Improvements in Stands for Bicycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stands for Bicycles.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, (a communication to me from Messrs. R. H. Wolff & Co., Limited, of foot
118th Street and Harlem River, in the City, County and State of New York,
United States of America, Manufacturers of Steel Wire and Bicycles) and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
-
This invention has reference to improvements in stands for bicycles, and has
for its object to provide a stand adapted to firmly hold the bicycle with the rear
wheel held from turning, which stand, however, is also so constructed that the
bicycle may be raised within the stand and held in its elevated position to per-
mit the rear wheel to be freely turned, and which device can also be used as
a hanger by means of which the bicycle can be suspended.
To this end the invention consists essentially of a bicycle stand composed of .
two upright members provided with inwardly extending arms hinged together.
and forming the opposite fingers of a socket adapted to receive the rear. wheel
by its tire, and with outwardly extending arms adapted to rest on the floor,
and a supporting member for said arms, whereby, when the rear wheel is placed
within the socket, the weight of the bicycle will cause the upright members to
turn inwardly against the frame of the bicycle, and so hold the latter firmly
in place.
.
Suitable sockets are formed at or near the upper end of the upright members
which are adapted to receive the frame and hold the rear wheel out of contact
with the wheel socket so as to permit said wheel to be turned freely. The leg
for supporting the upright members is so formed as to adapt it to suspend the
bicycle by its frame when the stand is inverted and hung up by means of the
wheel socket.
The nature of my invention will best be understood when described in connec-
tion with the accompanying drawings, in which :-
--
Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of a bicycle stand embodying my inven-
tion and showing a bicycle placed therein.
Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the stand hung up and a bicycle suspended
therefrom.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the stand on a larger scale than the preceding
figures.
Figure 4 is a rear view of the same.
Similar letters and numerals of reference designate corresponding parts through-
out the several views of the drawings.
Referring at present to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, letters a a designate
the two upright members of the stand which are provided with arms 1, 1, extend-
ing both inwardly and outwardly with respect to said members and hinged to-
gether between said members, as at 2. The inwardly extending portions of the
077

page_text: arms terminate beyond the pivot 2 in upwardly projecting fingers, which form
collectively a wheel socket b: The outer portions of the arms 1, are adapted to
rest upon the floor and form the fulcrum about which the arms 1. and con-
sequently the members a, turn if pressure is applied at the socket b. The upright
members a are so spaced that when they are turned inwardly, they bear against
the back stays c of the bicycle; consequently, when a bicycle is placed into the
stand, the weight of the same
causes the upright members to be firmly
pressed against the back stays and so firmly hold the bicycle. Suitable soft pads,
as 4, may be applied to the upright members where they contact with the rear
stays, so as to prevent injury to the latter. At the upper ends of the members a
are formed sockets d adapted to receive the back stays c and to support the
bicycle in a position with the rear wheel free and clear from the bottom of the
wheel socket b, thus permitting the rear wheel to be freely turned to exhibit
its freedom of motion or for repairs. The pads 4 above referred to, are prefer-
ably extended into these frame sockets d. To the upright members is attached
a leg e adapted to rest on the floor, and which is formed with a supporting socket f
adapted to receive the tyre of the wheel to assist in supporting the bicycle.
This leg I have shown hinged at 5,5 to the upright members a, so that it may
be folded against the lower part of said members for convenience in trans-
portation or storing; it could however be rigidly attached to or form part of the
same. Suitable stops, as 6, 6. are provided when the leg is hinged, to hold it
in its proper position when the stand is placed on the floor. In practice, this
leg is made of wrought iron, or other suitable flexible material, in the form best
shown in Figure 3, that is, with re-entrant portions 7, 7, so as to make it suffi-
ciently flexible to permit of the inward motion of the upright members a.
is, of course, to be understood that if made of rigid material, such as cast iron,
a hinge would be quite necessary at the supporting socket to permit such motion.
The leg e is curved downwardly, as shown in Figure 1, so that when the stand
is inverted and suspended by means of its wheel socket b, as shown in Figure 2,
the leg forms a hanger, from which the bicycle can be suspended by the top
bar of its frame. The portions of the leg on which the frame rests when sus-
pended may be provided with suitable pads 8. It is evident that by making
the inwardly extending portions of the arms 1 between the uprights a, a suffi-
ciently thin and flexible, the hinge 2 could be omitted, as a hinge would prac-
tically be thus formed, the flexibility of the metal allowing the uprights to
approach each other.
It
I do not wish to restrict myself to the details of construction hereinbefore shown
and described, as it is evident that the same could be modified in various ways
without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a stand for bicycles, the combination of two upright members having
a hinged connection intermediate thereof and adapted to engage with the frame
of the bicycle, and a wheel socket in connection with said members, substan-
tially as and for the purpose specified.
2. A stand for bicycles comprising two upright members provided at their
lower ends with inwardly and outwardly extending arms, of which the inner
portions are hinged together and form a wheel socket, while the outwardly ex-
tending portions form rests, and a supporting leg for said upright members,
substantially as described.
3. A stand for bicycles comprising two upright members provided at their
lower ends with inwardly and outwardly extending arms, of which the inner
portions are hinged together and receive the weight of the bicycle, while the
outwardly extending portions form rests, and a supporting leg for said upright
members, substantially as described.

page_text: 4. In a stand for bicycles, the combination of two upright members having
a hinged connection intermediate thereof, and adapted to engage with the frame
of the bicycle, a wheel socket in connection with said members, and sockets at
the upper ends of the upright members for receiving the frame to hold the wheel
clear of the wheel socket, substantially as described.
5. A stand for bicycles comprising two upright members provided at their
lower ends with inwardly and outwardly extending arms, of which the inner
portions are hinged together and form a wheel socket, while the outwardly ex-
tending portions form rests, and a supporting leg hinged to said upright members
and provided with a supporting socket for the wheel, substantially as described.
6. A stand for bicycles comprising two upright members provided at their lower
ends with inwardly and outwardly extending arms, of which the inner portions
are hinged together and form a wheel socket, while the outwardly extending
portions form rests, and a supporting leg hinged to said upright members, sub-
stantially as described.
7. A stand for bicycles comprising a rear frame composed of upright members
having an intermediate socket for the support of the wheel at its base, and a
supporting leg adapted to form a hanger when the stand is inverted and sus-
pended, substantially as described.
8. A stand for bicycles comprising two upright members having an inter-
mediate hinge and adapted to bear on the floor on opposite sides of the hinge
to form fulcrums about. which said members turn, substantially as described.
Dated this 24th day of December 1897.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.