Improvements in Attachments or Supports to Bicycles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1899-Accepted, 19th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Attachments or Supports to Bicycles.
I, WILLIAM BENNETT RULE, of No. 18, Peak Hill Avenue, Sydenham, London,
S.E., 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:-
Whereas such locomotive machines as are known by the name of cycle or
bicycle, are usually supported on two wheels only, a common inconvenience is
experienced from the inability to make the machine stand alone. In order
to effect this, it is necessary to place it in a leaning position against a wall or
something akin to it, or to rest the pedal on a curb stone or other place that
may happen to be disposable, and in the absence of some such kind of points
of support, it often has to be laid bodily on the ground.
Now my improvements provide a simple and effective means whereby any
cycle may be made to stand alone in any place whatever. The new attachment
is carried on the cycle and does not interfere with the working of any part, nor
does it perceptibly increase the weight of the machine. It can be brought into
use in a moment, and as soon as finished with, can be returned to its place.
When in use it acts practically as a third point of support to the machine and
converts it into a tripod.
In order to effect the said improvement, I use a compound rod which may be
made of two or more main working parts and may be drawn out as a telescope
and lengthened to the necessary extent. When not in use it may be shortened so
as to be conveniently carried on a suitable part of the machine.
In the case of cycles which are used by men, it is carried preferably under
the top horizontal stay, on which the saddle is supported; and in those which
are made for women, it may be conveniently attached to one of the fore down
stays. It may however be attached to any other part that may answer the
purpose.
The rod to be used for said purpose, may consist of a tube of brass or other
material, within which a rod of suitable material is placed so as to be drawn out
and fixed at the length required to reach the ground, and form with the wheels
a tripod, so that the machine may be able to stand alone.
Or the rod may be
made of stout wire in two or more pieces that slide side by side, or the two
pieces may be united by a hinge or other suitable method. There are various
other ways of making a compound rod or a device which may carry out the
same idea and effect the same object, which are too numerous to mention.
In order that the foregoing statements may be clearly understood, the following
lescription of the annexed drawings is added:-
Fig. 1, shews the rod when not in use, carried under the top horizontal stay S
f a bicycle. R R are rings which hold the rod in place. The right ring sup-
orts the rod when it rests upon the ground and in combination with the left ring,
upports it when not in use. The left ring is combined with a hook on which
he rod rests.

page_text: Fig. 2, ACE is a section of a small metallic tube, B P is a rod which slides
to and fro in the tube. At C there is a collar or projection on the rod B which
prevents its being pulled out further than that point. At E there is a spring
which drops into a grooved ring R in rod B and prevents the rod from returning
into the tube A CE when it is resting on the ground and supporting the cycle.
When the rod is returned to the end of the tube, the spring E falls at P and
keeps it from coming out.
Fig. 3 represents the rod in use, supporting the bicycle and forming a tripod
with the wheels.
The foregoing description is deemed sufficient to convey a clear idea of the said
improved attachment. Variations may be made as to the method of making
the rod, or its attachment to one or other part of the machine, always however
effecting the same object of forming a tripod with such compound rod or its
equivalent as described and being of similar use to a bicycle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is performed, I declare that what I
claim is
-
1. The attachment to a bicycle or the combination therewith, of a compound
rod, such as described or its equivalent or any modification thereof, which works
on the same basis, circumscribing the same idea and accomplishing the same
object, by forming a tripod with the wheels of the cycle and enabling it to stand
up without further additional support than that furnished by the said rod.
2. The combination with a bicycle of rings or their equivalent which are
attached to the upper stay or other convenient part, which serve for the purpose
of supporting the said rod in such places and under such circumstances as sub-
stantially described.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1899.