Improvements in Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 28th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 12th June, 1897
Improvements in Bicycles.
I, ALICE DENTON, of "Newbold," near Chester, in the County of Chester,
Spinster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object an attachment to bicycles whereby the rider
can stop for any length of time and go on again without dismounting.
The invention consists essentially in a pair of wheels on an axle or axis so
arranged that at the will of the rider they can be brought into contact with the
ground, one on each side of the machine and thus support the machine on a stable
base. There are numerous ways of carrying this invention into effect. By one
plan, the bracket carrying wheels or the stem thereof passes on each side or through
the frame or cross bars of the frame, and by a simple lever the wheels are raised!
one or more inches above the ground or are pressed down on to the ground and
practically locked by this lever though free to revolve until the lever is reversed
or instead of a lever the bracket can be raised and lowered by a screw or other
raising device. Further the bracket instead of being raised and lowered can be
placed on a hinged frame and the hingel frame raised or lowered radially by any
required mechanism, a spring or other stop on the handle locking the frame in the
right position until such time as the rider wishes to withdraw these steadying
wheels, or in place of any of these arrangements the subsidiary axle carrying the
steadying wheels can be journailed in an eccentric and this eccentric connected by
a cord with the handles or other device. By thus turning the handles round, the
cord can be wound up preferably against the force of a spring till the wheels run
on the ground. By unwinding the spring or winding it in the reverse direction,
the wheels are again withdrawn from the ground. It is obvious that these steadying
wheels will be only an insignificant impediment to the machine's progress even if
left on the ground, and that therefore it is not necessary to raise them from the
ground before starting again, consequently the rider can get up his momentum and
thus his control of the machine before raising this steadying device, and can also,
if he likes, lower it into action before slackening his speed.
Dated this 12th day of June 1896.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant
I, ALICE DENTON, of "Newbold" near Chester in the County of Chester,
Spinster, 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 has for its object an attachment to bicycles whereby the rider can
stop for any length of time and go on again without dismounting.
The invention cousists essentially in a pair of wheels on an axle or axis so
arranged that at the will of the rider they can be brought into contact with the
ground, one on each side of the machine and thus support the machine on a stable

page_text: base. There are numerous ways of carrying this invention into effect. By one
plan the bracket carrying the wheels, passes on each side the frame and by a simple
lever the wheels are raised one or more inches above the ground, or are pressed
down on to the ground and practically locked by this lever though free to revolve
until the lever is reversed, or instead of a lever the bracket can be raised and
lowered by a screw or other raising device. Further, the bracket instead of being
raised and lowered can be placed on a hinged frame and the hinged frame raised
or lowered radially by any required mechanism, a spring or other stop on the
handle locking the frame in the right position until such time as the rider wishes
to withdraw these steadying wheels, or in place of any of these arrangements the
subsidiary axle carrying the steadying wheels can be journalled in an eccentric and
this eccentric connected by a cord with the handles or other device. By thus
turning the handles round, the cord can be wound up, preferably against the force
of a spring till the wheels run on the ground. By unwinding the spring or winding
it in the reverse direction the wheels are again withdrawn from the ground.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a front view of a bicycle with my invention applied thereto;
Figure 2 a plan.
A are the pair of wheels mounted concentrically on an axle or axis B, in the
bracket C one on each side of the driving wheel. This bracket is pivotted to the
axis of the driving wheel. D is a pivotted handle or lever located in proximity
to the steering handle of the machine, and coupled to the bracket C by means of
the connecting rod E. Fa spring catch for locking the lever in place. By raising
the catch and pulling the lever, the wheels are raised one or more inches above the
ground, or by pulling the lever in the opposite direction the wheels are pressed
down on to the ground and locked, thus supporting the machine on a stable base,
the wheels A being free to revolve until such time as the rider wishes to withdraw
the steadying wheels. It is obvious that these steadying wheels will be only an
insignificant impediment to the machine's progress even if left on the ground and
that therefore it is not necessary to raise them from the ground before starting
again, consequently the rider can get up his momentum and thus his control of
the machine before raising this steadying device, and can also if he likes lower it
into action before slackening his speed.
It is obvious that instead of steadying wheels, steadying blades, shoes or other
device might be employed, also that they may be arranged in front (as shown in
the drawing) of the driving wheel, or behind."
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. The combination with a bicycle, of wheels or steadying devices so arranged
one on each side of the machine, as to support it on a stable base substantially as
described.
2. In bicycles, providing them with wheels or other steadying devices, so
arranged one on each side of the machine, that they can be brought into contact
with the ground to support the machine on a stable base, or raise them above the
ground when such support is not required, whereby a rider can stop for any length
of time and go on again without dismounting substantially as described.
3. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my
steadying attachment for bicycles substantially as set forth.
Dated this 27th day of January 1897.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents.