Improvements in Stands for Holding Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes during Stationary or Preparatory Practice on the said Bicycle, Tricycle, or other Velocipede, and for other Purposes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application 3rd Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1889-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stands for Holding Bicycles, Tricycles, and other
Velocipedes during Stationary or Preparatory Practice on the
said Bicycle, Tricycle, or other Velocipede, and for other
Purposes.
We WILLIAM FISHER 17 Devonshire Street Liverpool Street, London E.C. Middlesex
Bicycle and Tricyclo Factor and THOMAS REDMAN of Rose Cottage Bingley in the
County of Yorkshire, Cycle Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
The object of our invention is to provide moans for enabling Cyclists to take
stationary exercise on Bicycles Tricycles and other Velocipedes when prevented from
riding in the usual way by unfavorable weather or other circumstances. In carrying
out our invention we employ two parallel flat strips of wood or other suitable material
held together at each end by metal bars bent in the shape of an equilateral triangle
but opened at the apex each end being forked for the purpose of clasping the axle
of the Bicycle Tricycle or other. Velocipede. The stand inay also be used for cleaning
purposes.
Dated this Third day of November 1888.
WILLIAM FISHER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Stands for Holding Bicycles, Tricycles, and other
Velocipedes during Stationary or Preparatory Practice on the
said Bicycle, Tricycle, or other Velocipede, and for other
Purposes.
We, WILLIAM FISHER, Bicycle and Tricycle Factor, of 5, Great Winchester Street,
in the City of London, and THOMAS REDMAN, Cycle Manufacturer, of Rose Cottage,
Bingley, in the County of York, 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 relates to stands for holding bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes ;
such stands being adapted for so holding or supporting the machine that, when the
rider or riders is or are seated thereon, the wheel or wheels may be rotated by the
pedals; the framework remaining stationary. The object of this invention is to
provide means for enabling cyclists to train or take exercise on their machines when
prevented by unfavourable weather or other circumstances from riding on the path or
road in the usual way. The improved stands may also be employed for facilitating
cleaning.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents in side elevation, a. stand made
in accordance with the present invention and constructed to support both ends of the
machine; a rear-driving safety bicycle being shewn, by way of example, as supported
or held thereby. Fig. 1° is a transverse section of the stand, taken on the line a
in Fig. 1, as seen when looking in the direction indicated by the arrow. Fig. 2
shews in end elevation a stand for supporting one end of the machine only. In
Fig. 3 is illustrated a stronger stand of the same kind; a rear-driving safety bicycle
being shewn, as in Fig. 1, in position for enabling training exercise to be taken
thereon.
In carrying out this invention, two parallel flat strips a a of wood or other suitable

page_text: material may be employed; these strips being united by cross-pieces a¹, or in any
other convenient manner. At each end of the united strips a a, metal bars bb
project vertically and are arranged at such a distance apart as to support each end of
the axle upon which the wheel rotates. The extremities may be adjustable, as
shewn, to enable axles of various lengths to be properly supported. Each extremity
terminates in a groove in which the nut on the axle lies, or in a fork which may be
passed over the axle. The nut on the axle may be loosened to admit the fork and
afterwards tightened, if preferred, for the purpose of firmly securing the machine to
the stand. A roller c, mounted in a pivoted frame c¹, is caused to bear against
the rear or driving wheel; the pressure exerted by the roller on the wheel being
regulated by the thumb-screw c². By these means, the power required for rotating
the wheel may be varied at pleasure. The wheel is preferably provided with a signal
cyclometer.
Inasmuch as, when exercise is being taken on a machine held by a stand of the
kind described above, only the driving wheel or wheels is or are rotated, the steering
wheel may be allowed to rest on the floor or ground and need not be directly supported
by the stand. Under such circumstances, the stand may be constructed as shown
in Fig. 2. The stand represented in that figure is specially adapted for facilitating
cleaning serving to support either wheel to permit of the same being rotated. In
Fig. 3, a stand of the kind illustrated in Fig. 2, but rather differently designed, being
of pyramidal shape, is shewn, by way of example, as supporting the driving wheel of
a rear-driving safety bicycle; the front wheel of the machine resting on the floor.
In this view different means for creating and regulating the friction on the driving
wheel are represented. An annular brake-disc c is slipped over the axle between the
wheel and one of the prongs of the back fork of the machine, and is temporarily
secured, by means of a series of hooked bolts and nuts, to the spokes on one side of
the wheel. A strap d, fastened at to the stand 2, is passed over the disc c³ and
held by means of a hook d, which enters one of a series of holes in the free end of
the strap. The hook d is connected to the stand 2 by a caoutchouc ring d³ or a spiral
spring. The amount of friction to be overcome in rotating the wheel may be varied
(to correspond with either level or hilly roads) by causing the book ² to engage
with a higher on lower hole in the strap, as the case may be. With a stand of this
description, the ordinary nuts on the axle are preferably removed; longer nuts,
specially provided and adapted to fit the transverse grooves in the top of the stand,
being substituted.
Although we prefer to arrange our improved stand so as to directly support the
axle or axles, such stand may engage with any other part of the machine which,
whilst the machine is being used for training purposes, remains stationary.
It is obvious that a stand constructed as above described may be employed for
supporting a front-driving safety bicycle, an ordinary bicycle, a tricycle or other
velocipede, to permit training exercise to be taken thereon; it being merely necessary
to arrange the arms or supports for the frame, bearings, axle or axles of the machine,
as the case may be, at the proper relative distances apart.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. For holding or supporting bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes, a stand con-
structed and operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. For holding or supporting a velocipede to enable training exercise to be taken
thereon, a stand constructed substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 1*
of the accompanying drawings, the driving and steering wheels being raised.
3. For holding or supporting a velocipede to enable training exercise to be taken
thereon, a stand constructed substantially as described with reference to Fig. 3 of the
accompanying drawings, the steering wheel resting on the ground or floor.

page_text: 4. The holding or supporting a velocipede, a stand specially adapted for cleaning
purposes and constructed substantially as described with reference to Fig. 2 of the
accompanying drawings, such stand serving to raise either wheel of the machine.
Dated the 1st day of Aroust 1880
WILLIAM FISHER.
THOMAS REDMAN.