Year: 1888

page_text: I, GEORGE TODD, of 2, Saltley Road, Birmingham, Warwickshire, Fish Salesman,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists of the improved sunshade, umbrella or sail herein described
for tricyclists and other velocipedists which is adapted for use either as a shield from
the sun or rain and so as to serve as a sail and assist in propelling the rider when the
wind is blowing in the right direction. Moreover the said invention is adapted for
attachment to any velocipede and so as to suit different riders and offer the least
possible resistance to the atmosphere.
The said sunshade, umbrella or sail is constructed somewhat similarly to an
ordinary umbrella except that instead of being mushroom-shaped it is almost flat and
is by preference in shape a rectangular oblong having supporting ribs (two at the
back and two at the front) extending from the four corners to the central "stick"
and four other shorter ribs to support the sides. The ribs are supported by stretchers
hinged to a runner in the usual manner. The central "stick," which is by preference
a light metal tube, and made very short is jointed to an adjustable-shaped piece
which latter is carried from the frame of the velocipede by a bracket which is
cramped thereto by set screws or other means. The said bracket is provided with a
socket in which the lower part of the 7-shaped piece fits where it is secured by a set
screw or other means so as to allow of its being moved up or down in the socket and
fixed at any height. The 7-shaped piece allows of the umbrella or sunshade being
supported right over the rider without impeding his movements. The said joint or
connection of the "stick" to the end of the 7-shaped piece is arranged to tighten
and hold the umbrella or sunshade either horizontally or at any angle or so as to
allow of its being turned down at the rider's back to act as a sail.
I sometimes provide light stays to secure the corners of the upper part of the
sunshade or umbrella to the frame of the machine and thus render it more rigid.
Dated this 4th day of May 1888.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, GEORGE TODD, of 2, Saltley Road, Birmingham, Warwickshire, Fish Salesman,
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:
This invention consists of the improved sunshade, umbrella or sail herein described
for tricyclists and other velocipedists which is adapted for use either as a shield from
the sun or rain and so as to serve as a sail and assist in propelling the rider when the
wind is blowing in the right direction. Moreover the said invention is adapted for
attachment to any velocipede and so as to suit different riders and offer the least
possible resistance to the atmosphere.
وو
The said sunshade, umbrella or sail is constructed somewhat similarly to an
ordinary umbrella except that instead of being mushroom-shaped it is almost flat and
is by preference in slupe a rectangular oblong having supporting ribs (two at the
back and two at the front) extending from the four corners to the central "stick
and four other shorter ribs to support the sides. The ribs are supported by stretchers
binged to a runner in the usual manner. The central "stick," which is by preference
a light metal tube, and made very short, is jointed to an adjustable supporting tube
or rod which is bent into somewhat of an -shape and is carried from the frame of
the velocipede by a bracket which is cramped thereto by set screws or other means.
The said bracket is provided with a socket in which the lower part of the said
supporting tube or rod fits where it is secured by a set screw or other means so as to
allow of its being moved up or down in the socket and fixed at any height. The said
supporting tube or rod allows of the umbrella or sunshade being supported right
over the rider without impeding bis movements. The said joint or connection of the
"stick" to the end of the said supporting tube or rod is arranged to tighten and fix
the umbrella or sunshade either horizontally or at any angle or so as to allow of its
being turned down at the rider's back to act as a sail.
I sometimes provide light stays to secure. the corners of the upper part of the
sunshade or umbrella to the frame of the machine and thus render it more rigid.
On the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 represents my improved sunshade,
umbrella or sail fixed to a safety bicycle; Fig. 2 is a plan of the umbrella, sunshade
or sail part separately; Fig. 3 represents in plan, and Fig. 4 in side elevation, the
joint or connection of the stick to the end of the supporting tube or rod, and Fig. 5
is a similar view to Fig. 4 with the parts in the position which they occupy when the
sunshade or umbrella is being used as a sail; Fig. represents in front and side
elevations one form of the cramp or bracket which I employ for attaching the
supporting tube or rod of the umbrella etc. to the backbone or frame of the bicycle
or other velocipede; Fig. 7 illustrates how my invention is applied to a tricycle ;
Fig. 8 represents in plan and Fig. 9 in side elevation a modification of the joint
illustrated by Figs. 3, 4 and 5; and Fig. 10 illustrates the position which the parts

page_text: occupy when the umbrella part is being used as a sail. Fig. 11 shews how my
invention can be applied to a tandem tricycle and Fig. 12 shews how the said
invention can be applied to a sociable tricycle; Fig. 13 represents in plan and Fig. 14
in elevation a modification of the cramp for securing the supporting tube or rod to
the frame of the velocipede, and Figs. 15 and 16 illustrate a further modification of
the same.
The same letters of reference indicate the same, or corresponding parts, in all the
figures of the drawings.
Referring firstly more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, a is the sunshade
umbrella or sail consisting of a rectangular oblong covering supported by ribs and
stretchers in a similar manner to an ordinary umbrella or sunshade except that the
ribs are almost straight so as to stretch the covering in as flat a state as possible. bis
the central stick which is made very short, and just below the runner, is held by the
clip c made in halves tightened together by the set screw d so as to hold the stick >>
firmly. e is the supporting tube or rod to the upper end of which the clip c is jointed
as seen more clearly by Figs. 5, 4 and 5. The supporting tube or rod e is secured to
the backbone of the bicycle by any convenient means such as by the double cramp f¹ f
consisting of two clips each made in halves and secured together. This clip, as shown
more clearly by Fig. 6, consists of two clips f¹f the larger f¹ of which is made in
halves hinged at one side so as to open and clip the backbone of the bicycle to which
the halves are cramped by the set screw y; the clip f' is made similarly to the clip
part but smaller so as to embrace the supporting tube or rod e. This double clip
permits of the position of the umbrella, sunshade or sail being varied on the bicycle
or of its being raised to suit the requirements of the rider.
The umbrella part a can, by the rider without alighting from the velocipede, either
be fixed horizontally as shewn in Fig. 1 or at an angle at the rider's back to act as a
sail as shewn by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, which is accomplished by turning the
clip c on its joint so as to fix the stick b at the angle required. For this purpose I
prefer to employ a link one end of which is jointed to the lower part of the clip c
and near the other end is a longitudinal slot i having a notch at each end; a pin j
passes through this slot and is fixed to the supporting tube or rod e; this pin has a
head to prevent the link falling off and it has an enlarged neck to fit in the end
notches of the slot i. When the stick is vertical it is maintained in that position
by the enlarged neck of the pin j fitting in one of the end notches of the slot i in the
link (see Figs. 3 and 4); by lifting the free end of the link the clip c with the
stick is free to turn to an inclined position as shewn by Fig. 5, and when the link h
is released it will fall down so that the enlarged neck of the pin will engage with
the opposite notch in the slot i and maintain the clip c and the umbrella in that
position.
My invention can be applied to tricycles in a similar manner as above described
and illustrated as applied to a bicycle but when applied to a tricycle I prefer for the
supporting tube or rod e to be fixed at the back of the rider as shewn by Fig. 7; in
this case the link h and the pin j have to be arranged as shown by Figs. 8, 9 and 10
so as to allow of the stick and umbrella being tilted and fixed over the supporting
tube or rod e instead of away from it, as above described when the supporting tube
or rode is fixed in the front of the rider.
My invention can be similarly applied to a tandem tricycle as shewn by Fig. 11;
in this case the supporting tube or rod e is carried between the two riders from any
convenient part of the machine, and the umbrella part a is made long enough to
shade both riders. My invention can be similarly used with a sociable tricycle as
shewn by Fig. 12, the width of the umbrella part a being increased so as to shade
both riders.
In the modification, illustrated by Figs. 13 and 14, of the double clip for fixing the
supporting tube or rod e to the frame of the velocipede two plates k¹³ are employed
and detachably fixed together by four screw bolts so as to clip the frame of the
velocipede, the clip f' for holding the supporting tube or rod e being formed with
the plate the modification illustrated by Figs. 15 and 16 is similar to that

page_text: illustrated by Figs. 13 and 14 except that the supporting tube or rod e is held against
the plate k by an outer plate 4³, the three plates k¹³ ³ being cramped together by
the bolts so as to secure the supporting tube or rode and the backbone or other
part of the velocipede together.
When stays are required to render the umbrella sunshade or sail more rigid I
prefer to employ one or more cords or wires which are connected to the end or ends
of the ribs and to the frame of the velocipede.
In conclusion I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
details illustrated as the same may be modified without departing from the nature of
my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1st. The improved sunshade umbrella or sail consisting of an oblong or square
covering in combination with a central stick, stretchers and ribs of unequal length
supporting said covering, substantially as set forth.
2nd. In combination with an umbrella sunshade or sail, means for supporting the
same upon a velocipede and for retaining the same either above or behind the rider
or riders substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
3rd. An umbrella sunshade or sail consisting of a covering supported by ribs and
stretchers and a central stick removably fixed to a velocipede above the rider or
riders and so as to turn down behind-the rider or riders substantially as and for the
purpose herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
4th. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting a sunshade
umbrella or sail for tricyclists and others and the means for supporting the same upon
a safety bicycle tricycle tandem or sociable as herein before described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1889.