Improvements in or relating to Velocipedes, Autocars, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st July, 1897
Complete Specification Left. 1st Apr. 1898-Accepted. 18th June, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Velocipedes, Autocars, and the like.
I, JOHN WALTER DRABBLE, of The Lodge, Darley Dale, Matlock, Derbyshire,
Quarry Under-manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to velocipedes, autocars and the like which are constructed
with tubular free-ended handlebars or other suitable free-ended tubes mounted on
stems, and has for one of its objects the combination with such tubes and stems of a
pump suitable for inflating pneumatic tyres and other inflatable articles; another
object is, in suitable cases, to make the handlebar foldable so that, for example, the
total width of the machine to which it is fitted may be reduced; certain further
objects and advantages may be attained by my invention as will hereinafter appear.
I will describe my invention as applied to a direct steering velocipede, such as
the well known rear driving safety bicycle, and from this description its application
in whole or in part to other suitable velocipedes, autocars and the like will, be
readily understood.
Instead of fixing the handlebar in one piece to the top of the stem by means of
the usual transverse sleeve, I divide the handlebar a little out of centre into two
parts, which parts are detachably united by a screw coupling or other suitable
device. At the top of the stem I provide two arms projecting in opposite directions
but both parallel to the middle portion of the handlebar. The shorter part of the
handlebar is hinged to the end of one arm, and the longer part of the bar is hinged
to the end of the other arm, so that when the coupling device is released, the two
parts of the handlebar may be folded down, one on each side of the head of the
machine. In addition to the second hinge joint, a spring clasp or other suitable
disconnecting device is interposed between the longer part of the handlebar and the
corresponding arm. This clasp may consist of two hooklike catches pivotted so
that the opposing hooks may be moved away from each other by suitable finger
pieces and may be returned towards each other by a connecting spiral spring or
other suitable spring or springs. The hooks are mounted on say the arm and
are adapted to engage with a notched or barbed projection from say the handlebar;
the end of the projection may be adapted to press on an interposed buffer of india
rubber or other suitable material and so ensure a close grip and avoid rattle.
The handlebar stem constitutes the barrel of the inflator and is provided with a
suitable piston and piston rod. The mouth of the piston may be directed upwards
or downwards, the outlet for the air being arranged above or below the piston
accordingly. Or the mouth of the piston may be directed downwards and a return
tube be provided in communication with an outlet at or near the top of the stem:
in this case the return tube would preferably be enclosed in the stem and a suitable
recess made in one side of the piston to accommodate such return tube.
The upper
end of the piston rod is pivotally connected to the middle of the handlebar. To
operate the inflator, the parts of the handlebar are coupled and the spring clasp or
the like is released, the bar is then oscillated on the hinge joint farther from the

page_text: said spring clasp or the like. As the middle of the bar rises and falls the piston
moves up and down and the air is pumped through the outlet. To allow for the
curved movement of the bar and the rectilineal movement of the piston the con-
nection of the piston rod to the bar may be provided with a suitable slide or a link
motion or other suitable device. The inflator is provided with a suitably con-
structed inlet; and the outlet is adapted to have attached thereto one end of a
suitable connecting tube, the other end of which is adapted to be connected to the
valve of the tyre or other article to be inflated in any suitable manner.
This con-
necting tube may be stowed in one part of the handlebar when not in use, while
the other part of the bar may be adapted to hold a suitable oil-can, wrench or the
like; or the piston rod may be adapted to hold one or more of these articles.
The advantages of having the inflator always at hand and the power derived from
a fixed inflator with a lever handle, will be readily apparent.
I do not confine myself to the precise details hereinbefore described but reserve
the right to make such variations and modifications as fairly fall within the scope
of my invention.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry, 75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
and 49, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin.
Patent Agent for the Applicant.
pents in or relating to velocipedes, Autocars, and the like.
I, JOHN WALTER DRABBLE, of The Lodge, Darley Dale, Matlock, Derbyshire,
Quarry-manager, 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:-
My invention relates to velocipedes, autocars and the like which are constructed
with tubular free-ended handlebars or other suitable free-ended tubes mounted on
stems, and has for one of its objects the combination with such tubes and stems of a
pump suitable for inflating pneumatic tyres and other inflatable articles; another
object is, in suitable cases, to make the handlebar foldable so that, for example, the
total width of the machine to which it is fitted may be reduced; certain further
objects and advantages may be attained by my invention as will hereinafter appear.
And in order that my invention may be properly understood I will describe the
same as applied to a direct steering velocipede, such as the well known rear driving
safety bicycle, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, and from this descrip-
tion its application in whole or in part to other suitable velocipedes, autocars and
the like will be readily understood.
Figure I is a rear view in elevation of as much of a direct steering velocipede
handlebar as is necessary to illustrate my invention.
Figure II is a vertical section on the line A-B in Fig. I.
Figure III is a vertical section on the line C-D in Fig. I.
Figure IV is a detail view of one form of disconnecting device. .
Like numerals indicate like parts in all the views.
Instead of fixing the handlebar in one piece to the top of the stem by means
of the usual transverse sleeve, I divide the handlebar into two parts 2, 3, which
parts are detachably united by a screw coupling or by some other suitable device,
such as the one shown, which comprises the toothed (4) and recessed (5) obliquely

page_text: divided flanges, secured to the respective parts 2, 3 of the bar and the spring pin 6.
The pin 6 is supported in a lug en the part 3 of the bar and is provided with a
collar 8 between which and the lug 7 is interposed the expansion spring 9 which
impels the end 10 of the pin into engagement with a hole 11 bored lignably through
both flanges 5, 4. At the top of the stem 12 I provide two arms 13, 14 projecting
in opposite directions, but both parallel to the middle portion of the handlebar.
The part 2 of the handlebar is hinged at 15 to the end of the arm 13, and the
part 3 of the bar is hinged at 16 to the end of the other arm 14, so that when the
spring pin 6 or other coupling device is released, the two parts of the handlebar
may be folded down, one on each side of the stem 2, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. I.
In addition to the second hinge joint 15, a spring clasp or other suitable disconnect-
ing device is interposed between the part 2 of the handlebar and the corresponding
arm 13. This clasp may consist as shown in Fig. IV of two hook-like catches 25
pivotted so that the opposing hooks may be moved away from each other by suitable
finger-pieces 26 and may be returned towards each other by a spring or springs 27.
The hooks are mounted on, say, the arm 13 and are adapted to engage with a notched
or barbed projection 28 from, say, the handlebar 2; the end of the projection may
be adapted to press on an interposed buffer 29 of india-rubber or other suitable
material and so ensure a close grip and avoid rattle. I prefer, however, the coupling
device shown in Figs. I and III. This consists of a curved seating 17 hinged to
the arm 13 and having a slot 18 in one end adapted to engage with the threaded
stud 19 fixed to the part 2 of the handlebar. On the stud 19 is screwed a nut 19",
and when this nut is released the seating may be turned outward, as indicated by the
arrow, to liberate the bar for pumping.
The handlebar stem 12 constitutes the barrel of the inflator and is provided with
a suitable piston 20 and piston rod 21. The mouth of the piston may be directed
upwards as shown, or it may be directed downwards, the outlet 22 for the air being
arranged above or below the piston accordingly. Or the mouth of the piston may
be directed downwards and a return tube be provided in communication with an
outlet at or near the top of the stem; in this case the return tube would preferably
be enclosed in the stein and a suitable recess made in one side of the piston to
accommodate such return tube. The upper end of the piston rod 21 is pivotally
connected to the flange 5 at the middle of the handlebar.
To operate the inflator, the parts of the handlebar are coupled and the seating 17
or the like is released, the bar is then oscillated on the hinge joint (16) farther from
the disconnecting device. As the middle of the bar rises and falls the piston 20
moves up and down and the air is pumped through the outlet 22. To allow for the
curved movement of the bar and the rectilineal movement of the piston the flange 5
is slotted transversely to provide for lateral play of the top of the piston rod therein;
or the connection of the piston rod to the bar may be provided with a suitable
hinge 24, or a slide or a link motion or other suitable device for this purpose. The
inflator is provided with a stuffing box or gland 23 at the upper end and with any
suitably constructed inlet. The outlet 22 is screw-threaded or otherwise adapted
to have attached thereto one end of a suitable connecting tube, the other end of
which is adapted to be connected to the valve of the tyre or other article to be
nflated in any suitable manner. This connecting tube may be stowed in one part
of the handlebar when not in use, while the other part of the bar may be tapped to
hold a suitably screw-threaded oilcan, wrench or the like; or the oilcan or the like
may be held in the said other part of the bar by a spring catch, or by other
uitable means; or the piston rod may be made hollow and of large diameter to
dapt it to hold one or more of these articles.
The advantages of always having the inflator at hand and the power derivable
rom a fixed inflator with a lever handle, will be readily apparent.
I do not confine myself to the precise details herein before described but reserve
he right to make such variations and modifications as fairly fall within the scope
f my invention.

page_text: 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 combined handlebar and inflator for velocipedes, autocars and the like
constructed and adapted to operate substantially as set forth.
2. A handlebar, for a velocipede, autocar or the like, divided into two parts which
are detachably united by a suitable coupling and which two parts are respectively
hinged to the ends of two arms projecting in opposite directions from the top of the
handlebar stem and parallel to the middle portion of the handlebar, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
3. A. handlebar, for a velocipede, autocar or the like, whereof the stem forms the
barrel of an inflator and is provided with a suitable piston, piston rod, inlet and
outlet, and the bar whereof is pivotted to the free end of an arm projecting from the
top of the stem and is connected to the piston rod, so that the inflator may be
operated by moving the said bar on its pivot, and means for locking the said bar
when not required for inflating purposes, substantially as herein described.
4. A handlebar, for a velocipede, autocar or the like, adapted both to be folded
and also to operate as an inflator, substantially as herein described.
5. A handlebar, for a velocipede, autocar or the like, adapted to be folded, to
operate as an inflator, and to form a receptacle for the inflator connecting tube and
an oilcan, wrench or the like, substantially as herein described.
6. A handlebar, for a velocipede, autocar or the like, adapted to operate as an
inflator, the stem of the inflator being adapted to form a receptacle, substantially
as herein described.
D
911..
Mal 1000
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry, 75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham.
Patent Agent for the Applicant.