An Appliance for Automatically Keeping the Brakes of Cycles in Action also applicable as a Cycle Lock
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 24th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1897
"An Appliance for Automatically Keeping the Brakes of Cycles in
Action also applicable as a Cycle Lock."
I, EDWARD SCUDAMORE LUCAS, of Addison Works, Woodstock Road, Shepherds
Bush, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
In many cycles the brakes are operated by a spring lever attached to the
steering handle, so that in their normal condition they are held off and are put
into action by gripping the spring lever towards the handle. In descending a
long hill it is often troublesome, more especially to ladies, to sustain the grip
for a lengthened period. Furthermore it is advantageous when the cycle is not
in actual use to retain the brake in action on the wheel as this insures the
stationary position of the cycle and also provides against the unauthorised use
by other persons.
My present invention relates to an appliance whereby the spring lever when
once gripped towards the handle is retained in that position until it is purposely
released.
For this purpose I mount in a small box or casing which can be readily attached
to the bar of the steering handle a spring ratchet drum and pawl. The spring
lever for actuating the brake is connected with this spring drum by a chain or
band.
When the spring lever is gripped towards the handle, the spring drum takes
up the slack of the chain. On releasing the grip of the spring lever this cannot
return to its normal position owing to the pawl preventing the revolution of the
spring drum in. the reverse direction, consequently the spring lever is held con-
tinuously near the handle keeping the brakes on until such pawl is released by
a spring push or other suitable means.
In some cases I provide means whereby this pawl can be retained in the locked
position and cannot be unlocked except by means of a suitable key thus making
the appliance applicable as a cycle lock.
Dated this 25th day of January 1897.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"An Appliance for Automatically Keeping the Brakes of Cycles in
Action also applicable as a Cycle Lock."
I, EDWARD SCUDAMORE LUCAS, of Addison Works, Woodstock Road, Shepherds
Bush, in the County of Middlesex, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
Price Sd1

page_text: of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
In many cycles the brakes are operated by a spring lever attached to the
steering handle so that in their normal condition they are held off and are put
into action by gripping the spring lever towards the handle. In descending a
long hill it is often troublesome, more especially to ladies, to sustain the grip
for a lengthened period. Furthermore, it is advantageous, when the cycle is not
in actual use, to retain the brake in action on the wheel, as this insures the
stationary position of the cycle and also provides against the unauthorised use
by other persons.
My present invention relates to an appliance whereby the spring lever when
once gripped towards the handle is retained in that position until it is purposely
released.
For this purpose, I apply to the brake lever, apparatus which I shall describe
referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a perspective-view of the steering handles, with apparatus according to
my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical section and Fig. 3 is a
sectional plan of the apparatus. I attach a small box or casing B to the bar A
of the steering handle, and, in this box, I mount a spring ratchet drum C and
a spring pawl D. The spring lever E for actuating the brake is connected with
the spring drum by a chain or band F.
When the spring lever E is gripped towards the handle A the spring drum C
takes up the slack of the chain, and then, by pressing in the pawl D so as to
engage with the teeth of the ratchet which are slightly undercut, on releasing
the grip of the spring lever E, this cannot return to its normal position owing to
the pawl preventing the revolution of the spring drum in the reverse direction,
consequently, the spring lever is held continuously near the handle keeping the
brake on until such pawl is released, which is done by giving a little more
pressure of the lever E towards the handle, thus allowing the ratchet wheel to
turn a little farther whereupon the pawl D becomes disengaged.
In some cases, I provide means whereby this pawl can be retained in the locked
position, and cannot be unlocked except. by means of a suitable key, thus
making the appliance applicable as a cycle lock.
For this purpose I fix the spring for the pawl D on a slide H, which can be
moved by a key K, so as to push the end of the spring along the inner face of D
till it passes beyond the pivot of D, the spring then acting so as to retain the
pawl engaged with the ratchet.
I prefer to pass the chain under a pin L which prevents the release of the
brake where it is locked even if the screw M should be loosened.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
An appliance to the brake of a bicycle constructed and operating substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 24th day of November 1897
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.