Improvements in and relating to Handle Grips chiefly Designed for the Handle Bars of Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Handle Grips chiefly Designed for
the Handle Bars of Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
I, JULES ALFRED THIESSE, of 13, Rue Pache, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This method of fixing-handles to tubular rods such as the handle bars of veloci-
pedes, the steering levers of auto-cars and the like is based upon the combined
use of a sort of plug or wedge preferably of wood, approximately cylindrical in
form and of suitable diameter to enter with friction the end of the tubular rod
to which such hanille is to be fixed and of a handle recessed in such a manner
as to be capable of fitting easily upon the extremity of the tube or tubular rod
but which is closed at its outer end by the full portion to which is fixed an
internal axial-screw.
The plug is screw-threaded for the whole or a portion of its length with a
thread corresponding to this screw and it is so formed that when it has been
introduced into the end of the tube it is only necessary to screw down the screw
into this threaded portion in order to cause the plug to press tightly against the
inner surface of the tube and thus fit the handle firmly upon the tube.
In one method of carrying my invention into practice the plug, after having
been internally screw-threaded for its entire length, is slit for a portion of such
length by means of one or more longitudinal saw cuts starting at the extremity
which first enters the tube, in the slit position the external surface of the plug
is slightly conical in form, the larger end of the cone being outside. In order
therefore to force the plug into the tube, it is necessary to compress it so as to
cause it to assume a cylindrical form by forcing the opposite faces of the slits to
approach each other. As a result of such compression, the diameter of the in-
ternal screw thread is reduced, so that when the screw of the handle is screwed
in, this screw in advancing is forced, in order to make a way for itself, to separate
the parts of the plug previously forced together and thus to press these parts
firmly against the internal surface of the tube thereby fixing the handle firmly,
upon the tube.
The
In another method of carrying out my invention the plug is likewise slit for a
portion of its length but at the opposite end and its internally screw-threaded
portion is slightly recessed at the extremity at which the slits commence.
base of the screw is surrounded by a conical projection starting from the bottom
of the sleeve or handle. With this arrangement the handle is fixed to the tube
in the following manner. Having screwed, but not right home, the plug upon
the screw, the slit portion being foremost, the tube is forced upon the plug, the
handle is then caused to turn and consequently the screw which is rigidly con-
nected therewith. The screw continues to force its way into the plug in such a
manner that the cone which surrounds the base of the screw enters the slightly
recessed portion of the passage in the plug; this conical part in its advance thus

page_text: acts exactly like a wedge in separating the slit portions of the plug and forcing
them against the internal surface of the tube, thereby firmly forcing the handle
upon this tube.
The wedge instead of being conical in-shape may have the form of a double.
wedge or bevel; the slit extremity of the plug would then be of corresponding
form. The wedge may also be integral with or rigidly fixed to the bottom of
the handle or the screw, or it may be passed loosely upon the screw.
The slit portion of the plug may be in one piece with the unslit portion in
which case it may be advantageous to form an annular groove upon that part of
the plug at which the slits terminate, in order to increase the elasticity of the
slit portion, or the parts which form this slit portion may be made to correspond
with the unslit portion and be fixed to the latter only by means of ties or rivets
leaving to these parts sufficient of movement to enable them to separate readily
under the action of the wedge or of the screw.
A further method of carrying out my invention consists in forming the wedge
in two approximately cylindrical pieces cut obliquely at one end, one of these
pieces being pierced with a screw-threaded hole and the other piece with a
similar hole large enough to freely receive the screw. In order to fix the handle,
the screw-threaded part is first forced into the tube and then the unthreaded
part is inserted in such a manner that their bevelled faces coincide; the handle
is then screwed home. When this has been done, the screw threaded part is
drawn strongly towards the unthreaded part which is already at the bottom of
the
advance further;
the handle and which consequently cannot
two
bevels then act one upon the other wedge fashion and thus force the plug tightly
against the internal surface of the tube and so fix firmly one to the other the
handle and tube.
I do not however confine myself to these arrangements because the object of
my invention is attained by any arrangement in which a handle provided with
an internal screw is fixed to the tubular extremity of a part owing to pressure
caused by screwing the screw into an internally screw-threaded plug, placed
within the said tubular extremity.
It will be noticed that in my method of fixing, all that is necessary is to un-
screw the handle in order to remove it. This however does not prevent the con-
nection from being extremely strong, because owing to the great pressure of the
plug, within the tube, it is absolutely impossible for the handle to become acci-
dentally detached.
It will further be noticed that with my method of fixing none of the connecting
parts is visible, so that the outward appearance is all that could be wished.
Dated this 21st day of September 1897.
HAŠELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Handle Grips chiefly Designed for
the Handle Bars of Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
I, JULES ALFRED THIESSE, of 13, Rue Pache, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Manufacturer, 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 handle grips chiefly designed for the handle bars of
velocipedes and other vehicles and is illustrated in the accompanying drawing
the several figures of which are hereinafter referred to.

page_text: This method of fixing handles to tubular rods such as handle-bars for veloci-
pedes, steering levers for motor vehicles and the like, is based upon the combined
use of a block or wedge A preferably of wood of a nearly cylindrical shape and
of a diameter suitable to enter under friction into the end of the tubular rod B,-
and of a handle C so hollowed out as to admit of its freely fitting round the end
of the tube or tubular rod, but closed at its extremity by a solid bottom c. to
which an internal screw D is fixed in an axial direction.
The block or wedge has its whole length or part thereof provided with screw
threads corresponding to the screw and is so constructed that, when it has been
inserted, into the end of the tube, it is only necessary to screw the handle-screw
into its corresponding screw threads, in order to compel this block or wedge to
tightly press against the inner surface of the tube and to thus firmly secure the
handle to the tube.
In the constructional form shown in Figure 1 the block or wedge A, after
having been screw threaded all over its length, has a portion of this length slit
by making one or more longitudinal saw cuts starting from the end which is
first inserted into the tube B; in the slit or notched portion the outer surface of
the block or wedge is slightly conical, the thick end of the cone being placed out-
side; thus, in order to insert the block into the tube, it is necessary to compress
the same in order to impart to it the cylindrical form as the opposite faces of the
slits or notches are moved toward each other. Owing to this compression the
screw-threaded part has been diminished in diameter, so that, on causing
the screw D of the handle to enter this screw-threaded part by screwing, the said
screw is, as it advances, compelled in order to make headway-to move the
previously approached parts of the block apart and to thus energetically press
these parts against the inner surface of the tube B, whereby the handle is rigidly
fixed to the tube.
In another constructional form shown in Figure 2 the block or wedge is likewise
notched or slotted along a portion of its length, but its other end and its screw-
threaded hole is slightly widened at the end where the slots or notches commence;
on the other hand, the base of the screw is surrounded by a conical projection.d,
starting from the bottom of the sleeve or tube. In the case of this constructional
device, the handle is fixed to the sleeve or tube in the following manner;
After the block or wedge A has been screwed but not right down upon the
screw D with the slotted portion lying forward, the tube B is fitted over the
block or wedge A; subsequently the handle is turned and consequently also
the screw which is integral therewith; the screw thus continues to be inserted into
the block or wedge, so that the cone d, which surrounds the base of the screw,
enters the slightly widened part of the wedge-hole; as this cone advances, it then
acts like a real wedge and, as such, moves the slotted parts of the block apart
and presses them against the inner surface of the tube, whereby this tube becomes
rigidly fixed to the handle.
The wedge d, instead of being conical, may also receive the shape of a double
wedge or bevel as shown in Figure 3 the slotted extremity of the block A would
then receive a corresponding shape. The wedge may, however, be integral with
the bottom of the handle or the base of the screw Figure 2 or may be freely slid
over the screw Figure 3.
and 2
The slotted part of the block may be made in one piece with the non-slotted
part Figures 1 and 2; in this case it may be useful to form an annular groove a
upon the block at the place, where the slots terminate as shown in Figure
in order to increase the elasticity of the slotted part. Or the pieces which form
this slotted part may be brought back upon the non-slotted part as shown in
Figure 3 being only fixed upon this latter by means of rivets such as a leaving
to these pieces a sufficient freedom of motion, so as to enable them to easily move
apart under the action of the wedge d or of the screw D.
Another constructional form shown in Figure 4 consists in making the wedge
of two nearly cylindrical pieces, bevel edged at one end, one of these pieces A

page_text: being pieced with a screw-threaded hole and the other d with a hole of a diameter
sufficiently large to freely receive the screw. To effect the fixing, the screw-
threaded piece A is first inserted into the tube, and then the non-screw threaded
piece d, so that their bevel-edged surfaces coincide.
The handle C is then attached by passing the screw D, rigidly secured to the
inner end face thereof, through the hole in the piece d, and then turning said
handle C so that the screw D enters the screw threaded hole of the piece A,
owing to which screwing operation the handle C. is caused to advance upon the
tube B until the interior face of the end c bears against the end of the piece d.
Upon then continuing to turn the handle c the piece A is drawn by the screw D
towards the end c whereby the bevelled surface of said piece A is compelled to
slide upon the bevelled surface of the piece d with the result that said pieces A
and d assume a slightly oblique position in the tube B and hence become wedged
against the sides of said tube B thereby retaining the handle C securely in
position thereon.
I do not, however, limit myself. to these arrangements, seeing that the object
of the invention will be always attained, when a handle with internal screw
fixed to tubular end of a piece, so that a pressing or binding effect is consequently
produced by the screwing of the screw into a screw-threaded block, located in
the said tubular extremity.
It will be noticed, that for the purpose of withdrawing the handle, all that is
necessary according to this improved device, is, to unscrew the same; this, on
the other hand, does not prevent the fastening from being effected very strongly,
seeing that by reason of the energetic pressure of the block in the tube, it is an
absolute impossibility for the handle to become loose accidentally.
It will be further noticed, that in this improved device none of the binding
pieces is visible, so that the appearance leaves nothing to be desired.
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. The method of fixing handles to tubular rods, such as handle bars for veloci-
pedes, steering levers for motor vehicles and the like, in which method the handle,
which is provided with an internal screw, such as D, is fixed to the extremity of
the tubular rod B by a binding or pressing action produced by the screwing of
the screw D into a screw threaded block or wedge, such as A, located in the said
tubular extremity; substantially as described.
2. The means of carrying out the said method or device for fixing handles to
tubular rods, substantially such as represented in Figures 1 to 4 of the accom-
panying drawing.
Dated this 21st day of June 1900
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.