Improvements in Means for Steering Bicycles and other Velocipedes Driven by Human Power.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Steering Bicycles and other Velocipedes
Driven by Human Power.
I, ARTHUR WILLIAM MCLEOD KEEN of Broadway House, Northholme Road,
Highbury Park in the County of London, Inventor, 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 invention has for its object improvements in means for steering bicycles
and other velocipedes driven by human power and consists in the substitution of a
circular steering hund wheel or a hand wheel of other continuous or endless form
for the handle bar usually employed. This steering hand wheel is preferably
provided with means whereby it may be readily attached and detached from the
steering tube.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will proceed aided by
the accompanying drawings more fully to describe the same.
Fig. 1 is a side view of parts of a bicycle provided according to my invention
with a steering hand wheel mounted on the steering tube and
Fig. 2 is a plan or face view of the steering hand wheel separately.
a. a are parts of the bicycle frame, b is the front fork, e is the steering tube
and d is a steering hand wheel by which the steering of the bicycle is effected.
This hand wheel I prefer to mount on the steering tube or on the adjustable tube
fitting therein so that it can readily be removed and re-applied; for this purpose
any suitable and convenient arrangement may be adopted; in the drawing I have
represented the hand wheel d as provided with a square central hole di to fit a
square plug fixed in the upper end of the steering tube c whilst a nut or screw d'
screwing on or into the said plug fixes the said hand wheel in position for use.
I would here remark that although it is preferable to use a circular steering hand
wheel, other forms of hand wheel may be employed.
By the use of a hand wheel for steering, the rider is euabled when required to
obtain a further forward reach than when using a handle bar; the haud wheel
moreover may as shown he of small diameter su as to offer no impediment to the
entry of the velocipede into a doorway or other narrow place in addition to which
the steering hand wheel may be made lighter than the ordinary steering or handle
bar. It will be understood that the machine cannot so easily be stolen when the
hand wheel is removed as it cannot be steered.
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. In bicycles and other velocipedes a steering hand wheel of circular or other
form, attached direct to the steering tube or to the adjustable tube fitting therein,
by means of which the machine may be steered, substantially as herein shown and
described.
2. In bicycles and other velocipedes a steering hand wheel of circular or other
continuous or endless form provided with means whereby it may be readily attached

page_text: to and detached from the steering tube or to the adjustable tube fitting therein,
substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated February 27th 1896.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.