Improvements in Means for Storing Bicycles in Railway Vans. Cycle Showrooms, and the like
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 10th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Storing Bicycles in Railway Vans.
Cycle Showrooms, and the like,
I, JOHN SMITH, of Drumadonald, National School, Rathfriland, County Down,
Ireland, Teacher, 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 :-
This invention for improvements in means for storing bicycles in railway vans,
cycle showrooms, store rooms and the like has for its object to provide a means
whereby bicycles can be stored in the guard's van of a railway train without inter-
fering to any great extent with the luggage spaces, the bicycles can be readily
placed in position or removed individually, and there is less risk of damage occur
ing to the bicycle. The necessary supporting devices can be easily fixed in or
removed from the van according to the storing space required and no alterations
are required in the van. This invention is also applicable for cycle show-rooms store
rooms and in other like circumstances.
And in order that this invention may be more readily understood reference is had
to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings on which
Fig. is a longitudinal section of a guard's van fitted according to this
invention.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of the same.
Fig. 3 is a view showing an alternative arrangement for supporting the bicycle.
Figs. 4 and 5 show a stand for supporting bicycles in showrooms and the like.
On the sides of the guard's van and about 3 feet 6 inches from the top thereof,
Bockets a a are attached a short distance from the end of the van. A bar 6 is
provided with projections which fit in the sockets a a so that the bar b is supported
across the van. A number of grooves 62 are formed in the upper surface of the bar b
into which the back wheels of the bicycles fit as will be bereinafter described. At
a suitable distance forward of the bar b hooks c are attached to the roof of the van.
These hooks c are adapted to engage over the handle bars of the bicycles.
To place a bicycle in position, it is lifted so that the back wheel is supported
in one of the grooves 62 of the bar b. The handle bar is then fitted over two of
the hooks which support it one on each side of the steering pillar. It will
therefore be seen that the bicycle is supported in such a way that any particular
bicycle can be placed in position or removed without disturbing the others. More-
over, the bicycles are placed in the upper portion of the van and the lower portion can
be used for luggage in the ordinary way. When not required the bar bean be removed
and the whole space is then available for luggage.
If it is found that there is a tendency for the bicycles to rock about, cords or thongs
can be placed round the handle bars and the hooks c. A loop c¹ is preferably formed
below the hooke a through which the said cords or thongs can be passed.
By arranging the positions of the pedals the hooks can be utilised each for two
cycles, so that with three hooks, two cycles can be supported, with four hooks three
cycles, and so on.

page_text: In order to provide further accommodation in a railway van when a large number of
bicycles have to be carried, a bar d shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 may be fitted
across the van and a series of hooks e are attached on its under side. A further set of
bicycles can then be supported the back wheels in this case resting on the floor of the
van.
In Fig. 3 a modified arrangement is shown in which the bar 6 is not used. Instead,
rods are attached to the roof and at their lower ends rods are hinged. These
hinged rods flare inserted in the tee-piece of the seat pillar which is usually hollow
and will support the rear of the bicycle. The handle bar is supported by hooks as in
the previously described arrangement. This arrangement is especially useful for cycle
show-rooms as the bicycle is supported with its wheels quite free so that they can
easily be turned for show purposes.
In Figs. 4 & 5 a cycle stand is shown for use in show-rooms and the like. The
stand g is provided with several projecting arms g¹ and g² the arms g¹ being provided
with hooks e for supporting the handle bars of the bicycles and the arms g¹ being
fitted with hinged rods f so that the bicycles are supported as in Fig. 3. A number
of bicycles (in this case four) can therefore be supported in a convenient way for show
purposes.
This invention can also be utilised for cycle store rooms, and other places
where a large number of bicycles have to be stored in a small space while permitting
of access to any individual bicycle.
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) An improved means for supporting bicycles in railway vans, cycle show rooms,
store rooms, and the like, comprising a bar fixed across the van and adapted to
support the back wheels of the bicycles and hooks depending from the roof and
engaging with the handle bars of the bicycles, so as to support them substantially
as described.
(2) An improved means for supporting bicycles in railway vans, cycle show rooms,
store rooms and the like, comprising rod 6 supported in sockets a and provided
with grooves bs on its upper surface, and hooks e substantially as described
with reference to Figs 1 and 2 of the drawings and for the purposes specified.
(3) An improved means for supporting bicycles in railway vans, cycle show rooms,
store rooms and the like, comprising rods frods hinged to them and adapted to
engage in the tee-pieces of the seat pillars of the bicycles to be supported and
'hooks c, substantially as described with reference to Fig. 3 of the drawings and for
the purposes specified.
(4) An improved stand for supporting bicycles in cycle show rooms and the like
comprising stand g provided with projecting arms g having hooks for supporting
the handle bars of the bicycles and with projecting arms g carrying hinged rods f¹
for supporting the rear portion of the bicycles substantially as described with reference
to Figs. 4 & 5 of the drawings and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 28th day of February 1800
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.