Improvements in Bicycle Supports.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 8th Jan., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycle Supports.
We, THOMAS LIBBY, Mechanic, and WILLIAM ALLEN MATHER, Merchant, both of
313 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States of America, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the saine is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
Our invention has for its object to provide a support to hold a bicycle up, all
its running parts being free to turn, as we shall describe referring to the accom-
panying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference letters denote like
parts.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, shewing the support, according to our invention
holding a bicycle up.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the support alone.
Figure 3 is a side elevation, shewing a modified form of the support in use; and
Figure 4 is a perspective view of this support alone.
The support is designed for a bicycle of the ordinary safety kind affording two
points of support, one at or near the junction of the steering head and bottom stay,
and the other at or near the crank shaft hanger, and leaving all the running parts
free to turn. In both forms shewn the support consists of two legs pivoted
together and with one or both legs extended beyond the pivot to take hold of the
bicycle frame.
As shewn in Figures 1 and 2, the long leg is a single piece a, having a foot a¹
and a notch a2; the short leg consists of a pair of pieces 66 having a common
foot b', and embracing and pivoted to the leg a by a pivot bolt 62. The short leg
parts extend beyond the pivot 62 and are shaped to afford seats 63, for engaging
with the crank shaft hanger of the bicycle 1. The support is of less width than
the space between the pedals. The bicycle is placed on the support, as shewn in
Figure 1, with the notch a2 engaging with the frame, and the crank shaft hanger
resting on the seats 63 the spread of the pivoted legs being limited by the engage-
ment of the parts a² 63 with the frame of the bicycle. As the notch a² receives the
lower part of the steering head the head of the steering fork lies under the upper
end of the leg a, and is thus prevented from turning, so that the front wheel is
held in line with the rear wheel. As nearly the whole of the bicycle frame is held
out of contact with the support, great freedom for cleaning is afforded.
In the support shewn in Figures 3 and 4, the long leg is made up of a pair of
parallel pieces c fixed together and spaced apart by a foot piece c and spacing
blocks 23. The upper spacing block has a notch to receive the lower part
of the steering head. The short leg is made up of a pair of parallel pieces d,
which are fixed to a foot piece d', and are pivoted to the long leg, at their upper
ends. The notch engages the lower end of the steering head, the crank shaft
hanger rests on the long leg, and the front wheel passes between the members d
of the short leg. Thus the bicycle is held solely by the frame, the steering fork
being prevented from swivelling by the two members d of the short leg, and all

page_text: the running parts of the machine being free to turn. The space between the two
members c of the long leg gives access to the bottom stay of the frame for cleaning
its under side. The spread of the pivoted legs is limited, partly by the machine
frame, and partly by the steering fork.
A bicycle support according to this invention is cheap and simple and affords a
convenient and stable support for the bicycle, when it is out of use. It supports
the bicycle in a convenient position for cleaning or repair and when it is not in
use, the two legs can be folded together compactly for storage or shipment.
In the form of support shewn in Figures 1 and 2, the long leg a may have
several holes a for the pivot bolt for permitting adjustment of the support to
different bicycles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim in respect of a bicycle support is:-
:-
1. A bicycle support constructed substantially as described with reference to
Figures 1 and 2.
2. A modified bicycle support constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 3 and 4.
Dated this 6th day of November 1897
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.