Attachments to a Bicycle for Use in Supporting it and Preventing Skidding.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1898
Complete Specification Left. 14th Oct. 1898-Accepted. 23rd Dec., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Attachments to a Bicycle for Use in Supporting it and Preventing
Skidding.
JAMES FLANNAGAN, 2, Venus Street, Belmont Road, Everton, Liverpool, White-
smith, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The purpose of this invention is to provide an attachment to be fixed on the lower
part of the frame which connects the back wheel to the frame of a bicycle. The
object of this invention is to insure perfect safety to all riders of the bicycle,
"experts" or "beginners." This attachment consists of two small brackets
cramped on to the bottom part of the back frame, hinged with a stop-joint, fork,
and small wheel. When let down on the ground it is kept in that position by a
ratchet and pawl and the machine cannot possibly fall over. When these small
wheels are not required on the ground move the lever in centre of handle bar.
This will disconnect the pawl on small wheels and raise the wheels simultaneously
and they will be held in that position by a spring ratchet in centre bracket.
When required for use press the small knob under the lever and the wheels
instantly fall into position on the ground and are held there by ratchet and pawl.
This can be done when the machine is in motion without the rider dismounting.
Dated this Fourth day of May 1898.
1
JAMES
FLANNAGAN,
2, Venus Street, Belmont Road, Everton, Liverpool.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Attachments to a Bicycle for Use in Supporting it and Preventing
Skidding.
I, JAMES FLANNAGAN, of 2, Venus Street, Belmont Road, Everton, Liverpool,
Whitesmith, 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 folowing statement:-
This invention relates to an improved device for application to a bicycle, for the
purpose of supporting same in an approximately upright position, and is designed
with the object of ensuring safety to a rider among traffic or under similar circum-
stances, and to prevent side-slipping or "skidding" on slippery surfaces.
In order to accomplish the objects above mentioned, the invention consists in
certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, whereby
LDS77

page_text: advantages in point of simplicity and efficiency are attained, as hereinafter fully
described, illustrated in the drawings, and finally embodied in the claims.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings, Fig. 1, is a front elevation
of the device applied to a bicycle, and shewn in its operative position.
Fig. 2, a plan view of a detail of the actuating mechanism.
Figs. 3, 4, and 5, are front and side elevational views. of details of the inven
tion, while,
Fig. 6, is a plan view of the actuating mechanism and its connections, and Fig. 7
is a detail view of the connection between, the forks of the supporting wheels and
the depending bracket.
Referring to the drawings "wherein like letters of reference indicate corre-
sponding parts throughout the figures, are small supporting wheels situated one
at each side of the rear wheel of the bicycle. These supporting wheels a are
mounted in bearings in forks a¹, each set of forks being connected in a manner
hereinafter explained to a depending bracket e clamped to the back stay d and
lower part of the bicycle frame d. The upper part of each set of forks a¹ is cut
away or recessed upon one side, while such end is also given an extension of a
circular form. The said circular end of the forks is cut away as before mentioned
on one side so as to leave a curved projection a² on the other side whose upper
end is square or shouldered as shewn. Each set of forks is pivotted at a³ to the
lower extremity of its respective bracket c, such lower extremity being enlarged
and formed with a stop c', the face of which coincides with and opposes the upper
end of the curved projection a² aforesaid, while the lower part of such extremity is
also squared or shouldered as at against which the upper end of a spring pawl e
fixed to the forks a abuts when the device is in its operative position. Project-
ing from the upper part of each set of forks a' is a lug f to which is pivoted a short
bell crank lever ft 3, the other end of which lever is pivoted to a rod g connected
to a roller chain by means of which the mechanism is actuated. This chain h
passes over a roller having its bearings in a bi-furcated bracket fixed to the lower
bar of the bicycle frame, and is connected to one end of a fork h¹, the fellow chain
being connected to the other leg of the said fork. A further length of chain h2 is
connected to the head of the fork and passes under a second roller j
mounted in al bracket upon the lower front bar of the bicycle, the
other end of this second length of chain he being connected to a
rod whose other end is in turn connected to a chain which passes under a
third roller mounted in a bracket fixed to the bicycle frame near the crown thereof.
To the other end of this chain is connected another rod 45 connected in turn to
another chain, the free end of which is attached at to a drum 7 pivoted at m¹
to a case m having a slot in its side, through which projects a lever 12, the chain
also passing through the aforesaid slot.
The periphery of the said drum is notched or recessed at into which one end n¹
of a spring catch pivotted between lugs m³ upon the interior of the case m is
adapted to take when the drum is turned upon its pivot by the lever aforesaid.
In operation, the supporting wheels a are caused to drop into the position for
supporting the bicycle, by pressing the projecting end of the catch n, which
disengages the drum 7, and allows the chain to unwind and consequently the wheels a
to drop down into position. To pull the wheels a up out of their supporting
position, the drum 7 is given a half turn, until the catch m engages with the notch 13
in the periphery of such drum. The series of chains and rods is thus drawn up
or shortened, which has the effect of raising the bell crank lever, and causing
the vertical portion 2 of same to disengage the pawl e from engagement with the
projection or shoulder on the end of the bracket c, while at the same time the
forks a carrying the wheel a are drawn up and turned, upon their respective
pivot a, out of operation. When the pawle is disengaged or moved from its sup-
porting position by the portion f¹ of the bell-crank lever (as shewn in dotted lines
in Fig. 7), such pawl is pushed back into a recess (not shown) in the upper end of
the forks a¹.

page_text: ascertained the nature 01
my
Sam
Having now particularly described and
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
CLAIMS.
1. In means for supporting a bicycle in an approximately upright position, the
twin supporting wheels connected to the rear of the frame one on each side thereof,
and capable of being raised out of operation, substantially as described and illus-
trated.
2. In means for operating the supporting wheels, the series of rods, chains,
passing over pulleys and actuated by means of the lever 12 attached to the periphery
of the drum said drum having a notch in which a spring catch n takes, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated.
66
3. In a device for supporting a bicycle, and preventing same
skidding," the
forks carrying the supporting wheels, said forks having enlarged upper ends each
being recessed upon one side to leave a curved projection, such upper ends being
pivotted to the enlarged lower ends of supporting brackets each having a ratchet
against which a spring pawl upon the enlarged part of each fork abuts, in com-
bination with bell crank levers pivotted to rods connected to the rear ends of the
series of rods and chains all arranged, combined, and operating substantially as
described and as illustrated in the drawings.
noted this 14th day of October 1898.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for Applicant.