Improvements in Supporting and Locking Attachments for Bicycles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan.; 1892-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1892
Improvements in Supporting and Locking Attachments
for Bicycles.
We, WALTER LEWIS, of 3520 North Seventeenth Street, in the City of
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Mechanical
Engineer, and GEORGE TRYON TURNER, of 1705 Tioga Street, in the City of
Philadelphia, aforesaid, Stock Broker, 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 my invention is to provide a bicycle with an attachment of such
character that when in position for use it will afford an effective means whereby the
bicycle is supported in an upright position, and when not in use, can be readily
supported upon the steering head of the machine where it is out of the way of the
steering wheel and offers no obstacle whatever to the proper running of the
machine.
The attachment, moreover, can be readily moved from one position to the other
and cannot be accidentally displaced when in either position, and when combined
with a transverse rod or bar for passing between adjoining spokes of the bicycle
wheel it serves to lock said wheel and thus provides a safeguard against the
unauthorized use or theft of the machine.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1, is a perspective view illustrating the application of my improved
attachment to an ordinary form of bicycle, the latter being shown in dotted lines
while the attachment is shown in full lines and in position for serving as a support
for the machine ;
Figure 2, is a similar view but illustrating the attachment in the position to
which it is adjusted when the machine is running.
Figure 3, is a side view of part of the machine with the attachment in the
position illustrated in Figure 2, the attachment being shown partly in section and
combined with the device for retaining it in position.
Figure 4 is a side view of part of the machine illustrating the attachment in the
position to which it is adjusted before it assumes its final or supporting position, as
shown in Fig. 1.
Figures 5 and 6, are perspective views illustrating different forms of locking
bar to be used in connection with the attachment; and
Figures 7 and 8, are views illustrating supporting frames differing in form from
that shown in Figs. 1 and 2.
My invention is applicable to any ordinary form of bicycle, and in the drawing
I have illustrated the same as used in connection with a bicycle of the
safety type.
The attachment consists of a frame preferably of the triangular form shown,
and comprising opposite side bars a, and a base bar b, the side bars being hung at the
upper ends to links d, which in turn are hung to blocks f, rivetted or otherwise secured
upon the opposite legs of the forked head which carries the front or steering wheel
of the machine, the base bar b, being of such length that the said bars a, of the
frame flare outwardly from the links to the bar.
Centrally mounted upon the bar b, is a socket g, U-shaped in cross section, and,
by preference, curved fongitudinally so as to coincide with the curve of the rim
and tire of the steering wheel of the machine, the socket being pivoted to lugs on
the bar b, so that it is free to swing in passing beneath the wheel as described
hereinafter.

page_text: When the attachment is not in use, it occupies the position shown in Fig. 2, of
the drawings, the triangular frame in this case extending upwards from the links d,
and the side bars a, resting against the steering handle of the machine, a suitable
catch being employed in order to retain the attachment in this position.
In Fig. 3, for instance, I have shown a spring finger i, mounted upon the steering
head and engaging with an opening in the socket g, this finger being such that
while it will serve to retain the attachment in position as against accidental dis-
placement due to the jarring or shaking of the machine, it will yield readily to
permit the socket to be passed over it when the attachment is raised by hand to
the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or when pressure is exerted upon the attach-
ment to throw it down in front of the steering wheel, the attachment then falling
until the bar b, strikes the ground in front of the wheel and the socket 9: receives
the rim and tire of the wheel, as shown in Fig. 4.
A slight forward movement of the machine will then cause the cross bar and its
socket to slip under the wheel and assume the position shown in Fig. 1, and when
in this position the bar b, provides such an extended lateral bearing that the
machine will stand perfectly steady, any toppling of the machine to either side
being effectually prevented.
Forward movement of the machine when the attachment is in supporting position
will not so disarrange said attachment as to interfere with the proper performance
of its duty, the transverse bar and socket closely following the movement of the
forward wheel so that when the machine stops the supporting frame is always in
proper position for holding it upright.
In this respect my improved attachment is essentially different from that form
of supporting device which consists of a leg pivoted at its upper end to the fixed
frame of the machine and extending outward and downward when in use so as to
provide a third point of support for the machine.
Even when such pivoted legs are used upon both sides of the machine, forward
movement of the latter has the effect of swinging the legs rearwards and they are
thereby moved out of supporting position.
Excessive rearward swinging of my improved supporting frame is prevented by
contact of the side bars a, of the same with the usual projecting foot supports on
the sides of the steering frame of the machine, and the link connections at the upper
ends of said side bars a, prevent any binding of the cross bar or socket against
the steering wheel when said bar and socket are swinging from the front to the rear
of the wheel, as before set forth.
If, however, it is desired to permit the supporting frame to remain in front of the
steering wheel when in supporting position, these links may be dispensed with, or
when the links are used they may, if desired, be hung directly to the legs of the
forked steering frame; the use of the blocks, being in all cases preferred,
however, because said blocks not only provide a better bearing for the links than
would the curved legs of the steering frame, but the formation of the openings in
the legs of the steering frame for the reception of the rivets whereby the blocks f,
are secured thereto, weakens said steering frame to a less extent than would the
formation therein of openings large enough for the reception of the pivot bolts for
the links.
The cross bar b, is preferably thin, and is shod on the underside with a strip m,
of leather, rubber, cork or like material which will prevent the bar from slipping
when the bicycle is left standing upon smooth or slippery pavements.
While the triangular form of supporting frame is, as before stated, the preferable
one, other forms of frame may, if desired, be used without departing from my
invention, for instance, in Fig. 7, I have shown a frame in which the side bars a
are vertical throughout the greater part of their length, and flare abruptly at and
near the bottom so as to join the outer ends of the transverse bar b, and in Fig. 8,
I have shown a frame in which the side bars a, are vertical throughout.
As before remarked, my improved attachment provides, in addition to its sup-
porting function, a ready means of locking the front wheel of the bicycle so as to

page_text: prevent unauthorized use or theft of the machine during the absence of the
owner.
The preferable method of accomplishing this result is to hang a locking bar n,
such for instance as shown in Fig. 5, to one of the sile bars a, of the attachment,
the joint being a universal one, so that the locking bar can either be disposed along
the side bar of the attachment when not in use, or can be thrown across from one
bar to the other between adjoining spokes of the wheel when it is desired to lock
the latter, the outer end of the bar in this case engaging with any suitable form of
lock n', on the other side bar of the attachment.
When the barn, is adjusted into line with the side bar a, it may be retained
by any appropriate form of catch, for instance, by a spring clip as shown at s,
in Fig. 5.
When the socket g, is used, the locking bar may, if desired, be applied to said
socket, as shown in Fig. 6, and instead of engaging with a locking device it may
engage with a staple to which it is secured by an ordinary padlock as also shown in
said Figure 6.
One end of the locking bar may also be adapted to a socket on one of the side
bars of the supporting frame instead of being pivoted thereto, the locking of the
bar to the other side of the frame preventing its removal from said socket.
Having now particularly described and ascertained 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. A bicycle supporting frame having a base bar extending on each side of the
machine, said frame being hung to the steering frame so as to be capable of being
thrown down so as to rest on the ground or lifted so as to be out of the way of the
wheel, substantially as specified.
2. The within described supporting attachment for bicycles, the same consisting
of a triangular frame having a transverse bar for resting on the ground, and
opposite bars hung to the frame of the machine, substantially as specified.
3. The combination of the supporting frame, with links through the medium of
which the upper ends of said supporting frame are hung to the frame of the
machine substantially as specified.
4. The combination of the supporting frame, with the links to which the upper
ends of said frame are hung, and blocks to which the links are pivoted, said blocks
being adapted for application to the steering frame of the bicycle, substantially as
specified.
5. The within described supporting device for bicycles, the same consisting of a
frame pivoted at its upper end to the frame of the bicycle, and having at the lower
end a transverse supporting bar with socket for receiving the rim of the wheel,
substantially as specified.
6. The within described supporting device for bicycles, the same consisting of a
frame pivoted at its upper end to the frame of the machine, and having at the
lower end a transverse supporting bar with socket pivoted thereto and adapted to
receive the rim of the wheel, substantially as specified.
7. The within described supporting device for bicycles, the same consisting of
a frame hung at its upper end to the frame of the machine and having at the lower
end a transverse supporting bar shod upon the under side with rubber or like
material to prevent slipping, substantially as specified.
8. The within described attachment for bicycles, the same consisting of a frame
comprising opposite side bars and base bar, said frame being pivoted to the
machine so as to be thrown down on to the ground or turned up out of the way of
the wheel, in combination with a catch for retaining said frame in the elevated
position, substantially as specified.
9. The within described supporting and locking device for bicycles, the same
consisting of a frame having opposite bars hung at their upper ends to the frame
of the machine, and connected at their lower ends by a transverse supporting bar,

page_text: said frame having a cross bar adapted to pass between the spokes of the wheel,
and also having a locking device for said cross bar, substantially as specified..
10. The within described supporting and locking device for bicycles, the same
consisting of a frame comprising opposite side bars pivoted at their upper ends to
the frame of the machine, and having at their lower ends a transverse supporting
bar, in combination with a locking bar adapted to pass transversely between the
spokes of the wheel, said locking bar being pivoted to the supporting frame on one
side of the wheel and engaging with a locking device on said frame on the opposite
side of the wheel substantially as specified.
11. The within described supporting and locking device for bicycles, the same
consisting of a frame comprising opposite side bars hung to the frame of the machine
at their upper ends, and having a transverse supporting bar at their lower ends, in
combination with a locking bar hung to one of said side bars by a universal joint,
and a locking device on the other side bar for engaging with and retaining said
locking bar after the same has been passed transversely between the spokes of the
wheel, substantially as specified.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1899
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.