Improvements in Locking Joints for Folding Handle Bars of Cycles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 30th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Locking Joints for Folding Handle Bars of Cycles.
I, WILLIAM JOHN TANNER, of 4, Rosary Gardens, South Kensington, in the
County of London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to locking joints, for folding handle bars of cycles, of the
kind described in the Specification of my Patent No. 17,622 %, that is to say, joints
consisting of two plates_one of which is applied to one section of the handle
bar and the other to the T piece, or other section, and adapted to interlock, abut, or
impinge one against the other, and to be secured by a turn-button, stirrup, yoke,
clip, or the like.
The present locking joint also comprises two such plates, but the means for
locking or securing them together now consists of a bar or block pivotted to one
of the plates and provided with turned down ends or claws arranged to engage or
lock said plates at their ends and retain them firmly in position. This bar or
block is preferably of the same width as the plates, so as to completely cover them
when locked, and said plates are so formed at their ends as to correspond with the
shape of the turned down ends or claws, so that when the joint is locked the
ends of the bar grip the plates so drawing them together and assisting to keep
them securely locked. The plates may further be formed with projections or
heels, or be provided with studs, or other appropriate devices, adapted to engage
with the pivotted bar, to arrest the travel of this latter; and a knob or button may
be disposed at either or both ends of the bar to allow of it being readily manipulated.
The plates may be secured directly to the sections of the handle bar, and T piece,
or they may be affixed to split clamping rings or tubes which can be fixed on to
the sections of such bar, and on to the T piece.
Improvements in Locking Joints for Folding Handle Bars of Cycles.
I, WILLIAM JOHN TANNER, late of 4, Rosary Gardens, South Kensington, and
new of 31, Montpelier Square, both in the County of London, Gentleman, 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
Price S31

page_text: statement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and
figures marked thereon, that is to say: -
This invention relates to locking-joints, for folding handle bars of cycles, of the
kind described in the Specification of my Patent No. 17,622, that is to say, joints
consisting of two plates, one of which is applied to one section of the handle
bar, and the other to the T-piece, or other section, and adapted to interlock, abut, or
impinge one against the other, and to be secured by a turn-button, stirrup, yoke,
clip or the like.
The present locking-joint. also comprises two such plates, but the means for
locking or securing them together now consists of a bar or block pivoted to one
of the plates, and provided with turned down ends or claws arranged to engage or
lock said plates at their ends, and retain them firmly in position. This bar or
block is preferably of the same.width as the plates, so as to completely cover them,
when locked, and said plates are so formed, at their ends, as to correspond with the
shape of the turned down ends or claws, so that when the joint is locked, the
ends of the bar grip the plates and keep them securely locked.
And in order that my invention may be readily understood, I will describe the
same fully, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 shews in side elevation my improved locking-joint applied to a folding
handle-bar, the parts of the latter being in their normal position.
Fig. 2 is a plan thereof.
Fig. 3 is an elevation corresponding to Fig. 1 but shewing the handle bar turned
or folded down.
Fig. 4 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of Fig. 4, certain parts being omitted
for the sake of clearness.
Fig. 6 is a vertical central section of Fig. 5.
Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a side view and an inverted plan, of one of the
pivoted bars or blocks.
a, a, are the folding portions or sections of the handle bar, which are connected
to the central portion or T-piece a¹ by means of a hinge formed by pins a³, passed
through lugs ³.
b, b, are the pivoted bars or blocks, whereby the joint is locked. These blocks
are arranged on the opposite side of the handle bar to the hinge pin a², and are
provided with turned down ends or claws b¹.
A knob or button may be fitted on either or both ends of the bars or blocks, to,
allow of their ready manipulation..
"
c, c', are the plates with which the pivoted bars or blocks engage, one of these
plates being formed or secured on each of the adjacent parts of the handle bar.
The plate of each pair is longer than the plate c¹, say twice the length, and over-
laps the joint so as to give greater strength and rigidity, and to allow the pin
or pivot d (on which the corresponding pivoted bar or block b turns) to be held
in its place immediately above the joint, the plate c¹ being set back a corresponding
distance to allow of the overlapping.
The arrangement is such, however, that the two plates fit snugly together when
the parts of the handle bar are in their normal position.
In the example shewn, the lugs a³ of the hinges, and the plates c, c', are secured
to collars or rings e riveted to the handle bars at el. Obviously, however, they may
be secured directly to the handle bars, say by brazing, and the collars or rings may
be secured thereto in the same manner.
The longer plates c have formed in them holes to receive the pins or screw-
threaded pivots d on which the bars or blocks turn, and these latter have the
inner surfaces 62 of their turned down ends concentric with the said pivots, as
are also the ends of the plates c, c. When the handles are in their normal
position, and are to be locked, the blocks b are simply turned so as to lie along
them, as in Figs. 1 and 2, in which position the turned down ends or claws b₁ fit
lightly against the ends of the plates c, c', so holding the same rigidly together.

page_text: To effect the unlocking, it is only necessary to turn the locking-blocks 6 trans-
versely of the handle bars, when the latter can then be turned down, as in
Fig. 3.
As an additional precaution, and to prevent any possibility of either of the
locking blocks or bars turning accidentally on its pivot, as for instance through
vibration, when the cycle is being ridden, I provide a safety catch f, consisting of a
wire, or the like, passed through a suitable aperture in one of the plates c, c, and
having its ends bent at right angles, so that they embrace the inner turned down
ends of the respective blocks b. The said catch is turned back into the position
shewn in dotted lines (Fig. 1) when its corresponding block is to be disengaged.
A notch or recess g is formed in the edge of one of the sections of the handle bar,
and fits around the pivot d, the purpose being to prevent the parts twisting or
working" relatively to each other."
The inner ends of the tubes forming the handle-bar, may be plugged with
wood h, if desired.
The locking-joint herein above described, may be made and sold separately for
application to existing folding handle bars, for which purpose the collars or rings e
may be made detachable.
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. A locking-joint for folding handle-bars of cycles, comprising a pair of plates
on the hinged sections of the handle bar, and a pivoted bar or block having turned
ends or claws adapted to engage and lock said plates, substantially as described.
2. In a locking joint of the kind referred to in the previous claim, the employ-
ment of a pair of plates, one of which is longer than the other, so as to overlap one
of the sections of the handle-bar, substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In a locking joint of the kind referred to, the combination with the pivoted
locking bar or block, of the safety catch (f), as and for the purpose described.
4. The arrangement of the pivot pin d so that it projects when the joint is
closed, into a recess (g) in one of the sections of the handle bar to prevent twisting
or "working" of the parts, substantially as described.
5. My improved locking-joint for folding handle-bars of cycles, substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to the annexed drawings.
Dated this 30th day of November 1898
Dated this 30th day of November 1898
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, & 5A, Market Street, Nottingham.
Agent for the Applicant.