Improvements in Bicycle-racks.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 14th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 14th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
Improvements in Bicycle-racks.
I, HENRY LANSING WILCOX, of Corner of Main and Railroad Streets, Great
Barrington, County of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, U.S.A., Lawyer,
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:.
My invention relates to an improvement in bicycle-racks, and has for its
object the construction of a rack, of wood or other suitable material, which when
in use will stand firmly and support without danger of falling a number of
bicycles and which when not in use can be easily folded into small compass for
shipping or storage.
With this end in view my invention consists in a rack having a series of vertical
and horizontal rods a sufficient distance apart to receive a bicycle wheel tyre, a bar
or rod by which said horizontal rods may be folded in a line with said vertical
rods, and in certain other details of construction, as will hereinafter be more
fully pointed out and described.
Figure 1, is a perspective view of a rack embodying my invention when open.
Figure 2, a side elevation when partially folded.
Figure 3, a front elevation when folded.
Figure 4 a detail view of the hinged portion.
In all figures similar letters of reference represent like parts.
As herein shown, the rack comprises base-frames A and B, each frame con-
sisting of end bars or rods a and a said bars a' being somewhat shorter than
bars a to permit of folding, as hereinafter described. A series of horizontal
bars or rods are adapted to connect end bars a and of frames A and B and
are secured thereto by insertion in holes in said end bars or in other well known
manner, each of said bars a² being separated by spaces, each of which is of sufficient
width to receive a bicycle-wheel tyre. The bars are provided with grooves or
notches and 2, as shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4. Hinges C, secured to the
underside of the bars a¹, unite said base frames A and B, as shown in Figure 4.
A vertical or upright frame D, consisting of a board or bar d and a series of
DR17

page_text: vertical bars or rods, secured thereto and corresponding to the bars when
the rack is assembled, is secured to said base-frames A and B by means of
braces, the lower ends of which are adapted to extend beyond the end bars a
to which they are secured in well-known inanner, while the other ends of said
braces are pivoted to the board d as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the frame 1)
being also further secured by the extension of the bars between the grooves b
of the bars a¹ and beyond said bars. A bar, similar to the bars d' and form-
ing the middle one of said bars d', is adapted to pass through a vertical perfora-
tion in the board d and has secured to its outer end a hook or handle d. The
lower end of the said bar is adapted to extend between the grooves 62 and is
pivoted to one of the said hinges C, at C shown in Figure 4. The inner surfaces
of the board d and bars a have notches or grooves, and b respectively, formed
in them, so that a bicycle-wheel may more firmly rest therein, while the lower
ends of the braces and bars d' rest on the ground when the rack is open and in
use, thus making the rack firm and rigid.
When it is desired to fold the rack, the operator draws upon the hook d,
which causes the bar to be drawn upward, thus closing the hinges C and
frames A and B by causing the bars a¹ to slide upward on the bars d', this being
permitted by the passage of said bars d' through the grooves bin said bars a,
as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the operation being reversed when the frame is to
be opened for use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1st. In a
bicycle-rack the combination with a base-frame, consisting of two
parts, each part having a series of horizontal bars; of a hinge or hinges uniting
said two parts; a vertical frame secured to said base frame, and means for drawing
the inner ends of said base-frame upward on said vertical frame to fold the
same, substantially as described.
!
2nd. In a bicycle rack the combination with a base-frame consisting of two
parts, each part having a series of horizontal bars; of a hinge or hinges uniting
said two parts; a vertical frame having a series of vertical bars; braces adapted
to secure said vertical frame to said base-frame and an adjustable bar secured to
one of said hinges, substantially as described.
3rd. In a bicycle rack a base-frame consisting of two sections, secured together
at their inner ends by hinges; of a series of grooves in the inner ends of said
sections of a vertical frame consisting of a series of vertical bars, the lower ends
of which are adapted to pass through said grooves: and an adjustable vertical
bar attached to one of said hinges, said vertical bar being adapted to be raised or
lowered to fold or unfold said base-frame, substantially as described.
Dated this 14th day of April 1899
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.