Improved Brake and Brake Apparatus for Cycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Brake and Brake Apparatus for Cycles.
I, THOMAS DUFFY, of the Bedford Hotel, Castle Road, Cardiff, Licensed
Victualler, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in an improved brake and brake apparatus for cycles.
According to this invention, a pair of levers, arranged crosswise after the manner
of the limbs of pincers, is pivotted to the head of the cycle. At the lower end of
cach lever is a pad or block of india-rubber or other material suitable for cycle
brakes. The levers straddle over the tyre of the front wheel and are normally
kept away from the rim by a spring which extends across from one lever to the
other above the pivot pin. At its lower end the brake rod, which is otherwise of
the usual plunger pattern, carries a cap open at the lower end and tapering inwards
from the lower end to the top.
To apply the brake, the cap is lowered by drawing up the hand-lever in the
usual way. The cap carried by the brake rod descends over the upper ends of
the crossed levers aforesaid which are thus made to approach each other at the
ends. The lower ends are consequently moved inwards and grip the rim of the
wheel. The brake is taken off by releasing the hand-lever and thus allowing
the cap to rise and the grippers to open under the influence of the spring by which
they are normally held open.
Dated this 12th day of November 1897.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.
Improved Brake and Brake Apparatus for Cycles.
I, THOMAS DUFFY, of 3, Crwys Road, Roath, Cardiff, formerly of the Bedford
Hotel, Castle Road, Cardiff, Licensed Victualler, 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 an improved brake and brake apparatus for cycles.
According to this invention, a pair of levers arranged somewhat after the manner
Price Rd1

page_text: of the limbs of pincers, is pivoted to the head of the cycle. At the lower end
of each lever is a pad or block of india-rubber or other material suitable for cycle
brakes. The levers straddle over the tyre of the front or back wheel and are
normally kept away from the rim by a spring acting on the hand lever for
operating the brake. At its lower end the brake rod which is otherwise of the
usual plunger pattern is connected to the links pivoted to it and to the upper ends
of the brake levers.
To apply the brake, the brake rod is lowered by drawing up the hand-lever in
the usual way, causing by means of the links the upper ends of the crossed levers
to approach each other at the ends. The lower ends are consequently also moved
inwards and grip the rim of the wheel. The brake is taken off by releasing the
hand lever which is returned by means of its spring thus allowing the brake rod
to rise and the grippers to open.
In order to more clearly indicate the nature of this invention, reference is had
to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings in which a bicycle brake con-
structed according to this invention is shown.
A pair of levers a b are pivoted together at c somewhat after the manner of the
limbs of pincers and at the lower ends of the levers a b adjustable holders de are
arranged in which blocks or pads f g of india-rubber or other suitable material
are fitted, the set screws hi allowing for adjustment of the said holders. The
levers a b straddle over the tyre of the front wheel and are normally held away
from the rim by the spring m acting upon the hand lever o. The brake rod p
is of the usual pattern and is connected by means of the pin j to the links kl
attached to the upper ends of the levers a b respectively.
To apply the brake the brake rod p is lowered by drawing up the hand lever o
in the usual way, this action drawing the levers a b together at their upper ends
by means of the links and therefore causing the brake blocks f g at their lower
ends also to approach each other and consequently to grip the rim of the wheel.
The brake is taken off by releasing the hand lever and thus allowing the brake
rod to rise under the influence of the spring m and cause the levers a b to separate.
Stops upon the ends of the levers a b limit the upward movement of the
links kl.
The pivot c is fitted upon a clip device n by which the brake apparatus can be
secured upon the frame of the cycle.
The brake rod is preferably constructed in two portions connected by a right
and left hand threaded nuts by which the length can be adjusted. Any other
suitable arrangement for this purpose may also be employed.
It will be seen that a brake apparatus constructed according to this invention
is very simple and acts correctly whether the wheel is correctly in position or
not, as it can swing on the pivot c. It can also be fitted with equal facility to
either the front or back wheel by attaching it to a suitable member of the frame,
or may be made to grip the chain, the blocks f g being in this case much wider.
A similar arrangement may be fitted to the front forks to act on the hub of
the wheel and may be applied by a foot lever or by hand.
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) An improved brake and brake apparatus for cycles consisting of a pair of
levers pivoted together brake blocks upon the lower ends of such levers and adapted
to bear upon the rim of the wheel, links connected to the brake rod and to the upper
ends of the brake levers so that when the hand lever is operated the brake levers
are caused to approach one another and apply the brake blocks to the rim of the
wheel and a spring fitted to the hand lever to return the parts to their normal
positions releasing the brake, substantially as described.
blocks
(2) In a brake apparatus for cycles, brake levers a b, pivot c, holders d
or pads fg, adjusting set screws h i, hand lever o, spring m, brake rod p

page_text: adjusting nuts, pin j, links k l, stops qr and clip n all arranged and operating
substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1898.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.