An Improved Device for Coupling Bicycles Together.
Year: 1896

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as allowed by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 24th day of December 1897.
Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 27th May. 1897-Accepted 10th July 1897
An Improved Device for Coupling Bicycles Together.
WILLIAM PETRE KELLY of Shannonview Park Athlone Co. Roscommon Ireland
Solicitor do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is designed to enable two or more Bicycles to be readily coupled
together and to do so by means of the Air Pumps which pneumatic bicycles usually
carry; though my coupling contrivance may be usefully employed without using
the pump as the connecting bar. The coupling of Bicycles together is convenient
for various reasons; amongst others it enables one person to readily propel two or
more bicycles; it affords mutual support when standing; and my contrivance adds
little to the ordinary weight of the Machine, as it utilizes for the intended
purpose the air pump which is a usual appendage to the bicycle, at the same
time affording a very convenient method of carrying same.
I provide a short length of tube conveniently about three inches long and
having thereon a binding screw or clamp for the purposes hereinafter mentioned.
The section of this tube is sufficient to enable the connecting bar or the pump
intended to serve as such to be passed through it. This short tube is attached
by a suitable collar and clamps with nuts or in any other convenient way to the
steering rod of the bicycle and lies horizontally with the handle bar. This tube
serves as a receptacle or holder for the air pump or other connecting bar and the
binding Screw or Clamp keeps the pump or bar fixed as placed whether the same
is used as a connecting rod as hereinafter described or otherwise.
I use a pump preferably made of Steel Aluminium Brass or other metal having
sufficient strength to enable the pump to be used as a connecting rod. This
pump tube can either be of sufficient length to reach the steering bar of a Machine
standing side by side with it, the handle bars of the two Machines being placed
as nearly as possible in right line with one another; or preferably only about
half such length so that two pumps one carried on each machine will form
the connecting rod. I provide that the pump shall have the following special
features.
The projecting handles at the nozzle end of the piston shall be hinged and
collapsible so that they and the adjoining end of the piston will fold into the pump
tube which will be constructed with a space to admit thereof. The flexible
separate nozzle usually used can be either folded into this space or into the piston
or kept at the other end in any usual manner.
The two pump bars may be joined together in various ways one end of the
pump tube may be slightly extended beyond the limits of the pump such extension
being of somewhat larger diameter than the remainder of the tube so as to admit
of the introduction into it of the opposite or nozzle end of a similarly constructed
רו

page_text: pump
attached to another bicycle; and be provided with a small clamp or screw,
keyed socket, or other suitable method of clamping 'the two ends together or the
pump may carry at the end a loose or 'screw collar with internal screw worm
corresponding with a worm on the nozzle end of the corresponding pump to keep
the same in required position.
When desired to connect two or more bicycles the binding screw on the short
tube is eased the pump or bar is drawn through same in the direction of the
adjacent bicycle and the screw again tightened to keep it in such laterally extended
position. Having similarly drawn out the pump of the other bicycle the nozzle
end of one pump is introduced into the reverse end of the other pump and the
Clamp or binding Screw of the enlarged end is tightened to make the connec-
tion rigid or, the two pumps or other connecting bars are joined by the movable
screw Collar before mentioned, or the two ends are keyed or joined together and
kept rigid in any other convenient way.
Dated this 25th day of August 1896.
THEO. MCKENNA,
17 & 18 Basinghall Street, London, E.C., Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
An Improved Device for Coupling Bicycles Together.
I, WILLIAM PETRE KELLY of Shannonview Park, Athlone, Co. Roscommon,
Ireland, Solicitor, 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 is designed to enable two or more Bicycles to be readily coupled
together and to do so by means of the air pumps which pneumatic bicycles usually
carry though my coupling arrangement may be carried out without using the pump
as presently described.
The coupling of bicycles together is convenient for various reasons; amongst
others it enables a person to readily propel two or more bicycles, it affords mutual
support when bicycles are required to stand, while the contrivance adds little
to the ordinary weight of the machine, since the air pump which is a usual
appendage to a bicycle may be utilized for the intended purpose, while at the
same time a very convenient method of carrying same is afforded.
In order that the nature and application of my Invention may be more readily
understood I will describe same with the assistance of the accompanying Drawings,
in which:
Fig. 1, represents portion of a Bicycle in elevation shewing my improved
coupling contrivance applied to the handle stem.
Fig. 2, is a front view of same.
Fig. 3, shews two bicycles coupled together by means of my improved con-
trivance.
Fig. 4, shews the contrivance detached.
Fig. 5, shows an ordinary bar or piece of tubing which may be used in carrying
out my Invention.
Figs. 6 & 7, shew elevation and section of a modified form of pump which I
prefer to use for the purpose in view.
Similar letters indicate corresponding parts in each of the several views.
A is a clamp composed of a hinged band capable of being secured by means of
a winged screw through lugs b (Fig. 4) and provided with a sleeve c, at right
angles to the axis of the clamp.

page_text: Through this sleeve is passed the ordinary pump d, the construction of which
for the purpose of my Invention is modified as follows:-
The nozzle handles instead of being rigid are hinged so as to fold forward and
thus enable same together with the screw nipple to recede into the recess formed
at the head of the pump as shewn in Fig. 7.
The outer surface of the head is then provided with a male screw thread
whereby connection is established with the opposite or base end of an adjoining
pump similarly constructed, the base end of each pump being of larger diameter
or bore than the body of the tube and forming a recess or socket provided with
an internal female screw thread for the purpose of receiving the head of the
corresponding pump.
The pump is carried in the sleeve as shewn and is held in position by means
of the milled headed or set screw e.
Instead of using a pump as thus described I may use a suitable bar or piece of
tubing of suitable length provided with an external male screw thread on one
end and an internally threaded socket at the other end as shewn in Fig. 6.
The method of using either the pump or tube in accordance with my Invention
is obvious.
The milled headed or set screw e being loosened the pump or tube as the case
may be is free to be drawn out laterally to the required length to reach a similarly
drawn pump or tube carried on another bicycle (it leing understood that the
head of one pump or tube approaches the base of the adjacent pump or tube) where-
upon one pump or tube is screwed into the other, and thus a rigid connection
between the two bicycles is established.
It is understood that when the two respective pumps or tubes are sufficiently
drawn towards each other they are held in their respective holders or sleeves by
tightening up the milled headed screw e.
It is obvious that although my Invention is described as coupling two bicycles
only it is equally applicable for the purpose of connecting any number, it being
necessary only to so arrange the pumps or tubes so that the head of one approaches
the base of the other.
It is also obvious that instead of using two pumps or connecting tubes one
pump or tube of sufficient length to reach a neighbouring bicycle may be used.
In this case a more convenient means may be afforded for the purpose, inas-
much as the extra weight involved in carrying a pump or connecting tube, may
under special circumstances be thrown on one of two bicycles in the habit of
travelling together.
The application of my coupling contrivance it will be perceived does not in
any way interfere with the ordinary brake gear of the bicycle since the clamping
device occupies only a portion of the usual space between the handle har stem
and the brake rod.
The pump or the connecting tube may be composed of steel, aluminium, brass
or other suitable material for the object in view.
It is obvious that the meeting ends of the pumps or tubes may be rigidly
connected by other means than that herein described, for instance, a movable
screw collar may be used on the base end of the pump or tube to engage a
corresponding screw on the head of the adjacent pump or tube.
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 :-
First. The use and application of a contrivance for the purpose of connecting
bicycles consisting of a clamp in which slides a pump or tube, constructed,
arranged, and operating in the manner substantially as herein specified and set
forth.
Second. In combination with bicycles the use and application of the usual.

page_text: pump or inflator for the purpose and in the manner substantially as described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of May 1897.
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
9 Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant.