Improvements in Home Training or Exercising Machines for Cyclists.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th June, 1891-Accepted, 1st Aug.,
1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Home Training or Exercising Machines for
Cyclists.
I, LOUIS FLORIAN GUIGNARD of Lausanne, Switzerland, Landlord, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to home training or exercising machines for cyclists
that is to say machines by which cyclists are enabled to exercise their muscles
indoors or elsewhere almost the same as in riding a cycle, but without actually
travelling.
In my improved machine as constructed for a bicyclist there are according to
one modification three wheels the rims or peripheries of two of which are adapted
to respectively receive and support the two wheels of a bicycle and with this object
the said rims are preferably made concave and they may if found desirable be
covered with rubber or leather to increase the adherence. The third wheel of the
machine is situated between and is preferably smaller than the two other wheels
The two outer
and it can be made like an ordinary cycle wheel with rubber tyre.
or larger wheels are supported by forks which can move on horizontal pivots or
axes below so as to regulate the distance between these wheels in accordance with the
distance between the wheels of the particular bicycle which is to be worked thereon.
The two wheels of the bicycle are placed respectively upon the rims of the two
outer wheels and the bicycle may be kept in position by any suitable means such for
example as by wires or rods and one or more springs. The middle wheel of the
training machine is supported in a slide the height of which can be adjusted by
means of a screw or otherwise so as to bring it into and keep it in contact with the
two outer wheels no matter at what distance these two wheels may be set apart for
the bicycle to be worked thereon. The said slide can be connected by rods with
the two outer wheels so that the necessary adjustment of these wheels to the wheels
of a bicycle can be effected by the same movement as that which raises or lowers
the middle wheel. The training machine is covered by a floor or platform having
openings above the rims of the two outer wheels and a hole for the passage of the
screw rod or device by which the middle wheel is raised or lowered.
It will readily be understood that when a person mounts a bicycle put in position
upon the training machine and works the bicycle in the usual way he will see the
bicycle wheels revolve and feel almost as if riding on a racing track while he will
exercise his muscles almost in the same manner as if the bicycle travelled.
also the great advantage of being able to use his own bicycle.
He has
According to another modification of my invention I dispense with the middle or
small wheel of my training machine and connect the two large wheels by means of
chains and chain wheels so that the rotation of the large wheel upon which the
driving wheel of the bicycle rests is transmitted to the other large wheel. This
transmission can be effected in several ways. For example a chain can transmit the
motion from a chain wheel on the axle of the first large wheel to a chain wheel on a
pivot or axis below; another chain transmitting the motion from this chain wheel to
a chain wheel on a pivot below the other large wheel, while a third chain transmits
the motion from this chain wheel to a chain wheel on the axle of this other large
wheel. Or a single chain may be used and made to pass round a chain wheel on
the axle of each of the large wheels and round intermediate chain wheels.
My training machine may be fitted with a suitable brake so as to offer increased
resistance as in riding up hill. It may also be fitted with an indicator or counter of
any ordinary construction so as to indicate the speed or to record the distance
travelled that is to say the distance represented by the revolution of the wheels.
Or the machine can be connected with a cursor or slide on a board or dial so as to

page_text: show the progress made; the cursor or slide can be actuated mechanically or
electrically from a cogged or other wheel driven by a chain or strap from a corre-
sponding wheel on one of the outer wheels of the training machine.
My machines will be found particularly adapted for races at theatres or like
places because the machines themselves being concealed under the stage and only
the cycles being visible to the spectators, there will be the appearance of an actual
race. Each machine would be connected to a distinctive cursor or slide on the
board or dial so that the spectators could follow the progress of the race.
I have hereinbefore described my training machine as adapted for a bicycle, but
it can be equally adapted for a tricycle as will be readily understood.
Characteristic features of my machine are that both or all of the wheels of the
cycle worked thereon always revolve as if they are on a track or road; that my
machine can be regulated in length or both in length and width in order to adapt it
to various sizes of cycles; that the cyclist must guide his machine in order to keep
it on the track although in the case of a beginner it can be held by wires or rods as
herein before described, and that the cyclist feels as or almost as if riding on a
track or road.
Dated this 12th day of December 1890.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Home Training or Exercising Machines for
Cyclists.
1, LOUIS FLORIAN GUIGNARD of Lausanne, Switzerland, Landlord, 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:—
My invention has reference to home training or exercising machines for cyclists
that is to say machines by which cyclists are enabled to exercise their muscles
indoors or elsewhere just as in riding a cycle but without actually travelling.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side view and Figure 2 a front view showing one mode of carrying
out the invention and adapted for a bicyclist.
Figure 3 is a plan of the lower framing.
Figures 4, 4 and 5 illustrate two modifications of the above.
Figure 6 is a side view, Figure 7 a front view and Figure 8 a plan of a training
apparatus with a differently shaped under framing and with wheels formed as
rollers.
Figure 9 is a diagrammatic plan of an arrangement of the training apparatus
constructed for tricycles, the side view of which would correspond with the apparatus
for bicycles shown in Figure 6.
In the modification shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 there are three wheels A, B
and C; the rims or peripheries of the wheels A and B (which may if preferred be
formed as rollers) are adapted respectively to receive and support the two wheels
of a bicycle, as indicated by the dotted lines D and E in Figure 1. With this
object the rims of the wheels A and B are made concave, and they may, if found
desirable, be covered with or made of india rubber, paper, leather or other suitable
material for increasing the adherence. Between the two wheels A and B is the
third wheel C which is preferably smaller and may have a rubber tyre like an
ordinary cycle wheel.
The larger wheels A and B are supported by forks F and G which can move on
the horizontal pivots or axes H and I below, so that the distance between the
wheels A and B may be adjusted according to the distance between the wheels of
the cycle used. These wheels D and E are mounted on the rims of the wheels A

page_text: and B and the cycle may be kept in position by suitable means such as wires or
rods and one or more springs. The middle wheel C of the training machine
transmits rotary motion from the wheel A to the wheel B, and its spindle is mounted
in the sliding block K, the position of which may be adjusted by means of a screw
or otherwise so as to bring the wheel C into contact with the wheels A and B,
whatever the distance of A and B may be in accordance with the cycle mounted
thereon. The sliding block K may be connected with the two wheels A and B by
means of the rods L and M, so that the distance of the latter in accordance with
the cycle wheels may be determined by the same movement as that which raises or
lowers the middle wheel C. The sliding block K is mounted on an upright N which
is screwed on to the under framing P to which the pivots H I for the forks F and G
are fixed. The sliding block K may as required be raised or lowered by the screw
spindle Q which can be rotated by means of a hand wheel (not shown) above the
platform or floor R, the screw turning in a nut in the block K. The platform R
covers the training machine but has two openings S, S, over the wheels A
and B and a hole for the screw spindle Q for raising and lowering the middle
wheel C.
According to the modification of my invention shown in the side view Figure 4,
the middle wheel C, Figure 1, is dispensed with and the two large wheels A and B
are connected by chains and chain wheels, so that the rotation of the wheel A upon
which the driving wheel of the cycle is placed is transmitted to the other wheel B.
In this arrangement a chain T (or leather belt or other suitable connection)
transmits the motion from a chain wheel U on the axle of the wheel A to a chain
wheel V on the pivot or axis H of the fork F, whilst another chain T" transmits
the motion from the chain wheel V to a chain wheel V₁ on the pivot or axis I of the
fork G, and a third chain T transmits the motion from the chain wheel V¹ to a
chain wheel U' on the axle of the wheel B.
In the modification shown in Figure 5 only one chain T is used, which passes
round the wheels U and U' on the axles of the wheels A and B respectively and
round intermediate or supporting wheels V and V, the former having its bearings
in the sliding block K and the latter in the upright N.
In the modification shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8 the wheels on which the cycle
wheels D, E, are supported are in the form of rollers a and b, the wheel B being
replaced by two rollers and ¹ so that the stability of the cycle upon the training
machine is increased. The rollers or wheels a, b and 6 are adjustably mounted in
bearings on a bed plate c. The motion of the roller is transmitted by bevel gear
and a spindle d to the roller a or vice versa. The spindle d is so constructed that it
can lengthen or shorten as the roller is brought further from or nearer to the
roller b, which is effected by rotating the spindle e. By turning the spindle f, both
the rollers and b¹ can be adjusted at the same time relatively to the roller a.
a pinion for connection to a revolution counter of
any kind.
g is
The arrangement of the bearings of the wheels or rollers A, B, a, b and ¾¹ and
the mode of transmitting rotary motion from one wheel or roller to the other may
be varied without departing from the essence of the invention.
I have in Figures 1 to 8 already described and shown my training apparatus
as constructed for a bicycle, but it may also be adapted for a tricycle and
simply by substituting for the wheel B, Figures 1, 4, and 5, or for the roller />
and the roller b¹, Figures 6 and 7 respectively, two wheels B or two rollers >>
and two rollers 6', arranged side by side for the purpose of supporting the rear
wheels of the tricycle. This is shown in the plan Figure 9, the rest of the
construction being the same as in Figures 6 and 8. The rollers b₁ and b, and
the rollers b₁ and b,' are adjustable on their respective axles 6x and bxx, 80
that their distance may be regulated according to the distance apart of the rear
wheels of the tricycle. Instead of the rollers b₁₁ and b,' another roller may be
placed in front of the roller a; the front wheel of the tricycle will then run
on the two front rollers instead of the rear wheels running each on two rollers
as in Figure 9.

page_text: It will be readily understood that when a person mounts a cycle put in position
upon the training machine and works the cycle in the usual way the wheels of
the cycle will turn and it will appear to the rider as if he were riding on a
track, while his muscles will be exercised just as if the cycle were travelling.
And he has also the great advantage that he can always use his own cycle.
My tra ning machines may be fitted with a suitable brake in order to produce
a greater resistance as if ascending a hill. h Figure 6 represents a brake pulley
with lever i, Figure 7, having an adjustable weight for producing any required
resistance, the brake may be put out of action by hanging the lever i to the
hook 1. A counter of any ordinary construction may also be applied to the
training machine for indicating the speed or the distance traversed (or both) as
represented by the wheel revolutions. The machine may also be combined with
a cursor or slide on a board or dial, or with a table representing a race course,
a circus for horsemanship or the like for the purpose of showing the progress
made. The cursor or slide may for instance be actuated by a cogged or other
wheel W, Figures 1, 2, and 3, or X Figure 44, or g Figure 8 and either
mechanically or electrically. The wheel W or X is driven by chain or strap
from a wheel Y on one of the outer wheels A or B.
The machines described will be foumd particularly adapted for race courses
at theatres or similar places because the machines themselves being concealed
under the stage and only the cycles being visible to the spectators there will be
the appearance of a real race. When several machines are used each of them
would be connected with a distance cursor or slide on the board so that the
spectators could follow the progress of the race.
The characteristic features of my training machine are that both or all the
wheels of the cycle worked thereon always revolve as if they were running on
a track or road; that the machine can be adjusted as to length, or length and
with according to the dimensions of the cycle; that the cyclist has to steer
his cycle in order to keep it on the wheels of the training machine and to keep
his balance as on an actual road, although in the case of a beginner the cycle
may be kept in place by means of wires or rods as hereinbefore described; and
lastly that the cyclist feels as, or almost as, if riding on a track or road.
The rims or outer peripheries of the wheels or rollers A, B, a, b, and 1 may
be concave, flat, or somewhat convex, and may also, if desired, be formed with
waves; their width may be altered as required.
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. In a home training or exercising machine for cyclists, the arrangement of two
or more wheels or rollers such as A and B or a, b and b¹, or a, b₁ b₂, b₁₁ and b₂¹ of
which one (A, a, B or b¹) is rotated by the driving wheel of the cycle, the said
wheels or rollers being so supported in bearings that their distance apart may be
adjusted according to the wheel distance of any cycle, and the rotation of the
wheel A, a, B or ¹ being transmitted by suitable means to the other wheel B, b,
A or a, and thereby to the steering or pilot wheel of the cycle, whereby both or all
the cycle wheels are caused to rotate so that the rider feels and has to steer as if
travelling on an ordinary road, substantially as set forth.
2. The several constructions of home training or exercising machines for cyclists
substantially as hereinbefore described and represented in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 20th day of Tun 1001
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.