Year: 1898

page_text: I, WILLIAM RICHARD BOWERS, of 63, Nelson Road, Aston, in the City of
Birmingham, Cycle Works Foreman, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
My invention relates to cycles and more particularly to safety bicycles, and
has for its object to provide means for the fixture of the steering tube and steer-
ing wheel against rotation, so that the wheel may be maintained rigidly fixed
in alignment with the frame of the machine in order, and that the machine may
be caused to lie in an upright position against any lateral support without possi-
bility of fall by reason of the movement of the steering wheel, and further such
means permit of any resistance being applied to the rotation of the steering part
that may be required by the rider in the use of the machine to which it is
applied.
My invention consists in the provision of a wire band or its equivalent which
is caused to encircle the upper extremity of the steering tube passing preferably
around the adjacent part of the upper horizontal member of the frame of the
machine, and diagonally crossing between, the extremities of the wire being
caused to be drawn together, thereby exercising a tension such as will cause the
wire to bind around the upper extremity of the steering tube and thereby tend
to preclude rotation of the tube.
In carrying my invention into effect we provide a wire band or its equivalent
to embrace the upper extremity of the steering tube or any fitting secured thereto,
such wire crossing and passing around the tube or fitting and being caused pre-
ferably to embrace the adjacent portion of the upper horizontal member of the
frame, one extremity of the wire being preferably fixed within a small bracket
which is formed to lie upon that part of the frame of the machine, its opposite
extremity being provided with a lug through which the other extremity of the.
wire is caused to pass, this latter extremity being screw threaded so as to permit
of its being drawn through the lug by means of a milled headed nut for the
purpose of binding the wire upon the upper extremity of the steering tube or
releasing the tension when it is desired to permit of unrestricted rotation of the
tube.
I may cause the circle of wire or its equivalent to be held by means of a pin
or bracket specially provided and fixed to the machine frame instead of em-
bracing the upper horizontal member of the frame, and any means may be
provided for the adjustment of the tension of the wire.
1000
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Steering Locks for Cycles.
I, WILLIAM RICHARD BOWERS, of 63, Nelson Road, Aston, in the City of
Birmingham, Cycle Works Foreman, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement: —
•
This invention relates to cycles, and more particularly to safety bicycles, and
has for its object to provide means for binding the steering tube against rotation,
so that the steering wheel may be maintained rigidly fixed in alignment with
the frame of the machine, in order that the machine may lie in an upright
position against any lateral support without possibility of fall by reason of move-
ment of the steering wheel; and further has for its object to permit of a graduated
resistance being applied against the rotation of the steering tube as may be
required by the rider in the use of the machine.
This invention consists of a device in which a wire band or its equivalent is
caused to encircle the steering tube, passing preferably around the adjacent part
of the upper horizontal member of the machine frame and diagonally crossing
between, the extremities of the wire being caused to be drawn together, thereby
exercising tension such as will cause the wire to bind around the steering tube,
and thereby tend to resist or prevent the rotation of the tube.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1
represents in elevation the steering tube, steering tube socket, and part of the
frame of a safety bicycle showing the binding device applied; while
Figure 2 is a plan showing the device detached from the machine.
In carrying my invention into effect as illustrated in the accompanying draw-
ings a wire A or its equivalent is provided to embrace the upper extremity B
of the steering tube, or any fitting secured thereto, the tube or part B being
preferably but not necessarily provided with a circular recess in which the wire
lies, such wire passing round the steering tube or fitting, and crossing so as to
completely embrace the adjacent portion of the upper horizontal member C of
the frame, one extremity A¹ of the wire being preferably fixed within the lug D³
of a small bracket D which is formed to lie upon that part of the frame of the
machine. The opposite extremity of the bracket being provided with a lug D¹
through which the other extremity A2 of the wire is caused to pass, this latter
⚫ extremity A² being screw-threaded so as permit of its being drawn through the
lug by means of a milled headed nut E for the purpose of binding the wire A
upon the upper extremity B of the steering tube or so as to permit of the tension
being released to allow of the unrestricted rotation of the tube.
The milled headed nut E is retained by means of a chain G should it by any
means become unscrewed from the extremity A³.
By the use of such a device it will be understood that the steering tube is
capable of being rigidly held against rotation so that the machine may be caused
to lie in an upright position against any lateral support, and that a graduated
resistance is capable of being applied which permits of a relatively easy or re-
tarded movement of the tube.
Any means may be provided for the adjustment of the of the tension' of the wire.
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
1. In a cycle a device for binding the steering tube so as to restrict or prevent

page_text: rotation, consisting of a tensional encircling band which completely encircles the
steering tube and an adjacent part of the frame, substantially as described.
2. In a cycle a device for binding the steering tube so as to restrict or prevent
rotation substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.