Improvements in Bicycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1895
Improvements in Bicycles.
I, MATHIAS GASTEIGER, of 3/c Wilhelmstrasse Munich, in the Kingdom of
Bavaria, Sculptor, 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 a device for application to bicycles for suddenly
stopping their progress without it being necessary for the riders to dismount.
In the accompanying drawing which illustrates this invention:-
Figure is a view in side elevation of a bicycle fitted with the device, the
supports being in their lowered or depressed position.
Figure 2 is a similar view (broken) showing the supports raised ready for
riding, and
Figure 3 is a view in rear elevation of part of a bicycle showing the device.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
In the hollow members of the fork a carrying the hind wheel are arranged
supports n which terminate at their upper end in a common knob b, and are bent
at their lower ends c to form feet. These supports are provided for a short
portion of their length with teeth d and are each encircled by a spiral spring e
which are also arranged in the hollow members of the fork a and abut against a
collar or shoulder therein. Pivoted to the bicycle frame k are one or more
pawls g adapted to engage with the teeth d on the supports n, and are controlled
by means of a lever and sliding rod i mounted in bearings carried by the
frame, the rod i being provided with a suitable handle m.
To place the device in operation, pressure is exerted upon the knob b whereby
the supports are forced on to the ground and are automatically locked in this
position by means of the pawl g, the rod i having been previously pushed away in
the direction of the arrow. This operation can easily be effected by one hand
leaving the other free to control the steering.
When the rider desires to continue riding he disengages the pawl from the
teeth d whereupon the supports n are shot up by the action of the spring e.
The advantage of this invention lies chiefly in the fact that the bicycle can be
stopped suddenly without it being necessary for the rider to dismount, which
latter proceeding is rather dangerous when he is travelling at a high speed, and
which when the rider happens to be, for instance, between two vehicles, is often
quite impossible of execution.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
In a bicycle a device for suddenly arresting its motion without the rider being
compelled to dismount, consisting essentially of two spring-controlled supports
such as n mounted in the hollow members of the hind fork of the machine, the
said supports being adapted by the application of pressure to a knob such as b
connecting their upper ends to come into contact with and drag along the ground
and to be locked in such position by means of one or more pawls g controlled by a

page_text: lever such as h and a sliding rod such as i so that they can engage or disengage
from ratchet teeth such as d on the supports n, as set forth.
Dated this 28th day of September 1895.
OBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.