Improvements in or relating to Bicycle Handle Bars.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1896-Accepted, 20th Mar., 1897
Improvements in or relating to Bicycle Handle Bars.
1 ALBERT HENRY KOEHLER, of 704 Burr Street, Saint Paul, Ramsey County,
Minnesota, United States of America, 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 improvements in signalling devices for bicycles, its
object being to provide such a device as part of the handle bar so as not to add
materially to the weight or cost of the bicycle, or mar its appearance, and at the
same time furnish an efficient and easily operated signal.
To this end the invention consists in providing the hollow handle bar with a
whistling vent or orifice, and so constructing said bar that it may serve as a
reservoir or chamber for compressed air, which is released at will by the operation
of a valve so as to blow the whistle, or by providing the bar with an included or
attached, elastic, pneumatic bulb or elastic compressible chamber which is normally
distended and filled with air, and which can be compressed by the hand of the
rider, so as to expel the contained air and sound the whistle.
The invention further consists in the features of construction hereinafter more
particularly described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the bicycle handle-bar having one of its handles formed
in part with a rubber bulb, connected by means of the handle bar tube to the
whistle in the end of the other handle;
Fig. 2 is a detail of the whistle shown in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of a modified form of handle provided with an elastic
compartment or bulb;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional detail of the form of handle shown in Fig. 1,
with a connected tube leading to a modified form of whistle;
Fig. 5 is a plan view of a bicycle handle bar constructed to serve as a pneumatic
reservoir; and,
Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are sectional details of the valve for releasing the contained
air to sound the whistle.
In the drawings A represents a handle bar of ordinary tubular structure, to one
end of which is attached the handle B made up of the hand piece 2 of ordinary
character having the rubber bulb extension part 3 provided with an inlet valve 4.
This bulb is connected by means of the handle bar tube with the whistle.
In the preferred construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the whistle 6, formed of
two cup shaped discs is fixed in the end of the handle 7, and the handle bar tube
connects directly with it, so that the compressing of the bulb 3 will sound the
whistle, and when the bulb is released it is immediately filled and ready for
further use.
In the preferred construction of combined handle and bulb, shown in Fig. 3, the
bulb 20 is arranged inside the hollow handle 21, provided with a slot 22, through
which the finger tips may enter to compress the bulb.
In the modified construction of whistle, shown in Fig. 4, the conduit 5 leads to
a circumferential, segmental opening in the partition 9, which opens to the
notch 10 in the side wall of the bar constituting the whistle.
2

page_text: In the other modification shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 the bar constitutes a
pneumatic reservoir having an inlet valve 11 at the end of one of the, handles 12.
In this construction the bar is shown with a notch 10 constituting a lateral whistle
of the same character as that shown in Fig. 4, and air is admitted from the handle
reservoir to the whistle by means of the opening 13 in the partition 24, whence it
passes to the segmental opening 8 in the partition 9, the opening 13 being normally
closed by the hinged valve 14. This valve is opened by a push button 15, having
a restraining spring 16, and sliding in the interior, radial, hollow stud 18, and
attached to the valve stem 19. In Fig. 6 the valve is shown in normal or closed
position, and in Fig. 7 in open position.
In use, the form shown in Figs. 1 and 4 is operated normally by slipping the
hand from the end piece 2 to the extension part 3, and compressing the same with
the fingers so as to expel the air and force it through the whistle. In the preferred
construction shown in Fig. 3 the bulb is compressed simply by pressing the
finger tips through the slot in the handle.
In the construction shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 the handle is charged with
compressed air through its valve 11 by means of the regular bicycle air pump, and
the air is freed from the reservoir so as to sound the connected whistle by pressing
the button, 15. It is evident that other modifications of my invention may be.
made in non essential details without departing from the idea of the invention."
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. As an improved article of manufacture, a bicycle handle bar formed with a
whistling orifice through its wall, an included air chamber communicating with
said orifice, and an inlet valve through the wall of the handle bar for admitting air
to said included chamber.
2. In a bicycle, the tubular handle bar therefor formed with a whistling vent,
the included reservoir, and means for causing the air to pass from said reservoir
through said vent to sound the whistle.
3. In combination with a hollow bicycle handle bar and its handles, a whistle
connected with the interior of said bar, and the elastic pneumatic reservoir included
in one of said handles.
4. As an improved article of manufacture, the hollow handle bar having a
whistling vent, and the included pneumatic bulb communicating with said whistling
vent.
5. As an improved article of manufacture, the hollow bicycle handle bar having
one of its handles fitted with a whistle, and the other provided with a compressible
elastic pneumatic compartment communicating with said whistle.
6. As an improved article of manufacture, the hollow bicycle handle bar having
a whistle in the end of one handle, the other handle formed hollow with a slotted
opening, and the rubber bulb included in said hollow handle, and communicating
with said whistle and having a suitable valve inlet.
Dated this 22nd day of Duvember 1906
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.