Improvements in or relating to Springs made from "Caoutchouc or India-rubber, chiefly used for the Closing and Opening of Doors but also applicable to other purposes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 13th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"
Improvements in or relating to Springs made from "Caoutchouc
or India-rubber, chiefly used for the Closing and Opening of Doors,
but also applicable to other purposes.
I FREDERICK WESTWOOD of 324 Cheapside, Birmingham Cycle Agent do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
This my invention relates to improvements in springs made from "caoutchouc "
or gum elastic known as india-rubber in the cord or band, which shall be capable of
being held or fixed at their ends to their purpose in a simpler and more secure manner
than hitherto. I will describe my invention thus-Each end of the cord or band
forming the spring is provided with a metallic cap of a required length and of a
configuration suitable to the cord or band upon which it is fitted if it is cylindrical
than a cap or tube correspondingly would be placed thereon and by means of tools
specially provided would be compressed or flattened upon two surfaces at or near the
"
" throttle
centre. In some cases the tools would be formed to produce a
or other
form may be produced by compressing. By this mode a greater grip is imparted
and less fracture to the cord or band.
And the strain upon the stretching or middle part is reduced.
The end of the said caps are closed, and fitted with loops or hooks for their special
purpose by any suitable means.
Dated this 29th day of January 1890.
THOS. KENDRICK,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"
Improvements in or relating to Springs made from "Caoutchouc
or India-rubber, chiefly used for the Closing and Opening of Doors,
but also applicable to other purposes.
I FREDERICK WESTWOOD of 324 Cheapside Birmingham, Cycle Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
دو
or
This my invention relates to improvements in springs made from "caoutchouc
gum-elastic known as india-rubber, such as are used in the cord or band (referred to in
the application dated January 13th 1890 and No. 578) and which shall be capable of
being held or fixed at their ends to their purpose in a simpler and more secure manner
than hitherto.
I will describe my invention thus-Each end of the cord or band forming the
spring is provided with a metallic cap of a required length, and of a configuration
suitable to the cord or band upon which it is fixed, if it is cylindrical than a cap or
tube to correspond would be placed thereon, and by means of tools specially provided
would be compressed or flattened upon two surfaces, at or near the centre. In
some cases the tools would be formed to produce a "throttle" or other form by
compressing.
By this mode a greater grip is imparted and less fracture to the cord or band and
the strain upon the stretching or middle part is reduced.
The ends of the said caps are closed and fitted with loops or hooks for their special
purpose by any suitable means.
I will now particularly describe my invention as applied to its most obvious use
viz. A spring to be applied to doors and parts connected therewith for the closing

page_text: and the opening of the same although the purposes to which a spring of this class may
be used as innumerable.
And in order that this my said invention may be more clearly understood I will
now proceed to describe the same reference being made to the sheet of drawings, the
various figures and letters marked thereon (that is to say)
Fig. 1 is a front view of an elastic cord or band with my improved metallic cap
applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a side view of same.
Fig. 3 is a view as Fig. 1 but the cord or band is thickened at the ends.
Fig. 4 is a view as Fig. 2.
The same letters of reference indicate like a corresponding parts where they
occur.
a is the band or cord of india rubber or other elastic material, b, is the metallic
cap, c, is the compression, d is the loop.
In Figs. 1 and 2, the cord or band employed is of a uniform or continuous shape.
In Figs. 3 and 4, the cord or band is not uniform being thickened at the ends a¹ so
that by the power or stretching will compensate for the compression, conveyed to the
part which is practically the spring.
It will be perceived that by the compressing of the tube or cap at c, the point
indicated the ends of the band or cord a increase in bulk, in the outer ends of the
metallic cap b, and are held or fixed in a permanent manner.
The metallic cap may be of any required configuration in cross-section, and length
according to the cord or band upon which it is fitted, and the part compressed may
be effected in any convenient place and form.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
The construction and application of metallic caps or tubes to the ends of india-rubber
or elastic bands or cords, the said caps or tubes corresponding in configuration to the
bands or cords, upon which they are fitted, and secured thereto by compressing the
said caps or tubes in a required position, the outer ends being provided with loops or
hooks for their purpose substantially for the purposes as hereinbefore described in the
foregoing Specification and shewn on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated 13th October 1890.
THOS. KENDRICK,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Jan., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 13th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Mode or Method of Controlling the Steering-
wheels of Safety and other Cycles.
FREDERICK WESTWOOD 324 Cheapside Birmingham Cycle Agent do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in the application of a indiarubber cord or spring of a
suitable construction to the front or steering wheel or parts connected therewith of
safety and other cycles.
This spring is attached directly or indirectly to the steering wheel in such a place
and manner that the said wheel may be controlled thereby.
In this Specification I will describe my invention in connection with a
bicycle," but also applicable to other cycles.
I employ an indiarubber spring which can be removed at will.
"safety
If the spring is an indiarubber cord it may be flat or round, of any length required,
and provided with holders on each end for the purpose of connecting it to its work.
The steering wheel or fork or parts connected therewith is fitted with a loop or other
contrivance which receives one end of the spring. The other end of the spring is
fitted in a similar manner to the frame or parts connected with the driving wheel; or
the spring may be connected to the handle bar and to the frame as above described
and in a similar manner to tricycles or other machines of this class having more than
two wheels.
0
The action of this spring upon the cycle is to continually keep the front wheel in a
line with the driving wheel, for whenever the steering wheel is turned from this
position either by the rider or by some obstruction, the spring, being stretched out,
has the tendency to pull back the wheel into its former position without any action
on the part of the rider, thus forming an automatic steerer.
Dated this 8th day of January 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Mode or Method of Controlling the Steering-
wheels of Safety and other Cycles.
.
1, FREDERICK WESTWOOD, of 324 Cheapside, Birmingham, Cycle Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
My invention consists in the application of a indiarubber cord or spring of a
suitable construction to the front or steering wheels or parts connected therewith, of
safety and other cycles.
This spring is attached directly or indirectly to the steering wheel in such a place
and manner that the said wheel may be controlled thereby.
"safety
In this Specification I will describe my invention in connection with a
bicycle," but also applicable to other cycles.
I employ an "india-rubber" spring which can be removed at will. If the spring
is an india-rubber cord it may be flat, or round of any length required and provided
with holders on each end for the purpose of connecting it to the "steering wheel" or
fork or parts connecting therewith, it is fitted with a loop or other contrivance which
receives one end of the spring, the other end of the spring is fixed in a similar manner
to the frame or parts connected to the driving wheel, or the spring may be connected

page_text: to the handle bar and to the frame as above described; and in a similar manner to
tricycles, or other machines of this class having more than two wheels.
The action of this spring upon the cycle is to continually keep the front wheel in a
line with the driving wheel, for whenever the steering wheel is turned from this
position either by the rider or by some obstruction the spring being stretched out has
the tendency to pull back the wheel into its former position without any action on the
part of the rider thus forming an automatic steerer.
I will describe my invention thus ;
As applied to that type of bicycle known as the "safety" rear driving or front
steering, there is no departure in the general construction of the machine.
I employ a spring of any suitable kind by preference "caoutchouc" or india-
rubber as being the most reliable, or a helical spring, this spring is affixed
or connected thus, a loop or other contrivance is affixed to the pillar or frame
carrying the seat or saddle, at its upper part, and the driving gear at its
lower part; near the steering wheel another loop is affixed to the guard or
rod, or other convenient part carrying or connected with the steering wheel, the
spring above described is provided at each end with a hook or other contrivance and
with a slight strain is connected from loop to loop securely, any diverage of the
steering wheel from a direct course would be instantly checked by the strain or power
of the spring.
As the steering wheel is controlled by the movement of the transverse handle-
bar upon the pillar it is clear that if the spring as above described is connected to
the ends of the handle-bar and thence to the frame or pillar carrying the seat or
saddle the same object would be effected.
In some cases I may prefer to use two springs, of the kind described which would
be applicable on both sides of the machine, preferable when I arrange the same to the
transverse handle-bar at or near the handles, and to the frame, this plan I should
employ chiefly to bicycles of the front steering, known as bicycle steering and to such
machines as the "Humber" which are constructed so that the driving wheels are the
steering wheels, with a small trailing wheel.
And in order that this my said invention may be more fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose I shall refer to
the several figures, in the sheet of drawings hereunto annexed.
The same letters of reference upon the several figures indicate like or corre-
sponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a side view elevation of "safety bicycle," front steerer with my invention
connected therewith.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of same.
Fig. 3 is a plan view shewing my invention applied to the transverse handle-bar,
and to the frame of a front steering "safety."
Fig. 4 is a side view elevation of a tricycle known as the "Humber" with my
invention applied to the frame and to the pillar or pedal-bracket.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of same shewing my invention applied to the transverse
handle-bar.
Fig. 6 and 7 shew the spring by preference I shall employ Fig. 8 The helical
spring I may use in some cases.
a, is the steering wheel, 6 the driving wheel, 61 the trailing wheel, c is the spring,
d is the pillar or frame, carrying the seat or saddle. e, is the loop thereon, is the
loop on the guard or rod g, h. h, are the metal caps upon the ends of c, provided with
a suitable contrivance for its connection to
and f.
In Fig. 3 I shew two springs c, c, applied to the same class of machine as Fig. 1
and 2 but transposed from the lower part of d, and from g, to the upper part of the
former, near to the seat or saddle i, and to the transverse handle-bar j. at the ends j¹
or by this mode I may employ c only attaching or connecting each end of same at j'
as before described, in this case I should arrange a small pulley wheel working upon
a pin upon the frame d. at or near the seat or saddle i, the spring e, would be strained
sufficient to pass over the wheel, but any friction would be reduced to a minimum.

page_text: The description and illustration of Fig. 3, so far as the application of my invention
refers, describes Fig. 5, a machine known as the "Humber." Fig. 4 of which
shews the spring c, connected thereto by the same means as shewn and described by
Fig. 1.
In the foregoing Specification I have set forth my invention as a spring c, or
springs c, c, and the drawings shew the same similar to an ordinary door-spring but
a spring may be constructed in various ways, shapes or configurations to answer this
purposes, for instance a ring of "caoutchouc" or other elastic material may be
employed which would serve the purpose.
The above being my invention I would have it particularly understood that I do
not limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement of parts hereinbefore
described and shewn, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations
as fairly fall within the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare what I claim is :-
To a velocipede, the application of a spring or springs connected to the same so as
to control the steering wheel, specifically as above set forth and shewn on the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated 13th September 1800
THOS. KENDRICK.
Agent for Applicant.