Improvements in or relating to Bicycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 18th July, 1896-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1896
Improvements in or relating to Bicycles.
I, HAROLD COVENTRY of 19 Sweeting Street, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Iron Merchant do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows
-
This invention has for its object a device to be applied to bicycles by means of
which the machine may be easily and conveniently caused to stand self supported
without the necessity of resting one pedal upon the edge of a curb stone or other
projection as is at present usual.
I will describe my invention as applied to a safety bicycle though I do not limit
myself to such application as it may be used with tandems "ordinary" bicycles and
the like.
I provide a prop preferably of light metal tubing pivotted to some convenient
portion of the framework of the machine The most convenient place for attach-
ment I consider in most cases is on one of the lower back forks or stays near the
crank spindle. This prop is so arranged that when it is desired to leave the machine
standing said prop is swung down so as to cause its free cnd to stick into or rest
upon the surface of the ground, the machine being slightly tilted for the purpose
if necessary.
•
When the prop is not in use it may be swung up alongside the fork on stay to
which it is pivotted, a spring clip, or hook (preferably attached to the prop for
convenience in bxing) being provided near its free end and which engages said
fork on stay and holds the prop snugly in its closed position.
The prop may be pivotted direct, by means of a screw or rivet, to the back fork
but I prefer to provide it with an independent hinge or joint so that if it be desired
to affix the device to old stock no structural alteration or weakening of parts will be
necessary. The joint or hinge of the prop in this case is provided with a spring
clip or yoke & screw, or other device for convenience in applying. Rubber or
leather may be applied at the points of contact.
In adapting to a "geared ordinary" the prop may lie in its closed position along
one front fork.
Dated this
day of October 1895
CHARLES COVENTRY,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Bicycles.
1, HAROLD COVENTRY of 19 Sweeting Street, Liverpool in the County of
Lancaster, Iron Merchant,, 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 has for its object a new or improved device to be applied to a
bicycle by means of which the machine may be easily and conveniently caused to
1 Price Rd 1

page_text: Stand sen supported without the necessity of resting one pedal upon the edge of a
curb stone or other projection, or leaning it against a wall &c., as is at present
common.
I will describe my invention as applied to a safety bicycle, though I do not limit
myself to such application as it may, when suitably modified, be used with taudems,
ordinary bicycles and the like.
I provide a prop, preferably of light metal tubing, pivotally attached to some
convenient portion of the framework of the machine. The most convenient place
of attachment I consider in most cases is on one of the lower back forks or stays
just rear of the crank bracket This prop is so arranged that when it is desired to
leave the machine standing, said prop is swung down on its pivot so as to cause its
free end to stick into or rest upon the surface of the ground at a short distance
from the machine the latter being slightly tilted for the purpose.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the clip or device I use to pivotally attach the prop
to the back stay of the machine.
Fig. 2 is a section of Fig. 3
Fig. 3 shows the prop in the position it occupies on the pivot or stud C described
hereinafter, when in use
Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 3 but showing the prop in its inactive position.
Fig. 5 18 a diagram of the spring chip A¹
Fig. 6 is a modification.
As a light thin prop, preferably of tubular steel It may be made of any
length to suit the size of machine to which it is intended to be applied. I have
found about 14 inches a convenient length in actual use
The function of piop A is to stick into or rest upon the ground or floor and to thus
support the bicycle at rest. When the prop is not required to support the machine
(for instance whilst riding) it is swung up from off the ground and a spring
clip, A Fig. 5, attached to it 18 caused to embrace the stay near its rear end &
thus to hold it up out of the way. A³ 18 a portion of the back stay. Prop A is
preferably pointed at its lower cnd and 18 connected at its upper end with the back
stay as follows
A pair of clips B B' are held thercon at a convenient angle by
set screws bb. One clip B is plain & tapped for the reception of screws b, b
whilst the other B' is provided with a flat B on its outer face & this also callies
a rectangular stud or projection C.
The top end of the prop A is formed as or brazed to a peculiarly shaped eye D,
which has a recess D'approximately corresponding in shape to stud C and a circular
opening D² in connection therewith.
The projection C serves as a support and pivot to the 1od A and allows it when
occupying the circular portion D' of eve D (Fig. 4) to be turned about thereon as
described When the prop A is in use supporting the bicycle the stud C sinks into
the rectangular recess D' and thus limits or prevents side play of said prop. This
16 an important feature of my device as when the parts are in the relative positions
as shown in Fig. 3, any tendency the bicycle may have to run, in either duection,
18 overcome. This is more especially useful on sloping ground.
I do not limit my self to the exact means shown for preventing the prop turning
as various devices might be employed to retain it in its axial position as desned.
I however consider this the best way, after numerous experiments.
A screw E (omitted from some of the figs. for clearness) 18 used to hold the
eye D in place on clip B¹.
The loim of device shown in the diawings heretofore explained is adapted for
use on bicycles whose ear stays are straight In some cases they are curved
mwards towards each other near the crank biacket & I may then cause the prop A
or preferably the eye D to be curved so as to lie snugly alongside or underneath
when mactive. Such a form of eye is shown in Fig. 6 & the lower portion may,
if found necessary, be also bent inwards, as well as downwards as shown, especially
where the pedal uut passes very near the stay.

page_text: I am aware that props somewhat similar to my device have been used before
this date & I therefore make no broad claim to their employment or manufacture-
but
Ilaving now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my saut.
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that.
what I claim 18.
1. A support for a bicycle consisting of a light prop adapted to enter or rest
upon the ground and to prevent said bicycle fiom falling, said prop being pivotally
attached thereto in such manner that it is held igid when in acting position, and
may, when desired, be swung up & retained in inoperative position by a suitable
clip, substantially as described.
2. In a bicycle supporting device the clips B B' the latter carrying a rectangular
stud C which serves the two fold purpose of preventing side play of the prop A
and allowing same when desired to be rotated thereou to its inactive position,
substantially as described and showu.
3. In a bicycle supporting device, the use of a curved support, whereby the same
may be caused to lie snugly alongside or beneath the back stay of the machine,
when inoperative, substantially as described & shown with reference to Fig. 6.
Dated this 13th day of July 1896.
CHARLES COVENTRY,
Patent Expert,
Applicant's Agent.