Improved Means applicable for Use in Storing or Carrying Bicycles.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means applicable for Use in Storing or Carrying Bicycles.
I, HENRY LOW WEBSTER, of 11, St. Oswald's Road, Lillie Bridge, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to means for safely and conveniently stowing bicycles
whether in the show-rcom, warehouse, when carrying the same in railway-trains,
on board ship, or elsewhere; the objects being to ensure their freedom from
injury, while rendering them readily accessible for removal when required, and
to effect an important economy in space, especially when transporting such
machines in railway-trains, on board ship or the like.
According to my improved method, the bicycles are arranged around a column
whercon are mounted shoes and other devices whereby the machines are held in
a radial position in regard to the central column; the various parts being so
arranged upon the column as to be capable of turning with or about the same
as an axis the bicycles being placed so that the tread of the wheels rest against
the column while the handle-bars occupy the outermost position.
In applying my invention, by way of example, to a luggage van of a railway-
train, I erect a column, which may be hollow for lightness, in suitable journals
or bearings secured respectively to the floor and roof of the van, the said column
or shaft being placed in the position most convenient for allowing of the rotation
of the apparatus when charged with bicycles. Near the lower end of the column
or shaft is fitted a boss which carries a number of radial shoes; the latter being
pivoted at their inner end so as to be capable of folding up against the column.
The back or underside of the shoe is formed with a butt or projection so that
when opened out or put down for use it forms a stop (similar to the heel of a
pocket-knife blade) and maintains the shoe clear of the floor. The shoes are
formed with upwardly extending side flanges, the intervening space being suffi-
cient to accommodate the tyre and rim of the road wheel. The inner surface of
the shoe may be curved to agree with the radius of the wheel and may be rendered
adjustable for different sized wheels if found desirable. By suitably forming
the flanges of the shoe it may be turned up against the column when not required
for use the column being furnished at a convenient height from the shoes, say
about a distance equivalent to the radius of a bicycle wheel, with a hub or boss
of such a diameter as will permit the number of bicycle wheels determined on to
rest against its circumference. Above this boss is another boss or hub to which
are attached a number of radial rods or arms; the latter being pivoted so as to
be capable of folding against the column but to preserve a horizontal attitude
when turned down for use. These rods are preferably about a length corre
sponding with the average height of a bicycle, and are furnished with hooks or
other devices for securing the frame-work of the machine; the said arms being
padded with soft leather or other suitable material with a view to preventing
injury to the machine owing to vibration incidental to the motion of the train.

page_text: The frame may be secured by any suitable means, such as straps, india-rubber
bands. Upon the column, at about the average height of the axle of the front
wheel when the machine is raised upon the back wheel, are arranged a series of
shoes which may be formed of a thin material, such as sheet steel, same being
secured to a hub or to hubs in such a manner that they face outwards all round.
About midway in the length of each shoe a spring clip is provided the said clip
being fitted in an opening formed by punching or cutting a piece out of the shoe.
The jaws of the clip may be lined with leather or other soft material. The clip
may, if desired, be attached directly to the central hub. Or it may be formed by
punching and stamping the same from the metal comprising the shoe.
The corners and the walls of the van or other apartment may be similarly
utilised by arranging the shoes on segmental shaped bosses.
When using the apparatus, the lower shoe and the radial rod arp cach turned
down. The back wheel is then placed between the flanges of the lower shoe,
while the front wheel is pushed between the flanges of the upper shoe and be-
tween the jaws of the spring clip, the frame of the machine being secured to the
radial rod by means of the straps or bands and hooks furnished thereon and the
machine retained in a radial position in regard to the column.
By thus arranging the machines viz.-with the tread of the wheels or
narrowest part of the machine towards the central revoluble column or shaft
and the handle-bars or widest part outermost greater facility is afforded for
stowing. Moreover, the apparatus is capable of easy manipulation when it is
desired to remove a machine, by reason of its revolutionary character.
It will be apparent that the capacity of the apparatus may be increased by
arranging the shoes at alternating heights, the other parts of the apparatus being
correspondingly arranged.
Improved Means applicable for Use in Storing or Carrying Bicycles.
I, HENRY LOW WEBSTER, of 11, St. Oswald's Road, Lillie Bridge, 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 means for safely and conveniently stowing bicycles
whether in the show-room, warehouse, when carrying the same in railway-trains,
on board ship, or elsewhere; the objects being to ensure their freedom from
injury, while rendering them readily accessible for removal when required, and
to effect an important economy in space, especially when transporting such
machines in railway-trains, on board ship or the like.
According to my improved method, the bicycles are arranged around a column
whereon are mounted shoes and other devices whereby the machines are held in
a radial position in regard to the central column; the various parts being so
arranged upon the column as to be capable of turning with or about the same
as an axis; the bicycles being placed so that the tread of the wheels rest against
the column while the handle-bars occupy the outermost position.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly

page_text: in section illustrating one mode of constructing my improved holder, a bicycle
being shown in position therein. Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan omitting the
bicycle. Fig. 3 is a detached view in plan of the arms by which the frames
of the bicycles are held. Fig. 4 is a detached view in plan of the shoes and their
carrier whereby the machine is supported above the floor. Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are
views respectively similar in character to Figs. 2, 3 and 4 illustrating a modified
construction wherein the shoes, arms and clips are arranged tangentially to the
central column. Fig. 8 is a view showing a support secured to the central
column for carrying the lamps pertaining to the machines stored. Fig. 9 shows
a lamp bracket provided with a hinged portion whereby the necessity for
detaching the lamp from the machine when storing the latter is obviated.
In applying my invention, by way of example, to a luggage van of a railway-
train, I erect a column or shaft A, which may be hollow for lightness, in suitable
journals or bearings B B₁ secured respectively to the floor and roof of the van,
the said column or shaft being placed in the position most convenient for allow-
ing of the rotation of the apparatus when charged with bicycles. Near the lower
end of the column is fitted a boss C which carries a number of radial shoes C¹;
the latter being hinged or pivoted at their inner end so as to be capable of folding
up towards or against the column A. The back or under side of the shoe is
formed with a butt or projection cl which forms a stop when the shoe is opened
out or put down for use and maintains the shoe clear of the floor. The shoes are
formed with upwardly extending side flanges, the intervening space being
sufficient to accommodate the tyre and rim of the road-wheel D. The inner sur-
face of the shoe may be curved to agree with the circumference of the road-wheel
and may be rendered adjustable for different sized wheels if found desirable. The
shoes may be turned up against or near the column when not required for use.
The column is furnished at a convenient height from the shoes C₁, say about a
distance equivalent to the radius of a bicycle wheel, with a hub or boss E, its
circumference affording a butt or bearing for the bicycle wheels. Above the
boss E is another boss or hub F to which are attached a number of radial rods or
arms F the latter being pivoted at f so as to be capable of folding against the
column but to preserve a horizontal attitude when turned down for use. These
rods are preferably about a length corresponding with the average height of a
bicycle, and are furnished with hooks f¹ f¹ or other devices whereby a strap or
band may be applied for the purpose of securing the framework of the machine,
the said arms being paddled with soft leather or other suitable material with a
view to preventing injury to the machine owing to vibration incidental to the
motion of the train. The frame is preferably secured by means of india-rubber
bands as affording less risk of injury to the machine. Upon the column, at about
the average height of the axle of the front wheel when the machine is raised upon
the back wheel, as shown in Fig. 1, are arranged a series of shoes G₁, G¹ which mav
be formed of a thin material, such as sheet steel, same being secured to a hub G
or to hubs in such a manner that they face outwards. About midway in the
length of each shoe a spring clip g is provided, the said clip being fitted in an
opening formed by punching or cutting a piece out of the shoe. The jaws of
the clips may be lined with leather or other soft material. The clips may, if
desired, be attached directly to the central hub; or they may be formed by punch-
ing and stamping the same from the metal comprising the shoe.
The corners and the walls of the van or other apartment may be similarly
utilised by arranging the shoes on segmental shaped bosses.
When using the apparatus, the lower shoe C¹ and the radial rod F¹ are each
turned down. The back wheel is then placed between the flanges of the lower
shoe, while the front wheel is pushed between the flanges of the upper shoe G¹ and
between the jaws of the spring clip 9, the frame of the machine being secured to
the radial rod F1 by means of the straps or bands f² and hooks f¹; the machine
assuming a radial position in relation to the column.

page_text: By thus arranging the machines, viz.:-with the tread' of the wheels or
narrowest part of the machine towards the central revoluble column or shaft A
and the handle-bars or widest part outermost greater facility is afforded for
stowing. Moreover, the apparatus is capable of easy manipulation when it is
desired to remove a machine, by reason of its revolutionary character.
It will be apparent that the capacity of the apparatus may be increased by
arranging the shoes at alternating heights, the other parts of the apparatus being
correspondingly arranged.
According to the modified construction, illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the
lower series of shoes C¹, the arms and the upper series. of shoes Gare
arranged tangentially to the central revoluble column A; the object being to
effect a further economy in space.
A great objection on the part of cyclists to any construction of cycle rack
whereby the normal attitude of the machine is not preserved is that the oil is
spilled from the lamp, damage to the machine frequently resulting in addition to
the inconveniences incidental to the loss of the oil. In order to obviate the ob-
jection, I propose to hinge the upright portion h of the lamp-bracket and to pro-
vide it with a squared portion the horizontal or vertical attitude of the part h
being preserved by means of a spring h². It will be seen that the lamp may be
readily made to assume the position which ensures immunity from spilling by
simply deflecting the part h while raising the machine on end in the rack.
If preferred the lamps may be transferred from the machines to brackets H¹
carried by a plate or collar H secured to the central column A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim: —
-
1. The herein described means for use in the conveyance or storage of bicycles,
same comprising a rotateable column or shaft provided with a series of radial
shoes furnished with clips adapted to engage the front (or rear) wheel-rims, a
series of shoes adapted for the reception of the rear (or front) wheel-rims, and a
series of radial arms provided with means for attaching the frame of the machine.
2. The improved rotateable stand for bicycles, constructed substantially as
described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and wherein the shoes
for the reception of the wheel-rims and the arms for holding the frames are
arranged to fold towards the central column.
Dated this 7th day of Rahm 1800