Improvements relating to Home-trainers for use with Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Home-trainers for use with Velocipedes.
We, GEORGE WATERS TARVER, of The Glen, Gleneldon Road, Streatham, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, ERNEST HENRY JONES, of 53 Clerkenwell Road,
in the County of London, Cycle Engineer, and JOHN DRING, of 57 Chancery Lane,
in the said County of London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to home-trainers for use with velocipedes of the
character patented to one of us numbered 9464 dated May 12, 1894.
In the specification of that patent there is described a home-trainer wherein a
velocipede such as a rear driven safety bicycle, is anchored by a rope, chain, or the
like to the apparatus, which latter consists of a suitable framework carrying one
roller or a pair of rollers upon which the velocipede wheels rest. When a pair
of rollers is employed they are enveloped by an endless band or its equivalent.
Our present invention has for its objects to provide an improved arrangement
for suitably retaining the velocipede in position and to effect the other improve-
ments herein indicated.
According to our invention one or more suitable supports are provided which
rise from the side of the framework of the apparatus. These supports terminate
in a universal joint to an extension or link from which is attached a suitable
clamping device that is adapted to be secured to the frame of the machine at a
point near the saddle. The arrangement is such that, in addition to the usual
movements of the universal joint, a certain amount of vertical play is provided
for. Thus the machine is firmly supported but without unduly straining any
part thereof and at the same time, though captive, it adapts itself to its rider ns
to steering, balance and otherwise exactly as though it were being ridden in the
ordinary manner and bringing into use the rider's muscles in precisely the same
way as when actually travelling upon the machine.
In carrying our present invention into practice we may, when two rollers are
employed in the apparatus, dispense with the endless band or its equivalent
described in the specification of the said former patent. In that case the rollers
are connected to each other through sprocket wheels and a chain or otherwise
suitably geared together.
000

page_text: Improvements relating to Home-trainors for use with Velocipedes.
We, GEORGE WATERS TARVER, of The Glen, Gleneldon Road, Streatham, in the
County of Surrey, Engineer, ERNEST HENRY JONES, of 53 Clerkenwell Road,
in the County of London, Cycle Engineer, and JoN DRING, of 57 Chancery Lane,
in the said County of London, Gentleman, 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:-
The present invention relates to home-trainers for use with velocipedes of the
character patented to one of us numbered 9464 dated May 12th, 1894.
In the specification of that patent there is described a home-trainer or apparatus
for teaching or practising the riding of a velocipede wherein a machine, such as
a rear driven safety bicycle, is anchored by a rope, chain, or tho like to the
apparatus, which latter consists of a suitable framework carrying one roller or a
pair of rollers upon which the velocipede wheels rest. When a pair of rollers is
employed they are enveloped by an endless band or its equivalent.
Our present invention has for its objects to provide an improved arrangement
for suitably retaining the velocipede in position, and to effect the other improve-
ments herein indicated.
According to our invention the said velocipede is held firmly but freely at a
point as near as possible to, or actually at, the saddle. The pedalling of the
velocipedo rotates the driving wheel and transmits its movement to the endless
band which in turn rotates the steering wheel as described in the said former
specification. The endless band becomes thus, in effect, a moving artificial course
or road, the velocipede being maintained stationary but, owing to the method and
point of attachment, the same conditions of balance and steering obtain as when
the velocipede is actually ridden on the road.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 shows in side elevation one form of our improved apparatus, being a
couch when not employed for training or exercising purposes.
Figuro 2 is an end elevation thereof.
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 1 showing a modified form of apparatus,
being a settee or box when not otherwise employed, and,
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7 illustrato our improved means for securing the velocipede
firmly but freely in position upon the apparatus.
Within a frame A, which has folding, dropping or detachable platforms B,
are mounted rollers C. Over the rollers is an endless band J and on this band rest
the wheels of the velocipede.
According to our present invention on each side of the frame A are secured
lugs or sockets N from which supports P rise. These supports extend towards
each other and at their approaching ends they are secured to a plate Q. Between
this point and the point of attachment to the velocipede as hereinafter described
it is necessary that there should be a universal joint. For this purpose an
L-shaped pin R may pass through an aperture in the plate Q and be capable of
free vertical movement therethrough and allow of horizontal movement through
a certain arc. The pin R carries a suitable clamping device. Figure 4 shows
one form in which the limb r passes freely through a lug on the one jaw-plate T
of a clamping device and is retained by a nut or other suitable means. The
back stays of the velocipede are clamped between the said plate T and a second
ono T by means of a winged nut U, as shown, at a point as near as possible to,
or actually at, the saddle. By modifying tho form of the clamping device it is

page_text: obvious that the same might be attached to the saddle, its pillar or pin, or other
adjacent part of the velocipede.
Figure 5 shows in plan and to an enlarged scale a modified arrangement for
obtaining horizontal play. Fixed on the plate Q are rollers g around which pass
a chain 8. Attached to the said chain are hooks s shown as designed to embrace
the seat pillar of the velocipede. The said clrain is also provided with an adjust-
ing device which may, as shown in the drawing, consist of au internally threaded
sleeve into which screw a hook s' and a shackle . For attachment and
detachment purposes one portion of the chain engages with the hook s' and the
turning of the sleeve permits of precise adjustment of the parts. Obviously
this arrangement might be such that the hooks might tako directly on to the
saddle and if required one or more springs might be inserted in the chain.
An alternative method of obtaining a universal joint is that shown respectively
in plan and elevation in Figures 6 and 7 wherein a lug a passes freely through
the plate Q and is held by a nut a¹ or otherwise. Through this lug a bolt b held
by a nut 6 freely passes and connected to it is a link e to which in turn is secured
the clamping device.
When the apparatus is not in use with a velocipede the supports P and the
ocskets N may, in the arrangement shown in Figure 1, be detached.
Figure 3 illustrates a modified arrangement wherein the supports are telescopic
so as to be adapted for machines of various heights and to facilitate folding. The
one portion P of the supports is in this instance jointed to the frame and when
not in use will close down into grooves provided for the purpose in the frame or
otherwise. The portions are attached to the plate Q and the parts are
maintained in their desired positions one within the other by clamping screws 2.
In some cases we may dispense with the plate Q and, in lieu of the supports P
illustrated in Figures 1 and 3, employ a single support in the form of an arch
extending from one side to the other of the frame A and hinged or jointed thereto
as hereinbefore described with reference to the supports P. At the crown of tho
arch is clamped an arm the opposite extremity of which is provided with an eye
through which the pin R passes. The arch is suitably maintained in position by
adjustable supports. To afford a larger range of adjustment or otherwise the
arch may be made to incline backwards and be held in that position by supports
extending from the frame and which run along the sides of the arch and cau bo
clamped thereto in a manner similar to that shown in p in Figure 3. In this
Intter case the above mentioned arm may he turned over and an extension rod
placed between it and the pin R.
When it is desired to employ the apparatus with a velocipede the platforms B
are opened out and the velocipede placed in position and secured thereto as
described.
By our invention in addition to the usual movements of the universal joint, a
certain amount of vertical play is provided for. In this manner the machine is
adequately supported or restrained but without unduly straining any part thereof
and at the same time, though captive, it adapts itself to its rider as to steering,
balance and otherwise exactly as though it were being ridden in the ordinary
manner, and so bring into use the rider's muscles in precisely the same way as
when the velocipedo is actually travelling on the road.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the sanio is to be performed, wo declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In an apparatus for teaching or practising the riding of a velocipede, the
combination, with an endless band passing over rollers rotatably mounted in a
framework and forming a moving artificial course or road operated by the driving
wheel of a captive velocipede, of means for firmly but freely holding the said
velocipede at or near ita saddle substantially as set forth.
2. In an apparatus for teaching or practising the riding of a velocipede, means,

page_text: located between a clamping or securing device for holding the velocipede at or
near its saddle and supports rising from the framework, for forming a universal
joint or pivotal connection substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The construction, arrangement, and combination of parts constituting our
improved apparatus for teaching or practising the riding of a velocipede sub- 5
stantially as set forth and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of August 1897.
A. F. SPOONER,
323 High Holborn, London, Agent for the Applicants.