Improvements in Handles and Handle Bars for Cycles and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Handles and Handle Bars for Cycles and the like.
I, THOMAS SUGDEN of "Brooklyn" Underhill Road, Forest Hill, S.E.,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to means or attachments for minimising the vibration felt
by the rider of a bicycle or other cycle ar the like when holding the steering
devices of the machine.
It consists in one arrangement of an elastic or flexible bar or connection to be
gripped by the hand and stretching straight across from a point at or near one
of the handles on the handle bar to a corresponding point at the other side, and
connected at the ends to the handles or handle bars by suitable clips or other
means.
According to a second arrangement instead of a flexible connection between
the handles, a rigid bar may be used and connected to the handle or handle bar
by means of studs or slots or the like, and resting on springs or other elastic
medium.
In this and the following arrangements rigidity for steering purposes is
secured whilst the vibrations are neutralized by the elastic connections.
In another arrangement I attach at, or near the ordinary handle by a suitable
clip or other means an auxiliary handle connecting with the handle bar or handle
through a spring or other elastic medium.
The auxiliary handle may consist of a stirrup shaped handle with a stem
fitting into a socket containing a spiral spring or other elastic medium, or the
grip of the handle may be supported by spring or other elastic medium and be
guided in guide slots or on guide studs.
These devices being separate attachments the ordinary handles are also avail-
able for use when desired and are not interfered with.
Dated this 14th day of November 1896.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Handles and Handle Bars for Cycles and the like.
I, THOMAS SUGDEN of "Brooklyn" Underhill Road, Forest Hill, S.E.,
Engineer, 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:-
5 My invention relates to means or attachments for minimising the vibration felt

page_text: by the rider of a bicycle or other cycle or the like when holding the steering
devices of the machine.
It consists in one arrangement of an elastic or flexible bar or connection to be
gripped by the hand and stretching straight across from a point at or near one
of the handles on the handle bar to a corresponding point at the other side, and
connected at the ends to the handles or handle bars by suitable clips or other
means.
According to a second arrangement instead of a flexible connection between
the handles, a rigid bar may be used and connected to the handles or handle bar
by means of studs or slots or the like, and resting on springs or other elastic
medium.
In this and the following arrangements rigidity for steering purposes is
secured whilst the vibrations are neutralized by the elastic connections.
In another arrangement I attach at, or near the ordinary handle by a suitable
clip or other means an auxiliary handle connecting with the handle bar or handle
through a spring or other elastic medium.
The auxiliary handle may consist of a stirrup shaped handle with a stem
fitting into a socket containing a spiral spring or other elastic medium, or the
grip of the handle may be supported by spring or other elastic medium and be
guided in guide slots or on guide studs.
These devices being separate attachments the ordinary handles are also avail-
able for use when desired and are not interfered with.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had
to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan of a handle bar
constructed according to my invention and Figs. 2 and 3 are detail views showing the
method of fitting a flexible auxiliary handle bar, Figs. 4 and 5 are sectional
view taken at right angles to each other of a modified construction in which a
helical spring is employed, Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show other modifications in section,
Figs. 9 and 10 are views at right angles to each other of a further modification,
Figs. 11 and 12 show an auxiliary handle of stirrup form, and Fig. 13 shows an
inflator used as an auxiliary handle bar.
According to 'the general arrangement shown in Fig. 1 the ordinary handle
bar A is provided with an auxiliary handle bar B extending straight across it
from points close to the handle bars. This auxiliary bar may be of a rigid or
resilient nature according to the modifications shown in detail views.
.
Referring to Figs. 2 and 3 the auxiliary handle B₁ is formed from a thick
rubber or other resilient tube, which is stretched straight between the two
ordinary handles. To secure this handle to the ordinary handle bar, I provide a
small core or plug b of wood or other solid material placed in the end of the
rubber tube so as to afford a firm base. The end thus supported is then fitted.in
the double clamp C, the lower part of which is adapted to encircle the ordinary
handle bar and to be fixed by the set screws c in the ordinary manner.
upper part carries the auxiliary handle, the set screw c' at the upper end complet-
ing the clamp or clip.
The
As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the bar B2 is formed from metal tubing screw
threaded internally at the end to receive the eye b. This bar is supported by
means of the pin 1) having the clamp d at its lower end by which it can be fixed
to the handle bar A. This piu passes through the eye and the nut d is pro-
vided at the top. Around the pin D the strong helical spring E is placed support-
ing the bar B through the termination b. The sheath or cover F is secured to
the clamp by a small screw taking into the end of the pin D and encloses the
spring and other parts, and is slotted at f to allow the eye or termination a¹ to
pass through, and to slide when the handle is pulled. The bar is thus supported
on the spring E which serves to deaden any vibration that may reach the ordinary
handle bar.
In the modification shown in Fig. 6 instead of supporting the handle bar on

page_text: the spring E it is suspended from the spring E', this spring being carried by the
sheath or cover Ft having a clamp d at its lower end.
In Fig. 7 instead of employing a metal spring to support the bar, the bar B³
which is shown solid and may be of any suitable material, is suspended in the
rubber rings E. These rings are carried by the lug g on the support G which
is fitted to the clamp d by rivetting or otherwise. An elastic band or ring is
secured at each side of the support and the latter is of sufficient depth to allow the
bar to be moved or pulled down so as to stretch the rings the bar being thus carried
in a resilient manner.
As shown in Fig. 8 instead of employing a vertical spring, I propose to attach
the termination 3 of the rigid bar B to the horizontal spring E. The support G¹
carried by the clamp g is provided with the screw pin g having a square head by
which it can be turned from the outside. This pin is screwed into the sliding
block to which the other end of the spring is connected, this sliding block
allowing the tension and compression of the spring to be adjusted accurately.
The block is prevented from turning by any well known device such as a stud
taking into a recess in the support or casing G or the block may be made square.
In the modification illustrated in Figs. 9 and 10, the handle B³ instead of being
directly supported by a spring is carried on the end of the arm H, this arm
being pivoted at h to the casing or support G3. This arm is provided with the
cam, against which the spring J fitted at the lower part of the support or
casing bears. This spring causes the arm to be raised carrying the auxiliary bar
with it, but allowing it to be depressed against the force of the spring.
stop is provided at the top of the casing to limit the motion of the arm.
Figs. 11 and 12 show an auxiliary handle K of stirrup form, this handle being
placed at each side of the ordinary handle bar immediately above the usual
handles. The lower part of the stirrup is provided with the socket & slotted at k¹.
The clamp d is provided with the tubular support L within which the vertical
spring E is placed. This spring bears against the bottom of the stirrup and
supports it at the same time, allowing it to be depressed. To connect the stirrup
and the support the screws are employed passing through the slots k¹.
The
Fig. 13 shows an attachment by means of which the pump or inflator B may
be employed as the auxiliary handle bar supported in a resilient manner by a
spring F, of S shape which is provided with a clip E to carry the inflator, the
whole being clamped to the ordinary handle bar by the clamp d.
In all the modifications shown the auxiliary handles are supported in a resilient
manner, so that any vibrations received by the ordinary rigid handle bar is
absorbed before it reaches these handles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. Improvements in handles or handle bars for cycles, consisting in an auxiliary
handle or handle bar supported on the ordinary handle bar in a resilient manner,
substantially as and for the purposes specified.
2. Improvements in handle bars for cycles, consisting in a flexible or resilient
bar placed between the ordinary handles and connected to the handle bar at each
end by a suitable clamp, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
3. Improvements in handle bars for cycles consisting in an auxiliary rigid bar
extended between the ordinary handles carried by the ordinary handle bar and
provided with a spring supporting it in a resilient manner, substantially as
described and shown and for the purposes specified.
4. Improvements in handles for cycles, consisting in an auxiliary handle at
each side supported by the handle bar close to the ordinary handle and fitted to
the bar by means of a suitable clip or clamp and a spring supporting the said
handle in a resilient manner, substantially as described and for the purposes
specified.

page_text: 5. Improvements in handles for cycles, consisting of a handle and stirrup
supported on the ordinary handle bar by means of a stem provided with a clamp
or clip, a spring supporting the said handle in a resilient manner and slots and
pins forming guides, substantially as described and shown in Figs. 11 and 12,
and for the purposes specified.
6. Improvements in resilient auxiliary handle bars for cycles and the like,
consisting in employing the inflator secured to the ordinary handle bar by means
of springs and clips, substantially as described and shown in Fig. 13 of the
accompanying drawings and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 16th day of August 1897.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.