Improvements in the Construction of Bloyoles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1893-Accepted, 13th Jan., 1894
COMIUMIE DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Bloyoles.
I SIDNEY BRAMALL of 20 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in bicycles. These improvements secure
steadiness of the machine at starting, balancing of the machine without absolutely
stopping it in the midst of town traffic, and a perfect rest for the cyclist when
desired. They add very little to the weight of the machine, and can easily be
applied at a trifling cost to about 90 per cent. of existing machines without any
alteration or weakening of their frames.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a bicycle with my invention applied thereto.
Figure 2 is an elevation of my invention when in action.
Figure 3 is a plan of the same.
Like letters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views.
According to my invention I attach, in direct line with the nearly upright bar, b,
Figures 1, 2, 3-portion of the bicycle-frame-a short rod a Figures 1, 2, 3, to
the treadle boss in any convenient manner preferably by a screw which may easily
be withdrawn when it may be desired to detach the apparatus hereinafter described.
Around the rod, a, I place a tube or casing; c, Figures 1, 2, 3 to the lower end of
which I attach a cross-bar, d, Figures 1, 2, 3, which is curved, and furnished at
either of its ends with a claw, e, Figures 1, 2, 3, within which is placed an india-
rubber or other suitable ball or roller, f, Figures 1, 2, 3 which, when actuated by
the means hereinafter described, rotates in the same direction as the wheels of the
machine. The positions of the cross-bar, and balls or rollers, when not in use,
are conveniently within the radius of the pedals of the machine, at a suitable
distance from the ground, and in the direction of the bicycle wheels. The bar, b,
Figures 1, 2, 3 is enclosed for a convenient part of its length in a similar tube or
casing Figures 1, 2, 3 to the tube or casing, c, herein before referred to.
upper part of the tube or casing, c', is furnished with a handle g, Figures 1, 2, 3,
facing front or rear as may be desired, and in a convenient part of said tube or
casing is a slot, h, Figures 1 & 2 which works on a pin, i, conveniently placed in.
the bar, b. To the lower end of the tube or casing, c', is attached a ring or
band, &, Figures 1, 2, 3 to which is affixed by a nut or other suitable means the
upper end of a bolt or rod, k, Figures 1, 2, 3 which is bent inwards and outwards,
and the lower end of which rod is affixed to a ring or band, c³, Figures 1, 2, 3,
corresponding to the ring or band attached to the lower end of the tube or
casing c. In a convenient position near the handle, g, I may affix to the tube or
casing, c¹, small pin or stop, i, Figures 1, 2, 3 which may be received into a
convenient recess in the bar b. Around the bar, b, and attached at the lower end
to the treadle-boss, and at the upper end to the ring or band, c³, at the bottom of
the tube or casing, c¹, Figures 1, 3 is a spiral spring, 1, Figures 1, 2, 3.
The
Having described the several parts of which my invention consists, I now
proceed to explain the manner in which these parts are actuated, and their effects
when actuated. The handle, g, being pressed downwards until it has travelled
about two inches in the slot the pin, i, impinges on the tube or casing, c, causing
it to revolve a quarter turn. Further pressure, by hand or foot, of the handle
causes the tubes or casings c, and c¹ to descend until the balls or rollers f,f reach
the ground at right angles to their normal positions. Then the cyclist, by keeping

page_text: the handle, g, pressed down, may at his option move on slowly, or stop altogether
in an upright position. When the pressure is removed from the handle the
apparatus retires to its normal position thus enabling the cyclist to proceed at any
desired speed. Should he desire to dismount and cave the machine, he may
insert the piu, j, Figures 1, 2, 3. in a recess in the bar b and thus cause the machine
to stand upright at rest.
It is obvious that by the arrangement herein specified great assistance is given,
not only to ordinary cyclists in town and country but also to lady cyclists,
military cyclists, and beginners.
Having now particularly ascertained and described the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what. I
claim is,
1. In a bicycle, the use and employment of the short rod, a, the tube, or
casing,, the curved cross-bar, d, furnished with the claws e, e and the balls or
rollers, all in combination and substantially as and for the purposes herein
specified and illustrated in the drawings.
2. In a bicycle, the use and employment of the handle the tube or casing, c¹,
the rings or bands c, c, the spiral spring, l, the bolt or rod, ½, the pin or stop, i,
and the key pin j all in combination and substantially as and for the purposes
specified and illustrated in the drawings.
3. To a bicycle the application of the apparatus composed of the several parts
in combination specified in Claims 1 & 2 as and for the purposes herein mentioned.
Dated this 21st day of November 1893.
SIDNEY BRAMALL.