Improvements in Bicycle Stands.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1899 -Accepted, 10th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycle Stands.
I, AMBROGIO ENRICO CONTI, of Via S. Ugo 4, Genova, Italy, Mechanical Engineer
and Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what man-
ner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement;
―:
This invention refers to bicycle stands or holders, parts of which are so jointed
and disposed in such a manner that the stand may be used for various kinds of
cycling machines. The said stand or holder can be fixed as well as moved on its
wheels as a trolley or can be folded up flat, capable of being tied or straped to the
side of the bicycle frame,
I will now fully describe my invention and illustrate same by the accompany-
ing drawings in which
Fig. 1 shews a lateral view of the bicycle stand.
Fig. 2 a back view of same.
Fig. 3 a perspective view of the stand; and
Fig. 4 shews the same folded up flat.
The bicycle stand consists of a main frame and of secondary parts attached to
the same.
The said main frame is rigid being constructed of two flat bars (a) running
nearly parallel to each other at the upper end, and diverging for about one third
of the height towards the lower end (b) of a plate (c) rivetted to the bar (a) of two
struts (d) rivetted to the plate (c) and (b); of an axis (9) provided with an expand-
ing spiral spring (e) and two wheels (f).
The spiral spring expands with a certain amount of pressure against the wheels (f)
though without hindering their rotation.
The auxiliary parts are the following ones.
The stalk (i) formed of two parallel bars fixed at the upper end to a flat cross
bar forming also the axis (h), which rotates between the plates or flat bars (a);
the base of the stalk (i) being provided with a wheel (2) pivotted on to an appro-
priate axle; the base (7) formed of two bars, partly adjacent and rivetted to each
other and partly diverging; these bars (7) are working on the axle (9) and their
head (k) is furnished with a certain number of slots in order to catch with any
one of them as desired on to the axle of the front wheel (5) thus regulating accord-
ing to the requirements the angle (a) of the stalk (2) with the bicycle frame (a):
the two brackets (m) which are placed on the cross bar (h) in prolongation of the
stalk (), and rotate with the latter in such a way that they become lowered when
the stalk (2) is open as shewn by Fig. 1.
These brackets (m) are also movable sideways along the said cross bar axle (h)
and can be brought together (forming one) on any point of the said bar (h); the
arrangement, as a fixing system, for holding the bicycle frame on and against the
stand, consisting of a V shaped fork piece (n), pivotted at its ends to the bars (a)
and having a hole at its base through which loosely passes a hooked screw puller

page_text: picce (o) having a thumb screw-nut in order to regulate the pull of the hook (0)
when holding on to the lower tube of a cycle frame.
Finally the double forked hinge piece (q) formed of two thin bars jointed at (r)
serves as an upper resting point for the bicycle frame and the lower end has an
arrester or "steering lock" for the front wheel of the bicycle which wheel is set
free when required by simply lowering the fork.
All the parts of the bicycle stand or holder are preferably made of thin flat iron
bars and the portions which come in contact with the bicycle to support same
may be covered with any suitable soft material such as felt or leather. According
to the form and dimensions of the bicycle frame to be placed on the stand the
position of the stalk (i) must be regulated and the angle (r) more or less open.
The bicycle by means of its bottom bracket rests on the two brackets (m) on the
stand and these being movable sideways they can support frames from whose
bottom bracket extend either one or two tubes for the back stays. When the
cycle is in the warehouse or set up in "show" this above named support is quite
sufficient, for it has an extra hold, by the fact, that the lower tube of the bicycle
frame as it reclines rests in the gorge (s) of the fork (g).
But in cases of cycle repairs or when for other purposes the cycle has to undergo
a strain it must be fixed on the stand or holder and this is obtained by means of
the pulling hook (0) screwed or fastened by the thumb screw nut (2) against the
hinged fork. The fixing arrangement as described once set right to suit a bicycle
frame need not be unscrewed or readjusted every time the same or a similar bicycle
is put on or taken off, for this operation is effected simply by pulling up or push-
ing down the V shaped fork piece (n), taking care in the mean time to turn the
hook puller in order to place it in the right position as the case may require. The
double fork (g) serves to grip the front wheel of the cycle and to prevent undue
steering when at rest but when this has to enter into function the fork (q) must be
lowered and the wheel is thus set free the bicycle still remaining firm on the stand.
This my improved bicycle stand and holder leaves free all the working parts
of the bicycle, a circumstance of great convenience in repairing, and for inspection
of machines. Another most important particular of my invention consists in the
fact that the parts (!) (i) (n) and (g) can be folded up inside the main frame the
whole stand thus taking the appearance shewn in the side view Fig. 4. Thus
folded it can easily be carried by the hand or tied or otherwise attached to the side
of the frame of the cycle without any hinderance whatever.
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:
1. A bicycle stand to fold up, consisting of a trestle having three points of sup-
port provided with rollers (ff) and () the two sliding brackets (m) for the prin-
cipal support of the bicycle, the fork (n), the fixing arrangement of the hook (0)
to fix the bicycle, and the fork (g) to fix the steering of the front wheel, the whole
substantially as described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings.
2. In bicycle stands as set forth in Claim 1 the combination of the movable
stalk () with the base () which is also movable and provided with slots at one
end in oriler to adjust the bearer to the angle suitable to the machine to be borne,
the whole substantially as described in the specification and illustrated in the
drawings.
3. In bicycle stands as set forth in Claim 1 the use of the movable brackets (m)
movable sideways to suit the requirements of the varying constructions of the
tubes of the lower back wheel fork of bicycles, the whole substantially as described
in the specification and illustrated in the drawings.
4. In bicycle stands as set forth in Claim 1 the use of a spiral spring (e) to act
upon the rollers (ff) with a moderate resistance for the purpose of making firm the
bicycle stand without entirely destroying its movability.

page_text: 5. In bicycle stands as set forth in Claim 1, the form, the disposition and the
rivetting of the different auxiliary pieces so that they can be folded up in the
interior of the main frame the whole substantially as described in the specification
and illustrated in the drawings.
1000
HENRY F. TALBOT,
30, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agent for the Applicant.