IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1885

page_text: I THEODOR BIERAU, high forester of Rothau, Unter-Elsass, German Empire
do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VELOCIPEDES" to be as follows:-
"
The present Invention relates to arrangements in velocipedes which have for
their object to obviate or at least considerably to diminish the peril of "headers"
or of being thrown over the handles when riding a bicycle. This danger presents
itself chiefly when the machine meets a sudden obstacle on the road so that the big
wheel is suddenly arrested whilst the impetus of the whole apparatus and of the
rider throws the frame work of the bicycle upon which the rider is seated, together
with the small wheel over the central axis of the velocipede so that the small
wheel is raised from the ground and projected forward in a circular path.
The rider can in such cases not succeed in reaching the ground with his feet
foremost as the fixed handle bar holds bis nether limbs back so that the upper part
of the riders body is violently thrown upon the ground. This inconvenience is
obviated according to the present invention, as in falling forward a releasing
device on the handle bar is struck by the disengagement whereof the handle bar
will either fold up or will be entirely lifted off the fork but will in neither case
impede the free use of the riders legs.
In constructing such a device in accordance with this invention the handle bar
is made in two parts which are pivotted upon the head of the machine, the inner
portion of the parts of the handle bar may conveniently be quadrangular in cross
section the outer portions being rounded and fitted with handles.
Two supports rise from pins on the fork and are by pins connected with sliding
pieces; these parts serve to retain the handle bar in normal position. The sliding
pieces work in grooves on the handle bar portions the front ends of the slides are
fitted with nose pieces or are suitably recessed for the reception of the hooked end
or nose of a releasing bar which is pivotted on the handle bar and upon which a
spring acts in such a manner as to maintain the parts in engagement under
ordinary conditions. When so held the parts afford perfect safety steering and
riding.
Should it however happen that the rider is by some obstacle suddenly thrown
forward, so that the rear part of the machine rises in together with the rider over
the front part and so that the handle bar is no longer above but in front of the

page_text: front wheel, then the thighs of the rider come into contact with the releasing
bars press these and their springs against the handle bar so that the slides are
disengaged. The two parts of the handle bar thus become free to turn on their
pivots and fold up.
The handle bar being thus folded up passes between the riders legs who there-
fore reaches the ground upright and the violent fall of the body to the ground is
prevented. To ensure operation of the releasing bars even if they are not struck in
an exactly horizontal line they are fitted with ball and socket joints. To this end
a counterplate is secured by screws to one surface of the handle bar portions and
this plate has a recess to form the socket for the ball and another recess to which
corresponds a similar one in the handle bar; these allow the releasing device to be
moved sideways. A pin serves as an additional fastening for the parts and also for
the ball to bear against the spring tends to keep the nose of the releasing bar in its
proper position.
If the above device is not to be used the handle bar portions may be fixed by
two sliding bolts or catches which engage with suitable projections and swivel on
pins. A bow spring serves to press the catches outward, the spring presses the
catches outward in an oblique position against inclines on the handle bar, but
allows the same to be brought back so that the handle bar portions are released
therefrom.
In a modification of the above arrangement the releasing bars moved forward by
the thighs of the rider when the latter is thrown forward allows the handles to be
entirely lifted off.
For this purpose the head of the fork may be cone-shaped and on the handle bar
has an eye or aperture of corresponding shape. To prevent accidental release of
the bar two straps or stirrup pieces are slipped upon the same. These carry below
two levers whose ends have slight recesses by means of which they are hooked
into pins on the head. Thumbnuts allow this fastening to be tightened up. Small
springs tend always to force the levers off the pins on the head whilst the ends of
the angular releasing bars which move on ball and socket joints tend to press the
levers against the pins.
Angular springs on each side of the top of the handle bar bear against the latter,
against small abutting pieces fixed and against thumbnuts. They serve for
regulation and prevent excessive friction on the pins. Should the rider be thrown
his thighs touch the releasing bars, the levers slip off the pins and the rider in
falling carries the whole handle with him.

page_text: I THEODOR BIERAU, High Forester of Rothau Unter Elsass German Empire, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 improvements applied to bicycles in order to prevent
the danger of falls over the handles or at least to diminish the danger.
This danger occurs chiefly when the machine is stopped by an obstacle in the
road whilst the momentum of the machine and the rider will operate further in the
same direction; the small wheel is raised from the ground and the whole machine
revolves round the axle of the large wheel. In such a case the rider will not fall
on his feet because his legs are kept back by the steering handles and the rider is
thrown with great violence upon his head. This invention prevents this danger
by means of movable bandle bars which either fold together or become separated
from the machine when a disengaging device is touched by the rider in falling.
The falling rider can then make unhindered use of his legs.
Such a disengaging device is shown in two forms in the annexed drawings.
Figure 1 is a front view of a handle bar provided with the disengaging device
and handle-bars folding together in case of danger.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the handle bar folded down upon the saddle.
Figure 3 is a detail on a larger scale.
Figure 4 shows in front view, plan and cross section the fastening of the
handle-bars.
Figures 5 and 6 are cross-sections of a handle-bar.
Figures 7 and 8 are plan and side elevation of the fork-head.
Figures 9, 10 and il show in front view, plan and cross-section a modified
construction where the bandle bars are disengaged entirely from the fork head in
case of danger.
The handle bars B are hinged to the head A' of the fork A by means of ball
and socket joints a. The bars B are tapering to the outside where they are fitted
with handles C. Two supports D, adjusted by female screw sockets with a right
and left handed thread and jointed to A by means of the bolts band with their
other ends jointed to the slide blocks g by means of bolts l. Figures 1, 3 and 5
keep the bars B in position.
The slide-blocks can slide to and fro in the grooves g¹ Figure 8 of the bars B and
are provided each on their front part with a nose h. Figure 3 or a notch in or
behind which catches the nose i of the disengaging lever E. This lever E is
jointed to the bandle bar B. By this fastening of the bars B great security in
steering and riding will be obtained. Should the large wheel meet an obstacle
and the small wheel and rider be raised from the ground then the handle bars are
not above but in front of the large wheel and the thighs of the falling rider will
press heavily upon the disengaging levers E. The nose i is thus disengaged from
the nose h of the slide blocks g which are now free to move upon the handle-bars
which fold together on their ball and socket joints and take a position as shown in
dotted lines in Figure 1. In this position the handle bars do not form an obstacle
but pass between the legs of the falling rider who thus falls on his feet instead of

page_text: on his head. When the head of the bicycle touches the ground the folded handle
bars will fold back on the saddle and in this manner will not be bent, while the
slide blocks g have left their grooves and also cannot be bent. In folding down
upon the saddle the handle bars turn in such a manner in their ball and socket
joints that they will fit into the rectangular grooves a¹ of the head.
If the above described safety device be not used the two catches o and p, which
turn round the bolts q and 7. Figure 4 may be employed. A spring S presses
the catches outwards against the handle bar, which however can be liberated again
by moving the catches back. A still simpler means, as shown in Figure 1, to
prevent the disengaging, is to pass the ring or female screw F under the lever E.
In Figures 9, 10 and 11 a modification is shown in which the steering bar can
be entirely removed from the bicycle in case of a fall.
The head A² of the fork A is squared and tapered, whilst the steering bar L is
provided with a rectangular eye L which fits on to the fork. In order to prevent
the handle bar L from improperly coming off the two small shackles w may be put
over the bar. These shackles have fitted to their lower ends the two jointed
arms the ends of which are recessed so as to fit over the studs u whilst the bent
ends of the disengaging levers E¹ (movable in ball and socket joints) press the
jointed arms against the studs u. The flat springs z fastened to brackets z¹
assist the quick removing of the shackles w.
The rider being thrown headlong by any obstacle presses the disengaging
levers E with his thighs, the fore ends of the levers slip from the jointed arms x
and these are removed from the studs u assisted by the springs v. The handle bar
now unfastened will be forced off and danger avoided.
Structural details may be altered without departing from the spirit of the
invention, whose object is to remove the handle bar suddenly from the machine or
to bring it into such position as not to hamper the falling rider, and by folding
backwards also prevent the handle bar from being bent.
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 bicycles, for the prevention of danger to the falling rider, the disengaging
levers, which when pressed by the thighs of the falling rider, will enable the
handle bar to fold together or be removed entirely substantially as specified.
2. In combination with the disengaging levers, the hinged handle bars B (with
or without supports) which fold together as shown in Figures 1 and 2 when
disengaged from the disengaging levers substantially as specified.
3. In combination with the disengaging levers, the handle bar L (Figures 9, 10
and 11) which is removed entirely from the machine when freed from the
disengaging levers substantially as specified.
4. In combination with the disengaging levers a device for stopping their action
by a ring or sleeve placed or screwed between substantially as specified.
5. The use of ball and socket or universal joints for the handle bars in com-
bination with rectangular grooves a¹ in the head A¹ to enable the bars to be folded
back upon the saddle after being folded up vertically.
6. The screw sockets with right and left handed female screw for the adjustment
of the supporta D.
Dated this 10th day of February 1886