three parties upon the respective cranks.

This tricycle is adapted to parks, boulevards, and roads, and affords ahealthful exercise in which two or three persons can participate.

I do not claim a rocking seat and a connection to a crank, as this has been used.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, with the wheels to a, steering-wheel c, and frame-work, of the seats I Z, and suspending rods between the seat and frame, a crank-shaft, and connection from the pendulous seats to the cranks h 71, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the wheels a a, axle I), steering-wheel e, and frame-work, of the seats Z Z, the suspending-bars for the same, the crank-shaft, fly-wheels h h, and connecting-rods to the platforms of the pendulous 25 seats, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the wheels a a, the axle, steering-wheel, and frame-work, of the crank-shaft, the wheels f and g and connecting-belt, the seat 1', and treadles connected with the cranks of the shaft, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the wheels at a, axle b, steering-wheel e, and its actuating mechanism, of the pendulous seats Z Z, the cross-bar p and cords or chains, the crankshaft d, the wheels f and g, and belt 2, substantially as specified.

5. In combination with the tricycle, one or more pendulous seats and connections to the driving-shaft, substantially as set forth, whereby the tricycle is propelled by the swinging movement of the pendulous seats.

Signed by me this 14th day of March, A. D. 1883.

THOMAS O BRIEN.

Vitnesses:

GEO. T. PINCKNEY, CHAS. H. SMITH.

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