Improved Brake for Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 4th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Brake for Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
I, FRIEDRICH WILHELM KÜHN, of 81, Breitestrasse, Ronsdorf, Germany,
Gardener, 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:-
1
This invention relates to improvements in brakes for bicycles and other
velocipedes, and has for its object the provision of a brake that can be controlled
and manipulated by hand from the steering rod of the velocipede, and that is at
once simple and practical in construction, as well as reliable in action.
The details and manner of construction are set forth in the accompanying
drawings in which Fig. 1 represents a view of the brake when not in action,
Fig. 2 another view shewing the brake in action, and Fig. 3 represents a side view
of a bicycle, with the improved brake fitted thereto in place.
In these drawings the same letters refer to the same parts respectively in the
several views. a a are two steel rods, fixed at their upper ends in a suitable
manner to the upper part of the fork of the hind wheel of the machine. These
rods carry on their lower ends the brake blocks bb, made of indiarubber or other
similar or convenient material. These said rods a a are held apart by the spring c
arranged and fixed between them. Close above the brake blocks b, the rods a a
are each furnished with small hooks d, to which the two wire lines ee are fastened.
These tension cords ee run together towards the middle of the fork, and form a
pulling line Z made of wire rope, or any other durable and convenient material,
and which is led over a roller f seated on the spring c (a contrivance being provided
for preventing the pulling line Z from slipping off the pulley or roller f). This
said pulling line Z is continued along the upper frame of the machine, being led by
pulleys or rollers where convenient, to the steering rod of the vehicle as shewn
in Fig. 3 where it can be pulled or released by hand or by any convenient means.
The action of this brake is exceedingly simple. By pulling the wire line Z,
from the steering rod or handle, the wire cord or line, draws the ends of the steel
rods a a towards each other which has the effect of bringing the brake blocks bb
to bear on the rim of the cycle wheel, and thus checks the motion thereof as shewn
in Fig. 2. On the other hand when the pull on the wire cord ceases, the steel
rods aa with the brake blocks bb are quickly returned to their original position,
by the springing action of the spring c, and the rim or tyre of the cycle wheel
released from the action of the brake.
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 provison of a brake, for bicycles and other velocipedes actuated by means
of a wire or other cord, operating springs carrying brake blocks acting on one of
the cycle wheels, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and described
and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2. The application of this invention to any form of or kind of bicycle or other
velocipede, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Then
1
r A
1000
REGINALD W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent, 56, Ludgate Hill, London, E.C.