“UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
“WM. C. MOORES, OF BLOOMFIELD, WISCONSIN. IMPROVEMENT IN ECONOMIZING HUMAN POWER.
“The object of this invention is to furnish means whereby the strongest muscles of the human body may be advantageously used in propelling machinery, whether for locomotion or for stationary work, thus cheapening motive power.
“What I claim as my invention is,—
“1. The ratchet-wheel A, with its notches cut in each direction and worked by means of the levers B, B, with the pawls C, C, and springs D, D, as described.
“2. In combination with the above, the treadles E, E, attached to the ends of the levers B, B, constructed in box form, as described.
“3. The seat F, constructed as described, when used in combination with the ratchet-wheel A, levers B, B, and pawls C, C, and treadles E, E, and springs G, G, all arranged as set forth.
“Wm. C. Moores.”
If this lever-motion had been properly claimed, and his tilting pedals adroitly covered by patents, he might have given no end of trouble to future manufacturers; but he lived too soon; his patents would have all expired ere they would have been useful in the art as later developed.
Mr. Moores claims “a machine for economizing human power,” which shows that his ideas were broad, or at least those of his attorneys were for him.
O. T. Gleason, of Maine. Velocipede. No. 77,478. Patented May 5, 1868.
GLEASON SPECIFICATION.
“The object of this invention is to obtain locomotion by the direct application of the weight of the operator.
“An endless track, composed of the hinged parts C, C, C, as shown, loosely close each of the two wheels on a side, and are kept in proper position by means of the flanges B of the rolling wheels as shown.
“By this means the track is laid in front of the wheels, and passes over from the rear of the same in an endless belt, as shown.
“The guide-rails G are supported above the traction-wheels, by means of arms e, as shown, and prevent the jointed track from leaving the flanges.
“When a level pavement is available, or the ordinary road is of sufficient evenness, the jointed track may be dispensed with, and the traction-wheels used directly upon the ground or pavement.
“In this case the flanges B, being disks of sheet metal, attached by means of bolts to the traction-wheels, are readily removed.”
Mr. Gleason was determined to prevent slipping of the wheels in climbing hills, and probably succeeded. We have not seen any of the machines on the market, but they are, no doubt, all right. The draughtsman did well to show the rider with his coat off; the work would in all probability keep him warm enough.
T. Rhoads. Velocipede. No. 76,814. Patented April 14, 1868.