US359800A - Home trainer for bicyclists - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

HOME TRAINER FOR BIGYGLISTS. No. 359,800. Patented Mar. 22, 188.7.

UNITED STATES PATENT rrrcn.

JAY MCOLTNTOGK, OF VILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

HOME TRAINER FOR BICYCLISTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 359,800, dated March 22, 1887.

Application filed December 27, 1986. Serial No. 222,683. (X0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J AY McCLINrooIr, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Vvilliamsport, in the count-y of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Home Trainers for Bicyclists; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in that class of exercising-machines used by bicyclists and known as home trainers, but differs in character from such machines generallyin that it is an independent supportingframe adapted to be used in connection with any of the well'known styles of bicycles. This frame is further adapted to use with bicycles of different sizes, and is capable of be ing adjusted to suit the requirements of the rider as regards his strength and muscular development. In these features, together with the construction and combination of the parts of this frame, lie the novelties of my invention, all as will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

For a better understanding of the parts in detail attention is invited to the accompanying drawings, wherein likeletters of reference denote corresponding parts, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of this frame supporting a Star bicycle; Fig. 2, a plan view of the base of this frame; Fig. 3, a side elevation of the entire frame, and Fig. 4 an elevationof the bolt to be used with an ordinary or crank bicycle.

The base A of the frame, which is made of wood or metal, consists, preferably, of two side beams, a a, and two end connecting-beams, a c, which form an open rectangular frame adapted to set well and firmly in the pan A. The object of this pan is to catch any dripping of oil, &c., that might drop from the bicycle when in motion; but this pan of course is not indispensable. In this base A are mounted two steel or iron shafts, B B, each carrying a rubber roller, 0, provided with a central peripheral groove, 0, to receive the drivingwheel of the bicycle; but these grooves are not absolutely necessary, and the rollers can be made of other material besides rubber, but this material is the most desirable because it will adhere more closely to the shafts, is cheap and durable, and gives a better and more natural bearing-surface without injury to the driving-wheel. The shafts B B, which carry these rollers, have end hearings in journalboxes D D in the side beams, a a, so as to run easy and with but little friction; and upon each shaft are screwed two jam'nuts, (Z (Z, that press against the ends of the rollers and compel them to turn with the shafts, and besides act as collars between the rollers and the side beams of the base A.

E E are two upright frames bolted one to each side beam of the base A, and each consisting, preferably, of two stay rods or braces, c 6, connected at the upper ends by a flat head or crown -piece, f, and a central brace, f. The head or crownpiece f of each frame E is enlarged at the center, and there punched out to receive a screw-bolt, F, which is vertically adjustable by means of a thumb-nut or other equivalent means, F, provided on each bolt above the crown-piecef. This bolt F is also provided with a nut, F below the crownpiece, for steadying and holding the bolt securely.

The head 6 of each screw-bolt is enlarged, and has a horizontal slotor groove, f, on top, to receive the brace G of the bicycle, near the axle of the driving-wheel, and is further provided with the hook e", provided at its lower end with the thurnb-nut d", to screw down upon and holdsecurely the said brace G of the bicycle. lo adapt this supporting-frame to use in connection wit-h any other kind of bicycle besides the Star, but slight changes in the form of the bolt-heads are necessary, and this will require the exercise of mechanical skill alone. Such changes are illustrated in Fig. 4. A small block, H, is to be placed under the other wheel of the bicycle, for the purpose of raising said wheel to a level with the drivingwheel. It will be apparent that but one roller could be used on the base, or even more than two, and that this block H could in some way be attached to the base A. By means of these screwbolts and their adjusting means the frame is adapted to use with different sizes of bicycles, and the pressure of the drivingwheel upon the rollers can be adjusted to run hard or easy and to suit the strength of the,

rider.

With a trainer of this kind there is no wear or injury to the wheel and but little or no noise, and the rider derives the same physical benefits and exercise as when riding upon the road.

Above all, this trainer is cheaper and better adapted to the general wants of the bicyclists than others of its class, mainly so from the fact that it is independent in itself and can be used with any type of bicycles.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A trainer for bicyclists, consisting of a base, one or more elastic rollers mounted on said base, and two frames secured to said base for the support of the bicycle, substantially as described.

2. A trainer for bicyclists, consisting of a base, one or more rollers mounted on said base, two vertical frames secured to said base, and a pairof vertically-adjustable screw-bolts passing down through said frames and adapted to support the driving-wheel of a bicycle at or near its axis, substantially as described.

3. A trainer. for, bicyclists, consisting of a base, one or more rollers mounted on said base, two vertical frames secured to said base,

at the ends of therollers, the vertical frames E E, the screw-bolts F F, adapted to support the driving-wheel of a bicycle, and the thumbnuts F F or the like onthe screw-bolts, substantially as and for thepurposes set forth:

5. In a trainer for bicyclists, thecombina tion. of a pan, a base set within said pan, vertically-adjustable supports for the drivingwheel of the bicycle secured to said base, one

or more rollers mounted on said base for the bearing of the driving-wheel, and another base a or block for the second wheel of the bicycle,

substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses. r

JAY :MCCLINTOCK,

Witnesses:

JNo. F. LAEDLEIN, J. T. FREDERIOKS.

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