IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLE STANDS, APPLICABLE ALSO TO BICYCLE AND OTHER WHEELS."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Wicksteed, of Kettering, in the County of
Northampton, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLE STANDS,
APPLICABLE ALSO TO BICYCLE AND OTHER WHEELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Wicksteed at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March 1880.
" IMPROVE-
CHARLES WICKSTEED, of Kettering, in the County of Northampton.
MENTS IN BICYCLE STANDS, APPLICABLE ALSO TO BICYCLE AND OTHER WHEELS."
In forming my stand I take two pieces, preferably of metal, in form of an
icosceles, triangle without the base; a rod with a small bend or crank in the centre
joins these triangles at their broadest part like a hinge, so that they can be folded
over either way; the ends of the triangles are prolonged and bent at an angle, the
reason for which will presently appear. Legs or rests are attached to each arm of
These legs
each triangle, and I generally form them of bent pieces rivetted on.
are made long enough to support the stand when the bicycle is in position, and
keep the crank of the centre rod clear of the ground. To place the bicycle in, I
put the stand on the floor or ground, so that it rests on the four legs, and the
narrow ends of the triangles, the centre rod being raised from the ground. The
bicycle is run on over the end of one triangle, and when the wheel gets into the
bend in the centre rod it depresses it, and the ends of the triangles are tilted up
as the centre is depressed and grip the wheel; the weight of the machine thus
causes the stand to hold it firm. When it is desired to hold the machine in an
inverted position, as for cleaning, etcetera, I fold the triangles over, the legs passing
each other, so that the stand is supported on the narrow end of one triangle, and
the two turned up ends at its base, the bicycle being held by its handle-bar resting
upon the two turned up ends of the other triangle, the narrow end of which supports
the back bone. For carrying about this stand can be folded up, and takes up very
little room.
The sample which I have made is of iron tube, and on account of its
lightness and rigidity I prefer tube; but I do not bind myself in this, as the section
or material employed is not important, and I can use many different kinds of
-materials, as, for instance, these stands could perfectly well be made of wood.
Malleable cast iron may with advantage be used sometimes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Wicksteed in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th
September 1880.
CHARLES WICKSTEED, of Kettering, in the County of Northampton. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BICYCLE STANDS, APPLICABLE ALSO TO BICYCLE AND OTHER WHEELS."
In forming my stand I take two pieces, preferably of metal, in form of an isosceles
triangle without the base; a rod with a small bend or crank in the centre joins
these triangles at their broadest part like a hinge, so that they can be folded over
either way; the ends of the triangles are prolonged and bent, the reason for which
will presently appear. Legs or rests are attached to each side of each triangle,
and I generally form them of curved pieces rivetted on. These legs or rests are
made so as to support the stand when the bicycle is in position, and keep the
crank of the centre rod clear of the ground. The same end may also be attained
by curving the triangular pieces themselves to such an extent that they, the curved
sides, take the place of the legs mentioned, and raise the cranked centre rod
sufficiently far from the ground to enable the two ends to grip the wheel firmly by
the weight of the machine upon the centre rod, this latter form of construction
being the simplest, though not quite so strong. The action is the same, whichever
form be adopted. When it is desired to hold the machine in an inverted position,
as for cleaning, etcetera, I fold the triangles over, the legs or curves passing each
other, so that the stand is supported on the narrow end of one triangle and the
two ends turned down at its base, the bicycle being held by its handle-bar resting
upon the two turned up ends of the other triangle. The backbone being supported
by the narrow end of the same triangle, which is kept in position by two stops or
pins placed in one of the triangles, for the triangle itself may be cranked so as
to form a stop, or in case the legs are used the stop or cranks might be placed in
the legs.
Reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, in which like letters refer
to like parts, Fig. 1 is the stand open for supporting a bicycle right way up, the
triangular pieces being shown curved; and Fig. 2 shows the stand in the same
position, but the triangular pieces are straight, and have legs rivetted on, the
machine being held in the same manner in, both cases; Fig. 3 shows the stand, as
in Fig. 1, folded back so as to hold the machine upside down; Fig. 4 is a similar
view of stand shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 is a plan. A, A, are the triangular
pieces, the ends of which are turned up, those B, B, of one to form hooks for the
support of the handle bar of an inverted machine, and those of the other C, C, to
act as legs or supports when the stand is folded up to receive an inverted machine.
None of these turned up ends are in operation when the stand is opened out to
hold the machine right way up; D is the centre or hinge rod cranked at the centre
of its length D¹; and E, E, are two small pins let into the side of one of the
triangular pieces to keep the stand in position when it is folded up; F, F, are
depressions at the narrow ends or apexes of the triangular pieces to receive the
tyre of the wheel when the bicycle is upright, and the back bone when the stand
is folded, and the bicycle inverted. Pieces of indiarubber pipe are put during the
process of manufacture upon the hooked ends B, B, of one of the triangular pieces,
and also upon its apex, to prevent the handles and back bone from being scratched.
When the stand is to be used for supporting an upright machine it is simply
placed open upon the floor or ground, and the machine run onto it, the wheel first
catching the apex F of one of the triangular pieces, then the cranked centre D¹ of
the rod D depressing it, and so raising the two ends; and, lastly, catching the other
apex F, when it will be found to be securely gripped and held firmly up.
For the inverted action fold back the stand, as in Figs. 3 or 4, turn the bicycle
over, placing the handle bar in the hooks B, B, and the backbone in the recess F,
and the inverted machine is secure.

page_text: By adopting the curves, as shewn in the accompanying Drawings, or curves
practically similar, the stand balances or adapts itself so that its normal position is
such that the bicycle may be run on without the stand being previously set.
Having now described my Invention, and the best modes known to me of
carrying it into effect, I wish it to be understood that what I believe to be new
and desire to protect under the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1. In a bicycle stand the employment of the triangular pieces A provided with
legs or curved, substantially as and for the purpose set forth and shewn.
2. In a bicycle stand the employment of the triangular pieces A having pro-
longed hooked ends B and ends C, substantially as and for the purposes set forth
and shewn.
3. The hereindescribed double purpose bicycle stand capable, when open, of
receiving, gripping, and retaining a bicycle in its upright position, and by its own
weight when run on, and when reversed or folded over, of holding and sustaining
in position (and permitting free revolution of the wheels) an inverted bicycle when
placed or turned over upon it, substantially as and for the purposes set forth and
shewn in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Wicksteed, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
JOHN O. O'BRIEN,
Clerk to Wm. P. Thompson & Co.,
Patent Agents,
London & Liverpool.
CHARLES WICKSTEED. (L.S.)