Improvements in Bicycles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles.
We, EMIL DÖRING of Weistropp near Wilsdruff, Saxony in the Empire of
Germany, Mechanician, and FRIEDRICH AUGUST SIEGERT, of the same place
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :—
The object of our invention is to fit safety bicycles with additional wheels for
occasional use, such additional wheels being so fitted that the rider can at any time
lower them down to the ground level or raise them to a position clear of the ground.
Our invention is especially useful for novices learning to ride for mounting and
dismounting for stopping on the road without dismounting and for retaining the
bicycle in an upright position when the rider has dismounted.
:
And in order that our said invention may be particularly described and ascertained
reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of
reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a safety bicycle fitted with our invention. Fig. 2 is a
back view of the front half of the bicycle showing the additional wheels raised from
the ground.
Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the additional wheels lowered and extended.
Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 3; and Figs. 5 to 9 are views and sections of the
details.
In carrying out our invention we fix two cross bars m and m' to the steering rod i
of the front steering wheel c. The cross bar m is provided with two guide sockets e e,
and the cross bar m¹ is provided with two guide sockets n n so formed as to be
capable of clamping the rods ss by means of the thumb screws e¹el. The cross bar m¹
is shown enlarged in Fig. 5.
These cross bars sustain and also act as guides to two sliding and rotating rods & s.
These rods are enlarged at oo and are slotted at land for use as locking bayonet
joints, as shown in Figs. 2. 3. 6. 7. and 8. ff are two coiled springs fitted round the
rods ss their upper ends impinging against the cross bar m³, and their lower ends
pressing downwards upon the shoulders of the enlarged portions o o of the rod s.
The lower ends of the rods s's are curved as shown, so as to assume the positions
shown in Figs. 1 and 2, when not in use, and so as to assume the extended positions
shown in Figs. 3 and 4 when unlocked, lowered to the ground, and turned through
angles of 90° or thereabouts. b is the steering bar, h h are the two handles attached
to the rods ss, by which they are capable of being raised and lowered, locked and
unlocked. d d are two screws or bolts, fitted in the collars of the bar m, as shown,
the inner ends entering the slots 11. The rods s may be raised by the handles h h
and locked in the raised position, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 8. The rods are lowered
to the positions shown in Figs. 3-4 and 6, by turning the handles to the positions
shown in Figs. 3. 4 6 and 7, in which positions the rods ss may be secured by
clamping with the thumb screws e¹. rr are two caster wheels, capable of swivelling
upon the rods ss by means of swivel joints kk. are transverse locking slots, for
locking the rods ss when raised, as shown in Figs. 1. 2. 7. and 8.
:
When mounting the bicycle the supports may be fixed by means of the thumb
screws e and, when running on very level ground, the rods ss and wheels rr may
be so used; or the rider may permit the springs only to act upon the rods, and
thereby allow the springs to compensate for the unevenness of rough roads.
Referring to Fig. 9. and the accompanying details, a is the ordinary brake, pivoted
at a¹ and operated by the ordinary rod a."

page_text: 1
An additional lever u is fitted to the brake shoe, which may be lifted by the slotted
curved rod t. This rod t is attached to a screw-threaded tube a, which is actuated
by the threaded rod p. This rod is square headed, and is fitted with a collar w confined
in an annular groove, as shown. By turning the rod p with a movable koy, fitted
with a cross bar or milled-edged wheel, the brake may be applied independently of
the ordinary gear. The detail views fully explain the forms of the essential parts of
this gear, which will be found useful when the rider has dismounted upon an incline,
or when he is descending an incline, and requires additional brake power.
The handles may be used to steer by (if required) and also to relieve the
steering wheel of some of the weight, by pressing upon the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In safety bicycles, the combination therewith of wheels fitted to curved
rods ss having bayonet joint locking slots 1', traversed by screws dd; the rods s s
sliding and revolving in cross bar guides e e¹ of cross bars m m¹; the rods s s being
fitted with springs ff and handles h. h, substantially as and for the purposes herein-
before described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In bicycles fitted with additional wheels as aforesaid, the combination therewith
of an auxiliary brake levor u, capable of being raised by the slotted bent rod t
attached to the screw-threaded tube a, operated by the threaded rod p, substantially
as and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
3. The general construction, combination and arrangement of the several and
respective parts together constituting our invention of improvements in bicycles,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the drawings.
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicants.
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicants.