Improvements in Handle Bars for Bicycles or other Machines.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Handle Bars for Bicycles or other Machines.
I, ERNEST ANDREWS, of Grafton Villa, 18, Edgar Road, Winchester, in the
County of Hants, an Officer in the Mercantile Marine, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide in a simple and efficient manner for
readily turning into an out of the way position handle bars such for example as
those of a bicycle in order that they may not project laterally to an inconvenient
extent when the machine is to be conveyed by train or otherwise or is to he
stored.
For this purpose the handle bar is in two lengths hereinafter referred to as
halves each adapted to turn about a hinge pin or pivot carried at the head of
the steering spindle and arranged with its axis (or their axes if there be more
than one pin or pivot) in a horizontal or approximately horizontal direction fore
and aft of the machine so that the two halves of the handle bar can be turned
down into out of the way positions one at each side of the machine when it is to
be conveyed by train or otherwise or stored, but can be turned up into their respec-
tive positions for use when required and be by simple means secured in those
positions.
Such an arrangement may be constructed in various forms.
According to one construction each half handle bar has formed with or secured
to its inner end a device which comprises a lug or projection at right angles or
thereabout to the axis of its part of the handle bar, and a nose piece having the
same general direction as the middle portion of the handle bar. Each lug is of
semi-cylindrical cross section with a recess near its free end at which end each
is mounted on a pin at the head of the steering spindle. At its inner end each
half handle bar is provided with a recess to receive the projecting nose of the
other half handle bar, when the two are in position for use. "Then the two lugs
constitute an upper part or extension of the steering spindle which may be slightly
conical or may be cylindrical. Just below, there is a screw thread, on the steer-
ing spindle, which is provided with a tube whose internal form corresponds more
or less to the external form of the above described upper part of the steering
spindle; the tube is for a part of its length internally threaded to engage with
the male thread on the spindle; and is externally formed with a polygonal part
or is otherwise adapted to be readily rotated by a key or otherwise so that it can
be screwed into position over so as to hold together the two lugs constituting
the upper part or extension of the handle bar thus rigidly securing the two
halves of the handle bar in their relative positions for use to steer the machine;
or the tube can be lowered so as to free the lugs whereupon the two halves of the
handle bar can be turned down out of the way as already mentioned.
With such an arrangement there is no loose part liable to be lost or mislaid
whether the halves of the handle bar be in position for use or be turned down.
Although I have described a convenient construction applicable to a bicycle,

page_text: it will be evident that my invention may be applied in other cases where it is
desired to adapt handle bars to be turned at times into out of the way positions
for any purpose; and also that some of the details I have indicated are susceptible
of modification.
=
Improvements in Handle Bars for Bicycles or other Machines.
I, ERNEST ANDREWS, of Grafton Villa, 18, Edgar Road, Winchester, in the
County of Hants, an Officer in the Mercantile Marine, 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 object of my invention is to provide in a simple and efficient manner for
readily turning into an out of the way position handle bars such for example as
those of a bicycle in order that they may not project laterally to an inconvenient
extent when the machine is to be conveyed by train or otherwise or is to be
stored.
For this purpose the handle bar is in two lengths, hereinafter referred to as
halves, each adapted to turn about a hinge pin or pivot carried at the head of
the steering spindle and arranged with its axis (or their axes if there be more
than one pin or pivot) in a horizontal or approximately horizontal direction fore
and aft of the machine so that the two halves of the handle bar can be turned
down into out of the way positions one at each side of the machine when it is to
be conveyed by train or otherwise or stored, but can be turned up into their respec-
tive positions for use when required and be by simple means secured in those
positions.
Such an arrangement may be constructed in various forms.
Figs. 1 and 2 are sectional elevations at right angles to one another, and Fig. 3
is a plan, showing one construction of cycle handle bar according to this inven-
tion, the two halves of the said handle bar being shown secured in their raised
positions for use. Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but showing the two halves
of the handle bar in their turned down positions. Figs. 5 and 6 are elevations
at right angles to one another and Fig. 7 a plan, showing one of the two devices
by which the two halves of the handle bar are jointed to the steering spindle.
According to the construction shown, each half handle bar 1 has formed with
or secured to its inner end a device which comprises a lug or projection 2 (herein-
after called a lug) arranged at right angles or thereabout to the axis of its part
of the handle bar, and a nose piece 3 having the same general direction as the
middle portion of the handle bar. In the example shown, each device comprising
the parts 2 and 3 is made as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, as a separate casting,
forging or fitting 4 with a cylindrical or other shaped part 5 by which it can be
secured, as by brazing, to the inner tubular end of the corresponding half handle
bar 1. The middle portion of each device may be recessed on its inner side
to lighten it. Each lug 2 is of semi-cylindrical cross section with a recess 2ª
near its free end at which end it is mounted on a pin 6 at the head of the steering
spindle 7, the said pin being common to the two lugs. At its inner end each
half handle bar is provided with a recess at 1" to receive the projecting nose

page_text: Then
piece 3 of the other half handle bar when the two are in position for use.
the two lugs 2 constitute an upper part or extension of the steering spindle 7
which may be slightly conical or may be cylindrical. Just below, there is a
screw thread 7 on the steering spindle 7, which is provided with a tube 8 whose
internal form corresponds more or less to the external form of the above described
upper part or extension of the steering spindle formed by the lugs 2; the tube
is for a part of its length internally threaded to engage with the male thread 7*
on the spindle; and is externally formed with a polygonal part or with a milled
part 8 or is otherwise adapted to be readily rotated by a key or otherwise so
that it can be screwed into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2 so as to extend
over and hold together the two lugs 2 constituting the upper part or extension
of the steering spindle, thus rigidly securing the two halves of the handle bar
in their relative positions for use to steer the machine; or the tube 8 can be
lowered so as to free the lugs 2, whereupon the two halves of the handle bar can
be turned down out of the way as shown in Fig. 4.
.
With such an arrangement, which is applicable to handle bars of different
sizes and shapes, there is no loose part liable to be lost or mislaid whether the
halves of the handle bar be in position for use or be turned down.
Although I have described a convenient construction applicable to a bicycle,
it will be evident that my invention can be applied in other cases where it is
desired to adapt handle bars to be turned at times into out of the way positions
for any purpose; and also that some of the details I have indicated are sus-
ceptible of modification.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. For a bicycle or other machine, a handle bar made in two halves each having
at right angles thereto a lug or projection mounted to turn about a hinge pin or
pivot carried at the head of the steering spindle and arranged with its axis in
a horizontal or approximately horizontal direction fore and aft of the machine,
and a vertically movable holder, the arrangement being such that the two halves
of the handle bar can, upon lowering the holder, be turned down into out of the
way positions one at each side of the machine, but can, when required, he turned
up into their respective positions for use and be secured in these positions by
raising the holder, substantially as described.
2. A handle bar for a bicycle or other machine, constructed arranged and
operating, substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 11th day of October 1898.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.