Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
FREDERICK WILLIAM HENRY DURANT, of 28, Peel Place, Bradford, in the
County of York, Insurance Broker, 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 bicycles, and also tricycles and other velocipedes in which
the bicycle type of "bent handle bar" is employed; and the object of the said
invention is to make such handle bars capable of being adjusted and fixed in various
positions, thus providing means for adjusting the position of the handles.
For this purpose the eye or socket, in the Stanley head or other part of the
velocipede to which the handle bar is secured, is diametrically divided, or capable of
being opened to admit the handle bar. And the central portion of such handle bar
lying in the said socket is formed of octagonal or other section adapted to prevent it
rotating in such socket which is correspondingly formed to fit the handle bar. Thus the
handles may be adjusted to various positions by loosening or opening the socket to
allow the handle bar to be turned to the required position, and reclosing the socket to
fix the bar.
In cases where increasing the weight is not too serious an objection, the bent handle
bar may be formed of circular section as hitherto, and the strength of the socket
increased to adapt it to grip the said bar sufficiently tight to hold it in any desired
position.
In order to prevent the bar moving longitudinally in the socket or eye a collar is
formed on the bar, or a pin is fixed therein to engage with an annular groove formed
in such socket, or collars or swells may be formed on the bar to bear against the ends
of the socket.
To more clearly illustrate my invention reference is to be had to the accompanying
drawing forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1, represents a side elevation of a Stanley head illustrating my invention,
the handle bar at the point of attachment or support is of octagonal section and is
shown broken off. Figure 2, is a plan of such head. Figure 3, is a transverse

page_text: section of the handle bar at the point of attachment; and Figure 4, is a front view
of the head and handle bar. Figure 5, represents a side elevation of a Stanley head
illustrating a modified form of my invention. Figure 6, is a view of the handle bar
at the point of support; and Figure 7, is a transverse section of the same.
In
figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the bent handle bar A, is of octagonal section at the point of
attachment, and fits in an octagonal eye or socket B, formed at the top of the head C.
The said socket is horizontally divided, the upper division or keep D, being hinged at
the front to the lower part of the socket B, and secured behind by the screws E, thus
permitting the handle F, to be adjusted to any of the positions indicated by the dotted
representations in Figure 1.
The pin G, is fixed in the handle bar A, and its projecting end is adapted to lie in
the annular groove H, formed in the socket B, and so prevent said bar moving longi-
tudinally in such socket. It is obvious that a collar may be formed on the handle bar
to engage with the annular groove H, instead of the pin G, or that swells or collars
formed on the bar and adapted to bear against the outer end of the socket would also
prevent longitudinal motion of the bar.
The modified form of socket shown in Figure 5, is provided with inner flutes or
keyways J, with any of which the key K, is adapted to engage according to the position
it is desired to have the handles. The keyways J, may if desired be formed in the
handle bar, and the key K secured in the socket.
It is obvious that by modifying the outer form of the socket the hinge may be
replaced by screws similar to E, to secure the front side of the upper division or
keep D. And also that the socket may be divided vertically or at any convenient
angle.
The divided socket or eye may be also made strong enough to adapt it to grip or clamp a
a handle bar of circular section sufficiently tight to retain it and the handles thereon in
any desired position.
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 combination with a bicycle, tricycle or other velocipede, of a bent handle
bar having a sectional form at its point of attachment adapting it to be adjusted to
various positions, with a divided attachment socket or eye constructed to fit the
sectional form of said handle bar, substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In a bicycle, tricycle or other velocipede the combination of a bent handle bar,
with a divided attachment socket or eye adapted to allow the said handle bar to be
rotated for the purpose of adjustment of the handles and capable of being tightened
or clamped to fix such handle bar, substantially as herein shown and described.
3. The combination with the said handle bar and divided socket, of the stop
devices adapted to prevent longitudinal motion of such bar, substantially as herein
-shown and described.
Dated this 55 love of Monah 1007
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Bradford, Agents.