An Improvement in Bicycle Supports.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 1897
UMI DELE
An Improvement in Bicycle Supports.
I, CHARLES LEWIS BENEDICT of Amherst, in the Province of Nova Scotia,
Dominion of Canada, Inventor, 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 is an improvement in bicycle supports and consists in the novel
features hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawing
which illustrates one form in which I have contemplated embodying my invention
and said invention is fully disclosed in the following description and claims.
Referring to the said drawings.
Fig. 1 represents a side view of a bicycle provided with my improved support,
showing the support in operative position.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view partly in section, of the lower inclined bar of a
bicycle frame, showing the device attached but in folded position.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking to the left.
Fig. 4 represents an enlarged section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 represents an enlarged section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view on line 6-6 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 7 is a detail view of a portion of the device showing the spoke engaging hook
provided with a locking device.
Fig. 8 is a detail view of the top or ferrule.
The support which forms the subject matter of my invention comprises a support-
ing rod, adapted to be secured to the frame of any bicycle, and having a hook or
arm for engaging one of the spokes of the front wheel to prevent said wheel from
turning. The wheel is turned somewhat so as to stand slightly angularly to the
frame, when the device is in operation and the wheel is then supported upon three
points, in the relation to each other of the angles of a triangle, to wit, the points
where the front and rear wheels rest upon the ground, and the point where the
support rests upon the ground.
In the drawings A represents a bicycle of any ordinary construction. B represents
my improved support which is preferably composed of a hollow rod or tube of brass,
steel, rattan, bamboo, or any other suitable material which will be light and small in
diameter and have the requisite strength. At one end said support has a reduced
perforated ear or lug 6 which has a hinge connection with suitable perforated
ear or ears cc on a clamping ring or collar C, and I prefer to insert washers of
rubber, c¹¹ between the parts of the hinge connection as indicated in Fig. 4 to
prevent noise or rattle when the device is not in use. The clamping collar C is
preferably lined with leather, rubber, or some other soft material as at c² to prevent
scratching the enamel of the bicycle frame, and it is also provided with perforated
clamping lugs c³ ³ through which is passed a clamping bolt c, by means of which
the collar is secured upon the frame bar.
In clamping this collar upon the bar I prefer to set it at a slight angle as indicated
in Fig. 4, so that the bar will stand at an angle, laterally, to the machine when in
operative position, in order to give it the proper position. In this way it will always
drop into the correct position preferably at the left of the machine when released
from its support, as hereinafter described. D represents a hook arm which is
pivoted to the support preferably within the same as shown, and I prefer to place a
гр

page_text: rubber or other elastic cushion d on either side of the hook at its point of pivoting
as shown in Fig. 6 to prevent noise. The outer end of the arm D is provided with
a hook d¹ which engages one of the spokes of the front wheel when the device is in
operative position, and holds the wheel from movement. This hook arm is adapted
to fold up against the support B, when not in use, and 1 prefer to provide said
support with a longitudinal slot 6' so that the hook arm when in folded position lies
within the support as shown in Fig. 2. In order that the hook arm may be automatically
folded up and extended for use I provide a connecting link d², preferably within the
support B, which engages at one end a short arm d³ connected with the hook arm
(see Fig. 2) and at the other a lug or projection c³ on the collar C, by means of which
this result is accomplished.
In order to hold the support firmly in engagement with the frame bar and parallel
thereto, when not in use I employ the device shown in detail in Fig. 5. This consists
of a clamping ring lined with rubber or other soft material e adapted to be placed
around the bar and secured by a clamping nut e'. The end portions of the ring are
extended and bent outwardly and then curved upwardly and inwardly to form spring
arms e²e within and between which the support B is held. The support may be
placed in engagement with these spring arms by simply pressing it between them
and it can be removed from engagement therewith by simply pressing it in the
opposite direction either with the hand or foot. The outer end of the support B is
preferably provided with a projecting portion or foot piece 72 of rubber, to give it a
firm hold on the ground and to prevent slipping. I prefer to provide the free end of
the hollow rod with a reversible tip or ferrule G, see Fig. 8, adapted to frictionally
engage the interior of said rod and provided centrally with a flange g to limit its
inward movement when either end is pressed into said rod. One end of said ferrule
is provided with a pointed tip g¹ and the other end is left open to receive the rubber
plug or tip 62 hereinbefore referred to, so that by means of this reversible ferrule,
the rod may be provided with either a pointed tip or rubber tip as desired.
In some cases I prefer to provide the hook arm with a locking device by means of
which said arm may be locked to the spoke, thereby serving both as a support
and a lock.
In Fig. 7, I have illustrated one form of hook arm provided with a lock, in which
the lock F is rigidly secured to said arm and provided with a bolt f which in its
outermost position engages the end of the hook d¹ and thereby locks the spoke in
engagement with the arm. The lock may be of any desired construction and provided
with a suitable key.
In operation the rider when he wishes to have his machine supported, simply turns
the front wheel slightly to the right, presses his hand or foot upon the support, adjacent
to the spring arms ethereby removing it from the said arms and permitting it to
fall. By reason of the collar C being placed angularly around the bar, the support
will fall into the desired position and the hook arm will be thrown downwardly by
means of its link, to engage a spoke of the front wheel. When the device is not
desired the operator will raise it from the ground with hand or foot, when the hook
will be disengaged from the wheel and folded within the support, and the device is
then pressed between the spring arms e² e², which are also secured upon the bar,
angularly to conform with the position of collar C, as shown in Fig. 5, and the device
will then be entirely out of the way.
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 1 claim is :-
1. A bicycle support comprising among its members, an attaching device adapted
to be detachably secured to the bicycle frame, the hollow supporting rod pivotally
connected therewith and provided with a longitudinal slot, and the book arm baving
one end pivoted within said hollow supporting rod adjacent to one end of said slot,
the other end being provided with a spoke engaging hook, said hook arm being adapted
to pass through said slot and lie within said hollow supporting rod when the support
is not in use, substantially as described.

page_text: 2. A bicycle support comprising among its members an attaching device adapted
to be detachably secured to the bicycle frame, the hollow supporting rod pivotally
secured to said attaching device and provided with a longitudinal slot, a hook arm
pivoted with said rod adjacent to one end of said slot, and having its other end provided
with a spoke engaging hook, adapted to enter said slot and lie wholly within said
hollow rod when the latter is not in operative position, a clip adapted to be detachably
secured to the bicycle frame, provided with spring arms for holding said rod when not
in use and means for forcing said hook within said hollow rod when the latter is moved
out of operative position and into engagement with the said spring arms, substantially
as described.
3. A bicycle support comprising among its members a clamping collar, the hollow
supporting rod hinged thereto, a hook arm pivoted within said rod, and having a spoke
engaging hook at its free end, said rod being provided with a longitudinal slot, to
permit said hook to lie within said rod when out of operative position and a link
connecting said hook arm and said collar, substantially as described.
4. A bicycle support comprising among its members a clamping collar, the hollow
supporting rod hinged thereto provided with a longitudinal slot, a hook arm pivoted
within said hollow rod and having a spoke engaging hook at its free end, said hook arm
being adapted to lie within said hollow rod when the latter is not in operative position,
a link connecting said hook arm and said collar and a lock secured to the outer end
of the hook arm having a movable bolt, adapted to engage a portion of the hook to
retain the spoke within said hook, substantially as described.
5. A bicycle support comprising among its members a supporting rod, a securing
device for attaching it to the bicycle frame, a hook arın pivoted to said rod, having its
outer end provided with a spoke retaining device, and supporting device for the free
end of said rod, when not in use, having a part adapted to be secured to the bicycle
frame, and a pair of spring arms for engaging and holding said rod, substantially as
described.
CHARLES LEWIS BENEDICT.
G. F. Redfern & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.