Improvements in or connected with Safety Bicycles and Tracks therefor suitable for use at Fairs and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th May, 1897-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897
Improvements in or connected with Safety Bicycles and Tracks
therefor suitable for use at Fairs and the like.
JOHN THOMASON Builder St. Patrick's Road St. Annes on the Sea Lancashire do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in Safety Bicycles for Riding on an improved
raised Track 2 ft. more or less from the Ground and by which means any person may
ride without fear of falling. My invention consists in constructing such Safety
Bicycles in such a manner that when placed upon the said raised track it is held in
an upright position, by guides running 2 ft. more or less. below the bottom of the
Bicycles Wheels which said guides terminate with 4 small guide wheels fitted with
Rubber Tyres or otherwise which said guide wheels run and impinge on and against
a path placed horrizontally and perpendicularly on the said raised track. In one
modification my improvement may be fitted to any existing Bicycles and that my
improved Bicycle is intended to run on an Improved Raised Track (portable and
Permement) and suitable to be used at Fairs, Fetes, and on Private Grounds.,
Dated this 3rd day of August 1896.
Improvements in or connected with Safety Bicycles and Tracks
therefor suitable for use at Fairs and the like.
I, JOHN THOMASON of St. Patrick's Road, St. Annes-on-the-Sea in the County of
Lancaster, Builder 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 relation to railways or plateways for recreation or amusement,
and is specially designed for use at public pleasure resorts, though it may also be used
for the purposes of private amusement. It comprises a raised railway, plateway or
track, two feet more or less from the ground, a bicycle. for conveying a rider along
said raised track, and means for supporting said bicycle upright on the track, so that
a person may ride it without fear of falling.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 shows a portion of the raised track with the bicycle mounted thereon;
Figure 2, an end elevation; and
Figure 3, a plan.
In these Figures, A is the single raised track supported by the framework Ba
suitable height above the ground. This track with its supporting framework com-
posed of stanchions with supporting bases, may be laid in a circular path, or it may
be straight or otherwise arranged as desired, and furthermore it may be laid on the

page_text: switchback or the gravitation principles, or laid level throughout its length. C is the
bicycle for conveying the rider along the track A with treadles to enable him to propel
himself with his feet. The tyres are of ordinary construction, and run in the rail A
which is of U section. D D¹ are fixed auxiliary tracks and E guide rods or bars on
each side terminating at their ends with guide rollers F fitted with rubber tyres or
otherwise. These guide rollers roll. against the auxiliary. tracks. D. and support the
bicycle in an upright position. It will be noticed that there are three sets of these
auxiliary tracks, two D.to.prevent side play, and the third D¹ to prevent the bicycle
jumping off the main track A. G is a horizontal frame rod for the purpose of
: strengthening the bicycle and of enabling it better to resist rough usage, H-india-
rubber buffers at each end thereof, I a stay bridge bridging over the track A and
adapted to keep the bars E at a given distance apart. If desired a pawl or ratchet
device may be provided for preventing the bicycle moving backwards.
I have described the above way of carrying my invention into effect, but it is obvious
that having once given the general idea, alterations may be made without departing
from the principle of the invention. Thus for example, the rails might be of V or
angle section, or they might be of a T-section and the tyres formed with side flanges,
or in any other suitable manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :--
1. A recreation railway or plateway comprising a single raised track, a bicycle for
conveying a rider along the same, and means for supporting the said bicycle upright
on the track, whereby a person may ride without fear of falling, substantially as
described.
2. In a railway or plateway for recreation and amusement, a bicycle and a raised
track along which the bicycle is propelled, in combination with auxiliary tracks and
guide rollers or other equivalent devices running on or against said auxiliary tracks
and supporting the bicycle upright, whereby a person may ride without fear of falling,
substantially as described.
3. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my
improved apparatus for recreation and amusement and applicable for use at public
pleasure resorts or elsewhere, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 4th day of May 1997
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.
Patent Agents,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham & London.