Improvements in Attachments, Means, or Devices for Supporting or Maintaining Bicycles in an Upright or Vertical Position.
Year: 1897

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 14th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 9th Oct., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Attachments, Means, or Devices for Supporting
or Maintaining Bicycles in an Upright or Vertical Position.
I, EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER of 33 Chancery Lane, in the County of London,
and 30 East Parade, Leeds, in the County of York, Fellow of the Chartered
Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a
communication to me from abroad by George Daws of Johannesburg in the South
African Republic, Engineer) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved attachment means, or devices as here-
after described, for supporting or maintaining bicycles in an upright or vertical
position, when not actually being driven or propelled by the rider.
It is designed with the object of constructing simple and efficient attachment
which may be operated by the rider, to support or maintain the bicycle in a vertical
position without necessitating dismounting therefrom if desired, and which when
the bicycle is started will be automatically returned to its normal position, so as
not to interfere with or offer any, obstruction to its propulsion. The device is also
applicable as a stand for the bicycle when the latter is not in use.
According to one arrangement it consists essentially of an attachment com-
prising a bifurcated or forked rod, attached by and working in suitable collars or
clips, say to the fork of the rear wheel of the machine, operating through suitable
links, a bell crank or like lever at either side of the wheel, the longer arm of which
lever, forms legs or supports for maintaining the bicycle in a vertical position,
the bifurcated rod being provided with a spring or springs to draw the legs or
supports clear of the ground, when the machine is started and place them in normal
position in spring clips or the like, provided to retain them in this position when
not in use.
To the fork in any convenient position and in any suitable manner such as by
screws, bolts, rivets, or the like, are attached collars or clips. A bifurcated or
forked rod is carried or supported by the collars or clips in which it is free to slide.
The upper extremity of the bifurcated rod is carried up into within easy reach
of the rider under the saddle and is provided with a handle, projection, or the
like, by which it may be raised. At either side of the fork spiral springs are con-
nected with the bifurcated rod with the collars or clips, which are placed in tension
on the raising of the handle, and act to lower the bifurcated rod and place the
several parts in normal position on the starting of the machine.
To the fork at either side and below the collars or clips, are attached clips or
brackets. Pivotted to brackets are bell crank levers. The longer arms, which
form the legs or supports, are provided at their lower extremities with feet or rests
of india-rubber, flexible or elastic material, to obtain a firm grip of the ground.
The brackets are so constructed or set at such an inclination on the fork that
the longer arms of the bell crank levers as they are lowered, splay outwards to
form a firm and secure support.
To the brackets are fixed spring clips of steel wire or other suitable material.

page_text: These spring clips are formed with open or flaring ends to direct the arms therein
when drawn up by the action of the springs.
According to another arrangement the bifurcated rod is operated through a
small bell crank lever connected with the trigger or handle by a rod. The trigger
is pivotted on a bracket attached to a part of the framing and in close proximity
to the head of the bicycle. A small bell crank lever is pivotted on a bracket
attached to the framing. The forked rod may be bent inwards slightly, in order
to clip the coveror side of the tyre when raised to counteract the tendency of the
springs, to force the machine forward whilst the machine is being supported.
The bifurcated rod might be arranged on horizontal bars and along the front
portion of the framing into any convenient position at the head of the machine.
The invention may be adapted with slight variation to be applied to the front
wheel of same.
In operation, the bifurcated rod is raised, placing the springs in tension and
the longer arms of the bell crank levers are thereby lowered until their
extremities come into contact with the ground, when the bicycle is supported; on
starting the springs automatically draw the legs or supports clear of the ground
and place then in normal position in the spring clips.
The supports may be fixed on the lower rear stays and the rods carried up to the
and lever by the diagonal front brace or lower front tube, and only one spring is
required. In this arrangement the supports fold up directly under the chain fork
or lower stay tube, and in riding along are hardly discernable.
Although the supports, (when in their normal position) are close to the wheel,
they splay outwards when drawn down. The whole apparatus can be made under
eight ounces and can be fitted to any machine in a few minutes. No holes are
made in the machine, the whole of the fittings being by clips..
Did this 16th day of March 1807
Improvements in Attachments, Means, or Devices for Supporting
or Maintaining Bicycles in an Upright or Vertical Position.
I, EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER of 33 Chancery Lane, in the County of London,
and 30 East Parade, Leeds, in the County of York, Fellow of the Chartered
Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a
communication to me from abroad by George Daws of Johannesburg in the South
African Republic, Engineer), and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improved construction and combination of parts,
composing an attachment for supporting or maintaining bicycles in an upright
or vertical position when not actually being driven or propelled by the rider, and
which may be operated by the rider to support or maintain the bicycle in a vertical
position without necessitating dismounting therefrom if desired, and which when
the bicycle is started will be automatically returned to its normal position so as
not to interfere with, or offer any obstruction to, its propulsion. The device is
also applicable as a stand for the bicycle when the latter is not in use.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is an illustration of so much of a rear
driven bicycle as is necessary to shew the application of my supporting attachment
applied to the rear wheel fork, and adapted to be operated at the rear of the saddle;
Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the parts shewn at Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a side elevation

page_text: of a bicycle shewing means for operating the supporting device from the front part
of the machine. Fig. 4 is a partial rear elevation drawn to a larger scale than the
previous figures shewing means for controlling any motion of the road wheel when
the supporting device is in its acting position, and Fig. 5 is a similar view shewing
a varied construction of the same controlling device. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of
a bicycle shewing my supporting device applied to the lower rear fork tubes of
the machine, operating connections being shewn by which the supports are con-
trolled from or near the handle bar; Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view of the rear
part of the machine shewn at Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is a sectional end elevation shewing
the supports, and Fig. 9 shews in sectional plan varied means for controlling the
motion of the road wheel.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, A is the rear wheel of the bicycle,
BB are the tubes composing the upper members of the rear part, and C is the
saddle. To the tubes B B, I attach an upper guide D to receive the upper end of
a bifurcated rod E while at a lower point on each tube B there is a guide through
which the forked members of the rod E respectively pass. I generally fix the
guides such as F and D to the tubes B by means of clips or bands D F which
embrace the tubes, and are held in position by the tension of the bands, although
if desired other kinds of fixture may be used, but by the use of clips such as
described, and which are well known, the entire device may be applied to, or
removed from the machine without skilled labour or causing any damage to the
enamel or plating of the machine.
The upper extremity of the bifurcated rod E is carried up into within easy
reach of the rider under the saddle and is provided with a handle E2, or the like,
by which it may be raised into the position shewn by full lines in the drawing.
E are spiral springs, the upper ends being attached to the bifurcated rod
while the lower ends are connected to the collars or clips F F¹, the said
springs EE being placed in tension on the raising of the handle E², and acting
to lower the bifurcated rod E and place the several parts in normal position (shewn
by dotted lines) on the starting of the machine:
To the fork tubes B B at either side, and below the collars or clips aforesaid,
are attached clips or brackets G pivotted to which brackets are bell crank levers. The
longer arms H of the said bell crank levers form the legs or supports and are pro-
vided at their lower extremities with feet or rests of india rubber, flexible, or
elastic material to obtain a firm grip of the ground, while the shorter arms H¹
are pivotted to the ends of the bifurcated members of the rod E.
The ears of the brackets G, to which the lever arms H H are pivotted, are so
constructed or set at such an inclination on the fork tubes B B that the longer
arms H of the bell crank levers, as they are lowered, splay outwards as at Fig. 2
to form a firm and secure support.
To the brackets G are fixed spring clips J of steel wire or other suitable material.
These spring clips are formed with open or flaring ends J¹ to direct the arms H
therein, when the latter are drawn up by the action of the springs.
At Fig. 3, and the enlarged detail rear view Fig. 4, the bifurcated rod E is
operated through a small bell crank lever E³ carried by a clip D on the tube B*,
connected with the trigger or handle E2 by a rod E. The trigger or operating
handle E2 is pivotted on a bracket or clip D attached to a part of the framing say
to the top horizontal tube B1 and in close proximity to the head of the bicycle.
The forked rod E, I bend inwards as at K, best seen at Fig. 4 in order to clip
the cover or side of the tyre to the wheel A when raised, to counteract the tendency
of the springs El to force the machine forward whilst the machine is being
supported by the legs H. Instead of bending the rod as at K, I may as shewn at
Fig. 5 fit the rod with adjustable collars K' carrying blocks K say of india rubber,
which will act to hold the wheel A when the supporting legs H are in contact
with the ground.
Instead of extending the connecting rod E along the upper horizontal tube B¹
as at Fig. 3 I may arrange the connection, and fit the supports as shewn at. Figs. 6

page_text: 7 and 8, that is to say the supports H H are pivotted to the outwardly bent ears
of the clip brackets & secured on the lower rear stays B³ B², and pivots passing
through the said ears and carrying the smaller lever arms H¹ to which the ends
of the bifurcated rod E are pivotted. This rod E passes up between the lower rear
stays B2, and the opposite end is pivotted to a lever arm E³. carried by a clip
bracket D on the tube 14 and from this arm ³ the. connecting rod Et passes up
the front brace or lower front tube, and only one spring E is required, this being
fixed at one end to the rod E while the other end is attached to a clip on the
tube B³, the spring being in tension. In this arrangement the supports H fold
up directly under the chain fork or lower stay tubes B2 B2, and in riding along
are hardly discernible when the supports are in the position shewn by the dotted
lines Fig. 6.
Although the supports H (when in their normal position as in dotted lines
aforesaid) are close to the wheels, they splay outwards when drawn down as shewn
at Fig. 8. J is the clip into which the supports pass when they are drawn out
of action by retraction of the spring E'.
The rod E is operated by means of a handle E2 from which motion is com-
municated by suitable rods and levers such for example as shown at Fig. 6
although I do not limit myself to the details of such operating devices, as the
rod E could be readily operated by a handle, similar to the ordinary brake lever,
or by any other means, the necessary connections being such as could be made
by any mechanic accustomed to cycle manufacture, and not requiring special
invention or description. The arrangement shown by Figs. 6, 7 and 8 presents
advantages in that it is equally applicable to "Ladies" machines as to the type
of machine shewn.
In order to cause the bifurcated rod E to grip the wheel or tyre when the
supports H are lowered, I in some cases arrange the said rod E as shewn in the
sectional plan view Fig. 9, where the arms thereof, (which may be composed of
spring steel wire), are bent at K to clip the wheel or tyre when drawn forward
from the position shewn at Fig. 9, and are again formed with bends at K' in order,
(when drawn forward) to be acted upon by rollers K² carried from the framework
of the machine. Thus the arms are by the action of the rollers brought laterally
together to grip the wheel, the rods again separating (as they move rearwards at
the time the supports H are raised) by the action of the spring or springs; the
frame tube B where the rod E' passes may have a protection ring of rubber.
Although I have shewn a spring applied to the rod E Fig. 6 yet it will be readily
understood that instead thereof, a spiral spring might be fitted to act upon each
of the arms H' for the purpose of raising the supports H when the same are free
to be raised.
In operation, the bifurcated rod E is moved placing the springs E' in tension
and the longer arms H of the bell crank levers are thereby lowered until their
extremities, which may be provided with india rubber or other shoes H as shewn
come into contact with the ground when the bicycle is supported; on starting, the
springs E automatically draw the legs or supports H clear of the ground and
place them in their normal positions in the spring clips J¹ as shewn at Figs. 1
and 6 of the drawings.
The whole apparatus can be made under eight ounces and can be fitted to any
machine in a few minutes. No holes are made in the machine, the whole of the
fittings being by clips.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner. the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In supports for bicycles, the combination of a pair of two armed levers
pivotted to the framework one on each side of the rear wheels, the longer arms
of the levers forming supports, and the shorter arms for operating same, a
bifurcated rod carried in guides on the frame, the forked arms thereof passing on

page_text: each side of the rear wheel and being pivotted at their ends to the shorter arms
of the two armed levers, a spring for normally holding the supporting legs and
the connecting parts out of action, and means for operating the bifurcated rod to
bring the supporting legs into contact with the ground, as set forth.
2. In supports for bicycles the combination of a pair of two armed levers
pivotted to the framework, one on each side of the rear wheel, the longer arms to
form supports, and the shorter arms to operate same, a bifurcated rod, the forked
arms thereof passing on each side of the rear wheel, and pivotted at their ends to
the shorter arms of the two armed levers, inwardly extending parts on the fork
members of the bifurcated rod to clip the wheel tyre when the machine is
supported by the legs, springs for normally holding the supporting legs, and the
connecting parts out of action, and means for operating the bifurcated rod to
bring the supporting legs into contact with the ground and to hold the rear wheel,
as set forth.
3. In supports for bicycles, the combination with a pair of two armed levers
pivotted to the framework one on each side of the rear wheel, the longer arms to
ferm supports and the shorter arms to raise and lower same, of a bifurcated rod,
the forked arms passing on each side of the rear wheel, and pivotted at their ends
to the shorter arms of the two-armed levers, inwardly projecting parts on the
forked members of the bifurcated rod to clip the wheel tyre when the machine is
supported by the legs, springs for normally holding the supporting legs and con-
necting parts out of action, spring clips carried by the framework and having
open or flaring ends to receive the supporting legs when the latter are raised, and
means for operating the bifurcated rod to bring the supporting legs into contact
with the ground and to hold the rear wheel, as set forth.
4. In supports for bicycles, the combination of a tension clip mounted upon
each of the lower rear stay tubes 132 of the machine frame, rotary pivots carried by
the clips below the tubes B2, a supporting leg H fixed to each pivot, a shorter
operating arm H' on each of the said pivots, a bifurcated rod E having the fork
ends thereof respectively pivotted to the arms H¹, an inwardly projecting part K
on each fork member calculated to clip the wheel when the legs H are supporting
the machine, a spring acting to raise the supporting leg, a connecting rod from the
bifurcated rod E, and means for operating the connecting rod to lower the
Supporting legs, substantially as set forth.
Doted this 14th day of tu1007
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.