Improvements in Supports for Bicycles to Prevent Skidding.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 21st June, 1900-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Supports for Bicycles to Prevent Skidding.
JOHN RUDGE, Market Place, Dursley, Gloucestershire, Jeweller, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
These improvements relate to an arrangement of an arm on each or either side
of the back wheel of a bicycle. These arms with their attachments (if any) are
carried (when the bicycle is standing upright on level ground) at a slight eleva-
tion from the ground. The height of this elevation from the ground together
with the distance of the end of the support from the bicycle wheel, determines
how far the bicycle shall lean over; and by thus limiting the angle at which the
back wheel of the bicycle can lean over skidding or side slipping is prevented.
The upper part of the arm of my invention may be made flat and pierced with
a hole which fits over or round the spindle of the bicycle. This hole may either
fit the spindle or it may be enlarged. If enlarged the nut which fits the spindle
is reduced along part of its length, so that it will, to the distance it is reduced,
fit the enlarged hole of the arm. This gives the nut a longer, and consequently,
a firmer grip on the spindle. The nut in either case holds the arm firmly to the
bicycle. Near to the above hole in the head or upper part of my arm there may
be a projecting pin which will serve to carry the mudguard or dressguard and
thus releive the spindle of the bicycle wheel of these objects.
A little distance below the above named hole, and on the inner side towards the
wheel, my arm is constructed with a flange or ledge which fits under the back
jaw of the bicycle. The back part of this flange resting against the underside
of the jaw prevents the arm of my invention being pressed back too far. Or
this flange may be made to fit loosely under the jaw and a plug or screw inserted
in it or in the arm-the plug or screw supporting the arm by resting against the
jaw on the under side.
The arm may be bent or otherwise arranged so that at the bottom or end it
may extend the necessary distance from the bicycle wheel. The arm is also
arranged or bent so that its lower end, or its attachment, makes contact with
the ground in the rear of the vertical plane through the axis of the wheel, but
not extending beyond the wheels circumference. When arms or supports are
arranged so that they touch the ground in the vertical plane through the axis of
the bicycle wheel, they cause a jarring sensation and tend to divert the bicycle
from its course-thus interfering with the steering; but, when set backward
from the centre so that, when they touch the ground, they do so in the rear of
the centre of the tread of the bicycle wheel, as is the case with this invention,
these inconveniences disappear.
The ends of my arms may have wheels attached, or shoes to slide along may
take the place of wheels; or the ends of the arms themselves may form the sliding
materials to come in contact with the ground.
This support may be made of steel-hollow or solid, or of any other suitable
material.
Dated this Twentieth day of September 1899.

page_text: '
Improvements in Supports for Bicycles to Prevent Skidding.
angat odsla 198
JOHN RUDGE, Market Place, Dursley, Gloucestershire, Jeweller, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
These improvements relate to an arrangement of an arm on each or either
side of the back wheel of a bicycle. These arms, or supports, with their attach-
ments (if any) are carried,. when the. bicycle is standing upright on. level ground
at a slight elevation from the ground, which, together with the distance the arms
extend outwards from the bicycle, determines how far the bicycle can lean
over, and by thus limiting the extent to which the back wheel of the bicycle
can lean over skidding or side slipping, is prevented or arrested.
The upper part, or headpiece (Fig 1) of my invention is made flat and pierced
with a hole (a Fig. 2) which fits over or round the spindle of the bicycle wheel
the nut of the spindle holding the support firmly against and to the bicycle.
In the rear of the above mentioned hole a projecting pin (6 Fig. 1) may be
formed for the purpose of carrying the mudguard or dressguard and the like.
usually carried by the spindle thus giving increased space on the spindle if
necessary.
About the middle of the headpiece, and on the inner side towards the wheel
a projecting flange or ledge (c Fig. 1) is constructed to fit under the back jaw
of the bicycle frame. The back part of this flange or ledge resting against the
under side of the jaw prevents my support from being pressed too far backward.
Preferably, however, the flange is made to fit loosely under the jaw, and a plug
or screw (d Fig. 1) is inserted in or near it-the plug or screw resting against
the underside of the back jaw and thus supporting the arm against backward
pressure. The advantage of the plug is that it can be readily changed or cut
the desired length. The advantage with the screw is that by turning it can be
raised or lowered as desired.
The support or arm may be bent or otherwise arranged so that at the bottom
or end it may extend the necessary distance outward from the bicycle. Prefer-
ably this is accomplished by an angle formed in the headpiece (e Fig. 1) of my
support which gives an outward tendency to its lower part or what may be
attached to it.
Although my support may be made of one piece of tubing or other material,
it is preferably made up of three pieces comprising the headpiece about three
inches long, and containing in itself the hole for the spindle, the projecting
pin for the mudguard the flange with or without the plug or screw, an the
angle to give the extension outwards.
The lower part of the head piece is shaped so that it will fit into and can
be fixed to a tube several inches in length which preferably forms the middle
part of my support. Though this tube may be bent it is preferably formed, of
a straight piece of tubing (f Fig. 2) the necessary extension outwards being given
to it by the angle formed in the headpiece; and the necessary extension back-
wards from the vertical plane taken through the centre of the back wheel, being
given by the distance between the back edge of the flange, or the plug, or the
screw, and the hole (a Fig. 2). It is obvious that if this distance is lengthened
the arm or support can be pressed further backward in proportion.
י
At the lower end of the arm a shoe or skid is formed (Fig. 2). It may con-
sist of the end of the tube suitably shaped, but, preferably a casting or other-
wise shaped substance is fixed into the tube by any suitable means. A wheel

page_text: may take the place of the shoe, but, owing to the fact of the support being set
backward, and that its contact with the ground is only momentary, the shoe
acts as well as the wheel, while it is much stronger, less expensive, and less
likely to get out of order.
The above arrangement of a straight central tube possesses several advantages
over a bent tube. The angle can be made in the head piece when it is a cast-
ing or stamping as easily, and as cheaply, as if it were made perfectly straight,
while heating and bending the central tube involves considerable labour and
weakens it. The straight tube has also the advantage that, when not in use, it
can be carried attached to the bicycle frame against which it would fit in the
same way as inflators are usually attached.
When arms or supports for bicycles are arranged so that they touch the ground
in, or forward of the vertical plane taken through the axis of the back wheel,
they cause a jarring sensation, divert the course of the machine, and interfere
with the steering. But when the support is set backward of this piane, so that,
when it makes contact with the ground it does so in the rear of it, as is the case
with this invention, these inconveniences disappear. Fig. 3, 4, shows my inven-
tion thus arranged.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A support to prevent bicycles from skidding consisting of an arm attached
to each or either side of a bicycle at or near the spindle of the back wheel, and
extending backward so that its lower part is carried in the rear of the vertical
plane taken through the axis of the wheel, and outward and downward so that,
when the bicycle is upright on fairly level ground, the support is slightly elevated
above the ground, but, when the bicycle leans over to a sufficient degree, the
support comes in contact with the ground and thus prevents or arrests skidding
substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In a bicycle support of the kind described and claimed in Claim 1 the com-
bination therewith of the head piece (Fig. 1) the pin b, the flange c, the plug or
screw d the angle e, the straight central tube (Fig. 2 f) and the shoe (or a substi-
tuted wheel (Fig. 2 g) substantially as described and illustrated.
Datad this Twentieth day of Tune 1000
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