Improvements in Bicycle Handle Bars.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycle Handle Bars.
1, FREDERICK C. ROCKWELL, of 24 Mechanic Street, Hartford, in the County
of Hartford and State of Connecticut, U.S.A., Manufacturer, 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 relates to the handle bars that are provided for bicycles, tricycles
and the like vehicles that are steered by the hand of the rider.
The object of the invention is to construct a cheap and attractive steering bar
that is very strong and durable, that is light in weight and somewhat elastic and
yielding so that it will relieve the arms of the rider of a portion of the vibrations
incident to riding and will spring and not break or be permanently bent if suddenly
caused to make forcible contact with any other object, and that has a soft
and very comfortable gripping surface for the hands of the rider along its
entire length, which surface is impervious to moisture and unaffected by
weather.
The invention is embodied in a steering bar consisting of a core formed to shape
with a complete outer covering, wearing or gripping surface of compressed
waterproofed particles of cork, as more particularly hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings wherein the invention is illustrated:
Fig. 1 is a view of a steering bar constructed according to the invention. Fig. 2
is a view of a modified shape of the same.
Fig. 3 is a view of a part of the core used in the construction of the bar shown
in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a view of a part of the core used in the construction of the bar shown
in Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line X X of Fig. 1.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line Y Y of Fig. 2.
In the views 1 indicates the core, which may be made of solid or tubular metal
or any light strong wood, as hickory or elm. The core is given any desirable shape
in cross section, either round for its entire length, as shown in Fig. 3, or round for
a portion of its length and square for the remainder, as the core shown in Fig. 4,
and when made of wood it may be turned down in such manner as to leave tips 2
at the ends with collars 3 for the upper boundaries of the sections of the bar
usually provided for the hands, and collars 4 near the steering head, as shown in
Fig. 4; but of course it may be turned approximately the same size throughout its
entire length with possibly a small swell near each end where the usual grips are
placed. After having been formed, turned or worked down to its proper shape in.
cross section the core is bent and set to any desired curve by the ordinary processes.
If the core is wood it may be set by steaming, and if metal it may be formed by
bending-rolls to the desired curve.
Upon the core is put the covering or wearing surface. This wearing surface is
formed of compressed water-proofed particles of ground or broken cork. Particles
of ground or broken cork can be mixed or sprayed with liquid shellac until they
become thoroughly coated. After these gum coated particles, which are now
somewhat water-proof, are dried they can be placed in suitably shaped moulds in
which the core has been placed and there subjected to heat and pressure to compact
and set them securely in place around the core. The entire core may be placed in
a mould so as to produce a bar similar to that shown in Fig. 1, or only the upper
portion 5 may be placed in the moulds and then covered by the heated and

page_text: compressed particles of cork. In case only the upper part of the core is placed in
the moulds the usual grip sections 6 may be covered with handles of the same
material made separately and then put on and secured in place.
After the water-proofed particles of cork are pressed and secured in place on the
core and the gum or cement is thoroughly hardened and set, this skin or wearing
surface can be sand-papered or turned down to give the final finish, and then the
sections of the core, if made in two parts, can be clasped together by the ordinary
metallic head 7 by means of which it is secured to the steering head of the machine
with which the bar is to be used.
The core of this bar is light in weight, as is the exterior wearing surface, and
both are cheap and easily worked and bent. If the core is of wood it may, while
strong, be slightly yielding so that some of the vibration incident to the riding is
taken up to the relief of the arms of a rider, and such a bar is not liable to crack
off if it receives more than normally hard usage or a sudden blow such as would
result in a collision or by a fall of the machine to the ground. The bar can be
made stylish in appearance, for it can be given an attractive shape and a high finish.
Portions can be square or hexagonal and portions can be round, if desired, and the
whole completed to any artistic curve. The ordinary tips, which are easily
damaged, are not necessary for the wooden core, if used, can be turned to leave
collars which will answer the purposes of tips and the hand sections can, if desired,
for the sake of ornament, be separated from the remainder of the bar by leaving
the collars of wood above mentioned. These wooden tips and wooden collars add
to the effect of the finish and they harmonize with the effect of the wooden rims of
many of the machines now being made. With the metal core no tips need be used,
for the whole exterior surface may be covered and protected with the gripping
surface of compressed water-proofed particles of cork which are not affected by
weather and are not marred by ordinary blows or bruises. If the exterior surface
of this material becomes slightly soiled or damaged it can be sand-papered off or
cleaned in a very simple manner. The exterior skin or covering so thoroughly
protects a wooden core from weather that the wood has no tendency to check or
split and it removes all liability of the wood warping out of its given shape under
atmospheric influences, and it protects a metallic core from rusting.
A handle bar formed in this manner, besides being neat and attractive, light,
strong and durable, is very satisfactory in use for it can be grasped with equal
comfort at any portion of its length, thus allowing the rider to change the location
of bis hands with a consequent change of position of the arms and back without
requiring him to grasp a metallic part. This bar does not have a dazzling
reflection such as oftentimes results to the inconvenience of the rider with the
polished nickel bar now in use, the superior gripping surface provided for the entire
length of the bar having a soft velvety dead finish.
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 curved steering bar for bicycles consisting of a stiff core formed to shape
with its entire exterior surface composed of particles of cork and a binder united
into a homogeneous mass by heat and pressure, as specified.
2. A steering bar for bicycles consisting of a core of wood of varying cross-
sectional outline with substantially all of its exterior surface composed of water
proofed particles of cork and a gum united by heat and pressure, as specified.
Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A., October Second, 1896.
FREDERICK C. ROCKWELL.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.