Year: 1888

page_text: I, JAMES LOGAN WATKINS of 19 Hetley Road, Uxbridge Road, Shepherds Bush in
the county of Middlesex, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows
-
My invention relates to velocipedes for military purposes, and it has for its object
the carriage of a rifle or similar weapon in a more perfect manner than has yet been
accomplished
Hitherto the rifle has been carried on a velocipede adapted for military service,
either on one side of the machine, that is, immediately on one side of the steering post
or head and seat pillar, owing to the length of the rifle being longer than the distance
between the said steering post or head and the seat pillar, or it has been carried
centrally over the machine, in the rear of the steering post or head, the seat pillar
being cranked or otherwise formed to admit of its being placed in such central position
Practical experience has proved that unless the rifle is carried in a central position
on a machine, undue wear is caused both on the bearings of the wheels on the side
carrying the extra weight, and also on the centres of the steering he id, besides which
in machines of unstable equilibrium it materially affects the balance of the rider
Experience has also shown that when a long rifle is carried centrally and in the rear
of the steering post or head on any velocipede, but more especially on a rear-driving
safety bicycle the one most adapted and adopted for military purposes the weapon
extends too far to the rear, causing an excess of weight on the rear wheel or wheels-
which have already to carry the major portion of the weight of a rider, and also being
exceedingly inconvenient in mounting and otherwise
Now by my invention I place the rifle or other weapon central with the machine trans-
versely, and also approximately so longitudinally, so that the weight thereof is equally
distributed over the machine, and from its position it does not in any way
incommode the rider, either in mounting and dismounting, or riding
To attain this end I form in or by the steering post or head an opening or aperture
which will allow the muzzle of the rifle or other weapon, fixed on the backbone or

page_text: frame of the machine, to pass freely through the steering post or head, and yet allow
the latter to rot ite or oscillate about the steering centre for the purpose of steering the
machine, without touching the said weapon
I do not limit myself to any particular construction or shape of the opening or
aperture in the steering post or head, as this will depend on the particular type of
machine to which my invention may be applied
To allow the rifle to be placed central on the machine throughout its entire length,
the seat pillar is cranked or supported out of the centre of the machine
To support the rifle and protect it from dust, dirt, and injury, I fit on to the back-
bone or frame of the machine a leather sheath or bucket the closed end of which
extends forward through the opening in the steering post or head, and the open end
terminates in a convenient position in the rear of the seat pillar-in a clip or
support to receive the breech of the rifle, the said chip being fitted with a suitable
leather flip to cover the breech and confine the rifle in the chip
ROBT ED PHILLIPS, MIME,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W (',
Agent for the Applicant

page_text: I, JAMES LOGAN WATKINS, of 19 Hetley Road, Uxbridge Road, Shepherd's Bush,
in the County of Middlesex, 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
-
My invention relates to velocipedes for military purposes, and it has for its object
the
carriage of a rifle or similar weapon in a more perfect manner than has yet been
accomplished
Hitherto the rifle has been carried on a velocipede adapted for military purposes,
either on one side of the machine, that is, immediately on one side of the steering
post or head and seat pillar, owing to the length of the rifle being longer than the
distance between the said steering post or head and the seat pillar, or it has been
carried centrally over the machine, in the rear of the steering post or head, the seat
pillar being cranked or otherwise formed to admit of its being placed in such central
position
Practical experience has proved that unless the rifle is carried in a central position
on a machine, undue wear is caused both on the bearings of the wheels on the side
carrying the extra weight and also on the centres of the steering head, besides which
in machines of unstable equilibrium it materially affects the balancing of the machine
by the rider
Experience has also shown that when a long rifle is carried centrally and in
the rear of the steering post or head on any velocipede, but more especially on a rear-
driving safety bicycle-the one most adapted and adopted for military purposes-the
weapon extends too far to the rear, causing an excess of weight on the rear wheel or
wheels which already have to carry the major portion of the weight of a rider, and
also being exceedingly inconvenient in mounting and otherwise
Now, by my invention I place the rifle or other weapon central with the machine
transversely and also, approximately so, longitudinally, so that the weight thereof is
equally distributed over the machine and from its position it does not in any way
incommode the rider, either in mounting and dismounting, or riding
To attain this end I form in or by the steering post or head an opening or aperture
which will allow the muzzle of the rifle or other weapon carried on the backbone or
frame of the machine, to pass freely through the steering post or head and yet illow
the latter to rotate or oscillate about the steering centre for the purpose of steering
the machine, without touching the said weapon
I do not limit myself to any particular construction or shape of the opening or
aperture in the steering pot or head, as this will depend on the particular type of
machine to which my invention may be applied To allow the rifle to be placed
central on the machine throughout its entire length, the seat pillar is cranked or
supported out of the centre of the machine
To support the rifle and protect it from dust, dirt, and injury, I fit on to the back-
bone or frame of the machine a leather sheath or bucket, the closed end of which
extends forward through the opening in the steering post or head, and the open end
terminates in a convenient position in the rear of the sert pillar-in a clip or support
to receive the breech of the rifle, the said clip being fitted with a suitable leather
flap to cover the breech and confine the rifle in the clip

page_text: In order that my invention may be fully understood I will more particularly
describe it making reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 Sheet
No 1 is a view in side elevation of a rear driving safety bicycle fitted up according
to my invent on Figure 2 Sheet No 2 is a view-on an enlarged scale--in trans-
verse section showing the construction of the aperture or loop in the steering post
Figures 3 and 4 are views on an enlarged scale in side elevation and transverse
section respectively, of a modification in the construction of the steering head with
the aperture or loop, and Figure 5 Sheet No 2 is a view-in end elevation of a
further modification
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the steering post A 15 formed in two parts to admit
of the formation of an aperture or loop B therein This aperture or loop may be
formed by a suitable stamping, or the tube forming the steering post may be
split and swaged out to give the desired effect and may then be stiffened by the
introduction of lining pieces The aperture or loop is formed immediately above the
snugs a a forming parts of the steering head Figures 3 and 4 show a modification
in which the steering hend A' is made of the closed or "Stanley" type, the aperture
or loop B, and the steering post A being formed immediately above it
In those machines in which the prongs of the front fork are prolonged upwards to
form the steering post or head, I form or fashion the loop B out of the said extensions
as illustrated by Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings
Where the construction of the machine does not permit of the rifle being con-
veniently carried above the steering head or joint, I form an aperture or loop in both
the steering neck or its eqvivalent, and in the steering post, the aperture in the former
boing just large enough to take and hold the rifle case, and the latter to allow of the
free action of the steering head or joint
Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings the rifle is carried in a
leather she ith or bucket C carried by two clips or supports c and c³, the former fixed
to, or carried by, the forward end of the main frame as near to the steering head as
possible, and the latter-which is adapted to receive the breech block of the rifle-is
fixed to or supported by any convenient part of the main frame, in case of a rear
driving bicycle as illustrated, the mud guard D stiffened by a fork d provides a
convenient support for the chip c
The rear part of the sheath or bucket C is made half open to facilitate withdrawing
the rifle, and is provided with a suitable flap C¹ to cover the said opening and hold the
rifle securely in the said sheath or bucket
To allow the sheath or bucket to be placed quite central on the machine the seat
pillar E is supported from the side of the main frame, and it is also cranked at the top
to bring the saddle back into the centre of the machine
By carrying the rifle in the manner hereinbefore described, it in no way incommodes
the rider either when mounting and dismounting or when riding, and it is moreover,
secured from injury and protected from dust and dirt
Although my invention is hereinbefore described and is illustrated as applied to rear
driving safety bicycles it is equally applicable to tricycles and all other velocipedes
steered by a central front wheel, and further, although it is described as serving the
purpose of carrying a rifle, it is equally adapted for carrying any long article, such as
a fishing rod, tripod for camera, etc
I am aware that prior to the date of my invention an opening has been made in the
steering post of velocipedes for the purpose of allowing the backbone to pass there-
through when the head is formed in front of the said steering post, and I therefore do
not broadly claim such a device, but 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
1st The improvements in and relating to velocipedes as hereinbefore described and

page_text: 2nd In a velocipede the axial line of the centres of the steering head or joint of
which, is either in a line with, or in the rear of, the centre line of the steering post or
stem, forming an aperture or loop in the said steering post above the steering head or
Joint, as and for the purpose set forth
3rd In a velocipede, forming in the steering post or its equivalent, above the
top centre of the steering head or joint, an aperture or loop, as and for the purpose
set forth
4th In a velocipede forming an aperture or loop in both the steering post, and
also in the steering neck or its equivalent, as and for the purpose hereinbefore set
forth
5th In a velocipede, the combination of the aperture or loop formed in the steering
post or its equivalent, and the seat pillar mounted out of the centre line of the machine
as and for the purpose set forth
6th The sheath or bracket for carrying a rifle on a velocipede, constructed and
mounted, as set forth
7th In a velocipede, the combination of the aperture or loop in the steering post,
or its equivalent, and the leather sheath or bucket for carrying a rifle, both combined,
arranged and operating, as and for the purpose set forth
201
T
1000
Dated this 25th day of January 1000
1000
'
ROBT ED PHILLIPS, MIME
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, 71 & 72, Chancery Lane, London, WC,
Agent for the Applicant