An Improved Safety Attachment for Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1896-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1897
An Improved Safety Attachment for Velocipedes.
I, JOHANN HEINRICH GERHARD WIERDEMANN, of Flottbeck, b/Altona, in
the Empire of Germany, Public Official, 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 :—
The subject of this invention is a device capable of being attached to velocipedes
of every description, and consisting essentially of two supports or stays fitted
with rollers, one of which is to be attached to each side of the machine; such stays
or supports being adapted to come into operation whenever the cyclist happens to
lose his balance.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings representing a bicycle
provided with the improved safety attachment,
Figure 1 being a side elevation, and
Figure 2 a front elevation thereof.
In both views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
To the frame A of the bicycle, a rod a is removably secure.l.
With this rod,
arms bare pivotally united, in such a mauner that they may be swung about the
pivot-points c. In addition to this, guides d are secured to the upper tube, which
guides are adapted to receive the cranked arms which are linked to the above
mentioned arms b at the points f. The arms 6 are hollow, and into them are movably
inserted the rods h which are constantly pressed forwarl in the outward direction
by means of springs i. With a view to the reliable guidance of these parts, thin
and yielding wires are so arranged in the front part of the bicycle as to retain
the arms 6 in whatever position they may occupy at the time. Figure 2 represents
one of the arms, viz.; the right-hand one, out of operation, while it shows the
other or left hand arin in the operative position. By means of the wire l, the
rod h is drawn back until the hook m drops into the notch of the rod h and thus
retains or locks the same in position. This hook m is so connected with the lever b
by the cord n that whenever such lever b is operated by the lever e, the hook m is
released, so that the rod h, having also recovered its freedom, is depressed by the
spring and instantly affords a support for the bicycle on the side on which it
happens to be required, thereby keeping it from upsetting. The two arms e are
cranked at the top and encircle the rider's body, who, should he lose his balance
and tilt to either side, by that movement causes one of the said arms to be
depressed sufficiently to instantly set free the hook m and release the rod / for
action. To restore the apparatus to its inoperative condition, it is only necessary
to move back the lever by means of the cord / until the hook m again locks the
Bupporting rod or stay in its place.
The whole arrangement is so attached to the machine as to be readily removable
therefrom.
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 removable safety attachment for velocipedes, consisting essentially of
two lateral pivotted and spring-controlled supports or stays which by means of
sliding or adjustable arms adapted to be in contact with the rider's body are

page_text: laterally extended whenever the rider inclines to one side or the other in
consequence of a loss of equilibrium, substantially as bereinbefore described and
shown.
(2.) A removable safety attachment for velocipedes, substantially as herein-
Dated this 3rd day of December 1896.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.