Improvements in Bicycle-alarms.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycle-alarms.
I, RICHARD EDWARD KELLY, residing at 1821, Clinton Avenue, Alameda,.
in the County of Alameda and State of California, Clerk, 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 bicycle-alarms; and it consists in the
arrangement and construction of the parts, as hereinafter set forth.
The object which this invention has in view is the production of a loud and
continuous alarm to warn pedestrians of the approach of the bicycle.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention as applied to a bicycle.
Fig. 2 is a detail view of the hand-lever.
For the purposes of description with reference to the drawings we will let the
letter A desiguate the pivoted rod upon which the vibrator B is mounted. The rod A
is mounted in suitable clips A' A', which secure it to the head and forks of the
machine. These clips are clamped rigidly in position by suitable screws to pull
the ends of the clips together. The clip A is slotted to receive the set-screw A³,.
which enters the rod A and supports it in position, and serves as a stop to limit the.
throw of the rod and vibrator.
The vibrator B consists of a thin. flat piece which is extended in front so that its.
outer end will be thrown against the spokes of the wheel when the rod is rotated.
This vibrator may be constructed of metal, wood, or other suitable material; but
that most preferred by me is wood of a springy nature. It is rigidly secured to the-
rod A by thumb or set screw, and may be set on the side of the rod, as shown, or
inserted in slots provided for it in the rod. This vibrator is usually provided with
a small bell B' in the nature of a sleigh-bell, which is rung by the movement of the
vibrator. These bells are suspended on the vibrator in any suitable manner and are
preferably detachable therefrom.
In its normal position the rod A holds the vibrator B away from the spokes of
the wheel. In this position it is maintained by the spring C, which is coiled about
the red and secured to it and the clip A in such manner as to keep the set.
screw A³ against the end of the slot in the clip A, as shown. Whenever the
rod A is rotated, so as to throw the end of the vibrator against the spokes, it is
done so against the strain of the spring C, which will return the rod to its normal
position when the rotating strain is removed.
To rotate the rod A to throw the end of the vibrator against the spokes of the
wheel, I have provided the hand-lever D and its connections, as shown in Fig. 2 of
drawings. From the side of the rod A is extended the pin D', to which is pivotally
connected the connecting-link D. The link D2 is likewise connected to the end of
the band-lever D. The hand-lever is pivotally mounted on the handle-bar of the
bicycle, as shown. When now the hand-lever is raised at its free end, the other
end is depressed, carrying the end of the link D2 downward and to a level with the
pin D. The effect of this is to push the pin D' away from the lever D by
rotating the rod A. This rotation of the rod throws the end of the vibrator
against the spokes of the wheel, which, in a rapidly-revolving wheel, strike the
end of the vibrator in rapid succession so long as the hand-lever is thus raised..
This causes a rapid and violent agitation of the vibrator and the bell or other
sounding device which is mounted thereon.

page_text: The sound produced by this alarm is sudden, penetrating, and continuous for as
long as the hand-lever is operated.
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 :
In a bicycle-alarm, the combination of a vibrator pivotally mounted on a
revoluble rod supported on the frame of a bicycle, said vibrator being adapted to
be turned to impinge upon the spokes of a wheel, and suitable devices for so
turning the revoluble rod, substantially as described.
Dated this 25th day of September 1896.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicant.