Improvements in Olamps for Suspending Bicycles in Railway Vans, Store Houses and other places.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Nov.,
1899
Complete Specification Left, 11th Sept., 1900-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1900
Improvements in Olamps for Suspending Bicycles in Railway Vans,
Store Houses and other places.
1, FREDERICK JOHN Cox, of No. 186, Brecknock Road, Tufnell Park, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in clamps for suspending bicycles in
railway guards'-vans, store or out-houses and other places, and is especially
useful where a great number of machines have to be stored in a small space
and as much out of the way as possible.
According to my invention, the improved clamp consists of two juws con-
nected together at each end by means of bolts and nuts. These bolts project
considerably on one side of the clamp, and helical springs, normally under
compression, are placed over the projecting bolts; said springs being confined
between the adjacent half of the clamp and a temporarily fixed head or collet
on the extremity of the bolts. Thus the two halves of the clamp are normally
pressed together by the said springs but are capable of being opened apart on
suflicient counter-pressure being applied. This counter-pressure requires to be
rather considerable as the springs are necessarily strong in order to render the
clamp strong enough to hold firmly a bicycle suspended entirely off the ground
for any length of time without liability to relax its grip and let the machine drop.
In order to efficiently and yet easily apply the counter-pressure, to open the
clamp, each half of the clamp is or may be provided with inclined surfaces
situated opposite each other in pairs; the inclinations being in reverse direc-
tions, and wedges, fixed on a bar moved by a hand lever, are caused to insinuate
themselves between and ride on these inclined surfaces, and it will be under-
stood that this has the effect of opening the clamp more or less, as desired.
Instead of wedges, either toggle or parallel links may be employed or any other
well known mechanical equivalent; and the wedges and inclined surfaces may
consist of, or be fitted with, rollers, balls or other unti-friction devices.
An eccentric cam on the lever may be employed instead of the links or
wedges. The front of the clamp is preferably curved to suit the curvature of
the wheel and padded to prevent damage to the same.
A curved arm extends from the clamp, said arm being hooked at its free
extremity to embrace one of the stay tubes to hold the machine steady and
prevent it being shaken during a railway or other journey.
Dated the 11th day of November 1899.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Clamps for Suspending Bicycles in Railway Vans,
Store Houses and other places.
I, FREDERICK Jons Cox, of No. 186, Brecknock Road, Tufnell Park, in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer, 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 relates to improvements in clamps for suspending bicycles in
railway guards' vans, store or out-houses and other places, and is especially
useful where a great number of machines have to be stored in a small space
and as much out of the way as possible.
According to my invention, the improved clamp consists of two jaws con-
nected together at cach end by means of bolts and nuts. These bolts project
considerably on one side of the clamp and helical springs normally under
compression are placed over the projecting bolts; said springs being confined
between the adjacent half of the clamp and a temporarily fixed head or collet
on the extremity of the bolts. Thus the two halves of the clamp are normally
pressed together by the said springs but are capable of being opened apart on
sufficient counter-pressure being applied. This counter-pressure requires to be
rather considerable as the springs are necessarily strong in order to render the
clamp strong enough to hold firmly a bicycle suspended entirely off the ground
for any length of time without liability to relax its grip and let the machine drop.
In order to efficiently and yet easily apply the counter-pressure, to open the
clamp, each half of the clamp is or may be provided with inclined surfaces
situated opposite ecch other in pairs; the inclinations being in reverse direc-
tions, and wedges fixed on a bar moved by a hand lever are caused to insinuate
themselves between and ride on these inclined surfaces, and it will be under-
stood that this has the effect of opening the clamp more or less, as desired.
In order that my invention may be the more readily understood I hereby refer
to the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which
Figure 1 represents a side view and elevation of my appliance fixed in position
to the wall of the van or other place to which it is allixed.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 3 shews the one jaw or side of the clamp separate and removed from
the position it occupies in Figure 1.
Figure 4 shews a similar view of the movable jaw or clamp seen in Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a section in partial elevation through the section line 5-5 of
Figure 1.
Figure
is a detail view of part of the movable mechanism.
Figure 7 is an end elevation of a variation of my invention.
Figure 8 is a partial section through the line 8-8 of Figure 7.
Figure 9 shows the apparatus in position clamping and rigidly retaining in
proper position the bicycle wheel.
Figure 10 is a section through a further variety of my apparatus and
Figure 11 is an end elevation of a yet further variation.
In the different figures the same letters are used for the same or corresponding
parts.
a and b are the cheeks or jaws designed to grip and securely hold the tyre or
bicycle wheel. As may be seen from Figures 1 to 5 they are suitably curved
and shaped for this purpose, the clamp or cheek 6 is provided with brackets c, c
by which it may be rigidly secured to the wood or wall of the van or to any

page_text: suitable place where it is desired to erect the apparatus. The cheek or clamp a
is movable on the guide rods h, h which at one end are provided with suitable
nuts and at the same time carry helical springs j, j, which are held in place
by collars cottered or suitably attached to the ends of the said guide rods h.
A handle d pivotted at e in a bracket or other suitable extension of the clamp
or cheek has an oblong slot near its middle with which engages the bolt f
screwed into or integral with a movable piece g. The interior side of the
clamps or cheeks a and b are provided with wedged shaped projections k, k, with
which the movable piece g, provided with similar wedged-shaped pieces makes a
sliding contact. The clamp or cheek a is more completely seen in Figure 4,
where it may be clearly observed that it is provided with two holes 1, 1 for sliding
on the guide rods h, h and also with a longitudinal perforation or slot r through
which passes out laterally the handle or lever d. The cheek or clamp & which
is clearly seen in Figure 3 is similarly provided with holes 1, and with the
wedged-shaped projections k, kabove described and with a shorter slot for
the end of the lever or handle d to project through.
In the variation of the apparatus shewn in Figure 7 the handled is differently
shaped, being bent at right angles to the plane in which dis shewn in the
previous figures and is rigidly connected with a camp which moves in a square
hole or perforation in the sliding double wedged-shaped piece g
In the variation shewn in Figure 10 the sliding part is dispensed with
and the handle or lever d operated directly on the movable cheek or clamp a,
through the intervention of a came the two cheeks being in this case arranged
to be kept apart by the spring j mounted between them, spring attached to
the end of the lever d tending to cause them to approach one another.
In the variation shewn in Figure 11 the wedged-shaped projections k, kare
entirely omitted; the movable slide g being linked or toggle jointed to the
clamps or checks a and b by the links q, q.
In employing my apparatus I proceed as follows:-I forcibly move the handle
or lever in the direction shewn by the arrow Figure 2. This causes the moving
slide to move in the same direction, whereby its wedge-shaped rmd pressing on
the wedge-shaped projection k, k force the clamps a and b apart, that is to say
as the clamp or cheek is fixed by the bracket c, it causes the clamp a to
separate itself from the clamp or cheek b compressing the piece h, hand leaving
a wider space between the checks or jaws a, and b
The bicvele wheel is
then inserted between them whereupon the handle d is released, the check a
approaches the cheek in obedience to the action of the helical springs and
secures the wheel in the position shewn in Figure 9, a bent rod m pivotted at s
serves to support the frauie of the machine. This bent rod when not in use can
be folded up by turning it on its pivot and held in that position by means of a
spring catch until again required for use.
In the variations of my apparatus shewn, the actions involved are analogous.
In the form shewn in Figure 7, the handle or lever d is turned so as to cause
the camp to move the slide with the wedged-shaped ends to move in the same
direction as it is actuated in the form of the apparatus above described and for
the same purpose and with the same result.
In the variation shewn in Figure 10 the operation is as follows:--When
the handle dis revolved about its pivot el towards the right of the figure, the
cam which is integral with it turns also and assumes a position which enables
the cheek or jaw a to recede further away from the cheek or jaw b owing to the
action of the helical spring j. When the bicycle is inserted in its position
between the jaws a and b the lever & being returned to its original position either
by hand or by the action of the spring or by both the cam being integral
with it is brought back into the position shewn in the drawing and locks the
jaws in that position.
In the modification shown in Figure 11, the movable or moving slide 7 is con-
nected to the jaws or cheeks a and b as already explained by the links q, y

page_text: When the handle or lever is operated the action in this case is the same as
previously described, namely to separate the check a from the check b so
as to allow the bicycle to be casily inserted. To increase the ease with which
the apparatus is worked, ball bearings or roller bearings may be mounted where
the slide y makes frictional contact with the wedged-shaped projection k, k.
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 clamp holder for bicycles or the like vehicles consisting of suitably shaped
spring controlled jaws adapted to be separated from one another by the action
of a handle or lever a sufficient distance to enable the wheel or other suitable
part of the bicycle to be inserted between them, the sand spring control thereupon
clamping the said jaws together so as to maintain the part of the bicycle inserted
between the jaws rigidly and securely in position substantially as described and
set forth.
2. In apparatus for clamping or securing bicycles or the like vehicles, the
combination of a fixed jaw or cheek, a movable jaw or cheek sliding on guides
and controlled by springs, a moveable slide, wedge-shaped at its ends these
wedge-shaped ends being adapted to engage with corresponding wedge-shaped
projections integral with the jaws above-mentioned so as when actuated by a
lever to effect the movement of one of the said jaws away from the other, of a
lever for actuating the said slide, and of a bent arm or rod pivoted in one of the
jaws and adapted to support the frame of the bicycle, substantially as described.
3. In apparatus for clamping or securing bicycles or the like vehicles, the
combination of a fixed jaw or check, a movable jaw or check sliding on guides
and controlled by springs, a moveable slide cut away towards its middle and
adapted to engage with and be actuated by a cam rigidly connected to or integral
with a handle or lever, the said slide being provided with wedge-shaped ends
adapted to engage with corresponding wedge-shaped projections integral with
the jaws above mentioned so as when actuated by a lever to effect the movement
of one of the said jaws away from the other, of a lever for actuating the said
slide, and of a bent arm or rod pivoted in one of the jaws and adapted to support
the frame of the bicycle, substantially as described.
4. In apparatus for clamping or securing bicycles or the like vehicles, the com-
bination of a fixed jaw or cheek, a movable jaw or cheek sliding on guides and
controlled by springs, a movable slide connected with the aforesaid cheeks by
means of links so as when actuated by a lever to effect the movement of one
of the said jaws away from the other, of a lever for actuating the said slide, and
of a bent arm or rod pivoted in one of the jaws and adapted to support the framo
of the bicycle, substantially as described.
5. In apparatus for clamping or securing bicycles or the like vehicles, the
combination of a fixed jaw or cheek, a movable jaw or cheek sliding on guides
and controlled by springs, the movable jaw being caused to recede from and
approach to the fixed jaw by the combined action of a lever a cam rigidly fixed
thereto and of a helical spring or springs, substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
ted the fith day of September 1900.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.