An Improved Form of Brake for Bicycles and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: An Improved Form of Brake for Bicycles and the like.
JOHN HARDING COLE, B.A. of Woodview, Innishannon, Co. Cork, Ireland, Clerk
in Holy Orders, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
To enable the rider of a bicycle at his option to so utilize the weight of his
body as to bring a friction plate into contact with the tire of one or other of the
wheels. This friction plato may be the mudguard suitably modified, or other
plate provided for the purpose.
Where the mudguard is utilized for this purpose, one end of it is binged, or
pivoted, to the frame of the machine & suspended in position over the wheel by
means of levers & springs in such a manner as to admit of its being depressed
into contact with the tire of the wheel. The mudguard may be connected with
the frame at additional points & may have on its under surface a lining of rubber
or other suitable material.
The method of utilizing the weight of the body of the rider to actuate this
brake is, in the case of the rere mudguard, as follows,
Connected with the saddle or frame by means of levers & springs is a horizontal
surface projecting behind the saddle & on a general level with it. Connected with
the under surface of this projection is a rod sliding in a tube provided with
proper clamping arrangement for adjustment in length; the lower extremity of
said tube being suitably attached to the upper surface of the mudguard, which
latter may be strengthened at that part.
The action is as follows:-The rider by shifting his seat backwards more or
less transfers a portion of his weight to the aforesaid projection at rere of saddle,
thereby depressing the mudguard into contact with the tire of the wheel, thus
converting it into a brake. On the rider resuming his normal position on the
saddle the springs & levers aforesaid restore the mudguard to its previous position.
An analogous modification might be applied to the front mudguard, actuated
in this case by the foot, or feet, of the rider.
Instead of the lower end of the sliding adjustible tule aforesaid being attached
to the mudguard, it may pass through, or around, said mudguard & terminate
in a friction plate of its own capable of being brought into contact with the
tire of the wheel by the rider's weight, as already described.
Dated thin 17th day of November 1896.

page_text: manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improved form of brake for bicycles and other
velocipedes adapted to bo put into operation by the weight of the rider.
In the accompanying drawing which shows by way of illustration-one method
of carrying this invention into effect:-
Figure 1 is a broken view in side elevation, and
Figure 2 is a view in plan.
In both views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
At the rear of the saddle X is a block 13 supported by the mechanism for apply-
ing the brake which may be of any suitable type, that shown in the accompanying
drawing by way of example-being a spoon C adapted to engage with the
periphery of the wheel Y. The block B is connected with the lever C carrying
the brake spoon C by means of a rod 1) which is made telescopic in its length to
allow for the adjustment of the height of the saddle X.
The block A is shaped to fit the rear of the saddle X and in its normal position
it projects slightly above the saddle. The block is kept in its position relativo
to the saddle while allowing it the necessary vertical movement to operate the
brake, by any suitable dovice such for instance as that shown in the accompanying
drawing, which consists of a shackle link pivotted to the telescopic rod Dat
the one end, and to a bracket F carried by the underframe of the saddle at the
other end, the arrangement being such that the link E lies parallel to the lever Cl
carrying the brake spoon C, which ensures the block B moving in the vertical
plane. The bracket is adapted to be adjusted on the underframe of the saddle
so as to compensate for the fore and aft adjustment of the saddle, the vertical
adjustment thereof being compensated for by the telescopic rod D). To lift the
block B and raise the brake spoon C clear of the wheel any suitable spring such
for instance as that shown in Figure 1 and marked G may be employed.
I wish it to be particularly understood that the hereinbefore description is given
by way of illustration only, as it is obvious that the construction and arrangement
of parts will vary according to the type of brake used.
It will be understood that the brake is applied by the rider shifting his weight
more or less from the saddle on to the block A at the rear thereof, and inversely
the brake is released by removing his weight from the said block.
I am aware that it has been proposed to operate the brakes of cycles through
the medium of back rests pivotted to the rear of the saddle, but
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. The improved brake for bicycles and the like constructed arranged and
adapted to operate in the manner herein set forth.
2. A brake for bicycles and the like adapted to be operated by the rider shifting
more or less of his weight from the saddle on to a block or its equivalent mounted
at the rear thereof and connected with the brake mechanism as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of August 1897
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
70 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.