Improvements in Stands or Supports for Cycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Stands or Supports for Cycles.
I, FRANZ HOFFMEISTER, Workmaster, of Altendorf, near Essen, in the Province
of Rhineland, and Kingdom of Prussia, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
Hitherto it has been a great difficulty to cyclists to fasten their cycles well and
securely when out alone in the open air, for example, on a turnpike-road or at
places where there are many cycles, such as inns, public gardens, steamboats,
ferries, railways and similar resorts.
In the former case there is generally nothing to act as a support, in the latter
one cycle rests against another, whereby the projecting portions, such as guiding-
rods, pedals and the like easily become entangled among parts of other cycles;
especially among the spokes, and it is afterwards a most difficult and tedious matter
to extricate a particular cycle from among the others, whilst waiters and railway
officials seldom have time or interest to treat cycles with the care which in such a
case is requisite.
The present invention, which is illustrated by the accompanying drawings on
Sheets 1 and 2, carried out in two different ways, is intended to obviate these
drawbacks.
As constructed according to Sheet 1 the whole apparatus is fastened to the upper
transverse tube of the cycle frame.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent the whole cycle provided with the apparatus in side and
front view, while Figs. 3-6 depict separate parts of the apparatus in an enlarged
scale, and Fig. 7 one of these parts altered.
In the construction in Sheet 2, the apparatus is fastened partly to the tube of
the guiding-rod, partly to the upper transverse tube of the cycle frame, as shown
in Figs. 1 and 2 in side and back view, that is to say in partial section.
The separate parts of this arrangement of the apparatus are shown on an enlarged
scale in Fig. 3 in side view, in Fig. 4 in back view, in Fig. 7 from above, whilst
Fig. 5 forms a cross-section of Fig. 3, and Fig. 7 represents one part of the
apparatus differently constructed.
The apparatus consists essentially of a special guiding-piece D attached either
to the upper transverse connecting rod A between the saddle-support B and the
guide-bar C, or to the latter itself, by means of which, by a simple handle, two
supporting-rods, F made of light tubes and fastened to a special support can be
so moved that their lower ends are placed apart in a straddling fashion and at
the same time pressed on the ground, thus raising the front part of the cycle and
causing the machine to rest firmly upon the two props F, F and the hind wheel.
With the construction of Sheet 1 the movement of the rods F takes place in
such a way that the support E can be moved up and down upon a rail g which is

page_text: firmly fastened to the supporting piece D, while with the construction of Sheet 2
the support e is fixed but a swinging motion is imparted to the rods F by the
shifting of a special sliding-piece G along the tube A with the help of jointed rods.
Let us now examine the construction as illustrated on Sheet 1.
The guiding-piece D consists of a bearing divided horizontally and enclosing the
transverse rod A of the cycle-frame in the manner of tube coupling-bands, and
whose lower half a can be so firmly fastened to the rod A by means of a clamp-
screw q, that a revolving of the whole round A becomes impossible.
The lower bearing-half a is connected with the upper one b by screws put side-
ways into the flanges. The upper part bhas on each side wing-like projections d
which pass over the guide-clasps e enclosing between them a slit-like space.
The part bears above in the centre the straight upwards directed guide-rail g.
On this latter moves up and down the support E, to which on the right and left
respectively the rods F are attached by means of pivot-bolts h so as to be movable.
A peg kwhich, by means of a spiral-spring i, is always being pressed against
the guide-rail g, and whose lower end enters into corresponding depressions / on
the upper surface of g, keeps the piece E firmly on 9, in the upper and lower
positions, and can be released from its arresting position by means of the ring-
handle m.
J
By means of this ring and peg the part E can also be moved up and down along
the guide-rail g.
In order that together with this up and down movement of E, the hanging
straddling props F which at the same time are moved downwards and in their
highest position are as close as possible to the edge may also be made to straddle
out at their lower end, there is affixed to each prop F a guiding head n which lies
in the slit and slides downwards in it.
This guide forms an arch from above downwards and upwards, so that thus
as the revolving points h of the rods F in the supporting piece E always keep
the same distance from the centre, the pegs n also. move outwards and therewith
the props Fare gradually made to straddle out at the lower end.
If now this straddling were allowed to go on after the lower ends of F already
touched the ground, in order to raise the fore-part of the cycle by further pressing
down the props F, the lower ends of F would make a lateral movement on the
ground, thus causing considerable friction and wear. In order to obviate this
the guide slits f are only inclined outwards in their upper part, while their lower
part runs parallel with the rail g, so that consequently the lower ends of the rods F
which before touching the ground were already fully straddled out, simply sink
further downwards in this position, and thus raise the fore-part of the cycle without
making a lateral movement on the ground.
In order that the props should not strike the ground too sharply, and yet stand
firmly, one may fasten to their lower ends an elastic point o of india-rubber or some
similar substance. Supposed there be, as shown in the horizontal cross-section in
Fig. 3, only a simple flap d affixed to the bearing b on each side, it would be
advisable to provide the guide-pegs n which slide in the slit f with a head which
fits in a somewhat broader guide in order that the pegs n get out of their guides.
As, with the view of increasing the weight of the cycle as little as possible, every
part should be made of thin cane or metal (steel), it would be well to have the
guidance of the peg n and the head p wrought out of a steel frame of a so Z shaped
cross-section.
Instead of having only one guide leading laterally to the tubes F, as in Fig. 3;
two similar guiding flaps d may be attached to the bearing b on each side parallel
to one another, between which in the centre lie the rods F; in this case it is super-
fluous to have a head on the pegs n and a special guide for the head, as shown by
Fig. 7.
In order to keep the props F as light and yet as firm as possible, it would be
well, as the illustration shows, to make them of tubes in such a manner that a

page_text: -
narrower tube is fixed below into the upper wider one. But of course instead
of these two tubes of different width, there may be three diminishing gradually in
size from above downwards.
According to the construction represented on Sheet 2 the attachment-box con-
sisting of the parts a and b is pressed strongly against the tube c, and the piece a,
by means of a flap curved or bent downwards which may also be stiffened by a rib r
passes into the proper flaps & containing the guide f. The bearing parts a and b
are again connected with each other by flanges and screws.
The entire piece D can be fixed on the rod C in any desired position by means
of the clamp-screw 9 and secured against accidental displacement.
The support E, according to this construction, is fastened to the rod C in the
same way as D is fastened, and as high above 1) as possible and carries the props F
depending from a swivel-link, as they must be movable in two directions.
This swivel-link, as shown in the drawing, is formed of a piece E' depending
from E and movable at a horizontal axis hand holding the heads of the straddling
props by means of pins or bolts h directed across to h¹.
Of course instead of this arrangement, any other might be adopted at pleasure
more especially the heads of F might be made to end in ball and socket joints.
Along the rod A slips the sliding-piece G which, by means of jointed rods on the
props F, fastens just above the guide-piece D.
This sliding must be in every direction.
This will be best done, so as not to injure the rod A, in such a manner, as
illustrated in the drawing, that underneath and parallel with A a short guide-
piece H is affixed by means of two clamp-bands s and the sliding piece G on R slides
between the bands s, these latter bounding the movements of G in front and back,
at the same time a lath t which fits lengthwise into a corresponding groove of the
guide-piece G preventing the revolving of G together with the attached jointed
rods Has on an axis. G is fixed to in the same way as in the construction
shown on Sheet 1, E to g namely by means of the peg k, the spiral-spring i and
the ring m, whilst the peg k catches into corresponding holes in the upper surface
of H in the two terminal positions.
The arrangement of the jointed rods between G and F may be varied as shown in
Figs. 3 and 7.
According to Fig. 3 there is fastened round each rod F a clamp-ring J bearing
on a swivel-link formed by the pivots and v directed across to each other a rod S,
each rod S connected sideways to the sliding-piece G by means of a swivel-link
formed by the pivots u¹ (Fig. 5) and directed across to each other.
In Fig. 7 the sliding-piece G carries on its lower side flaps with horizontal
revolving bolts w, on which a simple rod S¹ can revolve, whose other end goes into
a cross-piece with two vertical pivots a placed next to each other, to which cross-
piece the two rods S terminating in clamp-rings on the props F and connected
with these latter by swivel-links (in the drawing ball and socket joints y) are
attached.
Of course in the construction of Fig. 3 in place of the double pivot bolts, ball
and socket joints could be substituted, and in the construction of Fig. 7 in place
of the ball and socket-joints double pivot-bolts could be used.
As the props F have to execute a double movement, the sides e of the slits f on
the guide-piece D (which in this case is not, as on plate 1 encircled and guided by
special pegs on the tubes F, but by the tubes F themselves) must be shaped corre-
sponding to this movement.
Further, in this case it would be desirable to have the slits f formed and bowed
in opposite directions, as is the case in the illustration on Page 1.
The rods F should, according to the present construction on Page 2, at first
move as close as possible and without straddling near the cycle-frame, in order
not to be in the way of the rider's legs or of the pedals, and must only be allowed
to straddle when out of the reach of the pedals.

page_text: Conformably with which, as Fig. 6 shows, the slits f must at first run parallel
with each other and then gradually move further apart.
Dated this 96th day of August 1897
For FRANZ HOFFMEISTER,
Bernh. Brockhues.
Improvements in Stands or Supports for Cycles.
I, FRANZ HOFFMEISTER, Workmaster, of Altendorf, near Essen, in the Province
or Rhineland, and Kingdom of Prussia, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
Hitherto it has been a great difficulty to cyclists to fasten their cycles well and
securely when out alone in the open air, for example on a turnpike-road or at
places where there are many cycles, such as inns, public gardens, steamboats,
ferries, railways and similar resorts.
In the former case there is generally nothing to act as a support, in the latter
one cycle rest against another whereby the projecting portions, such as guiding-
rods, pedals and the like easily become entangled among parts of other cycles,
especially among the spokes, and it is afterwards a most difficult and tedious matter
to extricate a particular cycle from among the others, whilst waiters and railway
officials seldom have time or interest to treat cycles with the care which in such a
case is requisite.
The present invention, which is illustrated in the drawings, filed with the
Provisional Specification on Sheets 1 and 2, carried out in two different ways, is
intended to obviate these drawbacks.
As constructed according to Sheet 1 the whole apparatus is fastened to the upper
transverse tube of the cycle frame.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent the whole cycle provided with the apparatus in side and
front view, while Figs. 3-6 depict separate parts of the apparatus in an enlarged
scale and Fig. 7 one of these parts altered.
In the construction in Sheet 2 the apparatus is fastened partly to the tube of
the guiding-rod, partly to the upper transverse tube of the cycle frame, as shown
in Figs. I and 2 in side and back view, that is to say in partial section.
The separate parts of this arrangement of the apparatus are shown on an enlarged
scale in Fig. 3 in side view, in Fig. 4 in hack view, in Fig. 6 from above, whilst
Fig. 5 forms a cross-section of Fig. 3, and Fig. 7 represents one part of the
apparatus differently constructed.
The apparatus consists essentially of a special guiding-piece D attached either
to the upper transverse connecting rod A between the saddle support B and the
guide-bar C, or to the latter itself, by means of which by a simple handle, two
supporting rods, F made of light tubes and fastened to a special support can be
so moved that their lower ends are placed apart in a straddling fashion and at
the same time pressed on the ground, thus raising the front part of the cycle and
causing the machine to rest firmly upon the two props F, F and the hind wheel.
With the construction of Sheet 1 the movement of the rods F takes place in
such a way that the support E can be moved up and down upon a rail g which is
firmly fastened to the supporting-piece D, while with the construction of Sheet 2
the support E is fixed but a swinging motion is imparted to the rods 1 by the
shifting of a special sliding-piece G along the tube A with the help of jointed rods.
Let us now examine the construction as illustrated on Sheet 1.

page_text: The guiding-piece D consists of a bearing divided horizontally and enclosing the
transverse rod A of the cycle frame in the manner of tube coupling-bands, and
whose lower half a can be so firmly fastened to the rod A. by means of a clamp-
screw that a revolving of the whole round A becomes impossible.
The lower bearing-half a is connected with the upper one b by screws put side-
ways into the flanges. The upper part b has on each side wing-like projections d
which pass over the guide-clasps e enclosing between them a slit-like space.
The part 6 bears above in the centre the straight upwards directed guide-rail g.
On this latter moves up and down the support E, to which on the right and left
the rods F are attached by means of pivot bolts so as to be movable.
A peg which by means of a spiral spring i is always being pressed against
the guide rail g, and whose lower end enters into corresponding depressions on
the upper surface of g, keeps the piece E firmly on 9, in the upper and lower
positions and can be released from its arresting position by means of the ring-
handle m.
By means of this ring and peg the part E can also be moved up and down along
the guide-rail g.
In order that together with this up and down movement of E, the hanging
straddling props F which at the same are moved downwards and in their
highest position are as close as possible to the edge may also be made to straddle
out at their lower end there is affixed to each prop F a guiding-head n which lies
in the slit f and slides downwards in it.
This guide forms an arch from above downwards and upwards so that thus
as the revolving points h of the rods F in the supporting piece E always keep
the same distance from the centre, the pegs n also move outwards and therewith
the props are gradually to straddle out at the lower end.
If now this straddling were allowed to go on after the lower ends of F already
touched the ground, in order to raise the fore-part of the cycle by further pressing
down the props F, the lower ends of F would make a lateral movement on the
ground thus causing considerable friction and wear. In order to obviate this
the guide slits f are only inclined outwards in their upper part, while their lower
part runs parallel with the rail g, so that consequently the lower ends of the rods F
which before. touching the ground were already fully straddled out, simply sink
further downwards in this position, and thus raise the fore-part of the cycle without
making a lateral movement on the ground. In order that the props should not
strike the ground too sharply, and yet stand firmly, one may fasten to their lower
ends an elastic point o of india-rubber or some similar substance.
Supposed there be, as shown in the horizontal cross section in Fig. 3, only a
simple flap d affixed to the bearing on each side, it would be advisable to provide
the guide-pegs n which slide in the slit f with a head which fits in a somewhat
broader guide in order that the pegs n cannot get out of their guides.
As, with the view of increasing the weight of the cycle as little as possible, every
part should be made of thin cane or metal (steel), it would be well to have the
guidance of the peg n and the head ? wrought out of a steel frame shaped thus Z
Instead of having only one guide leading laterally to the tubes F, as in Fig.
two similar guiding flaps d may be attached to the bearing b on each side parallel
to one another between which in the centre lie the rods F; in this case it is super-
fluous to have a head on the pegs n and a special guide for the head, as shown by
Fig. 7.
In order to keep the props F as light and yet as firm as possible, it would be
well, as the illustration shows, to make them of tubes in such a manner that a
narrower tube is fixed below into the upper wider one.
But of course instead of these two tubes of different width there may be three
diminishing gradually in size from above downwards.
According to the construction represented on Sheet 2 the attachment-box con-
sisting of the parts a and b is pressed strongly against the tube c, and the piece a

page_text: by means of a flap curved or bent downwards which may also be stiffened by a rib r
passes into the proper flaps d containing the guide f. The bearing parts a and b
are again connected with each other by flanges and screws.
The entire piece D can be fixed on the rod C in any desired position by means
of the clamp-screw q and screwed against accidental displacement.
The support E, according to this construction, is fastened to the rod C in the
same way as D) is fastened, and as high above D as possible and carries the prop F
depending from a swivel-link, as they must be movable in two directions.
This swivel-link, as shown in the drawing, is formed of a piece E¹ depending
from. E and movable at a horizontal axis h¹ and holding the heads of the straddling
props F by means of pins or bolts h directed across to h¹.
Of course instead of this arrangement. any other might be adopted at pleasure
more especially the heads of F might be made to end in ball and socket joints.
Along the rod A slips the sliding-piece G which by means of jointed rods on the
props F fastens just above the guide-piece D.
This sliding must be in every direction.
This will be best done, so as not to injure the rod A, in such a manner, as
shown in the drawing, that underneath and parallel with A a short guide-
piece H is affixed by means of two clamp-bands s and the sliding-piece G slides
between the bands s, these latter bounding the movements of G in front and back,
at the same time a lath t which fits lengthwise into a corresponding groove of the
guide-piece G preventing the revolving of G together with the attached-jointed.
rods H as on an axis. G is fixed to H in the same way as in the construction
shown on Sheet 1, E to g namely by means of the peg k, the spiral-spring i and
the ring m, whilst the peg k catches into corresponding holes in the lower surface
of H in the two terminal positions.
The arrangement of the jointed rods between G and F may be varied as shown in
Figs. 3 and 7.
According to Fig. 3 there is fastened round each rod F a clamp-ring J bearing
on a swivel-link which is formed by the pivots and directed rectangular to each
other a rod S, each rod S connected sideways to the sliding-piece G by means of
a swivel-link formed by the pivots u¹ and directed across to each other.
In Fig. 7 the sliding-piece G carries on its lower side flaps with horizontal
revolving bolts w, on which a simple rods S₁ can revolve, whose other end goes into
a cross-piece with two vertical pivots placed next to each other, to which cross-
piece the two rods S terminating in clamp-rings J on the props F and connected
with these latter by swivel-links (in the drawing ball and socket joints y) are
attached.
Of course in the construction of Fig. 3 in place of the double pivot bolts, ball
and socket joints could be substituted, and in the construction of Fig. 7 in place
of the ball and socket joints double pivot-bolts could be used.
As the props F have to execute a double movement the sides e of the slits f on
the guide-piece D must be shaped corresponding to this movement.
Further in this case it would be desirable to have the slits f formed and bowed
in opposite direction, as in the case in the drawing on Sheet 1.
The rods F should according to the present construction on Sheet 2, at first move
as close as possible and without straddling near the cycle frame, in order not, to
be in the way of the rider's legs or of the pedals and must only be allowed to
straddle when out of the reach of the pedals.
Conformably with which, as Fig. 6 shows, the slits f must at first run parallel
with each other and then gradually move further apart.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
-
Improvements in stands or supports for cycles thereby characterized that two
supporting rods F-lying closely on the frame of the cycle and at a distance from the
ground with their under ends when the cycle is running-are arranged capable

page_text: of being turned in joints at a support E and at the same time guided symmetrically
by guiding slits f of a special piece D fixed on the frame of the cycle, in such a
manner that by a single pushing movement either of the support E or, when the
latter is fixed, of a special sliding piece G the under ends of the rods F are
symmetrically spread asunder and approached to the ground until the fore-part
of the cycle is supported and lifted.