An Improvement in the Construction of Safety Bicycles and other Front Steering Velocipedes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1892-Accepted, 24th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Construction of Safety Bicycles and other
Front Steering Velocipedes.
We, WALTER HENRY MARRIOTT and MATHEW WILLIAM SWAINSTON, both
of the Martlet Cycle Company, of Spon Street, Coventry, Warwickshire, Cycle
Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in the hereindescribed improved construction of the
steering heads of safety bicycles, front steering tricycles, and other front steering
velocipedes, our objects being to reduce or entirely prevent the wear which usually
takes place in the lower bearing of the steering head and to make the front steering
wheel run more steadily.
We will describe this invention as applied to a safety bicycle.
In a safety bicycle constructed according to this invention the handle bar is
attached at or near the top of an open ended tube along which it can be adjusted
if required. This tube is arranged in an inclined direction as usual and at its lower
end is fixed to the top of the fork of the front or steering wheel. Through this
tube, which we will call the outer tube, passes another tube or rod which is a little
longer than the said outer tube and projects at the top and bottom thereof. This
inner tube or rod forms the front part of the machine frame and its ends are fixed
to stays preferably running to the socket of the seat pillar and pedal axle bearings
respectively. The said outer tube with the handle bar and front fork thereon are
free to turn about the inner tube or rod when steering, suitable ball or other
bearings being provided at the top and bottom of the outer tube. The upper
bearing is by preference adjusted by a conical collar screwed on the inner tube
or rod.
It will be seen that in the steering head above described the weight comes upon
the upper bearing instead of on the lower bearing and as the former is not liable to
take in dirt or grit and can be more readily adjusted than the latter the steering
head will last a long time in wear with very little attention.
Dated this 24th day of September 1901
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Construction of Safety Bicycles and other
Front Steering Velocipedes.
We, WALTER HENRY MARRIOTT and MATHEW WILLIAM SWAINSTON, both
of Spon Street, Coventry, in the County of Warwick Cycle Manufacturers, 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 consists in the herein described improved construction of the
steering heads of safety bicycles, front steering tricycles, and other front steering
velocipedes, my object being to reduce or entirely prevent the wear which usually
takes place in the lower bearing of the steering head and to make the front steering
wheel run more steadily.
I will describe this invention as applied to a safety bicycle. In a safety bicycle

page_text: constructed according to this invention the handle bar is attached at or near the top
of an open ended tube along which it can be adjusted if required. This tube is
arranged in an inclined direction as usual and at its lower end is fixed to the top of
the fork of the front or steering wheel. Through this tube which I will call the
outer tube, passes another tube or rod which is a little longer than the said outer
tube and projects at the top and bottom thereof. This inner tube or rod forms the
front part of the machine frame and its ends are fixed to stays preferably running
to the socket of the seat pillar and pedal axle bearings respectively. The said
outer tube with the handle bar and front fork thereon are free to turn about the
inner tube or rod when steering, suitable ball or other bearings being provided at 1
the top and bottom of the outer tube. The upper bearing is by preference adjusted
by a conical collar screwed on the inner tube or rod.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I append drawings
showing the general form and arrangement of the parts of my invention but
modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. In 1
the drawings similar letters refer to similar parts.
Figure is a side elevation of a rear driving safety bicycle fitted with my
improved steering head.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the said improved steering head and
Figure 3 is a front elevation of a modification of the said improved steering
head.
Referring to the drawings T is the open ended tube having its lower end fitted in
the top or crown F' of the fork F of the front or steering wheel W. S. S₁ are
the stays, preferably running from the seat pillar socket E, and pedal axle bearing B
to the projecting ends of the tube or rod R respectively. The stay S' may be
attached to the lower end of the rod R either by a brazed or other immovable
joint or by screwing the rod R and fitting a nut thereon as shown in the case of the
stay S at N. The inner diameter of the tube T and the outer diameter of the rod
or tube R are such that the former may freely turn about the latter. If desired
ball bearings may be provided at the top and bottom of the head as at J, J,
provision for adjustment secured by a nut N. The forward end of the stay S may
be secured to the top of the rod R by piercing the end of the stay, passing it over
the top of the rod so that it lies on the top of the cone K and securing it by the
nut N which also secures the adjustment as aforesaid. The handle bar H is attached
to the tube T by means of a fixed or adjustable lug C. Instead of the single tube
or rod R the fork sides may be produced or two other tubes T¹ T¹ as illustrated in
Figure 3, may rise from the top of the fork or crown F and be connected by a
bridge F carrying the top bearing in the same position as the single tube T carries
it. In this modification the handle bar H may be attached to the two tubes T¹ T¹
by a fixed or adjustable lug or lugs, or by telescopic stems C¹ C¹ as shown; or
otherwise as may be found most convenient.
It will be seen that in the steering head above described the weight comes upon
the upper bearing J instead of on the lower bearing J1 and as the former is not
liable to take in dirt or grit being further removed from the ground and wheels, and
can be more readily adjusted than the latter owing to their relatively opened and
confined positions the steering head will last a long time in wear with very little
attention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An improvement in the steering heads of safety bicycles and other front
steering velocipedes as herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying
sheet of drawings.
2. In the steering heads of front steering velocipedes, the construction of the
parts so as to cause the open ended tube or its equivalent to rise from the fork

page_text: carrying the steering wheel, and to turn about the front part of the machine frame
as a centre substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and set
forth.
Dated this 24th day of June 1892.
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
The Central Office for Patents,
19, Bowling Green Street, Leicester, Applicants' Agent.