Improvements in or relating to Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left 20th Mar 1807 Accented 20th Mov 1897
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Bicycles.
We, SYLVESTER ALEXANDER WATKINS of 24 Coleherne Road, South
Kensington in the County of London, Horologist and WILLIAM ARTHUR
DAVID KEYS of 91 Piccadilly in the same county, Watch and Clock Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to bicycles and consists in providing them with an
apparatus which while not normally interfering with the running of the bicycle on
its ordinary wheels will enable the rider to stop and remain stationary without
dismounting and will also allow of the rider mounting while the bicycle is quite
stationary.
The apparatus consists of two stays or supporting rods one at each side of the
frame in combination with devices or mechanism whereby the said stays or rods
can be either raised clear of the ground and at the same time drawn inwards towards
the sides of the frame this being their normal position, or extended from the sides
of the frame at an angle and at the same time lowered so as to bear 'upon the
ground, their lower ends being each fitted with a small wheel or roller. When
thus extended and lowered they serve to support the bicycle when stationary.
The manner in which the invention may be carried out is as follows:-We joint
the upper ends of the two stays or rods to a lever operated by a suitable handle so
as to lower or raise them as required. We also joint'the stays at an intermediate
part of their length each to one end of a link the other end of which is jointed to
a suitable part of the frame. As the stays are being lowered by means of the
lever the consequential movement of the two links pushes the stays outwards so
that they become extended sideways as well as lowered; when on the other hand
the stays are being raised by means of the lever the links draw them inwards.
towards the frame.
In addition to serving to support the bicycle while stationary our apparatus
will be found very useful for those learning to ride as the stays 'can be kept.
lowered to the ground while the bicycle is travelling and will therefore keep it.
upright.
Deted this 20th day of M... 1900
We, SYLVESTER ALEXANDER WATKINS of 24 Coléherne Road, South
Kensington, in the County of London, Horologist, and WILLIAM ARTHUR
DAVID KEYS of 91 Piccadilly in the same county, Watch 'and 'Clock Manu-
facturer, 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 reference to 'bicycles and consists in the combination therewith

page_text: of an apparatus which while not normally interfering with the running of the bicycle
on its ordinary wheels will enable the rider to stop and remain stationary without
dismounting and will also allow of the rider mounting while the bicycle is quite
stationary.
The apparatus consists of two stays or supporting rods one at each side of the
frame in combination with devices or mechanism whereby the said stays or rods
can be either raised clear of the ground and at the same time moved inwards
towards the sides of the frame this being their normal position or extended from
the sides of the frame at an angle and at the same time lowered so as to bear
upon the ground their lower ends being each fitted with a small wheel roller or
When thus extended and lowered they serve to support the bicycle when
stationary.
In addition to serving to support the bicycle while stationary our apparatus will
be found very useful for those learning to ride as the stays 'can be kept lowered to
the ground while the bicycle is travelling and will therefore keep it upright. The
invention will be found particularly useful for crowded thoroughfares or for
military purposes to enable riders to remain stationary or to proceed slowly
without dismounting.
The manner in which our invention may be carried out when applied for example
to a gentleman's diamond-frame bicycle of the so-called "safety" type is illustrated
in Figs. 1 and 2 which are respectively a side elevation and a rear end elevation of
the bicycle.
To the handle bar A there is pivoted a hand lever 1 movably jointed by means
of a connecting rod 2 to a lever 3 which is pivoted at a suitable point B of the
front part of the frame (see Fig. 3) and which is movably jointed by means of
connecting rods 4 to one end of bent levers 5 5 which are pivotted in spring or
other bearings C attached to a staple-like support 6 extending transversely above
the hind wheel and secured by the horizontal extension or tie rod 6 the latter being
carried by the saddle pillar and back stays.
To the other ends of the levers 5 5 there are movably jointed stays or struts 7
which extend one on each side of the hind wheel down to within a short distance
of the ground and carry at their lower ends rollers wheels or castors 8 which may
if preferred be fitted with pneumatic tyres.
Radius links 99 pivotted at suitable pointa D D of the hack stays of the bicycle
frame are movably jointed to the stays 77 at suitable points 10 intermediate of the
lengths of the struts.
A suitable clip or eatch 11 is provided on the handle har for the purpose of
locking the stays 7 7 in their operative positions that is to say lowered on to the
ground.
The operation of this apparatus is as follows:-
In the inoperative position of the stays 7 7 that is to say when they the rollers 8 8
are raised off the ground the hand lever 1 is disengaged from the catch 11. When
the rider wishes to lower the stays and rollers to the ground he draws up the handle
lever 1 towards the handle bar by a grasp of his hand thereby operating through
the medium of the connecting rod 2, lever 3, connecting rods 4, and levers 5 5 to
depress the stays 7 7 towards the ground. At the same time the outward turning
movement of the radius links 9 9 acts to push the struts outwards in such a manner
that when the rollers or wheels 8 8 bear upon the ground the stays 77 are extended
outwards (i.e. sideways) to such an extent as to afford a broad and secure base of
support on both sides of the bicycle as shown in the figures. The stays can now be
locked in this position by means of the catch 11. In order to raise the stays off the
ground when the rider is in the saddle or at any other time he need only open the
catch 11 so as to release the hand lever I whereupon the resiliency of the spring
bearing C will act to return the levers 55 into their normal position thereby raising
the stays 77 with their rollers 8 8 off the ground.
In this movement the inward tendency of the links 9.9 pulls the stays inwards
towards the sides of the hind wheel in such a manner that the stays lie close up

page_text: against the hind wheel so as to reduce as much as possible the total transverse.
breadth of the bicycle at that part.
In applying our invention to a bicycle in course of construction our apparatus
will preferably be made an integral part of the bicycle. When the apparatus.
is on the other hand to be applied to an existing bicycle we provide it with.
clips to enable it to be secured to the bicycle frame by means of bolts; these
clips in the bicycle illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 are situated and shown at the
points 12, 12, 12.
Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a modified way of carrying out our invention the bicycle
here shown being what is known as a "drop frame" or ladies' safety bicycle. The
lever 5 is pivotted to the lower member of the drop frame at C and movably
jointed by means of a connecting rod 4" to a point 10% of the stay 7. The outward
movement of the stay is effected by movably jointing the stays at their upper ends.
on pins 9 9a mounted on the back stays of the bicycle in a plane oblique to the
plane of the motion of the stays 7 in the direction of the pull of the connecting
rod 4.
It is to be understood that the hind arm of the lever 5 and the connecting rod 4*.
are in duplicate sets one on each side of the bicycle frame for connection' to the two
stays 7 7.
Fig. 5 illustrates a modification in the connection of the lever 1 with the handle.
bar A. The lever 1 is in this case lengthened and is pivoted to the handle bar at.
the right hand side of the standard A; greater leverage is thus obtained. The
operation of the connecting rod is in this case the reverse of those shown in
Figs. 1 to 4 that is to say the connecting rod 2 is raised not lowered in the.
operation of lowering the stays 7 7 and rollers 8 8 to the ground.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we.
claim is :-
4
1. In a bicycle an apparatus consisting of two stays or struts one at each side of
the frame and carrying rollers wheels or castors at their lower ends in combination.
with the mechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and hereinbefore described whereby the
said stays or rods with their rollers wheels or castors can be either raised clear of the
ground and at the same time moved inwards towards the sides of the frame or
extended from the sides of the frame at an angle and at the same time lowered so
that the rollers wheels or castors bear on the ground and afford lateral support to.
the bicycle substantially as set forth.
2. In a bicycle an apparatus consisting of two stays or struts one at each side of
the frame and carrying rollers wheels or castors at their lower ends in com-
bination with the mechanism shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and herein before described
whereby the said stays or rods with their rollers wheels or castors can be either
raised clear of the ground and at the same time moved inwards towards the sides
of the frame or extended from the sides of the frame at an angle and at the same.
time lowered so that the rollers wheels or castors bear on the ground and afford.
lateral support to the bicycle substantially as set forth.
Dated this 29th day of March 1897.
S. A. WATKINS,
For self, &c., Patentees.