Improvements in Devices for Temporarily Connecting Two Bicycles, to Adapt them for Carrying a Stretcher or the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Temporarily Connecting Two Bicycles,
to Adapt them for Carrying a Stretcher or the like.
We, GEORGE DUMONT DU VOITEL of 63 Alexandrinenstrasse and HEINRICH
WEIERMILLER of 110 Grunewaldstrasse both in Berlin and OTTO GAJEWSKY
of 24 Hauptstrasse, Schoeneberg near Berlin; all in the Empire of Germany, all
Merchants, 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:-
This invention has for its object a means for coupling together two bicycles,
which may be at any time effected and again released, and which may be fitted to
any form of construction of bicycle, whilst it may also be noted that the separate
parts of this arrangement are adapted to be so folded together that the whole
arrangement may be carried on two wheeled vehicles without any special difficulty.
This means of coupling for military and the like purposes for conveying persons
in a sitting or lying posture is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle with spring mountings for the connecting
bars which carry the stretcher or seat;
Figure 2 is a front view of two bicycles coupled together:
Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2;
Figures 4 and 5 show again a collapsible carrying stretcher. For carrying
persons in a sitting position a seat or carriage box, which is however not shown in
the drawings, is employed.
As shown in the drawings, the device consists of a supporting arrangement for
the stretcher or seat attached to the frame of the bicycle, and it is so constructed
that a connection with the bicycle frame may be effected in the shortest time,
which could not be said of the devices hitherto employed for the same object.
On the rear fork A and front fork or guide bar B hangers C and D are placed
parallel therewith, each of which at its upper end is formed like a hook by means
of which it is suspended on the elbow shaped frame tubes. For further securing
these hangers, one or more clips K are employed to hold the same to the frame
tubes. On the lower downwardly bent ends C¹ D₁ of the hangers, plates E Fi
are rivetted, and over each of these plates a second plate E F is placed, which
latter rests on pins H and G or on the hanger itself. The side guide pins H are
surrounded by springs J with the object of affording an elastic mounting of the
stretcher as is absolutely necessary for the conveyance of sick persons. Guide
pins G G project through the upper plates E F, which pins are firmly rivetted
to the plates E' F1 whilst their upper ends serve for receiving the connecting
crossbars L, which, for this object, are perforated at the ends. The attachment to
the plates which spring up and down takes place by means of wing nuts or projecting
pins mounted on the pins G G¹.
The connecting cross bars L may either be formed of tubes or of angle iron and
may be made single or telescopic or in collapsible pieces.
In order to obtain a horizontal adjustment of the stretcher, projections or
uprights L' are provided on the connecting crossbars L to receive the stretcher by
means of screwed forks T having insertion pins t with which to fasten the stretcher.
The method of supporting the stretcher and of fixing the same may however be
effected in any other suitable manner. The projections of the rear crossbar are
D
Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2;
Figures 4 and 5 show again a collapsible carrying stretcher. For carrying
persons in a sitting position a seat or carriage box, which is however not shown in
the drawings, is employed.
As shown in the drawings, the device consists of a supporting arrangement for
the stretcher or seat attached to the frame of the bicycle, and it is so constructed
that a connection with the bicycle frame may be effected in the shortest time,
which could not be said of the devices hitherto employed for the same object.
On the rear fork A and front fork or guide bar B hangers C and D are placed
parallel therewith, each of which at its upper end is formed like a hook by means
of which it is suspended on the elbow shaped frame tubes. For further securing
these hangers, one or more clips K are employed to hold the same to the frame
tubes. On the lower downwardly bent ends C¹ D¹ of the hangers, plates E¹ F¹
are rivetted, and over each of these plates a second plate E F is placed, which
latter rests on pins H and G or on the hanger itself. The side guide pins H are
surrounded by springs J with the object of affording an elastic mounting of the
stretcher as is absolutely necessary for the conveyance of sick persons. Guide
pins G G project through the upper plates E F, which pins are firmly rivetted
to the plates E F1 whilst their upper ends serve for receiving the connecting
crossbars L, which, for this object, are perforated at the ends. The attachment to
the plates which spring up and down takes place by means of wing nuts or projecting
pins mounted on the pins G G¹.
The counecting cross bars L may either be formed of tubes or of angle iron and
may be made single or telescopic or in collapsible pieces.
In order to obtain a horizontal adjustment of the stretcher, projections or
uprights L' are provided on the connecting crossbars L to receive the stretcher by
means of screwed forks T having insertion pins t with which to fasten the stretcher."
The method of supporting the stretcher and of fixing the same may however be
effected in any other suitable manner. The projections of the rear crossbar are

page_text: made of greater height than those of the front crossbar in order to obtain a
horizontal position of the stretcher or seat.
The stretcher itself, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, may be made in three or more
pieces connected together by hinges S and latches s when the stretcher is made of
angle iron; on the other hand, when the stretcher is made of tubes, the parts are
preferably screwed together. The stretcher is thus capable of being collapsed to
allow of its being carried in a pocket or pouch on the bicycle frame, or in a
..knapsack.
It may also be pointed out that by flattening the connecting crossbars L at the
ends (Figure 2), sufficient play may be afforded in case one of the riders should
-adopt a more rapid rate of speed than the other.
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. An improved device for temporarily connecting two bicycles to form a four
wheeled vehicle, consisting of hangers (CD) adapted to be temporarily arranged
on the rear and front wheel forks, said hangers having secured to their lower ends,
plates (E¹ F¹) over each of which a second plate (EF) is mounted on pins (H)
surrounded by springs (J) whereby a spring mounting for crossbars (L) which
serve to carry a stretcher or seat is obtained, substantially as described.
2. In a device such as described the use of crossbars (L) made either entirely in
one piece or collapsible and having projections or uprights of which those of the
rear crossbar are carried higher than those of the front crossbar, whereby a
horizontal position of the stretcher or of the seat may be obtained, substantially as
described.
3. In a device such as described, the use of a carriage seat, or of a stretcher
which may be collapsed in such a manner as to allow of its being carried in a
pocket or pouch on the bicycle frame or in a knapsack, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 13th day of October 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.