Improvements in and connected with Bicycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left 6th July 1896-Accepted. 8th Aug.. 1396
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Bicycles.
I, THOMAS BROWETT, of Sandon Works, Patricroft, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to improvements and modifications in the type of stand for
bicycles described in Letters Patent dated the 9th day of June, 1894 and
numbered 11193, granted to me and also to certain novel devices and modifications
of such appliances whereby their uses are extended and improved, and my invention
consists firstly, in improved methods of constructing and arranging some of the
parts constituting a stand, whereby lightness and cheapness as well as greater
facilities for adopting same to existing bicycles are obtained. Secondly, in a
modified form and arrangements of parts whereby a combination is obtained
capable of being used as a means of supporting a bicycle when stopped or started
and while the rider is mounted thereon. Thirdly, in arranging certain of the stand
parts so as to also serve as a brake. Fourthly, providing a mudguard in com-
bination with the supporting device. Fifthly, in several small modifications and
improvements in details of construction.
The first part of my invention has reference to the construction and arrangement
of the props described in the specification above referred to and to methods of
attaching or joining the same to their supporting pins or fulcra.
Instead of using pins set at an angle to the centre line of the axle, or of using
slotted blocks with the slot set at the required angle to give the props the required
rake and divergence (as therein described) 1 construct the props, which may be made
tubular, with pieces of spring steel or other metal at their fulcrum ends, or attach
the props to a hinged plate or block, near their fulcrum ends provided with a
separate spring, such springs in either case being bent or set to give the required
rake and divergence to the props for supporting the machine. This spring ends
or hinged plates may be pierced with holes to receive the fulcrum pins which may
be simply a portion of the usual existing axle of the wheel, or may be formed by
turning cylindrical a portion of the existing nuts or step (where same forms the
nut) the cylindrical portion of such nut or step being just wide enough to allow
the piece of spring steel or spring hinge to turn on it freely.
In either form the springs may be so set or bent as to cause the props naturally
to diverge at their outer ends to the required extent and to prevent the props
diverging too far, they, or the skid wires or links attached to them, may be tied
together by a cord or link or links at any convenient point. Or the springs may
be set to cause the props to converge and a strut or pair of links like a toggle-joint
attached to the props or to the skid wires or link may be used, to force them apart
to the required degree when on the ground and in use as supports.
The skid used to complete the supporting device may be attached by cord or
links to the props or to the cord or links above described for connecting the two
props together and may be provided with clips to cause it to grip the sides of the
tyre or wheel. The cord or links uniting the skid to the props may be arranged
to allow the skid to be placed on the ends of the props when raised off the ground,
the skid being provided with straps, eyelets or hooks arranged and constructed to
slide on to or clip the props when brought near together. The skid and the lower

page_text: end of the tubes may also be provided with wheels or rollers to ride on the
ground.
The second part of my invention may be described as follows;—
Referring to the drawing belonging to Letters Patent above referred to, I
arrange the parts as shown in Figs. 1, 2 & 3, that is, the props point forwards on
the machine when in use as supports and the skid is placed at the rear of the
wheel. The spring wires used for attaching the skid to the props should be set so
as to lift the skid clear of the wheel. Assuming the props and the skid to be in
this position when not used as supports, I provide a cord or similar device attached
to each prop or to a disc or segment secured to each prop and set concentric with
the pin on which each is articulated and i lead this cord up to the front part of the
machine where it may be reached by the rider's hand or may be attached to a
similar disc or pulley provided with a lever or handle and mounted on a bracket
secured to, say, the top member of the framework, or other convenient part of the
machine. By pulling this cord the props and skid may be drawn down towards
the ground from their position of rest and cach will move forward until it strikes
the ground slightly in the rear of the hind wheel centre. If now the rider "back
pedals on the rising pedal, the machine will come to rest and stand supported by
the props on to which it is forced by the pressure of "back pedalling.'
"1
The rider can start from rest simply by pedalling forward and then releasing
the cord.
The props may be provided with springs attached to them and to the frame-
work of the machine or abutting against stops on the frame so as to give them a
tendency either to raise themselves entirely back to their top position, or only
partially off the ground and in rear of the wheel when the tension on the operating
cord is relaxed.
The third part of my invention relates to the use of the last described device as
a brake, simply by putting tension on the cord and causing the props to press on
the ground in rear of the wheel. The props may be provided with shoes or spikes
or rollers at their lower ends to rub on the ground. Another method of providing
a brake to be worked by a cord and lever as above, consists in using the skid as a
brake block, one way of arranging the same being as follows;
Assuming the props and skid to be arranged as shown in Figs. 1, 2 & 3, of the
above mentioned specification and the machine not to be fitted with mudguard of
the type there shown, it will be necessary to provide some hook or support to
suspend the skid clear of the tyre when not in use.
Such a hook or support may
be provided, by hinging a lever to the back stays or other portion of the frame-
work near the wheel and constructing the skid so as to be readily attached to one
end of such lever, the other end being movable by a cord, light rod or link capable
of being put in tension by hand, so as to cause the skid to press on the tyre of the
wheel.
According to the fourth part of my invention, the skid may also be attached to
the frame by light radius rods, so pivoted thereto as to raise the said skid clear of
the wheel when not in use and a suitable light metal or other mudguard may be
attached to or form part of the skid or the props or stays, in cases where the
supporting device is to be fitted to a machine not already provided with a
mudguard over this portion.
The further modifications and improvements referred to are ;-
The mudguard of a bicycle, which is usually made of a sheet of thin metal,
placed over the hind wheel, usually supported by light rods or stays at or near
its rear end. The props of a stand constructed according to my invention may be
arranged to replace these stays, by making a suitable provision such as metal books
or ears on the mudguard and the corresponding part on the props.
The skid may be made detachable from the light rods which unite it to the props
so that it may also be used to place under the front wheel, to raise the hind wheel
clear of the ground when required, as described in the specification above referred
The skid may also be made curved on the ground surface, so as to enable it to
to.

page_text: rock and adapt itself to the tyre of the wheel and surface of the road more
readily.
Dated this 6th day of Sontombor 1805
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.
Improvements in and connected with Bicycles.
I, THOMAS BROWETT of Sandon Works, Patricroft, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, 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 relates to improvements and modifications in the type of stand for
bicycles described in specification belonging to Letters Patent dated the 9th day
of June, 1894 and numbered 11193, granted to me and also to certain novel devices
and modifications of such appliances whereby their uses are extended and improved,
and my present invention consists firstly, in improved methods of constructing and
arranging some of the parts constituting a stand, whereby lightness and cheapness
as well as greater facilities for adopting same to existing bicycles are obtained.
Secondly, in a modified form and arrangements of parts whereby a combination is
obtained, capable of being used as a means of supporting a bicycle when stopped
or started and while the rider is mounted thereon. Thirdly, in arranging certain
of the stand parts so as to also serve as a brake. Fourthly, providing a mudguard
in combination with the supporting device. Fifthly, in several small modifications
and improvements in details of construction.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood I have caused to
be appended hereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures, which are mostly diagrammatic views.
In carrying out my invention, the first part thereof, Figs. 1, 2 & 3, has reference
to the construction and arrangement of the props described in the specification
herein before referred to and to methods of attaching or joining the same to their
supporting pins or fulcra.
Instead of using pins set at an angle to the centre line of the axle, or of using
slotted blocks with the slot set at the required angle to give the props e the required
rake and divergence (as described in the specification herein before referred to)
I construct the props è (which may be made tubular) with pieces of spring steel
or other metal at their fulcrum ends, Figs. 1 & 2, or I attach the props e to a hinged
plate or block c, Fig. 3, near their fulcrum ends, provided with a separate spring c¹,
such (springs) in either case being bent or set to give the required rake and
divergence to the props e for supporting the machine. These spring ends or
(hinged) plates or blocks b & care each pierced with a hole c² to receive the fulcrum
pin a, which may be formed by turning cylindrical the portion of the existing
nut d. Fig. 2, or step (where same forms the nut) the cylindrical portion d' being
just wide enough to allow the said piece of spring steel or spring hinge to turn on
it freely.
In either form the springs c may be so set or bent as to cause the props e naturally
to diverge at their outer ends to the required extent and to prevent the props e
diverging too far, they, or the skid wires or links y, Fig. 4, attached to them, may
be tied together by a cord or link h, h', respectively (or links) at any convenient
point, for instance as shown in Fig. 4.
The skid, Figs. 4 & 5, which completes the supporting device, may be attached
by the cord or link g to the props e, or to the cord or link h, sce dotted lines, Fig. 5,
1

page_text: and may be provided with clips, Figs. 6 & 7, to cause it to grip the sides of the
tyre or wheel. The cord or links g, g', uniting the skid f to the props e may be
arranged to allow the skid to be placed on the ends of the props e when raised off
the ground, the skid being provided with straps, eyelets or hooks arranged and
constructed to slide on to or clip the props when brought near together, for
instance as shown in Figs. 8 & 9, in the following manner;-
The links g which connect the skid to the props e are each formed in two parts
so as to allow of placing the skid when out of use against or between the hind
fork o, the free ends of the props e being held in position upon the sides of the
skid by clips o¹ (see more particularly Fig. 9) fixed thereto, the dotted lines
showing the props and skid in use and the full lines out of use.
Referring to the second part of my invention I construct the props and arrange
the parts as shown in Figs. 1, 2 & 3 of the drawing belonging to specification
hereinbefore referred to, that is, the props e are jointed by cam grooved blocks to
their fulcrum pins and point forwards on the machine when in use as supports and
the skidy is placed at the rear of the wheel. The spring wires or links 9 should
be set so as to lift the skid clear of the wheel. Assuming the props e and the
skid to be in this position when not used as supports, I provide a cord i or similar
device, see Figs. 10 & 11 of annexed drawings, attached to each prope or to a disc
or segment k, secured to each prope and set concentric with the pin a on which
each is articulated and I lead this cord up to the front part of the machine where
it may be reached by the rider's hand, preferably in sling fashion, by means of a
small pulley and another cord attached thereto and to a similar disc, pulley or
segment m provided with a lever or handle m¹ and mounted on a bracket secured
to, say, the top member n of the framework or other convenient part of the
machine. By pulling the lever or handle m' the props e and skid may be drawn
down towards the ground from their position of rest, shown in dotted lines, and
each will move forward until it strikes the ground slightly in the rear of the hind
wheel centre. If now the rider "back pedals" on the rising pedal, the machine
will come to rest and stand supported by the props on to which it is forced by the
pressure of "back pedalling" as shown in full lines.
The rider can start from rest simply by pedalling forward and then releasing the
cord. After dismounting the machine must be wheeled backwards to enable the
supporting device to be used, as described in specification belonging to Patent
No. 11193 of 1894 herein before referred to.
The props may be placed under the influence of springs s attached to them and
to the framework o of the machine or abutting against stops on the frame so as to
give them a tendency either to raise themselves entirely back to their top position,
or only partially off the ground and in rear of the wheel when the tension on the
operating cord is relaxed.
By arranging the cord i in sling fashion as described, the props e are capable of
joint and independent movement so that when lowered they will adjust themselves
to conform with uneven ground automatically and thus give a firm support to the
bicycle.
Referring to the third part of my invention, the props e, as shown in Figs. 10 & 11,
may be used as a brake, simply by putting tension on the cord i and causing the
props e to press on the ground in rear of the wheel. The props e may be provided
with shoes or spikes at their lower ends to rub on the ground, as will be readily
understood.
Another method of providing a brake to be worked by a cord i and lever is
shown in Figs. 12 & 13, and consists in using the skid fas a brake block, one way
of arranging the same being as follows;
Assuming the props e and skid f to be arranged as shown in Figs. 1, 2 & 3 of the
drawing belonging to the specification hereinbefore referred to and the machine
not to be fitted with mudguard of the type there shown, it will be necessary to
provide some hook or support to suspend the skid f clear of the tyre when not in

page_text: use.
Such a hook or support may be provided, by hinging a lever o², Figs. 12 & 13,
to the back stays o or other portion of the frame work near the wheel and constructing
the skid so as to be readily attached to the back end of such lever, the other end
being movable by a cord, (light rod or link) capable of being put in tension by
hand, so as to cause the skid to press on the tyre of the wheel.
According to the fourth part of my invention, Fig. 4, the skid may also be
attached to the frame by light radius rois p, so pivoted thereto, say upon discs p¹
fixed eccentrically upon the axle pin a, as to raise the said skid clear of the wheel
when not in use, see full lines, and a suitable light metal or other mudguard r, see
dotted lines, may be attached to or form part of the skid (or the props or stays)
in case where the supporting device is to be fitted to a machine not already provided
with a mudguard over this portion.
When no mudguard is in use, radius rods p may also be employed in connection
with the prop and skid device as shown in Figs. 10 & 11, each radius rod being
hinged to a stud p² on a plate a' secured upon the axle pin a, see more particularly
Fig. 11.
In carrying out the further modifications and improvements hereinbefore referred
to, the light rods or stays which support the rear end of the mudguard usually
made of sheet of thin metal and placed over the hind wheel, according to my
invention may be replaced by making a suitable provision such as metal hooks, ears
or spring clips on the mudguard adapted to engage the corresponding part on
the props e, say in a groove el formed therein, as shown in Figs. 15 & 16, in side
view and elevation respectively.
2
The skid may be made detachable from the light rods or links g for instance as
shown in Fig. 17, by lodging the skid pin in a slot f³ and retaining it therein by a
hook employed upon each side of the skid so that it may also be used to place
under the front wheel, to raise the hind wheel clear of the ground when required,
as described in the specification hereinbefore referred to. The skid may also be
made curved on the ground surface, so as to enable it to rock and adapt itself to
the tyre of the wheel and surface of the road more readily.
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-
1st. In devices or appliances of the type hereinbefore referred to for supporting
bicycles, providing each fulcrum end of the props e with a spring blade or piece b
having a hole c² for the reception of the fulcrum pin, all substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
ΟΙ Γ
2nd. In a device or appliance of the type hereinbefore referred to, the use of
clips upon the skid adapted to grip the tyre, all substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
3rd. In a device or appliance of the type bereinbefore referred to, forming the
skid links g so as to allow of placing the skid between the props e when raised and
furnishing the skid sides with means which retain the props e in position thereon,
all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4th. In combination with a device or appliance of the type hereinbefore referred
to, the props e having segments or their equivalents at their fulcrum ends attached
to suitable connections whereby the said rods can be lowered and raised of the
ground by the rider, all substantially as set forth.
5th. In a device or appliance of the type hereinbefore referred to, the use of
radius rods p for supporting the skid f, all substantially as set forth.
6th. In a device or appliance of the type herein before referred to, the use of
the skid as a brake under control of the rider, all substantially as set forth.
7th. In a device or appliance of the type hereinbetore referred to, adapting the
props e to support the mudguard r, all substantially as set forth.
8th. lu a device or appliance of the type bereinbefore referred to, forming the

page_text: skid with a slot f³ adapted to receive the skid pin f, in combination with a
hook for similar fastening, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 4th day of July 1896.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.