Improvements in or relating to Stands or Supports for Bicycles and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Stands or Supports for Bicycles
and the like.
I, JOHN MEEK. of Beulah House, Chester Street Coventry in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
-:
My invention relates to stands or supports for holding bicycles and the like in an
upright or approximately upright position when not in use, and has for its object
the production of a simple and efficient stand at small cost.
In carrying out my invention in its simplest form I take a piece of wire rod or
other suitable material and of suitable dimensions and bend it double about the
middle, the diameter of the bend being preferably greater than the thickness of
the bars or treads of one of the pedals of the bicycle. At a certain convenient
distance from the bend I make an S turn in each part of the double wire, each
S turn lying in a plane at right angles or approximately at right angles to the
plane in which lies the bend in the middle of the wire. The ends of the wire
are somewhat spread apart from one another. To support the bicycle, I turn
one pedal so that one bar or block of it is vertically over the other, I fit the
bent wire astride the pedal and, by placing it diagonally to the length of the
pedal, cause the first bends of the two S turns to fit under the spikes or guides
on the outer end plate of the pedal and the middle bend to rest on the upper
bar thereof. The pedal is then brought to such a position that the ends of the
wire nearly touch the ground. The machine is then leant over until the said
ends do touch the ground, when the machine is firmly supported by the wire rod
attached to the pedal. When the machine is required for use it is raised from its
slanting position, the S turns are disengaged from the spikes and the wire rod is
withdrawn from the pedal.
The support may be adapted to be readily attached to the saddle pillar and back
fork of some other part or parts of the bicycle so that it may conveniently be
carried thereon.
If it be desired to hold the bicycle in an upright position I use a second support
which extends across the wheel base of the machine. The second support is
attached to the saine pedal as the first and consists of another doubled piece of
wire rod. At a certain convenient distance from the middle bend in the second
piece of wire rod I make another bend in each part of the doubled wire, each of
such last bends lying in a plane at right angles or approximately at right angles to
the plane in which lies the said middle bend. After the first support has been
fitted to the pedal, the second is attached thereto, the middle bend being passed
under the second bends of the two S turns in the first support, the other bends in
the second wire are fitted over the spikes or guides on the outer end plate of the
pedal and the two parts of the wire then cross the pedal and pass under the spikes
on the inner end plate and then proceed downward across the wheel base towards
the ground. The ends of the second wire rod are somewhat spread apart from one
another. The machine is held upright and the pedal brought to such a position
that both ends of both wires touch the ground, when the machine will remain in its
upright position.
Instead of forming the second support of one piece of wire rod it may be formed
of two equal or approximately equal pieces. Each of the two pieces is formed
similarly to one side or half of the one doubled piece, but where the middle bend
commences in the doubled piece, each of the two pieces terminates in an eye, the

page_text: apertures of the eyes being in line with each other: The two pieces are connected
towards their other ends by one or more bridges. This second support is placed in
a similar position to the other, so far as may be, on the pedal and a pin is thrust
through the two eyes under the second bends in the S turns of the first support.
The pin may be provided with a screw thread adapted to screw into one of the eyes
or to be passed through the eyes and be provided with a winged or other nut.
The removable pin allows the second support made from two pieces to be more
readily attached and detached than that made from one doubled piece.
As a further modification, I take two rods and form two S curves united by
another curve in each, and secure the two wires together in parallel proximity by
suitable bridges, at a distance apart preferably greater than the thickness of the
bars of the pedal but not greater than the distance apart of the ends of the spikes
or guides at the respective ends of the said pedal. The ends of the wires are
.somewhat spread apart from one another. To support the bicycle, I turn the
pedal so that one block is vertically over the other and place the pedal between
the two wires so that the spikes rest in the outer bends of the S curves, with the
bends uniting the S curves projecting above the upper surface of the top bar.
I thrust a pin of suitable form under the uniting bends and over the said upper
surface of the bar, so as to lock the support detachably to the pedal. The machine
is held upright and the pedal brought to such a position that both ends of both
wires touch the ground, when the machine will remain in its upright position.. The
two wires are preferably of such a length and are so formed that the ends extend
..an equal distance from each side of the wheel base. In each case the support or
supports is or are preferably of such a height that the pedal is at or near the
lowest point in its circle of rotation when the support is adapted to hold the
machine.
The supports may be cast or otherwise brought to the forms required and it will
be obvious that various modifications, combinations and variations of the parts of
my invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.
Dated this 16th day of November 1893.
W. B. MAXFIELD,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Stands or Supports for Bicycles
and the like.
I, JOHN MEEK of Beulah House, Chester Street Coventry in the County of
Warwick 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 :-.
My invention relates to stands or supports for holding bicycles and the like in an
upright or approximately upright position when not in use and has for its object the
production of a simple and efficient stand at small cost.
In order that my invention may be well understood I append drawings which
show the general form and arrangement of several varieties of my invention.
Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.
Figure I is a front view in elevation of one form of stand constructed according
to my invention and attached to and supporting a bicycle.
Figure II is an end view in elevation of the same stand.
Figure III is a front view in elevation of the stand shown in Figures I and II
used in conjunction with an additional piece which allows the bicycle to be held in
an upright position.
Figure IV is an end view showing a modification of the additional piece shown in
Figure III.

page_text: Figure Visa front view in elevation of another variety of my invention.
Figures VI and VII are end and front views respectively showing modifications
of the stand and additional piece shown in Figures III and IV.
Figures VIII and IX Sheet 2 are end views showing modifications of the stand
shown in Figures I and II.
Figure X is a front view of the stand shown in Figure VIII used in conjunction
with an additional piece.
Figure XI is a front view showing a modification of the stand shown in
Figure VIII and used in conjunction with a modified additional piece.
Figure XII is a front view of the stand shown in Figure IX and in conjunction
with an additional piece.
In carrying out my invention I take a piece of wire rod or other suitable material
and of suitable dimensions and bend it double about the middle 1. (Figures I
and II Sheet 1.) the diameter of the bend being preferably greater than the
thickness of the bars or treads 2, 3 of the pedals of the bicycle. At a certain
convenient distance from the bend 1. I make an S turn 4, 5 in each part of the
doubled wire, each S turn lying in a plane at right angles to the plane in which lies
the bend 1. The ends 6, 7 of the wire are somewhat spread apart from one another.
To support the bicycle, I turn one pedal so that one bar, say 2, is vertically over
the other 3. I fit the bent wire astride the pedal as shown in Figure II and by
placing it diagonally to the length of the pedal as shown in Figure I cause the first
bends 4, 4 of the two S turns to fit under the spikes or guides 10, 10 on the outer
end plate 21 of the pedal and the middle bend i to rest on the upper bar. 2 thereof.
The pedal is then brought to such a position that the ends 6, 7 of the wire nearly
touch the ground. The machine is then leant over until the said ends 6, 7 do touch
the ground when the machine is firmly supported by the wire rod attached to the
pedal, as indicated in Figure I, the stand forming a third point of support in
addition to the two afforded by the wheels of the bicycle where they touch the
ground, and as the third point is materially out of the line of the other two it forms
a base of sufficient area for the bicycle to stand on. When the machine is required
for use it is raised from its slanting position, the S turns are disengaged from the
spikes and the wire rod is withdrawn from the pedal.
The support may be adapted to be readily attached to a part or parts of the
bicycle so that it may conveniently be carried thereon. For example, it may be
attached to the saddle pillar and back fork of a rear driven safety bicycle, the
bend 1 engaging with the saddle pillar, the parts of the wire adjacent to the bend I
resting on the saddle pillar lug or bolt or other convenient part, the ends 6, 7 being
sprung between and under the members of the upper back fork, the said ends being
provided with outwardly directed feet so as to engage with the said members and
thus hold the supports to the bicycle. The support hereinafter described in
reference to Figure IX may be attached in a similar manner and other supports
hereinafter mentioned may be adapted to be attached in any convenient manner to
the bicycle or the like so that the rider may always have a support readily
accessible. This is more especially applicable to and convenient with rear driven
safety bicycles of the "Giraffe or high frame type, which cannot be made to stand
against an ordinary curbstone, as a low rear driven safety bicycle can.
"
Instead of adapting the wire rod to hold the pedal with its bars 2, 3 one vertically
over the other it may be adapted to hold it with the bars horizontally level with
each other as shown in Figure IX. In this case the diameter of the bend or bends 1
is greater than the width of the pedal across the bars 2, 3. At certain convenient
distances from the bend or bends 1 I make inward bends 4 and outward bends 5 in
each part of the doubled wire, all the bends preferably lying in the same or
approximately the same plane. To support the bicycle I turn the pedal so that the
bars 2, 3 lie horizontally level with each other. I fit the bend wire astride the
pedal as shown in Figure IX and diagonally to the length thereof as shown in
Figure XII with the middle 1 resting on the upper surfaces of the bars 2, 3 and the
parts between the bends 4, 4 and 5, 5 lying against the under surfaces of the said

page_text: bars. The machine is then supported in a similar manner to that described with
reference to the stand shown in Figures I and II. This modification is useful with
those pedals which are not provided with pronounced spikes or guides.
Instead of adapting the wire rod to be fitted astride the pedal it may be modified
as shown in Figure VIII Sheet 2. where the wire is severed in the middle and the
ends are bent outward as at 1, 1. The two parts of the wire are secured at a con-
venient distance apart by a bridge piece 20. The dimensions of the parts are such
that the ends 1, 1 may be inserted between the blocks 2, 3 when held at a suitable
angle to the length of the pedal. The stand is then turned at right angles to the
length of the pedal, so that the ends 1, 1 rest on the upper surfaces of the bars and
the bends 4, 4 fit under the outer end plate 21 as shown.
To support the bicycle I turn the pedal so that the bars 2, 3 lic horizontally level
with each other, attach the stand as above described and then proceed in a similar
manner to that described with reference to the stand shown in Figures I and II. .
If it be desired to hold the bicycle in an upright position, I use a second support
which extends across the wheel base of the machine. The second support is
attached to the same pedal as the first and may consist of another double piece of
wire rod as shown in Figure III. At a certain convenient distance from the middle
bend 31 in the second piece of wire rod I make another bend 32 in each part of the
doubled wire, each of such bends 32 lying in a plane at right angles or approximately
at right angles to the plane in which lies the said middle bend 31. After the first
support has been fitted to the pedal, the second is attached thereto, the middle
bend 31 being passed under the second bends 5, 5 of the two S turns in the first
support, the other bends 32, 32 in the second wire are fitted over the spikes or
guides 10, 10 on the outer end plate 21 of the pedal and the two parts of the second
support then cross the pedal and pass under the spikes 11, 11 on the inner end plate
and then proceed downward across the wheel base towards the ground. The ends.
of the second wire rod are somewhat spread apart from one another. The machine
is held upright and the pedal brought to such a position that both ends of both
supports touch the ground when the machine will remain in its upright position.
Instead of forming the second support of one piece of wire rod it may be formed
of two equal or approximately equal pieces (see Figure IV). Each of the two
pieces is formed similarly to one side or half of the double piece and each terminates
in an eye 25, the apertures of the eyes being in line with each other. The two
pieces are connected towards their other ends by one or more bridges 20. This
second support is placed in a similar position to that shown in Figure III so far as
may be, on the pedal and a pin 26 is thrust through the two eyes 25, under the
second bends 5, 5 in the S turns of the first support. The pin 26 may be provided
with a screw thread adapted to screw into one of the eyes or to be passed through
the eyes 25 and to be provided with a winged or other nut 27.
The pin is
removable and so allows the second support made from the two pieces to be more
readily attached and detached than that made from one doubled piece, as will be
very readily understood.
To further facilitate the attachment and detachment of the second support I
set out the parts of the first support between the bends 1, and 4 so that the
eyed ends of the second support may pass between the said set out parts of the
first support, see Figures VI and VII. I also make the bends 5 in the first
support, higher, so that the bends 32 in the second support become unnecessary
and are dispensed with.
Instead of the eyes 25 being complete and used with the pin 26, they may be
open on the under side as shown in Figure VII and be hooked on to the spikes or
guides 10, 10 of the outer end plate 21 as shown in Figure VII but I prefer to
use the eyes 25 and pin 26 as above described, as both the first and secondl
supports are then so secured to the pedal that they will not become detached from
the pedal or materially displaced even though the pedal be raised so far as to
lift them both (the first and second supports) from contact with the ground.
A second support with hooked ends 25 similar to those described with reference

page_text: to Figure VII may be used (as shown in Figure XII) in conjunction with the
form of support above described with reference to Figure IX to hold the machine
upright. In this case the ends 25 are adapted to pass between the bars 2, 3 of the
pedal and to rest on the upper edge of the outer end plate 21 thereof.
A second support may be used as shown in Figure X in conjunction with the
form of support above described with reference to Figure VIII. In this case
the eyed ends 25 of the second support are adapted to pass up between the bars 2, 3
of the pedal, and over the outwardly bent ends 1, 1 of the first support. A pin 26
passes through the eyes 25 and under the bends 5 in a similar manner to that
described with reference to Figure IV.
As a further modification (see Figure V) I take two rods and form
two S curves 4, 5 and 4, 5 united by another curve 12, in each, and secure the
two wires together in parallel proximity by suitable bridges 20, 20 at a distance
apart preferably greater than the thickness of the bars of the pedal but not
greater than the distance apart of the ends of the spikes or guides 10, 10
and 11, 11 at the respective ends of the said pedal. The ends of the wires are
somewhat spread apart from one another. To support the bicycle I turn the
pedal so that one block, say 2, is vertically over the other 3, and place the pedal
between the two wires so that the spikes or guides 10, 10 and 11, 11 rest in the
outer bends 4, 4 of the S curves with the bends 12 projecting above the upper
surface of the top bar 2. I thrust a pin 26 of suitable form under the bends 12
and over the said upper surface of the bar 2 so as to lock the support detachably
to the pedal. The machine is held upright and the pedal brought to such a
position that both ends of both wires touch the ground, when the machine will
remain in its upright position. The two wires are preferably of such a length and
are so formed that the ends extend an equal distance from each side of the
wheel-base.
A second support may be used, as shown in Figure X1 in conjunction with a
form of support similar to that shown in Figure VIII but having eyes 25 adapted
to lie just above the upper surface of the bars 2, 3 instead of the outwardly bent
ends 1, 1. In this case the second support consists of two pieces united by a
bridge 20 at such a distance apart as to allow the upper ends to pass between the
bars 2, 3. The upper ends are formed into eyes 25 adapted to lie just above the
upper surface of the bar 2, 3. A pin 26 is thrust through each pair of eyes and
the two pins may be made in one piece of U or equivalent form if desired. It
will be obvious that the outer of the two said parts with its pin constitutes a
modification of the supports above described with reference to Figures I, II,
VIII and IX, and it may be used as such.
In each case the support or supports is or are preferably of such a height that
the pedal to which it or they is or are attached it is at or near the lowest point
in the circle of rotation when the support or supports is or are adapted to hold the
machine.
The supports may be cast or otherwise brought to the forms required and it
will be obvious that various modifications, combinations and variations of the
parts of my invention may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.
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 stand or support for a bicycle or the like consisting of a wire rod or the
like constructed and applied so that it bears diagonally on the upper and lower
surfaces of one of the pedals and forms a firm connection between the said pedal
and the ground when the bicycle is leaned over so as to bear on the said support
substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. A stand or support for a bicycle or the like consisting of two wire rods or
the like constructed and applied so that one bears diagonally on the upper and
lower surfaces of one of the pedals and forms a firm connection between the said

page_text: pedal and the ground on one side of the wheel base at the same time as the other
wire rod or the like also attached to the said pedal forms a firm connection
between the said pedal and the ground on the other side of the wheel base of the
bicycle, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The improved stand for a bicycle or the like constructed as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figures I and II of the accompanying drawings.
4. The improved stand for a bicycle or the like constructed as herein before
described and illustrated by Figure III of the accompanying drawings.
5. The improved stand for a bicycle or the like constructed as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figure IV of the accompanying drawings.
6. The improved stand for a bicycle or the like constructed as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figure V of the accompanying drawings.
7. The improved stand for a bicycle or the like constructed as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figure VI of the accompanying drawings.
8. The improved stand for a bicycle or the like constructed as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figure VII of the accompanying drawings.
9. The improved stand for a bicycle or the like constructed as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figure VIII of the accompanying drawings.
10. The improved stand for a bicycle or the like constructed as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figure IX of the accompanying drawings.
11. The improved stand for a bicycle or the like constructed as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figure X of the accompanying drawings.
12. The improved stand for a bicycle or the like constructed as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figure XI of the accompanying drawings.
13. The improved stand for a bicycle or the like constructed as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figure XII of the accompanying drawings.
14. A stand or support for a bicycle or the like adapted to be readily attached
to some part or parts thereof so that it may conveniently be carried thereon,
substantially as set forth.
15. The improvements in or relating to stands or supports for bicycles or the like
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
-drawings.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1893.
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
Registered Patent Agent, 19, Bowling Green Street, Leicester,
Applicant's Agent.