Improvements in the Handle Bars and Brake Gear of Bloyoles for the Purpose of Allowing the Handle Bar to be Turned into Line with the Wheels.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 3rd July, 1894-Accepted, 18th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Handle Bars and Brake Gear of Bloyoles for
the Purpose of Allowing the Handle Bar to be Turned into Line
with the Wheels.
MARK MACER Wheelwright and Blacksmith Bellgrave House Enfield Highway
Middlesex. I do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This improvement in bicycle to allow the handles to turn round in a line
with the two wheels so that it can stand in a room or passage and cause no
obstruction.
This improvement is as follows the brake rod works up the main stem with a
spiral spring round it and in the top piece of the stem where the handle is fixed
there is a slut where a block works and the brake lever is connected and presses
the brake on the wheel and when the handle is not in use there is a spring lever
on the main stem with a stop peg which passes through the two stem pieces and by
pressing this lever the handle can shift round in a line with the two wheels so that
it takes up less room when not in use.
Dated this 2nd day of Ontal… 1000
MARK MACER.
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Handle Bars and Brake Gear of Bicycles for
the Purpose of Allowing the Handle Bar to be Turned into Line
with the Wheels.
I MARK MACER of Belgrave House Enfield Highway in the County of
Middlesex Wheelwright 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:-
The object of this invention is to allow the steering handles of bicycles to be
turned in line with the wheels and frame so as to allow these vehicles to pass
through a narrow doorway and to stand in the smallest possible space.
Now according to this invention the brake rod passes down the inside of the
tube attached to the front fork and is attached at the top to a block sliding in the
tube attached to the handle bar this latter tube is slotted to allow a projection on
the block to engage with the brake lever which is pivotted to the handle bar in the
usual way.
.
A spiral spring coiled round the brake rod raises the brake off the wheel or this
may be done by a spring on the handle bar or brake lever in the usual way.
provide also a spring lever or catch on the tube attached to the front fork
which engages with a hole or slot in the tube attached to the handle bar so that
by disengaging the lever or catch from the handle bar tube the handle bar may
be turned round in line with the wheels.
As soon as the handle bar resumes its normal position the catch or lever
automatically locks it to the fork tube and in order that my said invention
may be fully understood I will proceed to explain the same with reference to the
accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 represents front view of a portion of a bicycle fitted with brake gear and
arrangement for turning the handle bar constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is section of same.
Fig. 3 shows my invention attached to a bicycle having a ball bearing:head.

page_text: Fig. 4 and 5 shew respectively side and front view of a method of adapting my
invention to bicycles fitted with the ordinary brake gear.
The same letters denote the same parts in all the figures.
e
a is the steering fork, & the tube attached thereto c the handle bar d the handle bar
tube, the brake rod f the brake g a spiral spring surrounding the brake rod h is a
block sliding in the tube d to which block are attached the rode and the brake
lever j k is a gland screwed into the fork or tube b to keep the rod e in the centre
of the tube band to serve as an abutment for the spring 9 is a lever pivotted at m
to a collar or clip m the said lever being kept in the position shewn in Fig. 2 by a
spring o.
The short end of the lever carries a catch n which passes through holes in the
tubes d and b and secures the two together in the position for steering the machine
on depressing the long end of the lever the catch n is disengaged from the tube d
and the handle bar may then be turned in line with the wheels. On turning the
handle bar to its normal position the catch n drops into the hole or slot in the
tube d and locks the handle bar to the steering fork automatically.
In adapting my invention to machines with ball bearing heads the lever / may
be dispensed with a catch n operated by a spiral spring o¹ contained in a casing m
attached to a clip m substituted.
In machines of this class the brake rod may pass down the centre of the tube b
as shown at Fig. 3 and be raised by means of a spiral spring surrounding the said
rod as shown at Figs. 2 and 3 or the brake may be raised by a spring on the handle
bar or brake lever in the usual way.
The tube d is slotted to allow the projection h¹ on the block h.to project through
the tube and engage with the brake lever j.
In order to adapt my invention to existing machines with as little alteration as
possible I retain the present brake brake-rod and brake lever and I attach the
brake rod to a collar p sliding on the tube d. This collar has a projection 9 thereon
which engages with the fork of the rode and the brake lever which is either cut
off or bent to fit engages with the collar as shewn that is to say it is held between
the flanges of the collar.
By this means any ordinary bicycle may be fitted with turning handle bars at a
small cost.
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. In a bicycle the combination of a brake rod e passing through the steering.
pillar with a sliding block h attached to the said rod and a brake f all substantially as
specified and for the purpose stated.
2. In a bicycle the combination of a brake rod e attached to a brake with a
sliding block having a projection h thereon and a brake lever j the said rod
passing through the steering pillar substantially as specified.
3. In a bicycle securing or detaching the handle bar to or from the front fork by
means of a catch a passing through holes or slots in the tubes b and d the said
catch being attached to and operated by a lever substantially as and for the
purpose stated.
4. In a bicycle the modified form of spring catch for securing the handle bar to
the front fork substantially as herein before described and shewn at Fig. 3. of the
accompanying drawings.
5. The improvements in the brake gear of bicycles substantially as described
and shewn by the drawings hereinto attached.
n
T. E. HALFORD.
11, Furnival Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.