Improvements in Folding Bicycle or Vehicle Canopies.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1898-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Folding Bicycle or Vehicle Canopies.
I, ALFRED SANFORD BURNHAM, Horticulturist, of Wildomar, in the County of
Riverside, and State of California, one of the United States of America, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to a folding bicycle or vehicle canopy, and consists
essentially of an adjustable telescopic support having attaching devices thereon
for connection with the frame of a bicycle, and also an adjustable telescopic arm
with folding ribs on a portion thereof, a covering of suitable fabric being attached
to said ribs and adapted to be expanded by the latter.
The invention further consists of the details of construction and arrangement
of the several parts, which will be fully hereinafter described and claimed.
The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which may
be adjusted vertically when open, and arranged laterally to screen the rider
at any angle, and when folded may be held in compact form on the machine and
be readily arranged for use, the parts being simple and effective in their con-
struction and operation, strong and durable, easily and readily operated and
applied, and comparatively inexpensive in the cost of manufacture.
In the accompanying drawings;
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a bicycle showing the improved
shade or canopy attached thereto and arranged in operative position.
Figure 2 is a detail view of the device shown folded."
Figure 3 is a detail view of the top joint shown disconnected.
Figure 4 is a similar view of the break joint.
Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line a—x, Figure 1.
Figure 6 is a plan view of a portion of the canopy, showing the slit therein,
with the fabric spread apart, and also showing the rings 23 and hook 24.
Referring to the drawings wherein similar numerals of reference are employed
to indicate corresponding parts in the several views, the numeral 1 designates
the lower member of a support or upright, which is tubular and has attached
thereto an upper clamp 2 and a lower clamp 3. The upper clamp 2 is stationary
on the said lower member 1, and the lower clamp is pivotally connected; both
of said clamps being adapted to be secured or applied to different parts of the
frame of a bicycle at the front of the latter and preferably on the steering post
and handle bars, and hold the entire device relatively to the seat of the rider.
Within the lower member 1 is telescopically mounted a second member 4, and
is adapted to he held relatively to said lower member in its adjusted position by
a set screw 5. A third member 5ª is adjustably mounted in the second member 4
and has a break joint 6 therein, which is provided by two contiguously arranged
disks 7 on opposite parts and pivotally connected, the one disk having a single
notch 8 at the upper portion thereof, and the other disk a series of notches 9
adapted to be engaged by a pivoted latch 10 carried adjacent to one of the disks
and extending over the other. The said latch acts to sustain the disks in
adjusted position relatively to each other, and regulates the angle of the upper-

page_text: most vertical or third member 5ª. On the upper end of the third member
another joint is located, as at 11, being in part carried by a horizontal supporting
arm 12, and having notches 13 therein which are engaged by a nose 14 projecting
from a spring-arm 15. This latter adjustment is to regulate the position of the
arm 12 to place the shade or canopy supported thereby at any angle desired.
The said arm 12 is tubular and therein is telescopically fitted an extension 16
which is held in adjustable position by a set screw 17 carried at the outer end
of said arm 12. Upon the rear end of the extension 16 a canopy frame 18
is adjustably positioned, and comprises a supporting bolt 19 on which are fitted
the inner apertured ends of ribs 20, being clamped in place by a thumb or
analogous screw head 21, engaging the upper end of said bolt. The said ribs
have their inner ends alternately arranged, and are four in number, and at their
outer ends are secured to the opposite corners of a fabric covering 22 forming a
shade or canopy. The said ribs hold the fabric distended, and at the front the
latter is slitted and has on one side rings 23 movable on the arm 12, and at the
opposite side a hook 24 which is detachably secured to the arm 12.
The canopy or shade is adapted to be adjusted at any angle to screen the rider
from the sun or from rain if desired, and the upright, composed of the parts
heretofore set forth, can also be regulated to elevate or lower the arm 12, and
consequently the canopy or shade carried thereby, and when not in use the hook 24
is disconnected from the arm 12 and the ribs 20 folded closely adjacent to said
arm. The arm 12 is then closed down parallel with the third member of the
standard, and the latter in turn with the other parts also moved down parallel
with the first or lower member 1.
When the canopy or shade is not in use, however, it can be turned to one side
or let down without adjusting the parts of the standard, and it will then be in
convenient position for immediate use without re-arrangement of all the parts,
as in the first instance.
From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the improved device is
universal in its adjustment, and in view of the changes which can be readily
made the several parts are reduced in number as much as possible, and of a
strong and durable nature. This makes the cost of manufacture very small,
and consequently reduces the selling price. The covering over the ribs may be
of any design, and have applied thereto fanciful embellishments to make a
pleasing appearance. The proportion of the canopy or shade can be increased
or decreased, as desired; and it is obviously apparent that many minor changes
in the details of construction of the entire device might be made and substituted
for those shown and described without in the least departing from the nature or
spirit of the invention.
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. In a bicycle canopy or shade, the combination of a support, an arm mov-
ably mounted thereon, pivoted ribs carried by said arm, a covering attached
to the ribs and having a slit extending from the pivotal centre outward to the
edge of the canopy, rings along one side of the slit embracing said arm, and a
hook on the opposite side of the slit for engaging the arm for holding the cover-
ing distended, substantially as described.
2. In a bicycle canopy or shade, the combination of a support, an arm movable
thereon, pivoted ribs adjustably carried by said arm and all pivoted on a common
centre, a covering attached to the ribs and having a slit extending from the
pivotal centre outward to the edge of the canopy, rings along one side of the
slit embracing the arm, and a hook on the opposite side of the slit for engaging
the arm and holding the covering distended, substantially as described.
3. In a bicycle canopy or shade, the combination with a longitudinally exten-
sible supporting arm, of a longitudinally extensible arm having a jointed con-

page_text: nection therewith and extending normally at a right angle, a canopy adjustably
secured to the end of said arm, and a break joint intermediate the ends of the
main support, consisting of disks connected to their respective members and
having peripheral notches, and a spring pressed catch for engaging said notches,
substantially as described.
01
1000
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.