Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 17th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 23rd Oct., 1897
I, WILLIAM CHARLES HORNER, of 32 Wharf Road, City Road, in the County
of London, Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to brakes such as are applied to the wheels of cycles,
and consists in a contrivance which while thoroughly efficient in action, is neat
in appearance, and light in weight.
Brakes as at present applied to cycles are cumbrous and unsightly, and they
frequently cause considerable noise by the rattling of one part against another.
This invention is especially suitable for use as an "emergency" brake, it being
necessary to use a brake occasionally only; and it is of a simple and light design,
and neat in appearance.
At a point just above the fork of the steering wheel I attach a tube which forms
a casing; the upper end is closed, but the lower is open and serves as a guide in
which slides a plug or plunger, the lower end of which forms the spoon of the
brake. The lower end of the tube is slotted, and a pin passing transversely
through the plug or plunger enters these slots so as to slide freely therein. The
ends of this pin project sufficiently far that a double lever, one end of which is
pivoted to a bracket, can rest upon or engage with them in such manner that
when the free end of the lever is pressed by the foot of the rider, it depresses the
plug or plunger and forces the spoon upon the tyre.
A spring in the upper end of the casing normally holds the plunger, pins, and
lever up so that the brake is not in contact with the wheel.
The lever may be arranged parallel to the plane of the machine, or transversely
thereto, or in any way so that the foot of the rider can easily reach and depress it.
Dated this 18th day of November 1896.
WILLIAM J. MUNDEN,
75 Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
I, WILLIAM CHARLES HORNER, of 32 Wharf Road, City Road, in the County
of London, Clerk, 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 relates to brakes such as are applied to the wheels of cycles,

page_text: and consists in a contrivance which while thoroughly efficient in action, is neat
in appearance, and light in weight.
Brakes as at present applied to cycles are cumbrous and unsightly, and they
frequently cause considerable noise by the rattling of one part against another.
This invention is especially suitable for use as an emergency" brake, it being
necessary to use a brake occasionally only; and it is of a simple and light design,
and neat in appearance.
At a point just above the fork of the steering wheel I attach a tube which forms
a casing the upper end is closed but the lower is open and serves as a guide in
which slides a plug or plunger, the lower end of which forms the spoon of the
brake. The lower end of the tube is slotted, and a pin passing transversely
through the plug or plunger enters these slots so as to slide freely therein. The
ends of this pin project sufficiently far that a double lever, one end of which is
pivoted to a bracket, can rest upon or engage with them in such manner that
when the free end of the lever is pressed by the foot of the rider, it depresses the
plug or plunger and forces the spoon upon the tyre.
A spring in the upper end of the casing normally holds the plunger, pins, and
lever up so that the brake is not in contact with the wheel.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I append drawings, in
which :-
Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the brake, partly in section.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the brake lever, and shews a section of the plunger, and casing
therefor.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the brake on a reduced scale.
Fig. 4 is a detail.
A is a, preferably cylindrical, casing which contains a plug or plunger B,
suspended in the casing A by means of a helical spring b. The spring is attached
at its upper end to the casing A, and at its lower end to the upper end of the
plunger B. The lower end of the plunger B is firmly attached to, or formed
integrally with, the brake spoon C. Attached to or passing through the plunger B,
is a pin 6', the ends of which engage slots d in a brake lever D, formed of an
open frame, so as to pass on either side of the casing A, as shewn in Fig. 2. E is
a bracket attached to the casing A, which forms the fulcrum e for the lever D.
To allow the lever to be depressed by the foot of the rider, the casing A is slotted
at a to engage the ends of the pin 6. The casing A is upheld and attached to
the frame of the bicycle by arms F. G. at its upper and lower end. One of these
arms is shewn in Fig. 4 on an enlarged scale, the other being similar. One end
of each of the arms F. G is forked at f to fit round the lower ends of the steering
pillar being attached to each other by screw bolts f. The fork ends of the arms I. G
are disposed, one on the top of the top crown plate h and the other underneath
the bottom crown plate h, and being connected by the bolts they are enabled to
be firmly secured in position. The other ends of the arms F. G are provided with
holes through which the casing A passes.
The lever may be arranged parallel to the plane of the machine, or transversely
thereto, or in any way so that the foot of the rider can easily reach and depress it.
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 brake for velocipedes and like vehicles consisting essentially of a slotted
casing, suitably attached to the framing of the machine, and a plug or plunger
disposed within said casing, adapted to be moved downwards against the power
of a spring, by a lever engaging the ends of a pin projecting through and beyond
the sides of the plunger and casing, and thereby lowering the brake spoon and
block, formed integrally with or attached to the lower end of the plunger B, on
to the circumference of the wheel of the vehicle, substantially as shewn and
described.

page_text: 2. In combination with a brake for velocipedes and like vehicles, the slotted
casing A, suitably attached to the frame of the machine, the plunger B, provided
with a pin b projecting through slots in the casing A, and engaging other slots
in a lever D, one end of which is fulcrumed on a bracket attached to the casing A,
and the other is adapted to be depressed by the foot of the rider, upon which action,
the plunger B is caused to move downward against the power of the helical
spring b, and carrying therewith the brake spoon containing the brake block on
to the circumference of the wheel of the vehicle, thereby braking it, substantially
as described and shewn.
3. For use with a brake for velocipedes and like. vehicles, the combination of
the slotted casing A, the plunger B, suspended in the casing by a spring, and
provided with pin b', and the slotted lever D, fulcrumed at one end to a bracket E
firmly attached to, or formed integrally with, the casing A, substantially as
described and shewn.
4. The improved brake for velocipedes and like vehicles, substantially as shewn
and described.
D17AL
1007
WILLIAM J. MUNDEN,
75 Chancery Laue, W.C., Agent for Applicant.