US582764A

US582764A - Bicycle-starter

Info

Publication number: US582764A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 1914-05-18

Description

(No Model) P. O. N. PEDERSON. .BIOYGLE STARTER.

No. 582,764. Patented May 18, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETTER C. N. PEDERSON, OF VEST SUPERIOR, \VISCONSIN.

BICYCLE-STARTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 582,764, dated May 18, 1897.

Application filed July 6, 1896. Serial No. 598,195. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETTER O. N. PEDER- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at West Superior, in the county of Douglas and State of YVisconsin, have invented a new and useful Bicycle-Starter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bicycle-starters, and is especially designed for use upon a racecourse for securing an even and satisfactory starting of all the competing riders.

The starting device is constructed in such manner that it is adjustable for varying and regulating the initial impetus given to all the bicycles and contemplates a lock which prevents the premature starting of the machine and which, in connection with similar devices on the other starters, may be released at any desired moment.

The invention consists in a bicycle-starter embodying certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved starting device, showing the manner in which a bicycle is held thereby. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the starting device. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail perspective view of the lock for holding and releasing the bicycle.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the main supporting standard, which may be made solid, but which is preferably formed with a central longitudinal slot 2, and also provided with a longitudinal series of openings 3, in which a pin 4 is removably inserted. This standard is provided at its lower end with a laterally-extended base 5 for preventing the lateral tipping of the starting-machine. a

6 designates an inclined board, the lower end of which may be beveled, as indicated at 7, to rest upon the ground or race-track. The opposite or upper end of this board is made sufficiently wide to comprise parallel portions 9, which straddle the standard 1 and rest upon the pin 4. The plank 6 may also be provided with a central extension or tongue 10, entering the slot 2 of the standard 1 and restingupon the pin 4. By adjusting the pin 4 to the several openings 3 the upper end of the board 6 may be raised or lowered to any desired point for giving the necessary impetus to a machine placed thereon.

Slidingly mounted upon the upper end of the standard 1 is a sleeve 11. This sleeve comprises spaced forwardly-projecting ears 12, to one of which is pivotally connected a locking-bar 13, the free end of said bar being adapted to abut against the projecting end of the opposing ear. An elbow-lever 14 is fulcrumed upon one side of the sleeve 11, one end of said arm being notched or provided with a lip 15, which engages the free end of the locking-bar, and the other arm of said lever having a cord or flexible connection 16, by means of which said lever may be vibrated for disengaging it from the locking-bar and allowing the latter to swing open for releasing the bicycle. The sleeve 11 may be adjusted up and down on the standard 1, so as to bring the locking-arm in position to engage the rear wheel of a bicycle, as shown in Fig. 1.

A number of starting-machines constructed in accordance with this invention may be placed at the starting-point of a bicycle-race and a corresponding number of bicycles placed thereon and engaged with the locking mechanism. At a given signal all of the bi cycles may be released by simultaneously pulling the several cords which connect with the elbow-levers. In this manner an even and satisfactory start will be obtained, all of the bicycles getting an equal impetus, due to the corresponding inclination of the inclined boards. A stay 17 is interposed between the inclined board and the standard for bracing the starting-machine and preventing it from collapsing.

It will be understood that the construction of the standard and the connection of the inclined board therewith maybe varied and that other changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is-- 1. A device for starting bicycles, comprising a standard composed of two members with a space between them for a bicyclewheel, an inclined board having one end supported on the standard, means for adjusting the angle of the board, and means for holding the bicycle to the standard, substantially as described.

2. A starting-machine comprising a standard, an inclined board having one end adjustably connected thereto, and a lock eonneeted to said standard and adapted to engage the racing-vehicle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

A starting-machine, comprising a standard having an opening through it for a bicycle-wheel, a series of transverse holes therethrough, a removable pin adapted to be inserted in any one of said holes, an inclined board having one end supported on the standard by means of said pin, and means for holding the bicycle on the inclined board, substantially as described.

4. In a starting-machine, the combination with a standard, and an inclined board having one end supported thereon, of locking mechanism adjustable up and down on said standard, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. I11 a starting-machine, the combination with a standard, and an inclined board having one end supported thereon, of a locking mechanism comprising a frame slidingly mounted on said standard, a locking-arm carried by said frame, and means for holding PETTER C. N. PEDERSON.

\Vitnesses:

A. H. CAMPBELL, RICHARD REHNSTRAND.