Bicycle Supports.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1899-Accepted, 29th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Bicycle Supports.
We, EDWARD JOSEPH TIERNEY, Inventor, Machinist, residing at No. 53, Wells
Street, Rochester, New York, U.S.A., CHARLES ENGLERT, Jr., Merchant, residing
at No. 551, North St. Paul Street, Rochester, New York, U.S.A., and AUGUST
PETER WEITZ, Machinist, residing at No. 105, Ontario Street, Rochester, New
York, U.S.A., do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
Our present invention relates to devices for supporting bicycles in a vertical
position when left by the rider, and has for its object to provide a device that is
simple and light, and one that may be readily attached to and carried upon the
frame of the machine without inconvenience to the rider. To these ends our
invention consists in the improved construction herein described and claimed.
In the drawings:
Figures 1 and 2 are side elevations of a gentleman's and a lady's bicycle,
respectively, showing the operation of the support, and its modification as applied
to the two types of machines.
Figure 3, a perspective view of the device detached.
Figure 4, a perspective view of the same, showing the parts of the clip
detached.
Figure 5, a view of a modification thereof.
Figure 6, a cross-sectional view of the form shown in Figure 5.
Figure 7, a sectional view on the line 7-7 of Fig. 2.
Figure 8, a perspective view of a modification of the device shown in Figure 3.
Similar reference numerals in the different figures indicate similar parts.
The device consists of a frame or clip adapted to be detachably connected to the
lower portion of the frame of a bicycle and embodying guides for the passage of
supporting legs, which are moved relatively by spring action, so that they will
be automatically locked, when extended, to support the bicycle.
In the present
embodiment, the legs, indicated by 1, consist of metal rods connected at their
upper end by a spring portion or loop 2, preferably formed integral therewith,
said spring normally tending to separate the legs and also operating to cause the
engagement of the inclined locking surfaces or shoulders 3 at the end of the loop
with the supporting clip and hold the support extended with the legs on the
ground and spread laterally to support the bicycle in a vertical position.
inner sides of the eyes in the clip being farther apart than the space between the
said shoulders 3, the legs as they are moved through the eyes are allowed
to separate, and the shoulders also being separated somewhat against the tension
of the spring are thereby caused to engage with the inner sides of the eyes and
hold the legs in extended position. The clip is adapted to surround the tube 4
of the lower portion of the bicycle frame and, in the present construction, is
formed of two pieces with the barrel portion formed by the rings 5, as shown.
Mounted in the top of the clip is a revoluble stud 6 held from lateral movement
by collars or flanges 7 upon either side of the reduced portion 8, forming the
The

page_text: 10
journal or bearing of the stud. Formed on the ends of the stud are slightly
elongated apertures or eyes 9 through which the legs or supports 1 operate.
indicates arms in the form of hooks extending laterally from the lower portion
of the clip directly beneath the stud and adapted, when the supports or legs are
in operative position to limit their separation, and to prevent their turning on the
pivot.
In the preferred construction of our device, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, we
employ a two-part clip formed from sheet metal stampings, adapted, when the
parts are positioned, to be secured by screws or bolts 11 and provided upon their
upper portions with flanges 12 having slots 13, the latter extending at an
angle to each other and adapted when the parts are positioned upon the bicycle
frame to register at their lower ends, forming a bearing for the journal 8 on
the stud. The clip is first separated before applying to the bicycle, and the
journal on the stud is placed in one of the notches 13 and the parts of the clip
are then placed upon the lower portion of a bicycle frame when, by a slight
lateral movement thereon, the parts may be brought into engagement, the slot 13
upon the other part allowing the flange 12 thereon to pass between the collars 7
on the stud. The clip may then be adjusted and secured by the screws or
bolts 11 and by reason of the angular arrangement of the slots 13 the stud is
securely locked in its bearing. Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of
the construction just described in which the stud 6 is provided with a collar 7
adapted to lie in a recess formed between the proximate faces of the clip members,
as shown particularly in Figure 6. The locking of the parts together and
holding the legs or supports extended in operated position is accomplished by
spring pressure of the shoulders 3 at the ends of the loop 2 between the upper
ends of the legs. The latter, as they are pushed down, are separated by the
spring and guide-eyes, and when nearly their full downward movement is accom-
plished, a further movement in the same direction through the apertures 8 will
cause the inclined surfaces or shoulders (formed at the ends of the loop 2) to
engage the inner and lower edges of the slots in the stud and become locked.
This locking movement is caused by making the space between the shoulder 3 a
trifle smaller than the distance between the inner sides of the slots or guide-
eyes 9, and, as the hooks 10 prevent further separation of the lower portion of the
legs, the shoulders 3 will be separated by the downward movement and will
spring together below the eyes, as shown in Figure 6.
When the rider desires to use the bicycle, the supporting legs are drawn upwards,
and as the spring loop recedes from the guides 9 and 10, the latter will cause
the legs to approach until approximately parallel, when they can be tilted
back upon the revoluble stud 6, the lower ends of the legs passing out of the
openings in the hook arms 10. To secure the supporting arms when elevated
and as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 we employ a spring-clip, as illustrated
in Figure 7, adapted to be secured to the lower portion of the frame near the
head of the bicycle. The clip consists of a head 15 having its outer end
adapted to pass between and engage the upper ends of the legs 1, as shown.
head is secured to the frame of the bicycle by a band 16 adapted to encircle
the tubing of the frame and provided with an aperture 17 through which the
head passes, the latter being held in position by the engagement of its ends
between the frame and the band.
The
In the form of support particularly adapted for use upon a gentleman's bicycle,
we omit the revoluble stud and apply the stationary arms 20 upon the top of the
clip, as shown in Figure 8. having the apertures for the supporting legs and the
loops or arms 21 at the bottom, provided with the slots or elongated aper-
tures 22. Pivoted centrally upon the arms 20 is a catch 23 having hooks 24
upon each end and adapted to swing around and engage with the upper ends of
the legs 1 to lock them securely in extended position. To secure the supporting
legs when elevated, we provide a hook or catch 24 to be applied to the upper
portion of the frame and adapted to receive the loop 2 and retain the supporting

page_text: iegs when not in use. 25 indicates rubber tips applied upon the ends of the legs
which are particularly desirable when the support is used upon a smooth surface;
such as a floor, and in addition prevents the legs from being removed from the
clip.
This device, as a whole, is very simple and cheap in construction, embodying
only three or at most, four parts, which are easily formed and may be applied
to any style of bicycle, and, when so applied, enables the user to support his
bicycle in a vertical position, the base formed by the wheels and legs being
sufficiently broad to prevent accidental overturning.
By making the legs of single piece of material with the loop at their ends,
we are enabled to form the spring integral with them, and this construction
we prefer, although the desirable feature is their relative movement, caused by
spring action to lock them, whether the spring is integral or not.
The spring
serves the additional function of preventing rattling in the clip, and the loop
forms a handle for convenient manipulation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a support for bicycles, the combination with the clip adapted to be
secured to the bicycle frame and having the guide eyes, of the supporting legs
vertically movable through the guide eyes connected at their upper ends, having
locking shoulders, and spring devices for moving the legs laterally relatively,
and for causing the cooperation of the shoulders with the eyes.
2. In a support for bicycles, the combination of a clip adapted to be secured
to the frame of a bicycle, and guide eyes thereon, of the supporting legs passing
through the eyes and having a spring connection between their upper ends and
the locking shoulders formed upon the supports at the ends of the spring, adapted
to engage with the guide eyes.
3. In a support for bicycles, the combination with the clip adapted to be
secured to a bicycle frame and having upper and lower guide eyes for each
support, of the supporting legs vertically movable through the eyes and formed,
of a single piece of spring metal with the loop at the upper portion, and
shoulders at the ends of the loop adapted when the supports are in an operative
position to engage with the upper guide eyes on each support.
4. In a support for bicycles, the combination with the clip adapted to be
secured to a bicycle frame and having pivoted guides thereon, and the stationary
hooks, of the laterally extensible supporting legs connected at their upper ends
and provided with shoulders adapted to engage with the eyes and hold the
supports extended when in operative position.
5. In a support for bicycles, the combination with the clip adapted to be
secured to a bicycle frame and having the pivoted guides thereon, and the
stationary hooks, of the laterally extensible supporting legs connected at their
upper ends and movable longitudinally through said guides and hooks and
adapted to be swung into and out of engagement with the hooks.
6. In a support for bicycles, the combination with the clip adapted to be
secured to a bicycle frame, and having the upper and lower guide eyes thereon, of
the supporting legs connected at the upper end by the spring loop and having the
locking shoulders formed at the ends of the loop, said legs passing vertically
through the guide eyes, and the shoulders being adapted to engage therewith
when the legs are extended.
7. In a support for bicycles, the combination with the two-part clip adapted to
be clamped to a bicycle frame, having the hooks thereon, and the bolt swiveled
to said clip, having the eyes in its ends, of the laterally movable supporting
legs connected at their upper ends and extending through said eyes and adapted
to be swung into and out of engagement with the hooks.
8. In a support for bicycles, the combination with the two part clip, adapted

page_text: to be attached to a bicycle frame, and the rotatable bolt having the eyes at the
end, and the central collar arranged between the parts of the clip, of the supporting
legs connected at their upper ends and vertically-movable through the guide
eyes on the bolt.
9. In a support for bicycles, the combination with the two-part clip adapted
to be attached to a bicycle frame, each part having the open slot arranged at
an angle when the parts are together, the rotatable pin having the central
recess engaging the clip and the eyes at the ends, of the supporting legs connected
at their upper ends and vertically-movable through the eyes on the bolt.
10. In a support for bicycles consisting of a clip adapted to be attached to the
frame of a bicycle, the longitudinally and laterally movable supporting legs
operating through the clip, of a securing device adapted to hold the legs when out
of operative position, consisting of a band 16 adapted to be secur 1 to the frame.
having the aperture 17, the loop 15 projecting through the aperture and secured
by the engagement of its ends between the band and the frame.
Datad thin 17th day of V... 1900
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.