Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 13th Jan., 1894
I, JAMES LISTER of Lyndurst Saint Mary's Road Doncaster in the County
of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my invention for improvements to bicycles is to provide a simple
and self contained means of supporting a bicycle in an upright or nearly upright
position when at rest, in order to obviate the necessity for a seperate and inde-
pendant support when housed, or for laying it on the ground, upon its handles, or
treadles, or searching for an object of support against which to rear it when
arrested in the course of riding.
In accordance with my invention to produce the effect desired I in the first
instance provide or attach a locking arrangement to the fork spindle of the steerage
wheel or to any moveable part in connection therewith applied in such a manner as,
when desired, to prevent the spindle from turning in its socket or bearing, and to
bring the wheel into a state of rigidity with the framework in order that it shall
not turn by the weight of the handles, and to render more effective the support
which I attach to sustain the bicycle in an upright position.
For supporting the bicycle in an upright position I attach a movable rod, leg, or
prop (hereinafter designated a rod) by a hinged or other movable joint or connection,
to any convenient part of the framework or fork of the machine, in such a manner
that the said rod may either be brought with its free end to rest upon the ground
in such a position as to act, in combination with the two travelling wheels, as a
third support to the machine when the same is slightly inclined towards the rod to
such an extent as to throw its centre of gravity within the three points of support,
or, that the free end of the rod may be turned to an "out of the way" position to
any other part of the framework or fork and secured thereto when not required for
use as a support.
F.
In order to lock the steerage wheel I do not restrict myself to any particular
method or device as it may be done in various ways but I prefer to effect it, by
bringing any part of the movable steerage wheel gear, or attachment thereto into
connection with the rigid framework of the machine and to secure it there by a
catch or otherwise, such as for instance by a flat sided collar fixed upon the fork
spindle and a hinged fork or key fixed upon the framework which when brought
into connection as, that the fork or key clips the collar will prevent the spindle
from turning or, by means of a set screw in the framework or attachment thereto,
which when screwed up against a washer pressing this against the spindle will hold
it in a fixed position.
I also do not restrict myself to any precise form of rod and joint for supporting
the bicycle or to any particular point of its attachment to the framework which
may be in any convenient position and may vary according to the make of the
>bicycle, but I prefer the rod to be of light steel possessing sufficient elasticity to
admit of its free end being sprung into a fixing upon the framework and to hold it
there in an "out of the way". position when not required for use as a support.
The joint may be at a right angle to the rods if there should be a point of
attachment in the line of the movement of the rod or it may be an angular or
5 universal joint to throw the rod from its vertically inclined position, as a support, to
an angular position in the direction of any other desired point of attachment to the
framework when in an "out of the way position.

page_text: To prevent the foot of the rod from slipping upon any smooth surface upon
which it may rest, I attach a loose pin or pawl to the framework which entering
into a hole or notch in a part of the rod will hold it in a fixed position when acting
as a support or any other device may be applied which will effect the purpose.
Dated this 25th day of March 1893.
Improvements in Bicycles.
I, JAMES LISTER of Lyndhurst Saint Mary's Road, Doncaster in the County of
York, Engineer 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide an improved simple and self-contained
means of supporting a bicycle in an upright or nearly upright position when in a
state of rest in order to obviate the necessity of a seperate and independant support
when housed or for laying it on its handles or treadles upon the ground or searching
for an object of support against which to rear it when arrested in the course of
riding.
In accordance with my invention I, in the first place attach a movable leg or rod
(hereinafter designated a rod) by a hinged or other movable joint to any convenient
part of the framework of the machine or to the movable fork of the steerage wheel
in such a manner that by turning the rod upon its joint at the point of attachment
to the framework or fork it may either be brought with its free end to rest upon
the ground in such a position as to act in combination with the two travelling wheels,
as a third support to the machine or be turned to an "out of the way" position to any
other part of the framework or fork, and secured thereto by a catch or otherwise
when the rod is not required to act as a support, and in the second place, in order
to render the machine more stable whilst being supported by the rod, I apply in
combination with the rod an arrangement or device for locking the fork spindle of
the steerage wheel to prevent the wheel from turning laterally upon its point of
support by the weight of the handles when the machine is inclined to one side.
The supporting rod and locking device are combined in their action in such a
manner that the locking and release of the fork spindle is effected automatically by
the movement of the rod in changing its position the action of the two being
simultaneous. By this means the fork spindle is always locked when the rod is in
use as a support and free to move when the rod is placed in its "out of the way
position.
"
In bicycles provided with a brake I may apply instead of the locking arrangement
in combination with the supporting rod as above described another arrangement in
combination with the brake in such a manner that when the brake is pressed firmly
upon the tyre it may be retained in that position by a catch attached to the spindle
socket being made to impinge upon a collar fixed upon the brake rod which catch
will at the same time clip the brake rod or an attachment thereto. By this means
both the wheel and the fork are prevented from movement and brought into a state
of rigidity with the framework. In this application the supporting rod is
independent of the locking device and is turned out of the way into a simple
catch.
The accompanying drawings illustrate the application of my invention in several
modifications to a bicycle of the "safety" type which will sufficiently define its
application to other types of machine.
Fig. 1 shews a side view of the machine a, a being the general arrangement of the
framework and b the fork of the steerage wheel. e is the supporting rod, forming
part of my invention, attached to the framework by the joint d and shewn on the

page_text: "out of the way" position in which I prefer to place it, (when not applied to the
fork,) being held or retained in the catch e by the spring or elasticity of the rod, or
if needs be by a special spring for the purpose. By releasing the rod from the
catch and turning it upon the joint d it may be brought to the vertically inclined
position shewn by the dotted lines f, in which it acts as a support to the machine,
being held rigid in this position by a pawl upon the joint falling into a notch on
a part of the rod 9 shews one device for locking the fork spindle by the action of
the rod. It consists of a levered pin or key attached by a joint to the spindle
socket. It is provided with a spring which has a tendency to press the pin or key
through an open slot in the socket into a corresponding slot in the fork spindle thus
preventing the spindle from turning, which position is maintained whilst the
supporting rod is free from the catch e, and acting as a support, but when the rod is
turned to its out of the way position its free end impinges upon an arm of the
levered pin or key and withdraws the pin from the slot leaving the spindle free to
move. The dotted lines h and i shew the two positions of the supporting rod when
applied to the fork of the steerage wheel instead of the framework: j being the
joint of attachment of the rod, the catch and levered key being attached to the fork
head at the point k. Enlarged details of the two locking devices are given upon the
drawings.
"
Fig. 2 is an end view of a part of the machine shewing the rod a, in its position
as a support when it is applied to the framework and b, its "out of the way
position within the framework.
Figs. 3 and 4 shew enlarged details of the supporting rod, joint, and catch and
also the device for locking the fork spindle when applied in combination with the
rod. a is the rod shewn in its "out of the way" position within the catch b.
When released from the catch it may be turned on the joint c to the vertically
inclined position shewn by the dotted lines d in which it acts as a support, being
held rigid in this position by the pawl e upon the joint c. In springing the rod
into the catch the end of it impinges upon the arm of the levered pin g and
withdraws the pin from the slot h, in the spindle leaving the spindle free to turn.
On releasing the rod from the catch and arm of the levered pin, the spring i presses
the pin into the slot and the spindle is locked.
Fig. 5 shews an alternative device in combination with the supporting rod for
locking the fork spindle. a is a combined catch and pin, the pin of which passing
through a hole in a part of the framework b engages into a slot in the bracket c
which is fixed upon the fork head the pin being either loose or pressed downwards
by a light spring. When the rod is sprung into the catch a the pin is disengaged
from the slot in the bracket, and the spindle is free to turn. On releasing the rod
from the catch the pin engages into the slot in the bracket and the spindle is
locked.
Figs. 6 and 7. give enlarged details of the device for locking the steerage wheel
when the supporting rod is applied to the fork instead of to the framework of the
machine. a is the fixed spindle socket, and 6 the movable fork-head. c is a levered
key and d a notched catch fixed upon the spindle socket. e is the free end of the
supporting rod which turns upon the joint shewn in Fig. 1. The rod is shewn
in its "out of the way" position engaged in the catch at the side of the fork
and held therein by the spring on the levered key. In this position the levered
key is released from the catch d and the fork is free to turn but on releasing the
supporting rod from the catch f the levered key engages into the catch d and the
fork is locked.
Figs. 8 and 9. shew the details of the device for locking the steerage wheel
which I apply in combination with the brake when the machine is provided with
one. a is the spindle socket, and the fork head. c is the brake shewn pressed
upon the tyre and d the brake rod. The loose catch e jointed to the bracket fis
the subject of my invention. The catch is provided with a spring 9 which retains
it in either an in or out position in relation to the brake rod. On arresting the
machine the catch is turned towards the brake rod and the brake pressed down
g

page_text: upon the tyre, when the foot of the catch impinges upon the collar and retains
the brake upon the tyre. At the same time the cheeks of the catch clip the
brake rod and prevents the fork-spindle turning in its socket, thus bringing both
the wheel and the fork into a state of rigidity with the framework of the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I do not restrict myself
to the precise details herein given or shewn upon the drawings which may be
varied to suit the particular form of bicycle to which the invention may be applied,
but I declare that what I claim is as follows;
1. The application of a jointed rod attached to the framework or to the fork of
the steerage wheel of a bicycle (for the purpose of supporting it in an upright
position when at rest) in such a manner that the free end of the rod may be
turned to a point of attachment at any part of the framework or fork, as may be
desired when not required for use as a support in the manner substantially as
.described.
2. The combination of a jointed rod for supporting a bicycle with a device for
automatically locking the spindle or fork of the steerage wheel by the action of
the rod in changing its position in the manner substantially as described.
3. The combination of the brake or brake rod of a bicycle with a device for
retaining the brake in a fixed position when pressed upon the tyre of the wheel
and for simultaneously locking the fork of the steerage wheel to prevent lateral
movement in the manner substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of April 1893.
JAMES LISTER.