Improvements in or connected with the Handle Bars of Cycles or other Road Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Handle Bars of Cycles or
other Road Vehicles.
I, JOHN THOMSON LANCASTER Engineer of 128 Lillie Road, in the County of
London S.W. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention for Improvements in or connected with the handle bars of cycles or
other road vehicles has for its object to provide an improved means for reducing the
vibration of the handle bars and to enable the rider without dismounting to
adjust the height of the handle bars; and consists in mounting the
handle bars loosely in a horizontal socket at the upper end of a pillar
adapted to be fixed in the steering socket of a cycle or other vehicle, in an injustable
spring device carried by the pillar for resisting the motion of the handle bars, and of
an adjustable stop determining the initial position of the handle bars.
In one way of carrying out this invention a pillar adapted to fit in the steering
socket of a cycle and be fixed therein is provided at its upper end with a horizontal
socket having its ends split and adapted to be closed together by a screw passing
through lugs on the ends. A plug having a diametrical square hole through it fits in
the horizontal socket and its ends are slightly reduced in diameter. The curved
arms of the handle bars are brased on to the ends of the plug and bear against the
shoulders thereon and are of the same diameter as the plug. The horizontal arın of
an L shaped lever mounted in a bracket fixed at its upper and lower ends to the pillar
passes through a slot in the horizontal socket and bears in and fits the diametrical
slot in the plug. A disc sliding on a rod fixed to the bracket is connected to the
lever by links. A helical spring bears against the disc and against an adjustable
washer on the rod. A lock nut on the rod at the back of the vertical arm of the L
lever adjusts the vertical position of the handle bars. The handle bars can be fixed
in position by a set screw passing through the bracket and the lever.
In a modification the pillar is divided and jointed together by a hinge external to
the pillar. The two parts of the pillar are drawn together by a helical spring within
the pillar acting against a fixed stop in one divided part and by means of a central
rod on the other divided part. The tension of the spring can be adjusted by a nut on
the rod.
1
T
Dated

page_text: DI DUIFICATION
Improvements in or connected with the Handle Bars of Cycles or
other Road Vehicles.
I, JOHN THOMSON LANCASTER, Mining and Mechanical Engineer, of 202A Hammer-
smith Road, in the County of London, S.W., late of 128 Lillie Road, London aforesaid,
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 for improvements in or connected with the handle bars of cycles or
other road vehicles has for its object to provide an improved means for reducing the
vibration of the handle bars and to enable the rider without dismounting to adjust
the height of the handle bars and consist in dividing the pillar fitting into the steer-
ing socket of a cycle or other vehicle, in jointing the two parts together by a hinge
external to the pillar and socket and in drawing the two parts together by an adjust-
able helical spring situated within the pillar. Means are also provided for fixing the
handle bars in the upper or lower position.
In the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a
handle bar for a cycle constructed according to this invention and showing the
handles locked in their highest position, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 3
a back elevation of the same. Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views to Fig. 1 showing
respectively the handles locked in their lowest position and unlocked.
The vertical pillar of the handle bars a is made in two parts b, c hinged together at d.
The upper part b to which the handle bars a are secured is made as short as
possible. The helical spring e within the part c bears at its upper end on a ledge f at
the upper end of the part c and its lower end bears against an adjustable washer gon
the rod that passes axially upwards through the spring, and is hooked over a pin i
passing through the part b. The spring e thus tends to draw the two parts bc firmly
together to form one straight pillar. By screwing up the nut the tension of the
spring can be adjusted.
In one way of constructing the vertical pillar, the adjacent ends of the divided
vertical pillar are formed of two malleable castings and the handle bars a are brazed
on to the upper casting and a vertical tube on to the lower casting.
In order that when desired the handles may be locked in the highest position or
be prevented from rising above a certain position the bracket m is pivoted to the
upper part and is provided with a cam slot n in which works a pin o fixed on the
lower part c. The cam slot is shaped as shown so that when in the position shown in
Fig. 1 the handles are locked in their highest position and when in the position shown
in Fig. 5 the handles are free to move against the resistance of the spring from the
highest position to the lowest and when in the position shown in Fig. 4 from the lower
position to the lowest position.
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. A handle bar for a vehicle, consisting of a divided and hinged socket pillar, a
handle bar fitted to the upper part of the pillar, a helical spring within the lower part
of the pillar connected at its two ends respectively to the two parts of the pillar.

page_text: 2. The improvements in or connected with the handle bars of cycles or other road
vehicles substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 24th day of August 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.