Improvements in Bicycle Racks.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1396-Accepted, 27th June, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycle Racks.
We GILBERT DICKERSON YOUNG, Builder, a citizen of the United States,
residing at No. 30 Phoenix Avenue, Morristown, in the County of Morris, and
State of New Jersey, U.S.A., and WILBUR FISK DAY, Caterer, a citizen of
the United States, residing at Nos. 1 & 2 Park Place, Morristown, in the County
of Morris, and State of New Jersey, U.S.A., 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:-
The object of this invention is to provide an improved rack for holding one or
more bicycles in an upright position.
In order to make the rack compact, it is formed in such manner as to engage
one wheel only of the bicycle, hold it securely in an upright position and thus
support the entire machine in such manner that it may be readily removed when
required for use.
The rack is arranged to engage the top of the wheel on opposite sides at two
points, and it engages the bottom of the wheel on opposite sides at four points
just over that part of the frame on which the wheel rests. By this arrangement,
the wheel, while being held in an upright position, is prevented from rolling or
moving longitudinally away from the rack.
In accordance with one part of the invention, a rack is provided having the
essential characteristics above named, which may be readily folded when not in
use, or for transportation.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 shows a front elevation of the improved bicycle stand or rack, and, by
dotted lines, shows how the wheels of bicycles are held in the rack.
Fig. 2 shows a cross section of the rack, and, by dotted lines, shows how two
bicycles on opposite sides of the rack are supported.
Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of one end of the rack.
Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a rack adapted to support a single bicycle.
Fig. 5 shows a modification of the rack, so constructed that it may be folded.
Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views showing the manner of connecting the various
parts so that they may be folded. Fig. 7, being a section taken on the line 7, 7,
in Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is a detail view in perspective of a modified way of connecting the
bottom rails of the rack.
The rack or stand shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is composed of two parallel rails A, A¹,
constituting the base of the rack, and a single top rail B, located in a vertical
plane centrally between the rails A A'. The top rail is connected to the bottom
rails by rods C, extending alternately from the rail B, to the rails A A', in an
inclined or diagonal direction, both longitudinally of the rack and transversely
thereto, crossing each other as shown and each braced by the short rod c, which is
also inclined in such manner that in front elevation the rack presents a series of
diamond-shaped openings X, sufficiently high to receive the wheel of a bicycle,
the ends of the rods being so arranged at r, that while permitting the wheel to
enter the openings, they grasp the tires and prevent the wheels from moving
while they are held in an upright position.
At the top, each wheel is held between the converging ends of two rods C,
while at the bottom it is held between the lower ends of the rods C, and the brace
rods c

page_text: As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each end of the rack is provided with short
diagonally arranged pegs or pins P, which, in connection with the adjacent rods C,
afford means for supporting two additional bicycles. The bottom rails A A¹,
may be connected at each end by rods Q, as shown in Fig. 3, or by wires Q', as
shown in Fig. 8. Fig. 8 also shows how the rails may be made circular in cross
section, instead of angular. The wire Q' is coiled at each end, as shown, and is
forced on to the rails A A', against the pegs P, grasping the rails tightly, and
preventing any tendency to split. The wires Q', may be removed, if desired, in
order that the racks may be closely packed for transportation.
In use, the bicycles are preferably inserted into the rack from opposite sides, as
indicated in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 shows a rack adapted to support a single bicycle. The base D, may be
a single casting formed with sockets d, to receive the rods E, e. The top-piece F,
may also be a single casting formed with sockets f, for the rods, and a handle G.
The four rods E, extend from the top piece to the four corners of the base, while
the brace rods e are connected with the rods E, about midway between their
upper and lower ends, their lower ends being arranged a suitable distance apart
to permit of the insertion of a wheel. The base is hollow and is formed on
opposite sides between the ends of the rods e, with recesses d', adapted to receive
the wheel.
The rack shown in Fig. 5 is adapted to be folded. The rails A A', are
round. The rods C and c, are arranged in substantially the same way as that
shown in Fig. 1, but at the top the rods C on one side are hinged to the top
rail B.
Various ways may be adopted for providing a binge connection between the
rods C, and the rail B. As shown, the rods C, on one side of the rack terminate
a short distance below the rail, and are secured to the coils w, of a wire W, which
is hinged in a socket w¹, on the rail A. Short pieces C', corresponding with the
rods C, are secured to the top of the rail A, and form continuations of the rods C,
but permit the rods to move when the rack is folded. All of the rods on one
side of the rack may be connected to the top rail in a similar way.
In order to hold the rails A A', in a distended position, a brace Y is employed,
preferably at each end of the rack, and it is hinged to one rail at y', and connected
to the opposite rail at y, by a piu and staple.
Fig. 5 shows the rack distended and the braces arranged to connect the two
botton rails of the rack.
After disengaging the brace Y, at y², it may be turned up on its hinges y', and
the rack may then be folded into convenient shape for storage or transportation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is,
1. A bicycle rack comprising the top and bottom pieces, the rods converging
at the top and diverging from the top downwards to the bottom, and braces
converging at the bottom piece to which they are secured, and connected to the
rods between their upper and lower ends, forming with the rods a diamond-shaped
opening, the arrangement being such that a wheel may be grasped at top and
bottom, while the central portion or hub of the wheel may extend into or through
the large portion of the diamond-shaped opening.
2. A bicycle rack comprising the top and bottom pieces, the rods converging
at the top and bottom of the rack and diverging from the top and bottom pieces
towards the center of the rack, forming an enlarged opening midway between the
top and bottom pieces, which opening is contracted at top and bottom, for the
purpose specified."
3. The combination of the top rail; the two bottom rails, the rods arranged in
pairs, each pair having its upper ends connected to the top rail close together;
while the lower ends, which are spread apart, are connected to one of the bottom

page_text: rails, and braces for each pair of rods having their lower ends arranged close together
and connected to the bottom rails, while their upper ends are spread apart and
secured to the rods midway between their upper and lower ends.
4. The combination of a single top rail, two bottom rails, a series of pairs of
rods connected to the top rail, and also connected to one of the bottom rails, and
another series of pairs of rods connected to the top rail and also connected at their
lower ends to the other bottom rail, all of said rods being arranged diagonally
lengthwise of the rack and also inclined towards the front and back of the rack,
the rods of the back set crossing the rods of the front set, and inclined pegs at
the ends of the rack to take the place of rods.
5. The combination of the top rail, the bottom rails, the inclined rods connecting
the top and bottom rails and forming diamond-shaped openings, as described,
hinged connections between the top rail and the rods and removable braces
connecting the two bottom rails for holding them apart, substantially as
described.
6. A bicycle rack comprising a top rail, two bottom rails, a series of pairs of
rods secured to the top rail and to the front bottom rail, said rods being inclined
alternately in opposite directions sidewise and also inclined forwardly from the
top rail to the bottom rail, and another similarly arranged series of pairs of rods
connecting the top rail with the back bottom rail, the back series of rods being
arranged to cross the rods of the front series, substantially as described.
7. The combination of the top rail, the bottom rails, the diagonally arranged
rods connecting the top rail with the bottom rails, and hinge connections between
the top rail and the diagonal rods.
8. The combination of the top rail, the bottom rails, the diagonally arranged
rods connecting the top rail with the bottom rails, hinge connections between the
rods and the top rail, and the removable braces connecting the bottom rails.
9. The combination of the top rail, the bottom rails, the wires Q' having coils
adapted to fit over the bottom rails, the pegs projecting from the top and bottom
rails, and the diagonally arranged rods connecting the top and bottom rails
substantially as described.
Dated this 14th day of March 1896.
GILBERT DICKERSON YOUNG.
WILBUR FISK DAY.