Improved Apparatus for Carrying Rifles on Velocipedes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 3rd May, 1895-Accepted, 13th July, 1895
Improved Apparatus for Carrying Rifles on Velocipedes.
I, THOMAS WHITEHEAD Printer 32, King Street, Wolverhampton do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Fittings to enable cyclist (safety) to carry rifle on machine. On paper attached
hereto are rough sketches of same.
The barrel of rifle (about two inches below upper hand) is placed in the front
carrier, sling being uppermost, & then drawn towards back of machine. This
drawing back of rifle causes the projection on rifle for carrying bayonet to fix
itself in notch ("2" on sketch). The above is for Martini-Henry rifle; any
other rifle not having projection could be attached by a similar projection being
made to it as on Martini, or rifle could rest in carrier and be held by spring as
shown on back carrier. The carrier is fixed to frame of machine by hinge, and
screw or bolt and nut; or by screws; or by bolts and nuts-reference to drawing
will show. Portion of this carrier is leather-covered (1).
After the rifle has been fixed in front carrier as shown above, the body of rifle
is placed in back carrier, in which A is drilled to take back-wheel spindle. When
carrier is placed in proper position on spindle it is fixed by spindle nut. Round
portion B B & G G is shaped so that it shall be filed out (probably at B to B) to
fit frame of machine, and thus prevent slipping. The round_part C is about
th inch thicker to allow of notch being filed in it to take tang D. The notch is
cut in such manner as will place carrier close up to indicator on body of Martini,
so that latter cannot move forward & disengage itself from notch in front carrier.
The tang D is secured in the notch by screw or bolt and nut. E is spring which
bends somewhat over body of rifle. The portion marked F F F is leather-
covered.
The above description relates to the carrying of Martini-Henry rifles; but the
carrier can be shaped to suit other rifles-the principle being the same (i.e. clip
fitting rifle, with spring partially over rifle, and pressing it home.
The term "rifle
1
"
1 1
is intended to cover "carbines."
1004
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Carrying Rifles on Velocipedes.
I, THOMAS WHITEHEAD Printer, 32 King Street, Wolverhampton 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 :-
Fittings to enable cyclist (safety) to carry rifle on machine.
On paper attached hereto are drawings of same.
The barrel of rifle (about two inches below upper band) is placed in the front
carrier, sling being uppermost and the butt raised higher than the muzzle, and
then drawn towards back of machine, and butt lowered to bring rifle into position
7

page_text: in back carrier (afterwards described). This drawing back of rifle and lowering
of butt causes the projection on rifle for carrying bayonet to fix itself in notch
(2 on sketch).
The portion marked 3 may be filed off where user prefers to rely solely on back
carrier for prevention of rifle moving forward and disengaging itself. The front
carrier can be so fixed on the top tube of machine as to carry the rifle with the
muzzle projecting or not projecting beyond head of machine, as desired by user
when attaching carrier to machine. The above relates to Martini-Henry rifle ;
any other rifle not having projection could be attached by a similar projection
being added to it as exists on Martini-Henry; or rifle could rest in carrier and be
held by spring as shown on back carrier. The carrier, which may be of any kind
of metal, is fixed to frame of machine by hinge and screw or bolt and nut, or by
screws, or by bolts and nuts-reference to drawing will show. Bore of carrier
may be drilled at any angle to suit make of machine. Portion of this carrier
marked 1 is covered with leather, india-rubber, gutta-percha, or other like substance,
to obviate noise and jar as far as possible and prevent damage to rifle.
After the rifle has been fixed in front carrier as shown above, the body of rifle
is placed in back carrier, in which A is drilled to take back-wheel spindle. When
carrier is placed in proper position on spindle it is fixed by spindle nut. Portion
of plate B to B and G to G is shaped as shown in drawing so that any projecting
portion of the framing of machine may be let into it by filing or otherwise to
prevent slipping. The round part C is about inch thicker to allow of notch
being filed in it to take tongue D. The notch is cut in such manner as will place
carrier close up to indicator on body of rifle, so that latter cannot move forward
and disengage itself from front carrier. The tongue D is secured in the notch by
screw or bolt and nut. E is spring which bends somewhat over body of rifle, to
prevent latter being jerked out of carrier. The position of the back carrier is
arranged by fixing the plate forming the bottom part of the carrier (which may
be longer or shorter to carry butt higher or lower as desired) at such an angle on
the back spindle of machine as to bring the clip of back carrier as far in front or
rear of the back spindle as is necessitated by the prior fixing of the front carrier.
The notch or groove is filed in C C to take D so as to place clip parallel to front
carrier. This carrier, which may be of any kind of metal, has the portion
marked F F F covered with leather, india-rubber, gutta-percha, or other like
substance. The above description relates to the carrying of Martini-Henry rifles ;
but carrier can be shaped to suit other rifles-the principle being the same (i.e., clip
fitting rifle, with spring partially over rifle, and pressing it home).
The term " rifle
is intended to cover carbines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Method of fixing rifle in front carrier.
2. The use of the indicator of rifle to prevent it (rifle) moving and disengaging
itself.
3. Shaped spring to prevent rifle being jerked out of carrier-as shown in
drawing of back carrier.
4. Novelty in method of adjusting back carrier, so that rifle may be carried with
muzzle projecting, or not projecting, beyond head of machine (as desired).
THOMAS WHITEHEAD.