Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Learning Bicycle Riding.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left. 15th Dec.. 1896-Accepted. 6th Feb. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Use in Learning Bicycle Riding.
We, JAMES COTTRELL, of No. 168 Upper Kennington Lane, in the County of
Surrey, Model Maker, and WILLIAM HEATLEY, of No. 63 Drummond Street,
in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our
invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus for use in learning bicycle
riding and the object is to teach the art of keeping one's balance on the
machine.
It consists broadly in means by which the learner can shift the base line of the
machine by turning the front end of the previous base line to the side towards
which the rider feels himself falling.
In carrying the said invention into effect, we provide a stationary base which
contains the major portion of the base line above mentioned. A frame, which
represents the frame of the cycle is, in part, supported on this base by a suitable
device, such as a stud at the tail of the frame standing in an open cup on the base.
The stud and cup are adjustable along the frame and base respectively for the
purpose of shortening or lengthening the base line.
The steering head of the cycle is represented by a frame pivotted to the front
of the frame above mentioned at the usual angle.
The usual saddle, treadles, and handle bar are provided.
The pivotted front frame just described may be supported in front from above
or from below.
Supporting it from above consists in carrying a line from a beam (say) overhead,
to the foot of the said frame in front.
Supporting it from beneath consists in providing for the said foot to rest in the
front end of a frame projecting forwards from the front end of the base, or in
giving an upward incline to the floor in front of a line drawn through the front
end of the base at right angles with the latter.
According to the former method, there is a frame pivotted on an axis to the
front end of the base. This axis is inclined from the vertical, yet not so much
as the axis of the frame which represents the steering head above mentioned. The
frame too is inclined from the floor forwards. Its front end carries a cup to receive
a stud on the end of the frame representing the steering head. This cup and stud
device as well as the one at the opposite end of the base may be replaced by
suitable equivalents.
According to the second method, the frame pivotted to the front of the base is
dispensed with. Its incline is replaced by that of an upward incline of the floor
from a line drawn at right angles with the base line through the front end of the
base. The front end of the foot of the steering head is provided with a wheel
adapted to run on the said inclined floor as the steering bead is turned to the right
or to the left.
Dated this 15th day of February 1896
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: We, JAMES COTTRELL of No. 168 Upper Kennington Lane, in the County of
Surrey, Model Maker, and WILLIAM HEATLEY of No. 63 Drummond Street, in
the County of Middlesex, 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:-
Our invention relates to improvements in apparatus for use in learning bicycle
riding, and the object of it is to teach the art of keeping one's balance on the
machine.
It consists broadly in means by which the learner can shift the base line of the
machine, by turning the front end of the said line to the side towards which
the rider feels himself falling.
In carrying the said invention into effect, we provide a stationary base which
contains the major portion of the base line above mentioned. A frame, which
represents the frame of the machine, is, in part, supported on this base by a suitable
device, such as a stud at the tail of the frame standing in an open cup on the base.
The supporting device is adjustable along the frame and base for the purpose of
shortening or lengthening the base line.
The steering head of the machine is represented by a frame pivotted at the usual
angle to the front of the frame above mentioned.
The pivotted front frame just described may be supported in front from above
or from below.
Referring to the accompanying figures which are to be taken as part of this
specification and read therewith,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of apparatus constructed according to
the present invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of a modified form of apparatus constructed according
to the present invention.
Figure 3 is a part plan corresponding with Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of another modified form of apparatus constructed
according to the present invention.
Figure 5 is a plan corresponding therewith.
Referring to Figure 1, the stationary base consists of a short beam, a, aligned
with the base line, and of a low post, b, standing to one side of the front portion
of the base line.
c is a suitably braced frame capable of being, for the purpose of this invention,
the equivalent of the frame of the machine. d is a cup adjustable at various points
along the beam a. Three possible positions are illustrated. The tail end of the
frame c is supported by one of as many studs c', c', c', as there are positions for the
cup d, the one in question engaging in the latter. These studs depend from
the tail end of the frame to which they are made fast in a line parallel with the
base line and at a distance thereon corresponding with the distances separating
the possible positions of the cup d. The object of the above described variability
of the position of the back support of the frame c is to shorten or lengthen the
base line. The engagement of one of the studs c¹ in the cup d is the functional
equivalent of the bearing of the rear wheel of the machine upon the road. The
front end of the frame c which is off the base line, is held to the post b by a
link b. There is a little play provided between the said front end and post, in
order that the frame c may be free to rock on the cup d.

page_text: f is a second frame. It is, for the purpose of this invention, the equivalent of
the steering head of the machine; and is, for that reason, pivotted upon the front
of the frame c, both the said front, as well as the axis of the frame f, being at the
usual angle.
g, h, h, i, i, j and k are the functional equivalents of the usual saddle, treadles,
sprocket wheels, chain, and handle bar.
For the purpose of supporting the frame f from above, the bottom end or foot fr.
of its front member f₁, is held by a line m to an overhead beam or to its equivalent.
The above mentioned bottom end or foot f' supported from above as described, is
the equivalent, for the purpose of the present invention, of the bearing of the
front wheel of the machine on the road.
Figures 2 and 3 illustrate one of the means by which the frame f is supported from
below. The beam a is prolonged along the base beyond the frame c where it meets an
incline a¹. The horizontal direction of this incline is at right angles with the
base line, but the direction of the incline itself is aligned with the latter. The
foot above described is replaced by a wheel f³ pivotted upon the lowest part of
the frame f. to revolve in a plane at right angles or thereabouts, with that in which
the front wheel of the machine revolves.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate another means by which the frame f is supported
from below. The beam a is prolonged along the base line as far as the front end
of the frame c where there is made fast to it a transverse beam a² projecting from
either side thereof. 1 is a step bearing fixed in the base line in front of the
prolonged beam a. is a frame pivotted in the step bearing and in a supple-.
mentary bearing 2 supported by four struts 13 above the former at a suitable
height. The axis of the frame is inclined from the vertical at a smaller angle
than that of the frame f. The front end or nose of the frame projects forward
far enough to be alignable with the front member f' of the frame, which member
is continued downwards till its foot rests upon the front end or nose of the frame l'.
The two-foot and front end-may be connected together by any suitable means..
The one illustrated consists of bifurcations 13 pivotally connected to the outer ends
of a pair of arms 4 projecting right and left from a sleeve adapted to rock upon
the top member of the frame 1.
It is preferred that the backs f³, 1, of the frames f and 1, respectively should
not be aligned with each other, and further that, the back f' be more to the front
than the back. This arrangement requires the presence of a self adjusting
device between the frame f and the frame c. The device in question may be of
any suitable type. The one illustrated consists of a nose c, being a part of the
frame e fitting with a working fit into a socket f on the bottom end of the back f³.
Obviously either the wheel and the incline a between them, or the bifurca-
tions together with the arms 14, constitute, respectively, the functional equivalent.
of the bearing between the front wheel and the road.
The beam u in any of the lengths described above, may be dispensed with; the
cup d being fixed to the floor direct.
The apparatus is used as far as mounting and dismounting, sitting and treadling,
in the same way as heretofore. Figures 3 and 5 indicate how the present invention
works. As soon as the rider feels that he has lost his balance, he turns the
frame to the side towards which he feels he is falling. This has the effect of
turning the base line on its rear end as a pivot, and of thereby shifting it. It
does not matter by which of the three above described means, the frame fis
supported, or whether it is supported by any other, the result is the saine-the
base line is shifted with the necessary result that equilibrium is restored to the
falling rider. The dot and dash line n from the broken off end of the beam a in
Figure 3, represents the normal basejline. The one n' in the same figure represents
the new or shifted base liue produced by turning the frame f to the left. The dot
and dash lines in Figure 5 further illustrate the turning of the normal base line or
he establishment of new ones.

page_text: 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. In an apparatus for learning how to ride a bicycle, provision for shifting the
base line of the machine by turning the front end thereof, as set forth.
2. The herein before described combination of rigid frame c, pivotted frame f
and supports for both, respectively, as they are severally set forth.
3. The hereinbefore described combination of rigid frame c, cup d, post b,
pivotted frame f and line m, as they are severally set forth.
4. The hereinbefore described combination of rigid frame c, cup d, pivotted
frame, wheel ƒ and incline a¹, as they are severally set forth.
5. The herein before described combination of rigid frame c, cup d, frame ƒ and
frame, as they are severally set forth.
Dated this 15th day of December 1896.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.