Improvements in Brakes for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1892-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Cycles and other Vehicles.
A communication by WILLIAM W. DODGE and WALTER S. DODGE, both of
700, Ninth Street, N.W. Washington, in the District of Columbia, United
States of America, Patent Attorneys.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester both in the County of Lancaster and 323 High Holborn, in the
County of Middlesex, Civil 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 :-
This invention relates to brakes for vehicles, and consists in various features,
details and combinations hereinafter set forth and claimed.
The present invention has reference more particularly to brakes designed for
bicycles and tricycles, though the invention is applicable to any and all classes and
styles of vehicles. At the present time, when pneumatic tyres are so extensively
used, great annoyance and trouble are experienced by reason of the brakes tearing
or cutting the tyres, thereby allowing the air (which is forced into the tyre at a
pressure of about 150 pounds) to escape and rendering the tyre useless.
.
It is the object of this invention to produce a brake which shall be thoroughly
efficient in action and which shall, at the same time, produce no injury to the tyre.
To this end, the invention consists in making the brake in the form of a brush,
which, while yielding sufficiently to prevent the rupture of the tyre, will form an
efficient brake.
"
In the drawings-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved brake shoe or braking device;
Figure 2, a view showing the device applied to the rear wheel brake of a
Century Columbia" machine; and
Figure 3, a view, showing the device applied to the front wheel brake of a
Psycho" machine.
In its preferred form, the brake shoe or braking surface consists of a brush
comprising a backing a and bristles b. Upon the back or rear face of the brush, a
pocket c is formed, and the device as a whole is provided with a strap d and buckle e,
or any other suitable retaining means.
The backing a will advisably be made of leather or other flexible material, so
that the brush may adapt itself to the curvature, in cross section, of the ordinary
brake lever or brake spoon which is inserted into the pocket.
The form of brush herein shown and described was devised with particular
reference to the brake lever employed on the "Columbia" "machine; said lever
being bifurcated at its upper end, and allowing the strap d to pass over the upper
When the
edge of the lever or spoon f, between the arms, as shown in Figure 2.
brush is applied to other machines having different styles of brake levers or spoons,
the strap or other fastening device will have to be differently arranged.
The brush will last quite a long time, and, when worn, may be readily replaced
by a new one. The pocket formation keeps the brush from turning upon the lever
or spoon; but it is not essential.
My correspondents being the first to provide a brake shoe with a pocket to
receive or fit upon the ordinary brake lever or spoon, such a shoe is claimed regard-
less of the nature of the braking or rubbing surface.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is
"
1. In a vehicle, the combination, with the brake lever or spoon, of a brake brush
applied thereto.
2. In a vehicle, the combination, with the brake lever or spoon, of a brake brush,
and means for detachably or removably securing it to the lever or spoon.
3. In a vehicle, the combination, with the brake lever or spoon, of a brake brush
provided with a pocket and securing means.
4. In a vehicle, a brake brush provided with a flexible back.
5. In a vehicle, the combination, with the frame and wheels, of the lever pivotted
to the frame, the brake-brush applied thereto, and the strap d for securing the
brush to the lever
•
6. As a new article of manufacture, a brake-shoe for application to the brake-
spoon of an ordinary bicycle brake, provided. with a pocket to receive said spoon ;.
whereby it is rendered capable of application to the existing brake without previous
special adaptation of the brake-spoon to receive it.
Dated this 21st day of November 1892. are
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