Improvements in Bicycles
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Oct., 1897-Accepted, 18th Dec., 1897
I, EDWARD AUGUST TRAPP, of No. 31 East 111th street, in the City of New York, in
the County and State of New York, United States of America, Mechanical Engineer,
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 invention relates to Improvements in Bicycles and analogous vehicles, and
pertains particularly to means for supporting the wheel while at rest, in a vertical
position.
In accordance with my invention I provide supporting rods upon the opposite sides
of the rear wheel of the bicycle and these rods are operated from a crank shaft located
above and forward of the vertical center of the rear wheel, and as nearly as possible
directly below the saddle. The supporting rods are adapted to have an oscillatory
motion along the sides of the rear wheel under the action of the cranks connected
with them and which connect them with the above mentioned crank shaft, and also
during their vertical reciprocation an axial motion by which, during the lowering
of said supporting rods the lower ends of the latter turn outward from the rear
wheel, and during the upward motion of said supporting rods said lower ends are
turned inward toward the said rear wheel so as to be out of the way. The
supporting rods are in themselves of novel construction and they are arranged with
special relation to the rear wheel and the saddle in order that said rods may be efficient
in action and serviceable in use.
The invention also comprises suitable means for locking the supporting rods in
both their upper and lower positions and also means for elevating and permitting
the lowering of said rods. The invention further comprises means whereby the
bicycle provided with the supporting rods of the nature herein claimed, is adapted
for supporting a gun, the bicycle thus being capable of use by soldiers.
One of the main objects accomplished by my invention is that it enables the rider,
while seated upon the saddle, to come to a full stop in the middle of the road or
elsewhere, without alighting from the wheel, the mechanism connected with the
supporting rods and the supporting rods themselves, being such that the rider,
without dismounting, may maintain the wheel in its upright position while at rest
any desired length of time and without danger of the wheel being thrown over
sideways by any movement he might make while remaining upon the saddle.
The invention will be fully understood from the detailed description hereinafter
presented, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle of the usual type provided with the mechanism
constituting the present invention, the supporting rods in this Figure being shown
in their elevated position;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of the bicycle and illustrates on
an enlarged scale the mechanism constituting the present invention;
Fig. 3 is a detached view of a bell crank forming one of the details of the
mechanism;
Fig. 4 is a plan view of a blank which is bent to form supporting brackets for the

page_text: .
crank shaft and locking dog which form a part of the mechanism embraced in the
present invention;
Fig. 5 is an end view of a bicycle employing the devices of the present invention,
the supporting rods being shown in their lower position by full lines and in their
upper position by dotted lines;
Fig. 5 is a detached section on the dotted lines 5a-5a of Fig. 2;
Fig. 6 is a detached enlarged view of the means for elevating the supporting rods
and also for locking said rods in their upper and lower positions ;
Fig. 7 is a central vertical section through the swivel and connected parts, said
swivel receiving the supporting rods and compelling the latter to have an axial
motion during their upward and downward movements, said section being on the
dotted line 7-7 of Fig. 8; and
Fig. 8 is a side elevation of same.
In the drawings A designates a safety bicycle of the usual type, and so far as the
present invention is concerned, said bicycle may be either of the pattern designed
for men or that more especially adapted for women. The bicycle proper is not
claimed herein, and hence it may vary in construction as desired without affecting
the present invention, which comprises means adapted for attachment to all forms
and makes of bicycles.
The supporting rods by which the bicycle may be maintained in a vertical position
while at rest are lettered B, C, and said rods correspond exactly with one another and
are operated as to their vertical movements from the crank shaft D to the ends of
which said rods are connected by means of the cranks E, F, respectively, as more
clearly indicated in Fig. 5.
The rods B, C, extend downward and rearward from said crank shaft D and their
lower portions are bent outward and downward as clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, and
are provided with the rollers, as shown. The rods B, C, have their main body
portion held under restraint by the swiveled sleeves G which are provided, as
indicated in Figs. 7 and 8, with the grooves H to engage the spiral feather I upon
said rods B, C, and thereby, during the vertical motions of said rods B, C, to effect
an axial movement in the same, whereby, during the downward movement of said
rods B, C, their lower bent ends will be turned outward to the position in which
they are shown by full lines in Fig. 5, and during the upward motion of said rods
said lower bent ends will be turned inward close to the rear wheel of the bicycle, as
indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, and full lines in Fig. 1. Adjacent to the upper
ends of the rods B, C, is formed the swivel connection J, as shown on an enlarged
scale in Fig. 6, in order that said rods B, C, may throughout the greater extent of their
length have the axial motion above described, without hindrance from their
connection with the cranks E, F. The construction of the swivel G and swivel
connection J will be hereinafter fully explained in an appropriate place.
The supporting rods B, C, are each provided with the brace K which extends
downward from the sleeve L to the outer end of the bent lower portion E of said
rods B, C, and the lower ends of said braces K are secured to said portions M by
means of the bands N which pass around the circumference of the rods B, C, and
have their ends brought toward one another to form ears located at opposite sides of
the lower ends of the braces K and between which ears said braces K are at their
lower ends secured. The upper ends of the braces K will preferably enter a socket
formed upon the side of the sleeve L. The crank shaft D has upon one end the
wheel O, which is grooved to receive the cords or chains, lettered P, Q, and
hereinafter fully described, and is also provided at one edge with the stops R, S, the
ratchet teeth T and recesses V, W, as more clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 and 6.
The wheel is utilized as the medium through which, by means of the cords or
chains P, Q, the shaft D may be operated, but more particularly the wheel O is
employed in connection with the locking dog X, which is in the form of a bell crank
lever, and is given a spring tension at its engaging end toward the wheel O. The
purpose of the recesses V, W, in the wheel O is to enable the locking dog X to lock
the shaft D and thereby secure the supporting rods B, C, when the latter are in their

page_text: lower position, and also when they are in their upper position. In Fig. 6 the locking
dog X is illustrated as locking the supporting rods B, C, in their upper position, and
in this Figure it will be observed that the engaging end of the dog X is within the
recess V of the wheel O. Upon the downward movement of the supporting rods B, C,
(the dog X having been relieved from the wheel O manually) the recess W will
assume the position at present occupied in Fig. 6 by the recess and upon arriving
at said position the engaging end of the dog X will spring into said recess W, and
thereby lock said wheel O and shaft D against movement, thus securing the rods B, C,
when the latter are in their lower position. When the locking dog. X is relieved
from the wheel O and the supporting rods B, C, are again elevated to the position
shown in Fig. 6, the recess W will return downward to its lower position shown and the
locking dog X will again engage the recess V and lock the rods B, C, in their upper
position.
The stops R, S, on the wheel O co-operate with the bent engaging end of the
locking dog X to check the motion of the wheel O at the ends of its proper move-
ment; thus during the upward motion of the supporting rods B, C, the stop R will
contact with the bent end of the dog X, as shown in Fig. 6, and when the supporting
rods B, C, are lowered, the stop S will contact with the bent end of the dog X. The
ratchet teeth T on the wheel O will be engaged by the bent end of the locking dog X
when the supporting rods B, C, have been lowered, but, due to an excessive weight
upon the saddle or to a want of sufficient air in the tires, said rods are unable to
reach their extreme lower position. The distance between the crank shaft D and
the ground will vary somewhat in accordance with the condition of the tires and the
weight of the rider, and, under all normal conditions the recesses V, W, for the dog X
will be all that will be required as a means for locking the rods B, C, in their upper
and lower positions, and under such normal conditions, when the rods B, C, are in
their extreme lower position, the recess W will be in direct alignment with the
pointed end of the dog X. When, however, due for instance, to an excessive weight
being on the saddle and a consequent flattening of the tyres against the ground, the
distance between the crank shaft D and the ground has been lessened, so that
the rods B, C, while reaching the ground when lowered, are prevented from having
their full extent of maximum movement, the recess W will not reach the point of the
dog X, and at such time said dog X will engage one of the teeth T and thereby lock
the supporting rods B, C, in the lower position they have assumed. Upon the
removal of the excessive weight from the saddle, the distance between the crank
shaft D and the ground will increase, owing to the expansion of the tire, and at such
time, upon the lowering of the rods B, C, the recess W will reach and be engaged by
the bent end of the dog X. The dog X is given a spring tension toward the wheel O
by means of the wire spring Y or other suitable spring, and, as above described, the
said dog X is freed from the wheel O by the manual action of the rider in pulling on
the cord Z which, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 5 more particularly, extends down-
ward below the roller a and thence passes upward over the roller b, and is provided
adjacent to the handle bar with a handle c, the latter being in convenient position
for the rider to grasp. By pulling upon the handle c the rider will be enabled,
through the medium of the cord Z, to pull downward upon the shank end of the
dog X and in that manner relieve the pointed end of said dog from the wheel O,
the latter being thus released and in condition to turn downward with the shaft D
for the purpose of lowering the rods B, C, or to be pulled upward by the means
hereinafter described and thus elevate the rods B, C. When the dog X is thus
relieved from the wheel O and at such time the supporting rods B, C, are in their
upper position, the weight of said rods, coupled with the action of the spring d on
said crank shaft D (See Fig. 5) will cause said rods to descend to their lower position
and in doing so turn the wheel O and crank shaft D so that the recess W or teeth T
may be engaged by the dog X. The descent of the rods B, C, may thus be accom-
plished by singly freeing the dog X from the wheel O, and during their descent said
rods B, C, are given their axial motion to throw their lower bent ends M outward by

page_text: means of the swivel G and the spiral feather I, the latter being on said rods B, C,
and engaged by the groove H in said swivels G.
If for any reason the rods B, C, should not reach entirely to their lower position,
said rods may be forced downward by means of the cords or chain Q connected with
one side of said wheel O, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, and thence extending downward
along the grooved wheel a and upward around the grooved wheel b and provided at,
its end with a convenient handle e. The rider, by pulling on the handle e may thus
force the wheel O and shaft D to continue their movement, and in that manner
drive the supporting rods B, C, fully downward. The cord Q is employed simply as
an expedient to ensure at all times and under all conditions the full downward
movement of the rods B, C, consistent with the weight upon the saddle or the
condition of the pneumatic tires. The upward movement of the rods B, C, is effected
by the action of the rider upon the bell crank lever or treadle f to which one end of
the cord or chain P is secured, the other end of said cord or chain being secured to
the wheel O at the side of the latter opposite to that at which the cord Q is secured.
The cords P, Q, are at opposite sides of the wheel O in order that the cord Q may
be used to turn the wheel O and shaft D in one direction, and the cord or chain P to turn
said wheel and shaft D in the opposite direction, the effect of the cord or chain Q
being to drive the rods B, C, downward, while the effect of the cord or chain P is to
pull said rods B, C, upward. As above described, the cord Q is operated by the hand
of the rider, and the cord P being connected with a foot treadle f, will be operated by
the foot of the rider, the said treadle or bell crank lever f being provided with the
bar
g, as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The bell crank lever is pivoted to a bracket
secured to the lower front fork of the bicycle fraine, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2,
and said bell crank lever or foot treadle f is given a spring tension forward by means
of the wire spring h, in order-that there may be a suitable tension upon the cord or
chain P sufficient to maintain the latter taut or free from slackness. When it is
desired to elevate the rods B, C, by means of the foot treadle or bell crank lever f the
rider will first pull upon the handle cand cord Z to free the dog X from the wheel O,
and thereupon the rider will immediately press upon the foot bar g of the said treadle
or bell crank lever f in order to rock said foot treadle or lever forward and thereby
draw on the cord or chain P and revolve the wheel O and shaft D in a direction to
elevate the cranks E, F, and through them the supporting rods B, C.
During the upward movement of the rods B, C, due to the pressure of the foot of
the rider upon the treadle or bell crank lever f, the swivels G, co-operating with the
spiral feathers I, will turn said rods inward to the position in which they are shown
by dotted lines in Fig. 5, and full lines in Fig. 1.
When the bicycle is in its normal condition for use the supporting rods B, C, will
be in their upper position and the locking dog X will engage the recess V of the
wheel O, thereby locking the shaft D and maintaining said rods B, C, in their upper
position; when it is desired to stop the wheel without dismounting, the rider will
simply pull on the handle c to release the dog X from the recess V and thereupon
the weight of the rods B, C, combined with the force of the spring d will drive the
rods B, C, to their lower position, while at the same time the swivels G will operate
to axially turn the rods B, C, outward to the position in which they are
illustrated in Fig. 5. The downward movement of the rods B, C, may be assisted,
if found necessary, by means of the cord Q and handle e. When the rods B, C, are in
their lower position they will be there locked by means of the dog X engaging either
the recess W or one of the teeth T of the wheel O. The rods B, C, having thus been
given their lower position and there locked they will support the bicycle as long as
the rider may wish the same to remain at rest, and in an entirely efficient and safe
manner; and when it is desired to proceed the rider will simply pull on the handle e
to free the dog X from the wheel () and at once press with his foot upon the treadle
or bell crank lever f, thereby causing the cord or chain P to operate the wheel O
and shaft D and through the cranks E, F, elevate the rods B, C to their full upward
position, shown in Fig. 6, in which position they will be locked by the engagement
of the dog X in the recess V of the wheel O.

page_text: The general construction and operation of the mechanism constituting the present
invention has been fully described above, but there are several details of construction
which are of importance and novel, and they constitute a portion of the invention
claimed herein. These details will now be described, and they pertain particularly
to the supporting rods B, C, swivels G and the brackets for supporting the crank
shaft D and dog X.
The supporting rods B, C, are formed throughout of tubing; the braces K are
simply tubes flattened at their lower ends and at their upper ends engaging the hubs
upou the sides of the sleeves 1, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The main body of the
rods B, C, are simply tubes whose lower ends are bent into shape and then split at
their extremities to receive the wheels or rollers, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and at their
upper ends the main body of the rods B, C, are within the said sleeves L and receive
the lower threaded ends of the upper sections of said rods B, C, said sections i
being formed of tubes whose upper ends are flattened and are pivotally secured to
the ends of the cranks E, F. The sleeves Lare threaded to engage exterior threads
upon the upper ends of the main body portion of the rods B, C, as shown in Fig. 6;
and also to receive the sleeve j which has a smooth bore and is upon the upper
sections and between the nuts k, m, which retain said sleeve j in a fixed position
but permit of its being adjusted whenever desired. The sleeve j and nuts k, in, form
a swivel which permits the main body portions of the rods B, C, to have their axial
notion. During the axial motion of the rods B, C, the sleeve j will turn with the
sleeve L and said rods B, C, while the upper sections i will have no axial motion but
will not be twisted or prejudicially affected by the turning of the rods B, C. The
construction of the swivel connection intermediate the main body portion and the
upper sections of the rods B, C, also permits of the lengthening and shortening of
said rods B, C to suit varied conditions. For instance, if it should be desired to
shorten the rods B, C, to suit particular conditions, the nuts k, m, may be moved
upward upon the said upper sections i aud thus the swivel sleeve j may be elevated
and the lower ends of the said upper sections i caused to project further into the
tubular portion of the rods B, C; the rods B, C, may be lengthened by moving the
nuts, m, and sleeve j downward upon the upper sections of said rods B, C.
The rods B, C, being of tubing are both light, strong and inexpensive, and being of
the forin illustrated in Fig. 5, they are particularly durable and efficient. The main
portion of the rods B, C, as illustrated in Fig. 5, are in the form of triangles and
capable of withstanding any reasonable amount of pressure or hard usage.
The swivels G are in the form of sleeves having the groove or recess H above
described, and also having a central hub n which is adapted to turn within the
collar q and receives the bolt r by which the swivel is held in place and permitted to
have a pivotal motion under the action of the moving rods B, C. The swivel G turns
within the collar q, which is stationary, and the latter and said swivel are supported
from the frame of the bicycle by means of the bracket 8, shown enlarged in Figs. 7
and 8, and which bracket is, as illustrated, applicable to the ordinary type of bicycle
and when applied will connect the upper and lower members of the rear portion of the
frame of the bicycle.
The crank shaft D and dog X are supported in the brackets lettered t, w, respectivly,
as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 6, and which brackets are formed from a blank of
sheet metal of the outline illustrated in Fig. 1. The middle portion of the blank
illustrated in Fig. 4 is placed against the rear member of the bicycle frame and is
there secured by the wrapping of the ends around said member; and the brackets t, w
are formed by turning the ears t¹ upward and rearward to receive the crank shaft D
and by turning the ears w¹ downward to receive the bolt or pivot of the dog X, the
one bracket thus furnishing the bearings for the shaft D and the pin or axle of the
dog X.
It has been described above that the bicyle is provided with means by which it is
adapted to support a gun and to this end the frame of the bicycle, at suitable points
is provided with the spring clip A¹ to retain the upper portion of the gun and with
the socket B¹ to receive the stock end of the gun and firmly hold the same while at

page_text: the same time permitting of a quick removal of the gun therefrom wher desired. The
socket B is formed along its upper edge on a line corresponding with the lower
front fork of the bicycle frame and at its upper edge is provided with the ears C¹
which are wrapped around said fork and secure the socket BI in place. The
socket B¹ is entirely open at its upper end and the outline of the interior of said
socket will correspond with the general outline of the stock end of the gun. The
clip A¹ is secured at one end to the bicycle frame, as shown in Fig. 2, and at the
other end extends outward and then inward to grasp the upper portion of the gun
when the latter is forced between it and the frame of the bicycle, as indicated in
Fig. 2.
The invention is not limited to any special position for the socket B¹ and
clip A¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a bicycle, a pair of supporting rods extending downward and rearward one on
each side of the rear wheel, and the sleeves swiveled to the frame of the bicycle at
opposite sides of the latter and receiving and controlling said rods both during their
vertical movement and oscillatory motion along the sides of said rear wheel, combined
with the crank shaft operable by the rider and journalled below the bicycle saddle
and adjacent to the top of the forward portion of said rear wheel, crank connections
intermediate said shaft and the upper ends of said rods for operating the latter from
said shaft, and locking devices for maintaining said rods in their upper and lower
positions; substantially as set forth.
2. In combination with the bicycle, the supporting rods extending downward one
on each side of the bicycle, the crank shaft to which said rods are connected for
operating said rods, the treadle lever operatively connected with said shaft for
effecting the elevation of said rods, and locking devices for maintaining said rods in
their upper and lower positions; substantially as set forth.
3. In combination with the bicycle, the supporting rods extending downward one
on each side of the bicycle, the crank shaft to which said rods are connected for
operating said rods, the lever operatively connected with said shaft for effecting the
elevation of said rods, the recessed locking wheel connected with said shaft, and the
locking dog engaging said wheel; substantially as set forth.
4. In combination with the bicycle, the supporting rods extending downward one
on each side of the bicycle, the crank shaft to which said rods are connected for
operating said rods, the lever operatively connected with said shaft for effecting the
elevation of said rods, locking devices for maintaining said rods in their upper and
lower positions, the handle and cord or chain connected with said locking devices to
release the same, and the handle and cord or chain connected with said shaft to drive
said rods downward; substantially as set forth.
5. In combination with the bicycle, the supporting rods having the bent lower
ends and adapted to be raised and lowered by the rider and extending downward
one on each side of the bicycle from the cranks located below the saddle and
forward of the upper portion of the rear wheel of the bicycle, and the swiveled
sleeves through which said rods pass and which permit said rods to oscillate while
being raised and lowered and also at such time force said rods to turn axially;
substantially as set forth.
6. In combination with the bicycle, the supporting rods extending downward one
on each side thereof and adapted to be raised and lowered by the rider and to turn
axially, said rods having the bent lower ends and braces; substantially as set
forth.
7. In a bicycle, the pair of supporting rods, the crank shaft to which the upper
ends of said rods are connected, the recessed wheel on said shaft, and the locking
dog adapted to engage said wheel, combined with the bracket applied to the upper
rear fork of the bicycle frame and having the forwardly and rearwardly extending

page_text: ears to form the bearings for said locking dog and said crank shaft; substantially as
set forth.
8. In a bicycle, the pair of side supporing rods extending downward from cranks
operable by the rider, and the swivels through which said rods pass and which permit
them to have an oscillatory motion while being raised and lowered and also compel
them to turn axially, said side supporting rods having the bent lower ends and being
formed of tubing and provided in their upper portion with the adjustable swivel;
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
9. In a bicycle, the supporting rods operable by the rider for maintaining the
wheel in a vertical position while at rest, combined with the socket and spring clip
applied to the frame of the bicycle for supporting the gun; substantially as set
forth.
EDWARD AUGUST TRAPP.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C. Agents for the Applicant.