Adjustable Front Fork Stay for Bicycles and Tricycles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Oct., 1894-Accepted, 24th Nov., 1894
.PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Adjustable Front Fork Stay for Bicycles and Tricycles.
ALEXANDER MCCORMACK Portarlington Commission Agent do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An adjustable stay for the front forks of bicycles and tricycles connecting the
axle on both sides of the front wheel with the tube of the neck above the steering
socket. To be hinged to a crossbar over the wheel. This crossbar to be made so
that it can be screwed out on two projections attached to the forks under the
crown head. This stay will hold the front wheel forward steady against vibration
thereby adding to speed. It will make a cycle easier to steer. It will make it
less liable to slip. It will save cycles from breaking at the necks. It will save
the forks in case of accident. And it will reduce vibration on the handle bar.
Dated this 20th day of January 1894.
Adjustable Front Fork Stay for Bicycles and Tricycles.
I, ALEXANDER MCCORMACK, of Portarlington, Queen's County, Ireland,
Commercial Traveller, 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 reference to an improved adjustable front fork for bicycles
and tricycles, whereby the speed of the machine is accelerated, the operation of
steering facilitated, the liability to side-slip reduced, and vibration on the handle
bar diminished, while at the same time, the strength and rigidity of the machine
is considerably increased.
The invention consists in arranging a fork stay in connection with the axle of
the steering wheel, and the neck of steering rod above the steering socket, said
stay being braced by horizontal bars springing from the ordinary forks under the
crown head of the machine.
The accompanying drawings will enable my said invention to be more readily
understood, and carried into practice:
:-
Fig. 1, is an elevation representing the front or steering portion of an ordinary
bicycle, shewing the application of my improved fork stay thereto;
Fig. 2, is a detailed view of the horizontal portion of fork stay; and Fig. 3, a
detail view hereinafter more fully described.
The upper members a, a, of my improved stay are connected to the neck of the
steering rod by means of a buckle or clamp 6, riding freely thereon, so that the
adjustment of the steering rod is not interfered with. The lower ends of these
members are coupled the ends of the cross bar c, to which are also coupled the
lower members d, d, of the stay. These stay rods are maintained in a condition of
tension by the horizontal rods e, e, which may be attached to the ordinary limbs of
the bicycle fork, either by means of slots, or by clamps as shewn in Fig. 2, while
their free ends pass through apertures in the cross-piece c, and are held by
adjustable nuts, whereby the tension of the stay members or rods may be adjusted
at pleasure.

page_text: It will be obvious that the application of this fork stay adds considerably to
the strength and rigidity of the machine, and enables the steering gear to be fixed
in a more vertical position than hitherto. Moreover the application of my invention
will enable the steering gear to be arranged as to permit of the steering wheel
being turned in a truly vertical plane, and thereby obviating the liability to side-
slip, which is caused chiefly by the present mode of turning the wheel from a
position in a diagonal direction, thus throwing the wheel into an inclined plane,
which is calculated to produce slipping, upon the least attempt to travel from a
straight line.
The arrangement of fork stay herein described will also enable luggage and
other articles to be readily and conveniently carried by the use of a telescopic
wire frame or carrier as illustrated in Fig. 3. This frame which is composed of a
piece of spring wire hinged at the angle is inserted in the open ends of the rods e, e,
which are tubular for the purpose so that the frame may slide in same, and may
be clamped by thumb screws f, whereby the frame or carrier can be secured in
any desired position at pleasure, and articles thus gripped and held secure.
Of course by lowering the up-turned portion of the frame, larger articles may
be carried upon it, and secured by straps or other convenient means.
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 :-
In connection with bicycles and tricycles, the use and application of a fork
stay, constructed, arranged, and operating substantially in the manner and for the
purpose herein specified and set forth.
Dated the 22nd day of October 1894
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
9, Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant.