Improvements in or relating to Bicycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Bicycles.
I, GILBERT PATERSON, Aughinver Lodge, Fermanagh, Ireland, Farmer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
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This invention consists of improvements in or relating to bicycles, the object
being to render a bicycle suitable for military use. I provide the bicycle with two
or more side wheels carried upon movable rods or levers so that the side wheels may
be caused to engage upon the ground or surface when required in order to maintain
the machine in an upright position. Attached to a suitable part of the bicycle is a
collapsible shield preferably formed approximately in the shape of a fan for the
purpose of protecting the rider when under fire. A. swivelling carrier or support is
provided, upon which a gun or the like is held being so arranged that the gun may,
be pointed in the required direction. The swivelling carrier or support is secured to
the machine by any convenient means.
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Bicycles.
I, GILBERT PATERSON, Aughinver Lodge, Fermanagh, Ireland, Farmer, 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 consists of improvements in or relating to bicycles, the object
being to render a bicycle suitable for military use. I provide the bicycle with two
or more side wheels carried upon rods or levers which may be caused to engage
upon the ground or surface when required in order to maintain the machine in an
upright position. Attached to a suitable part of the bicycle is a shield preferably
formed in the shape of a collapsible fan for the purpose of protecting the rider when
under fire. A swivelling carrier is provided upon which a gun or the like is
carried, being so arranged that the gun may be pointed in the required direction..
In order that my invention may be understood, I will for purposes of illustrations
refer to the annexed drawings in which:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle constructed and arranged according to
my invention.
Figure 2 side elevation to enlarged scale of rifle or gun carrier and adjuster.
Figure 3 perspective view of shield looking downwards upon same.

page_text: Figure 4 front view of shield when closed.
Fig. 5 plan of same.
C
Referring to Figure 1, the bicycle is provided at each side as shewn with an
auxiliary wheel 6. Each wheel b is carried upon a rod c having a rack c¹ and sliding
in a tube or casing d, e being a controlling spring which engages upon the rack cl
(each of the rods c has a handle piece f). The wheels bare raised from the ground
when required by raising the handle pieces f which are connected to rods c &
pass through slots in the tube or casing d, on each side of the bicycle wheel, the
springs e maintaining the wheels b in their raised position. It will be seen that by
bringing the auxiliary wheels into contact with the ground the machine may be
maintained in an upright position when at a stand-still without necessitating the
rider dismounting. The shield is formed of pieces of metal or other suitable
material g which are pivoted at g¹ so that they may be opened out or extended after
the manner of a fan. The whole when extended forms a shield for the protection
of the rider. The pieces 9 are provided with pins or projections g², each of which
engages in a slot in the adjacent piece & regulating the amount of movement of
the pieces forming the shield when extended. When not in use the shield is folded,
up as shown in Fig. 4 and turned into position as shewn by the dotted lines in
Figure 1 through the medium of the joint or pivot h upon the support i which is
secured to the frame by means of any suitable form of clip or attachment. The
gunj is carried upon the disc k which is rotatable upon the disc to which it is
pivoted by means of the pin m. The disc is pivoted at n to the rod or support o so
that it may be rocked or tilted thereon by means of the lever p which is pivoted
at to the support o. ris a rod or lever which is pivotally connected at s to the
disc and att to the lever p. By this arrangement it will be seen that the
elevation of the gun may be varied as required and also its horizontal direction,
thus enabling the rider to fire the gun, which may be of any convenient form or
pattern such as a magazine rifle, thus avoiding the necessity of the gun being
carried by the rider. It will be seen that for military purposes this construction
and arrangement of bicycle is pre-eminently suitable as the machine can be main-
tained in an upright position by means of the auxiliary wheels when required, thus
avoiding the necessity of dismounting when at a stand-still.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said invention,
& in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:―
1. The combined construction and arrangement of the various parts substantially
as and for the purpose herein set forth.
2. In bicycles, the combination therewith of auxiliary supporting wheels, said
wheels being carried upon a racked rod sliding in a tube or casing attached to the
machine; a controlling spring engaging in said racked rod; a handle for bringing
the wheels into or out of contact with the ground or surface; a collapsing shield for
protection of the rider said shield being secured to a suitable part of the machine;
a rifle or gun carrier and adjuster consisting of a disc carrying a rifle or gun, said
disc carrying the rifle or gun being pivotally carried upon a disc which is pivoted
to a support or rod attached to a suitable part of the machine; a lever for tilting
or rocking the disc upon said pivot upon the rod or support, substantially as
described and illustrated herein.