An Improved Method of Arranging Cycle Brakes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 13th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Arranging Cycle Brakes.
I EMIL OFFENBACHER, Engineer, of the City of Markt Redwitz, in the kingdom
of Bavaria, German Empire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
My invention relates to an improved method of arranging Cycle Brakes, the
improvement having for its object to enable the rider to actuato bis Brake with the
foot as well as with the hand.
Cycle Brakes are generally made up of a series of lovers and angle levers, so that
by either pushing or pulling one arm of an angle lever the Brake is pressed against
the wheel. According to my invention I do not substantially alter this arrangement
but I make an addition to it which consists in connecting the lever system. by means of
a rod chain or string with a lever or treadle, which I attach to or fix in close proximity
to the foot rest, in order that when for instance running down hill, the Brake may
conveniently be controlled with the foot.
T
101 ML 1000
EMIL OFFENBACHER.
Per C. R. Bonne & Co., .
His Agents.
COMPEETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Arranging Cycle Brakes.
I, EMIL OFFENBACHER, of the City of Markt Redwitz, in the kingdom of Bavaria,
German Empire, 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:-
My invention relates to. an improved method of arranging Cycle Brakes the improve-
ment having for its object to enable the rider to actuate his Brake with. the foot as well
as with the hand.
In all hitherto employed Cycles constructions the Brake has been arranged as a hand
Brake in such a way that it either act directly on the front wheel. or by means of
suitable connections on the shaft of the hind-wheel.
By this arrangement the hand muscles of the rider are much exerted especially
when running down long steep hills.
The foot-brake invented by me and fully described hereinafter, entirely overcomes the
said difficulties. It is easily affixed to all descriptions of Cycles, and is especially useful
in the case of so called safety-cycles.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1. is a ground plan of a safety Cycle, provided with a Brake according to my
invention.
Fig. 2. is a side view of same.
Fig. 4. is a variation upon the construction of Brake shewn in Fig. 2.
Fig. 3. is a side view of large Bicycle provided with Brake according to my
invention.
To one of the foot-rests a (Fig. 1 & 2) is affixed, by means of hinges, the treadle b,
which is connected, by means of a chain c, or linked rods, with the angle lever d,
which has its turning-point affixed to the principal frame-work of the Cycle. To
the angle-lever d is affixed by means of a hinge-link the pulling-rod e which carries the
Brake-lump. The latter is kept away from the wheel-tyre h, when not in action, by
means of a spring g.

page_text: When now the driver in running down hill, has his feet on the foot-rests, then a
slight pressure with the heel on the treadle causes the angle-lever d to make a
corresponding movement and press the Brake-lump against the hind-heel in order to
brake the machine. When the pressure censes, that is to say, when the heel is raised
somewhat, without however removing the foot from the foot-rest, then the action of
spring immediately causes the contrivance to cease working.
As shewn in Fig. 2 the contrivance acts by pressure, while as shewn in Fig. 3, in
which the angle-lover is turned upwards and the Brake-lump provided with a
fixed turning point o,
the action is by pulling.
Fig. 3. shews the arrangement of the Brake on an ordinary high Bicycle. Here the
foot-rest is arranged in such a way that the crank and foot, when treading the
cycle can readily pass by. To this foot-rest his attached, movable on hinges as in
Fig. 1, 2 & 3 the treadle-plate b, with which, however, the chain c is not connected
direct, as in Figs. 1, 2 & 3 as it might be in the way of the rider, but on the trendle 6
is a pin, which is connected in a slit, with the lever e', that has its turning point o on
the fork-frame of the cycle. When now the foot presses the plate & downwards, then
the lever e also moves downwards, and the chain c, attached to the latter, actuates the
angle lever d, the pulling rod or chain e and the brake ƒ, so that the latter is actuated
by a pull exactly as in Fig. 3.
When the angle-lever d, Fig. 1, 2, 3 & 4, is connected by means of chain c, to the
guide rod K of the hand-Brake, then the Brake may be actuated either with the
foot or with the hand or with both simultaneously.
'
Sometimes the Brakes consist of a Band round the shaft of one of the wheels
instead of a Brake-lumpf, and it is obvious that such may be equally well connected
with the chaine (Fig. 4).
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. A foot-brake for Cycles consisting essentially of a plate fixed movably to the
foot-rest, and which when pressed with the foot, by means of suitable transmissions,
actuates the Brake-lump or Brako-band, substantially in the manner described and
shown in the drawings.
2. In foot-brakes for cycles the arrangement consisting of angle-lever d, for con-
necting the chains or rods transmitting the motions between the treadle-plate and the
brake proper substantially as described and as shewn in the drawings.
3. The arrangement of transmitting connection between the turnable treadle-plate
and the usual hand-brake, substantially as described and shewn in the drawings.
London, 13th January 1890.
EMIL OFFENBACHER.
Per C. R. Bonne & Co.,
41, Eastcheap.