Improvements in Supports for Propping and Retaining Bicycles in Position without Extraneous Aid.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Supports for Propping and Retaining Bicycles
in Position without Extraneous Aid.
I, JOSEPH WHITWORTH HULSE of Brookside, Didsbury, near Manchester, Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to selfcontained apparatus for supporting a Bicycle
in a standing position.
In carrying out my invention, I attach one or more clips to one of the limbs of the
bicycle, acting as a slide or slides, through which a rod is made to traverse. Towards
the lower end, the rod is cranked so as to lie closely to the framing of the bicycle in
the uppermost position, and in the lower position to be at right angles thereto and
support the bicycle at one side or the other.
Apparatus according to my invention forms a safe and effective stand, with which a
bicycle may be left at the road side, or in other unsupported position.
Dated this 24th day of September 1896.
JOSEPH WHITWORTH HULSE.
Improvements in Supports for Propping and Retaining Bicycles
In Position without Extraneous Aid.
I, JOSEPH WHITWORTH HULSE, of Brookside, Didsbury near Manchester, 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 object of this invention is to produce a cheap simple and efficient device
which can be readily applied to the frame of a bicycle and which device is so con-
structed that a part of it adapted to serve as a support will, when not in use, lie
closely against the frame of the machine, the said part being in the form of a cranked
or bent rod the lower end of which is, as the rod is lowered, automatically turned
outward into a position to act as an efficient support to the machine. As will be
obvious the device may comprise two such cranked or bent rods, one for each side of
the bicycle.
The annexed drawings illustrate a convenient way of carrying my invention into
practical effect.
Fig. 1 shows in side elevation a portion of the frame of a bicycle having applied to
it a supporting device constructed according to my invention with two cranked or
bent rods which device is shown in its raised or out of use attitude.

page_text: Fig. 2 is a view at right angles to Fig. 1 and shows the supporting device lowered
so that the bottom ends of the rods rest on the ground and the bent portions are
outwardly turned in position to support the bicycle.
Fig. 3 is a part end elevation showing a modification.
1 is part of a bicycle frame having attached thereto by means of clips 2 and 3 a
supporting device which is held in its raised position by means of a retaining catch 4
secured by a clip 5 to the said frame. The said supporting device comprises in the
example shown, two rods 6 each of which is arranged to work endways in exten-
sions 2, 3, of the clips, which act as slides or guideways therefor; the lower part 6*
of the rod being cranked or bent so as to be approximately at right angles to the
upper part 6 and so as to lie closely against or in the plane of the frame of the
machine so as to be inoperative when the rod is in its raised position and to be
approximately at right angles to the machine when the rod is in its lowered position,
and to then act as a lateral support for the bicycle. To enable the cranked or bent
portion 6 of the rod to turn inward and outward when the rod is raised and
lowered respectively, the upper portion of the rod that works through the guide 2
is of circular or other section that will admit of its turning in such guide, whilst the
part of the rod that works through the guide 3, is of rectangular section and is
forined at 7 with a quarter twist as shown, the hole in such guide 3 being of
corresponding rectangular shape. 8 is a roller mounted on the end of the cranked
or bent portion 6, and 9 is a handle to which the upper ends of the two rods or
supports 6 are secured by means of nuts 10.
In order to lower the supporting device so as to support the bicycle, the handle 9
is pulled slightly away from the part 1 of the bicycle frame so as to release the
part 9 of the handle from the retaining catch 4, and the two rods 6, are then let
down, the twisted parts 7, as they move through the holes in the guide 3* causing
the cranked or bent portions 6 of the rods to turn outwards until they come in
contact with the ground when a slight push will cause them to bind in the guide 3*
and to be thus retained in the supporting attitude. As will be seen the twisted
parts 7 and guide bracket 3* act after the manner of an endways movable screw and
a fixed nut, which they more or less resemble and of which they are practically the
equivalent. The rollers 8, facilitate the outward spreading of the cranked or bent
portions 6. In returning the rods to their inoperative position, a forward movement
of the machine is necessary to loosen them from the lower bracket 3*, whereupon they
can be drawn up until the part 9 of the handle 9 rests on the catch 4 as shown in
Figs. 1 and 2.
In order that the rods when moved into their lowermost position shall be retained in
that position, there may be connected, as by pivoting, to the handle 9 (Fig. 3) a pair
of catches 11 adapted, when the legs are lowered, to automatically engage with the
underside of the guide 2x or other fixed part of the frame, and holds the rods down
until the catches are intentionally released.
Although in the drawings I have illustrated an example in which there are two
rods or supports yet it will be evident that one only may be employed.
It will also be evident that the shapes of the rods 6 may be more or less modified
without departing from the characteristic feature of my invention, and instead of the
rods being placed behind the member 1 of the frame, they may be arranged in front
of it as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the lower ends of the rods then passing on
opposite sides of the member 1 of the said frame. Also by making the guide 3 of
greater depth and arranging it above the bracket 12, the guide 2 and clip 2 may be
dispensed with.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A bicycle support comprising a rod arranged to move endways through one or
more devices adapted to act as slides or guides by which it is attached to the bicycle
frame and having its lower portion cranked or bent as set forth, the arrangement

page_text: being such that when the rod is raised, its lower cranked or bent portion will be
turned inward into its inoperative position, and when moved into its lowered
position the said cranked or bent portion of the rod will be turned outward so as to
be at an angle to the said frame and serve as a lateral support for the bicycle,
substantially as described.
2. My improved bicycle support constructed arranged and operated substantially
as described and shown, whether one or two cranked or bent rods be used, and
whether or not catches such as 11 be provided.
Dated this 24th day of June 1897.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.