Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles and the like Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles and the like Vehicles.
I, SAMUEL FITZWILLIAM HANNAM, of John Street, Sheffield, in the County of
York, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct a simple effective, convenient and
self-contained brake attachment which can be readily fixed, unfixed or adjusted.
The attachment consists of a bracket in the back of which is a vertical slot by
means of which slot it is attached and adjusted by a bolt, stud or set screw to
the crown of the fork or to a clip fitted to the crown of the fork. On the bracket
I form two bearings or guides for the reception of the brake plunger and in a
convenient position at the side of the bracket either to the right or to the left
or on both sides I form an arm with an elongated boss to which by means of a
pin is secured a bent lever which actuates the plunger. The plunger is made
with a transverse slot through which one end of the lever is free to work, the
slot being of approximately the same depth and width as the lever at the side
of the plunger nearest the fulcrum and of a width at the opposite side of the
plunger to allow clearance for the range of the lever in its upward and down-
ward movements. The plunger is retained in an upward vertical position by a
suitable spring attached to the short arm of the lever and to a loop or hook on
or near the upper bearing or guide on the plunger bracket. To the long end
of the lever which actuates the plunger I attach a metallic cord, chain, or a cord
of cat gut or other suitable material, which I carry by hooks or loops on the
under side of the handle bar, to a convenient position near the handle on the
left or right hand side, or both as the case may be. The handle end of such
connection being actuated by a spring lever, laid on the under side of the handle,
such as is employed in an ordinary brake movement, or in lieu of the lever last
mentioned I sometimes provide the end of this chain or cord with a plain cross
bar or ring suspended on the underside of the handle bar.
In some cases when I actuate the brake lever from both sides, I employ a
second lever placed and fitted of a similar shape and in a similar manner to that
already described, but in such cases I should fork the short end of the lever so
as to work outside the plunger which it would actuate by means of an external
collar or collars or pins or their equivalents, or as an alternative arrangement
the brake plunger could be made sufficiently large in diameter to allow of two
slots being formed side by side one for each lever or by raising or lowering the
fulcrum of one of the brake levers the slots in the plunger may be made one
above the other in line.
By either of the modifications here described by which the brake may be
simultaneously actuated from both sides, a much more effective and powerful
brake action may be brought into play.
1
both day of Inquet 1899

page_text: Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles and the like Vehicles.
I, SAMUEL FITZWILLIAM HANNAM, of John Street, Sheffield, in the County of
York, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 construct a simple, effective convenient and
self-contained brake attachment which can be readily fixed, unfixed or adjusted.
The nature of my invention will be better understood on reference to the accom-
panying sheet of drawings in which,
Fig. 1. Is a front elevation of my improved self-contained brake attachment
shewing the position of the brake plunger and lever when not in action.
Fig. 2. Is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 3. Is a front elevation shewing the position of the brake plunger and
lever when the brake is applied to the tyre of a wheel.
Fig. 4. Is a plan of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5. Is a front elevation of a modified arrangement shewing the spring placed
on the brake plunger.
Fig. 6. Is a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 7. Is a front elevation of my improved brake attachment as applied in
the form of a rim brake.
Fig. 8. Is a side elevation of the same.
The same letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The attachment consists of a bracket a, in the back of which is a vertical slot a¹
by means of which slot it is attached and adjusted by a bolt, stud or set screw,
to the crown of the fork or to a clip b fitted to the crown of the fork. On the
bracket I form two bearings or guides c, c¹, for the reception of the brake
plunger d, and in a convenient position at the side of the bracket either to the
right or to the left or on both sides I form an arm e, with an elongated boss f,
to which by means of a pin is secured a bent lever g, which actuates the plunger d.
The plunger is made with a transverse slot h, through which one end of the
lever is free to work, the slot being of approximately the same depth and width
as the lever at the side of the plunger nearest the fulcrum and of a width at the
opposite side of the plunger to allow clearance for the range of the lever in its
upward and downward movements. The plunger d, is retained in an upward
vertical position by a suitable spring i, attached to the short arm of the lever
and to a loop or hook j, on or near the upper bearing or guide c, on the plunger
bracket a. To the long end of the lever which actuates the plunger I attach a
metallic cord, chain or a cord of cat gut or other suitable material which I
carry by hooks or loops on the under side of the handle bar to a convenient position
near the handle on the left or right hand side or both as the case may be. The
handle end of such connection being actuated by a spring lever laid on the under
side of the handle such as is employed in an ordinary brake movement, or in
lieu of the lever last mentioned I sometimes provide the end of this chain or
cord with a plain cross bar or ring suspended on the underside of the handle
bar.
In some cases when I actuate the brake lever from both sides I employ a
second lever placed and fitted of a similar shape and in a similar manner to that
already described but in such cases I should fork the short end of the lever so
as to work outside the plunger which it would actuate by means of an external
collar or collars or pins or their equivalents or as an alternative arrangement
the brake plunger could be made sufficiently large in diameter to allow of two

page_text: slots being formed side by side one for each lever or by raising or lowering the
fulcrum of one of the brake levers the slots in the plunger may be made one above
the other in line.
By either of the modifications here described by which the brake may be
simultaneously actuated from both sides, a much more effective and powerful
brake action may be brought into play.
The modified arrangement illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 shew the spring i,
attached direct to the brake plunger d.
Figs. 7, and 8, illustrate my improved attachment as applied to a rim brake
in which the spring i, is also applied direct to the brake plunger d, but below
instead of above the bracket a.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In brakes for bicycles and the like vehicles the particular arrangement and
combination of parts and appliances comprising the bracket, a, formed with two
bearings or guides c, c', carrying the brake plunger d, formed with a transverse
slot h, and also provided with an arm e, having an elongated boss f, carrying the
bent lever g, the spring i, by the reaction of which the brake is kept off the tyre
when not in use, the whole attached to the frame or crown of the fork of the
vehicle, either direct or by means of a clip, b, in the manner and for the purposes
substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Total 1001 of 1000
R. HEBER RADFORD,
Agent for the Applicant.