Improvements in Canopies for Bicycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1895--Accepted, 26th Oct., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Canopies for Bicycles.
I, GEORGE CHRISTOPHER MATHEWS, of Jacksonville, State of Florida,
United States of America, Gentleman, 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 invention relates to improvements in canopies for bicycles.
The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive
bicycle canopy which will be adapted to be readily applied to the ordinary con-
struction of safety bicycles for the protection of the rider from the rays of the sun,
and to shelter him from rain, and which may be compactly folded when not in use.
A further object of the invention is to provide such a canopy which, when
disposed horizontally will offer no obstruction to wind to avoid impeding the
progress of the rider, and which, when desired, may be arranged at an angle to
operate as a sail for accelerating the speed of the bicycle to assist the rider.
The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement
of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and
pointed out in the claims hereto appended.
In the drawings :-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bicycle canopy constructed in accordance
with this invention and shown applied to a bicycle, the covering being removed.
Figure 2 is an elevation of a canopy showing the parts partly folded.
Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of the same, the parts being open.
Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of one of the compound clamps.
Figure 5 is a detail view of a portion of one of the side bars and one of the
sections of the folding cross-bar.
Figure 6 is a detail view of one of the links.
Figure 7 is a detail view, illustrating a modification of the invention.
Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
I designates a canopy top or covering, constructed of suitable fabric or similar
flexible material and supported when open by a pair of side bars 2 constructed of
flanged metal, preferably L-shaped in cross section, and having the side edges of
the top or covering 1 secured to their horizontal flanges.
The side bars 2 are centrally connected by a cross bar 3 constructed of flanged
metal, preferably T-shaped in cross section and composed of two sections. The
inner ends of the sections of the folding cross-bar 3 are connected by a rule joint 4
which forms a shoulder for maintaining the sections in alignment, and the outer
ends 5 of the sections are laterally offset to form shoulders and are pivoted to the
lower faces of the horizontal flanges of the side bars 2. whereby when the folding
cross bar is in operative position the shoulders formed by the laterally offset ends 5
will abut against the depending flanges of the side bars 2 and will hold the canopy
top rigid.
Each side har 2 is composed of two sections hinged at their inner ends and
adapted to fold as illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings and the
sections are locked in alignment by a resilient or spring catch 2ª, mounted on one
of the sections and engaging a recess of the other section, as illustrated in Fig. 5
of the accompanying drawing.

page_text: The side bars 2 are provided with depending centrally arranged segmental
enlargements or ears 8 to the inner faces of which are centrally pivoted links 9 and
the latter are bifurcated at 10 and have pivoted in them the upper ends 11 of
diverging supporting bars or rods 12 adapted to fold together. The lower ends of
the upwardly diverging supporting rods or bars are pivoted in a slide 13 mounted
on a vertical rod or stem 14, which is detachably secured to the frame of a bicycle
by compound clamps 15 and 15º.
The diverging supporting bars or rods 12 are composed of two telescoping
sections as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, and the lower
ends of the bars or rods engage frictionally the opposite sides of the stem 14.
The slide is provided with a central opening or way for the stem 14 and is preferably
composed of two side plates and sleeves located at the top and bottom of the side
plates. The lower sections of the bars or rods 12 are pivoted at 16 between the
sides of the slide 13 and their lower ends engage the stem 14 at points between the
sleeves or tubular portions 17 of the slide. This manner of engagement secures
the slide at any desired point and renders the canopy vertically adjustable anl
obviates the necessity of employing a set screw. Set-screws are also unnecessary
for connecting the telescoping sections of the rods or bars 12 as the latter cannot
move longitudinally without changing the angle of the lower engaging ends, and
the weight of the canopy will resist such a tendency to change and the folding
cross-bar will prevent absolutely any inward swinging of the supporting bars or
rods. The telescoping sections increase the adjustment of the canopy, and enable
the same to be more compactly folded than it could were the supporting bars or
rods not constructed in this manner.
The canopy may be arranged horizontally which is preferable in riding against
the wind, in order to avoid offering any obstruction and meeting any resistance and
it is secured at any desired adjustment by means of set screws 18 mounted on the
links 9 and adapted to engage any oue of the perforations 19 of the cars or
enlargements 8, the perforations 19 being arranged in a curved line in the path of
the set-screw.
By this construction the canopy may be arranged at a considerable inclination
to operate similar to a sail for assisting the rider and accelerating the speed of the
bicycle. The rod or stem is secured to the upper horizontal rod of a diamond
frame, by means of a compound clamp 15 composed of a clip 20 and a clamp 21
pivoted to the clip. The clip consists of a single piece of metal having a
cylindrical portion open at one side and provided with extended terminals 22 which
are connected by a clamping bolt having a thumb nut. The clip encircles the rod
or stem and is firmly secured to it by means of the said clamping bolt. The
clamp 21 is composed of two separate sections having oppositely bowed portions
and straight terminals perforated and connected by clamping bolts 24 whereby the
clamp 21 is adjustable and may be readily attached to the upper bar of the frame
of the bicycle. The lower compound clamp 15ª consists of a clamp 25 composed of
two sectious similar to that just described, and pivoted to one of the sections is a
socket 26 having an open top and closed bottom for receiving the end of the rod or
stem 14 which is stepped in the socket.
In applying the canopy to a lady's bicycle the clamps may be attached to the
steering head.
In Fig. 7 of the accompanying drawing is illustrated a modification of the inven-
tion in which the canopy is connected with the rod or stem 14 by a pair of
horizontally-disposed bars 27 and vertical bars 28 arranged at the outer ends of
the horizontal bars 27 and having their upper ends adjustably pivoted to the ears
of the side bars.
It will be seen that the canopy is simple and comparatively inexpensive in con-
struction, that it is adapted to be readily applied to a bicycle and that it is capable
of protecting the rider from the rays of the sun and of sheltering him from rain.
It will also be apparent that it offers no obstruction in riding against the wind, but
may be arranged to assist the rider when the bicycle is travelling in the direction

page_text: of the wind and that when not in use it may be compactly folded and conveniently
carried by a bicyclist.
Changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be
resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages
of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inver-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A bicycle canopy comprising a covering, parallel side bars having the covering
secured to them, a centrally arranged folding cross bar composed of sections hinged
together and pivotally connected at their outer ends to the side bars, a stem
designed to be secured to a bicycle, and folding supporting bars extending from the
stem and connected with the side bars substantially as described.
2. A bicycle canopy comprising a covering, side bars having the covering
secured to them, a cross bar connecting the side bars and composed of folding
sections, a stem designed to be secured to a bicycle, and the upwardly-diverging
folding supporting bars having their lower ends pivotally connected with the stem
and having their upper ends adjustably connected to the side bars, substantially as
described.
3. A bicycle canopy comprising a covering, side bars secured to the same, a
folding cross bar, a stem designed to be secured to a bicycle, links adjustably
pivoted to the side bars and the supporting bars pivotally connected to the links
and to the upper end of the stem, substantially as described.
4. A bicycle canopy comprising a covering, a frame supporting the same, a stem
designed to be secured to a bicycle frame, a slide arranged on the stem, and the
supporting bars pivoted to the canopy frame and to the slide, and having their
lower ends engaging the stem, frictionally, and securing the slide at the desired
adjustment, substantially as described.
5. A bicycle canopy comprising a covering, a folding frame supporting the
covering, a stem designed to be secured to a bicycle frame, and the telescoping
supporting bars pivotally connected to the stem aud to the folding canopy frame,
substantially as described.
6. A bicycle canopy comprising a covering, the side bars composed of hinged.
sections adapted to fold, one of the sectious being provided with a resilient catch,
and the other having a notch to be engaged by the same, a stem, the folding cross
bar connecting the side bars, and supporting bars connected with the stem and the
side bars, substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of September 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.