Improvements in or relating to Bioyoles, Tricycles, and other similar Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Bioyoles, Tricycles, and other
similar Vehicles.
1, WILLIAM MIDDLETON, 15, Oliver Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, Commercial
Traveller do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in the steering arrangement of
bicycles, tricycles and other similar vehicles whereby it may also be adapted as a
luggage carrier.
The invention is devised mainly with the view of constructing such machines sO
that the luggage carrier may not form an additional part to the machine but may
take the place of the ordinary handle bar at present employed and be used for
steering purposes.
According to my invention I provide a receptacle to take the place of the
ordinary handle bar such receptacle may be wheel shaped, cylindrical, or other
convenient shape and it may be arranged to be opened at one or both ends or
divided diametrically and arranged to open in one or more portions as may be
desired and provided with suitable clasps or locking devices.
A convenient construction of combined luggage carrier or receptacle and handle
bar may comprise a pillar adapted to fit within the usual front pillar connected to
the front wheel fork of a bicycle or tricycle.
The said pillar may have at its upper end a ring which may be connected to
other rings by a horizontal rod or rods and thus form a framework to which the
wall or body of the receptacle may be connected.
This may consist of perforated zinc plate or other reticulated or suitable
material.
The details of construction may however be varied in numerous respects and as
a modification instead of using the luggage carrier for steering purposes it may
have two small handles adjustably attached to the framing so that they may be
moved higher or lower as desired.
The invention is not limited to the particular receptacle described but includes
within its scope any kind of receptacle or luggage carrier used in substitution of
the handle bar and to be used for steering purposes.
Dated this 16th day of October 1896.
WILLIAM MIDDLETON.
COMPLET
Improvements in or relating to Bicycles, Tricycles, and other
similar Vehioles.
I, WILLIAM MIDDLETON, 15, Oliver Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, Commercial
Traveller 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 has reference to improvements in the steering arrangement of
bicycles, tricycles and other similar vehicles whereby it may also be adapted as a

page_text: The invention is devised mainly with the view of constructing such machines
so that the luggage carrier may not form an additional part to the machine but
may take the place of the, ordinary handle bar at present employed and be used
for steering purposes..
According to my invention I provide a receptacle to take the place of the
ordinary handle bar, auch receptacle may he wheel shaped, cylindrical, or other
convenient shape and it may be arranged to be opened at one or both ends or
divided diametrically and arranged to open in one or more portions as may be
desired and provided with suitable clasps or locking devices.
A convenient construction of combined luggage carrier or receptacle and handle
bar may comprise a pillar adapted to fit within the usual front pillar connected to
the front wheel fork of a bicycle or tricycle.
The said pillar may have at its upper end a ring which may be connected to
other rings by
a horizontal rod or rods and thus form a framework to which the
wall or body of the receptacle may be connected.
This may consist of perforated zinc plate or other reticulated or suitable
material.
The details of construction may however be varied in numerous respects and as
a modification instead of using the luggage carrier for steering purposes it may-
have two small handles adjustably attached to the framing so that they may be
moved higher or lower as desired.
The invention is not limited to the particular receptacle described but includes
within its scope any kind of receptacle or luggage carrier used in substitution of
the handle bar and to be used for steering purposes.
Referring to the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the combined handle bar and luggage carrier
constructed in accordance with this invention and shown detached from a cycle
and having one lid open.
Figure 2 is a section thereof through the closed part of the device.
A represents a tubular post adapted to fit into or over the usual pillar forming
the upper part of the fork of the front wheel of a bicycle tricycle or the like.
The post A has formed. therewith preferably as an integral part, a ring A',
and passing through the latter at right angles are three (but may be more or
fewer) horizontal rods B C D the extreme ends of which are securely fixed into
two end rings E F respectively.
The said rings and rods form the framework of the carrier.
The three rods may be surrounded by any openwork material such as perforated
zinc, wire gauze or other equivalent or any solid and non-transparent covering anch
as tin, paper mache or other substance and the goods to be placed within the said
device may be inserted therein through either of the two ond rings E F oue or
each of which may be left open for that purpose.
In the construction shown in the annexed drawing the bottom half G of the
oylindrical carrier is composed of openworked metal such as perforated tin, brazed
or otherwiso fixed to the three rods B. C. D.
The upper part of the carrier comprises two lids HJ to open one each side of
the central ring A' and each lid consists of a foursided metal framing H', the
space between the four sides of which is filled in with perforated tin or any other
openwork or solid material.
The framing is provided with one or more hinges K connecting it to the bar C.
The opposite side of the lid framing has a loop K' adapted to pass over a
staple K 2 or other equivalent device which may be attached to the bar B and the
cylindrical luggage carrier may be locked by a padlock passing through the said
staple K 2 after the latter is passed over the loop K.
In some cases instead of having two lids H H to the luggage carrier as shown
1 provide a single lid the full length of the latter in which case the upper one half
of the central ring A' would preferably be dispensed with.
The spaces inside the end rings are filled, in with a disc L of metal or other

page_text: material, as with one or more semicircular lids H H' as shown there is no necessity
for open ends to the carrier.
A cycle rider by taking hold of the two end rings E F could steer his machine
and the luggage carrier thus serves a dual purpose, but to render the machine still
more easy of control a through slot M is made in each of the end rings E F
respectively and the screwed stem N' of a handle N is passed through and secured
on the other side by a nut N 2.
The position of the bandles may be adjusted to any rider's requirements by
moving them up or down within the slots M.
By means of a luggage carrier such as herein described, the usual handle bar
is dispensed with, the luggage carrier does not form au extra part to the machine
and the said carrier is thus enabled to occupy the most convenient and out of the
way position on the cycle and with the least possible discomfort to the rider.
It should be understood that the invention is not confined to the particular
construction or shape of the luggage carrier shown and described nor to the
material of which it is composed as it is obvious that these may be varied in a
number of different ways but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. A bicycle, tricycle or similar vehicle in which the usual handle bar is dispensed
with and a luggage carrier substituted for same substantially as described.
2. In bicycle, tricycle or similar machine a combined baudle bar and luggage
receptacle substantially as described.
3. In a bicycle, tricycle or similar vehicle the combination of a post A two or
more rings such as EF connecting rods such as B CD covering for same, one or
more lids and fastening devices therefor substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination with the pillar of the fork of the front wheel of a bicycle,
tricycle or similar vehicle of a combined luggage carrier and handles thereto
substantially as described.
5. The combined luggage carrier and handle bar constructed and arranged
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 30th day of November 1900
WILLIAM MIDDLETON.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.
WILLIAM MIDDLETON.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.