Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 28th July, 1897-Accepted, 28th Aug., 1897
I, CHARLES THOMAS BROCK SANGSTER Works Manager to the Cycle Components
Manufacturing Company Limited, of Bournbrook near the City of Birmingham, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the means employed for securing or locking the front forks
of a safety bicycle or the like in a set or determined position relative to the other part
of.the framing and commonly known as "steering locks" by which a rider adjusts or
regulates the freedom of movement of the steering post within the sleeve of the ball
heads and also by which he locks the steering wheel when leaving his machine
leaning against a wall or other support, to prevent the same from falling.
The object of my invention is to produce a near and efficient lock, and this I effect
by.encircling the lower end of the non-rotating or fixed outer sleeve or tube of the ball
head of the frame by a band clip attached to or carried by the fork crown plate or
other convenient part of the forks, which turn with the steering post.
Thus in carrying out my invention I take a thin steel or other sheet metal band
clip, the opposite ends of which are formed into gapped or knuckled sleeves or
barrels enclosing swivelling blocks to one of which is attached an end of a drawing-up
serew pin whose other and screwed end passes through a plain hole in the other
block and receives a screw nut or head, by whose rotation the distance between the
ends of the band is increased or diminished and the diameter of the same altered
accordingly. Such a clip or friction band is secured to the top plate of the front fork
crown by a screw passed through a conveniently disposed ear, or in any other
suitable way, in such a manner that the body of the band encircles the lower end
of the ball head outer sleeve, or an extension of, or attachment to, the same, with
the pin lying preferably along one side of the said sleeve and the head or nut coming
at the front, although I do not limit myself to this position, so long as that by
drawing the band around the foot end of the fixed sleeve the parts are. brought into
frictional contact and the movement of the steering pillar and the forks (which
carry the clip) is retarded to an extent proportional with the degree to which the
band is tightened.
By arranging a band as described an efficient and easily regulated steering
lock is provided without any projecting or unsightly parts to injure the appearance
of a machine, as is a common fault with locks of the ordinary construction.
As a modification the clip may be carried from the sleeve or other fixed part
of the frame and be arranged to encircle a collar or upward extension of the crown
plates.

page_text: I, CHARLES THOMAS BROCK SANGSTER, Works Manager-tonthe Cycle Components
Manufacturing Company Limited, of Bournbrook, near the City of Birmingham, do
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to he particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to the means employed for securing or locking the front
forks of a safety bicycle or the like in a set or determined position relative to the
other part of the framing and commonly known as "steering locks" by which a
rider adjusts or regulates the freedom of movement of the steering post within the,
sleeve. of the ball head, and also by which he locks the steering wheel when leaving.
his machine leaning against a wall or other support, to prevent the same from
falling.
The object of my invention is to produce a neat and efficient lock, and this I effect
by applying to, the lower end of the outer sleeve or tube of the ball head of the frame,.
a clip or friction band attached to or carried by the fork crown plate or other 1
convenient part of the forks, turning with the steering post, which said band. admits:
of being contracted around the said outer sleeve when it is required to lock or stiffen
the steering.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents, in front elevation, the ball head,
fork crown, and front forks of a safety bicycle fitted or provided with a steering lock 2
arranged or applied according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevation upon an enlarged scale, of the lower part of Figure 2, but.
with the band clip encircling the lower end of the ball head sleeve in. section.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section, upon the same scale as Figure 4, taken upon the. 2
dotted lines x, Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the friction band of the steering lock, and.
its. drawing-up screw and nut.
Figure 6 is an elevation of the said band and screw.
Figure 7 is an elevation of one end of the said band, showing the barrel or 3
knuckle formation for receiving the. swivelling block or end carrying the screw.
Figure 8 is an elevation of the said screw and its swivelling block, separately.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures of:
the drawing.
Thus, a frictional steering lock constructed according to my invention, and as 3
illustrated in the drawings consists of a thin steel or other sheet metal band.or clip a,:
the opposite ends a', of which are formed into gapped or knuckled sleeves or
barrels a², enclosing swivelling or turning blocks b'; 2, to the former b¹, of which is
attached an end. 63 of a drawing-up screw pin b, whose other and screwed end b4;
passes through a plain hole 65 in the other block 62, and receives a screw nut or 4
head bo, by whose rotation the distance between the said ends of the band is
increased or diminished and the diameter of the saine altered accordingly. >
Such a clip or friction band is secured to the top plate c', of the front fork crownc,
by a screw a³, passed through a conveniently disposed ear a', in. such a manner
that the body of the band encircles the lower end d, of the ball head outer 4
sleeve d, within which the steering pillar e, termiuated at its lower end e¹, by the
aforesaid, ifork crown ic, a rotates or turns. The drawing up pin b, is preferably
disposed along one side of the said sleeve and the head or nut 6, comes at the
front, although I do not limit anyself to this position, so long as that by drawing the

page_text: band around the foot end of the fixed sleeve, or an extension of, or attachment
to the same the parts are brought into frictional contact and the movement of the
steering pillar and the forks (which carry the clip) is retarded or braked to an
extent proportional with the degree to which the band is contracted or tightened
up until, on the complete screwing up, the steering pillar is fully locked.
By arranging a contractable friction band as described, an efficient and easily
regulated or applied steering lock is provided without any projecting or unsightly
parts to mar the appearance of a machine, as is a common fault with locks of
the ordinary construction.
As a modification the clip may be carried from the sleeve or other fixed part of
the frame and be arranged to encircle part of the fork crown, or a collar or upward
extension of the crown plates, or the lower end of the steering pillar.
Instead of affixing the band in position by a screw and eyed ear as shown in
the drawing, the same may be affixed by rivetting, brazing or in any other
convenient way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
First. A cycle steering lock, consisting of a friction band or clip carried by the
front forks or the front fork crown and arranged to encircle and be contracted upon
a part of the fixed outer sleeve of a ball head, substantially as described and set
forth.
Secondly. A cycle steering lock, consisting of a friction band or clip, made fast
at the body part either to the front forks or crown plate, or to the ball head outer
sleeve, and with the free ends drawn together and around the said ball head sleeve, or
around a part of the fork crown, or an extension thereof, or around the steering
pillar, by a pin, hinged to the one end of the said band, and taking through a
swivelling eye carried by the other end and being there affixed by a nut or equivalent,
substantially as described and set forth.
Dated this 27th day of July 1807
CHARLES THOMAS BROCK SANGSTER,
By Henry Skerrett,
24 Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.