Improvements in or relating to Holders or Stands for Cycles.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Holders or Stands for Cycles.
I, ALFRED CHARLES RICE, of Daybrook near Nottingham, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to holders or stands for cycles in which a pair of claws
are caused to grip and retain some convenient part of the cycle, such claws being
locked by means of locking-pieces which can be set to correspond to a perforated
check or metallic ticket which the user receives in exchange for a coin, and which
he uses when he desires to release the cycle.
An important feature of the present invention consists in providing automatic
means whereby, during the operation of the ticket delivery mechanism, the
locking pieces are set to correspond to the checks or tickets, without requiring
any special attention on the part of the user.
From
According to the said invention, the checks or tickets are piled in a box from
which they are ejected one by one by a pusher, or other suitable means.
this box they fall into a hopper and down into a receiver wherein they rest in an
upright position with their perforations opposite a series of sliding rods adapted
to act on levers for setting the locking pieces. As the receiver moves in one
direction, say backward, the portions of the check between the perforations actuate
certain of the sliding rods and set the corresponding locking-pieces; whereas,
those sliding pieces opposite the perforations in the check or ticket simply pass
through said perforations and remain inoperative.
The receiver is actuated by any convenient means, as for instance by a
coin-freed crank and connecting rod, and is connected by a link and lever, or
otherwise, with the pusher for ejecting the checks or tickets.
The coin-freed crank is carried on a shaft which extends outside the casing
of the holder or stand and is provided with an operating handle. This shaft
carries a notched disc which is acted upon by a pawl to prevent it being turned
in the wrong direction. It is also prevented by a coin-freed lever or catch from
Being turned in the operative direction until the proper coin has been inserted.
The arrangement of the parts is such that when the coin is inserted and the
handle is turned, the check or ticket-receiver and the pusher are moved forward
and a check or ticket is fed into the hopper, the bottom of which is closed by a
flange on the receiver. As the turning of the handle continues, the receiver begins
to travel backward and the ticket then falls into it. In its continued backward
travel, it actuates the proper sliding rods by means of the check or ticket and sets
the locking pieces corresponding to the latter. After this, the receiver begins to
move forward again and the ticket falls down a shoot into a trough from which
it is taken by the user and retained until the cycle is to be released.
A suitable catch or device may be provided to lock the coin-freed lever whilst

page_text: the holder or stand is in use; and means may also be provided for keeping the
locking pieces always in one or other of their extreme positions.
Dated this 13th day of July 1898.
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and
5A, Market Street, Nottingham, Agent, for the,Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Holders or Stands for Cycles.
I, ALFRED CHARLES RICE, of Daybrook near Nottingham, 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 reference
being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures marked
thereon, that is to say;-
This invention relates to prepayment cycle holders or stands of the kind or
class described in the Specification of my former British Letters Patent No. 296598.
In such cycle holders or stands, a pair of claws are caused to grip and retain
the steering head, or other convenient part of the cycle frame, these claws being
locked by means of locking pieces which can be set to correspond to a notched or
perforated check or metallic ticket which the user receives, in exchange for a
coin, and which he uses when he desires to release the cycle.
Now, the main feature of the invention consists in providing means whereby the
locking pieces are automatically set to correspond to the checks or tickets, without
requiring any special attention on the part of the user.
means.
According to one arrangement, the checks or tickets are piled in a magazine
or box from which they are ejected one by one, by a pusher, or other suitable
From this magazine, they fall into a hopper, or other transferring device,
and down into a receiver or carrier wherein they rest in an upright position with
their notches or perforations opposite a series of sliding rods adapted to act on
the levers for setting the locking pieces. As the receiver or carrier moves on
one direction, say backward, the plain portions of the check (between the notches
or perforations) actuate certain of the sliding rods and set the corresponding
locking pieces; whereas, those sliding pieces opposite the notches or perforations
in the check or ticket simply pass through said notches or perforations and remain
inoperative.
The receiver is actuated by any convenient means, and is connected with the
pusher for ejecting the checks or tickets.
According to a slightly modified arrangement, the check or ticket is inserted
directly into the receiver or carrier, by the user, the automatic setting of the
locking mechanism being effected however in a similar manner to that in the
preceding arrangement.
And in order that my invention may be readily understood I will now describe
the same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a prepayment cycle holder or stand constructed
according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2, 2, of Figure 3, of the mechanism
detached, and to a larger scale.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line y, y, of Figure 2, certain parts
being broken away for the sake of clearness, and the casing removed.

page_text: Figure 4 is a side elevation shewing more particularly the coin operated releas-
ing arrangements, only certain parts of the internal mechanism being shewn.
Figure 5 is a front view,
Figure 6 a side view, and
Figure a plan, of the ticket delivering mechanism.
Figure 8 shews one of the tickets.
Figures 9 and 10 are detail views on the line x, x¹, and y¹, y¹, of Figure
Figure 11 shews a part side view of the modified arrangement, the casing being
broken away for clearness.
A is the casing of the holder or stand, and B is a projecting portion or mouth
from which the cycle retaining device protrudes. This device comprises claws a
which grasp the cycle, and a slide a¹ by which the claws are carried, the arrange-
ment being such that when the slide is pressed inward, the claws are forced
together by the edges of the mouth B. bare tumblers or locking pieces pivoted
on a rod and serving to lock the retaining device in its inward or operative
position. Each of these has a notch 6 that can be caused to engage a flange a²
on the slide a¹. € are approximately upright rods which control or set the locking
pieces. Through the lower ends of these setting rods, pass short guide rods 63
on the tumblers. The rear ends of these bars project between a pair of horizontal
bars 60 which limit their movement and can be adjusted by the set screws 600
as shown.
In the position shewn in Figure 2, each setting rod will raise its tumbler out of
the way of the slide a', whereas when the said rod is moved to the left, as indicated
by the chain line c¹, the tumbler will be depressed sufficiently for its notch b² to
engage the flange a on the slide a¹.
The foregoing parts are all substantially as set forth in the aforesaid specifica-
tion, but there the rods c were described as being moved by finger-levers, which
are now dispensed with, and the automatic arrangement, above referred to, is
employed instead, as will shortly be described.
The rods have a tendency to keep always in one or other of their extreme
positions, this being due to a set of arms with one of which each rod is con-
nected by a link . Each arm has a nib or projection c, and a bar is caused
by springs 6, to press on the nibs. The pressure acts on one side of the nibs when
the rods are to the right, and on the other side when they are to the left, so that
in either case it assists in the completion of the movement.
d is the receiver or carrier (hereinafter called carrier only) of the automatic
arrangement which is connected with the slide a' by means of the arms or up-
rights d, and works to and fro therewith on guides . In the carrier are
holes into which project sliding rods or pushers e, each having a pin e¹, or a
collar, to actuate the corresponding one of the connecting rods c. These pushers
when in their backward position project into a hollow protuberance A¹ on the
casing A.
The tickets are provided with different combinations of notched or perforated
spaces, and blank or plain spaces, as in the former arrangement. For instance,
the ticket shewn in Figure 8 has two notched spaces f¹ corresponding to two of
the pushers e, whilst the blank parts of the ticket form the five plain spaces
opposite the remaining five pushers.
These tickets are piled in a magazine y, and are pressed down by springs gỗ,
or otherwise. Below them is an ejector g¹ operated by a pair of upright arms g²
carried by the carrier d. These arms work between a pair of lugs go on a slide g
connected with the ejector by a stud g passing through a slot in the bottom of
the magazine g. A set screw 96 in one lug of each pair serves to regulate the dis-
tance the arms will move before they actuate the ejector. In the lower front
corner of the magazine is a mouth g' through which the tickets are ejected.
h is a device or "hopper" which receives the ticket from the magazine g and
delivers it into the carrier d. Said hopper works on hinges h¹ and is kept normally
in the position shewn in full lines, Figure 5, by springs, such as h³. When raised,

page_text: as in dotted lines, it enters a protruding portion A² on the front of the casing A.
It consists essentially of a plate or flap having guides or ledges h³ at each end,
and movable stop pins at its lower edge to retain the ticket in place. These
stop pins are secured to a straight bar working on guide pins he fixed to the
hopper and normally pressed against the latter by two of the springs . At its
ends the bar №³ has a pair of adjustable stops which, when the hopper is in its
normal or downward position, abut against projections or screws h8 in the frame,
and thus press the bar h away from the hopper, so withdrawing the two stop-
pins and allowing the ticket to drop into the carrier. The action will be clearly
understood by reference to the detail sections Figures 9 and 10, the former of
which shows the stop-pins thrust through the hopper ready to support the incoming
ticket (see dotted lines in Figure 6) whilst Figure 10 shews the stop-device with-
drawn and corresponds to the normal position of the hopper.
i is the slot for the insertion of the proper coin, in prepayment for the use of
the apparatus. From this slot the coin falls down a shoot into a bucket 12
on a locking lever, and its weight causes this lever to tilt and disengage a
catch a on the slide a¹, so that the said slide is free to be pushed into the
casing A. When the lever tilts, it comes against a finger a³, carried by the arm l
on the slide, and is thus prevented from tipping the coin out of the bucket until
the slide is pressed back, whereupon it immediately assumes the dotted position
Figure 4, and the coin falls into the cash drawer or receptacle. is a guard which
assists in preventing the coin falling prematurely out of the bucket. The
under side of the lever has notches to prevent the slide being pushed back
after having been pulled partly out.
is the shoot down which the checks or tickets fall after they have acted to
set the locking devices, a (Figure 1) being the aperture to which the shoot
leads them. On emerging from this aperture, they are caught by a bent plate
or trough a which retains them ready to be removed by the user.
7 is a depressible releasing plunger into the mouth of which the ticket can
be inserted. 2 are spring pins connected with levers 3 each united to the upper
end of one of the rods c. The blank spaces in the ticket press down the pins
corresponding to the rods and tumblers which were previously set by the same
ticket. The pins so depressed, acting through the levers 3, raise the rear end of
the tumblers so that they no longer lock the slide a¹. The plunger is carried
by stems connected to levers at each side of the apparatus, the levers carrying
a cross bar 76 on which acts a spring to keep the plunger raised.
To prevent the plunger being tampered with, a hooked lever 78 is adapted
to engage the cross-bar 76 when the slide is drawn out. For this purpose, the
lower end of the lever is connected to a rod 1º extending between armis 10 secured
to the carrier d. The result is that the lever 18 is kept in engagement with the
bar as long as the slide is outward (see Figure 2), but is disengaged there-
from when the slide is moved inward.
The locking mechanism is restored to its original position after each operation,
by means of the rod which, in moving forward with the slide, takes with it
any leyers which have been moved into the locking position.
To prevent injury to the enamelled parts of the cycle, the space enclosed by
the claws is provided with leather or rubber liners and buffers af, whilst in
order to accommodate the brake rod, a recess a7 is formed in the front of the
slide.
A suitable spring, such for instance as aª, is employed for moving the slide
outward, after the locking mechanism is released. It may be secured at one end
to an arm a³ depending from the slide, and at the other end to a partition a¹⁰
in the casing.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows: -
It is assumed that the claws a are in their outward and open position, Figures 1
and 3, and that there is in the carrier a check or ticket either placed there by
an attendant at the time of filling the magazine, or introduced. as hereinafter

page_text: described, at the end of the prior operation of the apparatus. The part of the
cycle to be grasped by the claws, say the steering head, is placed between them
and a coin is inserted in the slot i, whereupon the lever is disengaged from the
catch aº. The slide a is then pressed backward so causing the claws to enter the
mouth B of the casing, and by becoming forced together grasp the cycle.
During this time, the carrier has also moved backward, and those pushers e
which lay opposite blank parts of the check have been thrust backward and have
moved the setting rods e with them so as to depress the rear ends of the
tumblers b. The holes in these rods e for the guide rods d³ are elongated to allow
of the necessary movement, and springs d are provided to prevent looseness of
the parts. The tumblers being thus depressed, and the backward pressure against
the slide being relieved, the slide will be moved forward slightly by its spring a
until its flange a² enters the notches 62 in the tumblers, thus locking it. At the
same time, the ticket being no longer pressed against the ends of the pushers will
fall down the shoot k into the trough a and the user will take possession of it.
When he wishes to release the cycle he inserts the ticket in the mouth
of the plunger, and then presses the head of the cycle (held by the claws a)
towards the stand or holder, thereby forcing inward the slide a¹ and disengaging
its flange a² from the tumblers b. On now depressing the plunger, the blank
spaces in the ticket will act on those pins which are coupled by the levers (3
with the rods c that were set by the ticket. Thus these rods will be raised and
will lift the tumblers out of the way of the slide, so that the latter will move
outward freely and its claws will open to release the cycle.
The ticket after use can be thrown away or destroyed, as it is of no further
service; or means may be provided for returning it to a receptacle within the
casing A. For instance, a projection A* may be arranged, as indicated in dotted
lines Figure 1, into which any ticket f left in the mouth of the plunger will be
pushed by the next ticket.
When the slide is moving outwards, the ticket ejector g¹ is operated by the
arms g, and pushes a ticket forward, first against the hopper h, so raising the
latter and then fully into the same, whereupon the hopper falls into its normal
position again, and the stop-pins d being withdrawn, as described, the ticket
drops into the carrier d ready for the next time the holder is to be used.
Referring now to the modification shewn in Figure 11, this illustrates a
prepayment holder adapted more especially for use in clubs, and other places
where it would be convenient for the users to have private tickets of their own,
each different from any one else's. In this case, the ticket delivery mechanism
is unnecessary and is dispensed with, the outer casing of the apparatus having a
recessed front A3 provided with a slot A4 through which the user can drop his
ticket directly into the carrier d. To prevent entry of dust, the slot is so arranged
that the flange of the carrier closes it when the slide is in its outward position.
Thus before inserting the ticket it is necessary to press back the slide, and
with it the carrier, slightly.
Obviously, certain of the parts, such as the earrier d, and the arms d¹ and g²
may be cast in one piece if desired instead of being fitted together as shewn.
The parts are operated substantially as in the preceding arrangement, but
after finally releasing the slide, the user of course retains his ticket for further
use.
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:-
1. A cycle holder, of the kind referred to, provided with means whereby a
notched or perforated check or ticket is caused to automatically set the locking
devices to correspond to the notches or perforations in such check or ticket, sub-
stantially as described.

page_text: 2. A cycle holder, of the kind referred to, having an automatic arrangement for
causing the check or ticket to set the locking devices, in combination with 'a
ticket delivery mechanism which after each operation of the machine delivers a
ticket into a carrier ready for the next operation, substantially as described.
3. A cycle holder, of the kind referred to in the preceding claim, having a
depressible plunger adapted to release the locking devices only through the
medium of the same check or ticket as that by which they were set, substantially
as described.
4. In a prepayment cycle stand or holder, the combination of a coin-freed slide,
a ticket delivery mechanism, locking devices for securing the slide in its inward
position, pivoted claws extending from said slide to hold the cycle, and means
for causing the ticket when being delivered to automatically set the slide locking
devices, substantially as described.
5. In a prepayment cycle stand or holder of the kind referred to, the com-
bination with a slide carrying pivoted claws, of tumblers for locking the same in
its inward position, depending rods through which pass guide bars on said tumblers,
pushers acting on said rods, and a carrier moving with said slide and serving to
press a check or ticket against said pushers, substantially as described.
6. In a prepayment cycle stand or holder of the kind referred to, the com-
bination with a slide, pivoted retaining claws on said slide, a coin-freed lever
for locking said slide in its outward position, tumblers for locking it in its inward
position, a hopper for holding tickets, a carrier for receiving the same, means
for delivering a ticket from the magazine to the carrier, pushers arranged to be
actuated by the ticket in the carrier to lock the slide, means for delivering said
ticket to the user, and means for releasing the devices which lock the slide by the
use of the same ticket as that by which they were set, substantially as described.
7. In a prepayment cycle stand or holder of the kind referred to, the com-
bination with a ticket magazine, of a pivoted hopper; stop pins for temporarily
closing the bottom of the hopper, a bar carrying said stop pins and movable
relatively to said hopper, and means for pressing back said bar when the hopper
is in its normal position, substantially as described.
"
S. A prepayment cycle stand or holder having an automatic locking arrangement
and a ticket magazine, the ejector of which, when the claws and slide are unlocked
and move outward, will thrust the bottom ticket into a "hopper' or device for
delivering it into a carrier ready for the next operation, the arrangement being
such that on a coin being inserted into the stand or holder, and the slide a¹
being pressed inward, the ticket will first set the locking devices and will then
fall down a shoot and be delivered to the user, substantially as described.
9. The modified arrangement of cycle holder or stand (of the kind referred
to) in which a ticket inserted by the user will be returned to him after it has
set the locking mechanism, substantially as described.
10. My improved cycle holder or stand constructed and arranged to operate sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 to 10, or modified
as described with reference to Figure 11 of the drawings.
11 1111 1
C
1000
And this
1111
day
April 1900
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and
5A, Market Street, Nottingham, Agent for the Applicant.