Year: 1897

page_text: I, JAMES WILLIAM ROXBURGH, Residence 280 State Street, Bridgeport, County
of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, United States of America, Machinist, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
To enable others to readily understand my invention reference is had to the
accompanying drawings in which;
Figure 1 represents a detail perspective view of my improved head for supporting
the handle bar;
Figure 2 is a broken rear elevation of the bicycle head and handle bars pro-
jecting therefrom;
Figure 3 is a side broken elevation of the head and handle bars looking in the
direction of arrow a of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a detail side broken elevation of the head and handle bar showing
the latter removed from the head;
Figure 5 is a detail side elevation of the handle bar collar and screw threaded
stud projecting therefrom;
Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the underside of the clamping plate:
Figure 7 is a side elevation of the handle bar removed from the head and in
readiness to be inserted therein to form the up curve;
Figure 8 is a similar view to that shown at Figure 7, except, that, the handle
bar is to be inserted in the bicycle head to form the down curve.
As the object of my invention is to so construct the head and handle bars so
that the handles may be vertically adjusted to any position each side of the
horizontal line 6 (Figures 7 and 8) and while the rider is on the wheel, and also
to readily and quickly remove said bar and reverse its position in said head to
form either an up or down curve, the construction and operation to accomplish
this object are as follows:-

page_text: The head 1 is
The inner face
1 represents the head provided with the usual shank 1ª.
enlarged and is provided with the curved forked supports 2, 2ª.
of the supports is provided with the semi-circular bearings 3, 3" which bearings
are adapted to partially embrace the enlarged portion 4 of the handle bar 5, and,
when not fastened, to rotate freely therein; 6 is a collar rigidly attached to the
central part of the handle bar, which collar, will pass between the forks 2, 2ª of
the head and the periphery of this collar coincides with that of the said forks.
7 is a central groove formed in said head to admit the collar 6, which arrange-
ment will prevent lateral displacement of the handle bar.
8 represents a series of teeth or corrugations formed on the periphery of the
curved forks 2, 2ª with which the single teeth 9 of the clamping plate 10 engages.
The inner face of this plate is also curved to conform with the circle of the said
forks. 11 is a threaded stud projecting from the collar 6 whose squared base 11"
engages with the square hole 12 of the clamping plate 10. This arrangement
always secures the alignment of the teeth on the said plate with the teeth of the
curved head. 13 is a clamping nut and 14 is spring interposed between this
nut and the clamping plate so as to maintain a frictional contact between the
engaging teeth of the head and the clamping plate.
One of the advantages of the construction above described, is the facility for
adjusting the position of the handle bar by the rider while in motion. This
is done by simply loosening the nut just sufficient to place the clamping plate
under the influence of the spring 14, when the bar can be rotated, while, at the
same time, the teeth of the clamping plate is always engaged with the teeth of
the curved head, which engagement will suffice to sustain the weight of the
handle bar until the clamping plate is forced down by its nut.
This arrange-
ment is of great advantage as it prevents the rider losing control of the bar and
can only be secured by having a single tooth on the plate, whereas, if there were
more than one tooth, such plate would have to be moved back sufficient to effect
a complete disengagement of all of the teeth, and then the handle bar would
have no temporary support.
This adjustable feature of the handle bar relates to its vertical movements
each side of the horizontal line b (Figures 7 and 8). When, therefore, it is
desired to change the position of such bar, from the extreme down curve to the
extreme up curve, or vice versa, all that is necessary is, simply to turn back the
nut 13 and partially rotate the bar in the head and remove it therefrom, (as
shown at Figure 4), then reverse such bar and replace it in the head as before.
This arrangement is of great importance as it is quickly done and the parts,
when brought together, are firmly and securely held in position.
If desired, a cover could be hinged to the forked head so as to form a circular
construction of such head, which cover, could be thrown open when the handle
bar was being removed. The construction of such a cover is so apparent that
it is not deemed necessary to illustrate it.
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. The combination, in a reversible handle bar for bicycles, of the open curved-
forked head, teeth on the periphery of said forks, semi-circular bearings for the
handle bar to rest in, a collar on said bar, a grooved recess to admit the collar,
such collar being sufficiently large to bear against the inner faces of the forked
head, combined with a threaded stud in such collar, and a clamping plate carrying
a single tooth to engage with the teeth of the forked head, and a tightening nut,
substantially as described.
2. The combination, in a reversible handle bar for bicycles, of the open curved-
forked head, having teeth formed on the periphery of such forks, semi-circular
bearings to support the handle bar, said bar having a central collar rigidly
attached thereto and adapted to be placed in a groove of the head, a threaded

page_text: stud projecting from such collar, a tightening nut and clamping plate mounted
thereon, said plate carrying a single tooth to cagage the teeth of the head and a
spring interposed between the nut and said plate to preserve frictional engage-
ment between the teeth; the open curved-forked head so formed that, by a
partial rotation of the handle bar such bar can be removed from the head and
reversed so as to form an up or down curve, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 22nd day of April 1897.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.