Improvements appertaining to the Handles of Cycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 24th June, 1896-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1396
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements appertaining to the Handles of Cycles.
İ, CHARLES LOUIS MERCIER, of 6, Rue des Tanneries, Paris, France,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
At present the handles are permanently fastened on the handle-bars of cycles
by cement or other means. This mode of fastening has several drawbacks, in
particular that of not allowing the handles to be removed when desired for
cleaning, renewal, or other purposes.
This invention relates to an arrangement which enables the handles to be firmly
fastened on the handle-bar in such a way as to permit of their being removed
when desired in a very easy manner. It comprises (1) a cylinder A of wood or
other material, perforated in the direction of its length, one of its ends being made
of concave flaring form and divided longitudinally for about one half of its length
into a number of portions separated from one another by small slits or spaces B
(Figs. 1 and 2); and its other end having fixed thereto a small pointed stud C
(Figs. 1 and 3); a metallic hemispherical piece D carrying a stud E (Fig. 4) and
formed with a screw-threaded hole F extending axially throughout its entire
length; and a long screw V with a hemispherical or flat head.
The fastening of the handle on the handle-bar is effected in the following
mauner :-
I commence by placing the hemispherical piece D into the concave flaring end
of the wooden cylinder A, after which I insert the whole into the handle P. The
cylinder A is made so as to leave an annular space between its outer surface and
the internal surface of the handle. I then insert the tube G that constitutes the
handle-bar, into the interior of the handle, the said tube G fitting in the annular
space between the cylinder A and the handle P. The pointed stud Centers a
small cavity formed in the end wall of the handle P. This handle is provided
with a hole through which is passed the screw V which enters the screw-threaded
hole F of the piece D.
If, now, the screw be rotated in the proper direction the piece D will be moved
in the direction of the arrow f (Fig. 5) passing along between the portions of the
divided flaring part of the cylinder A and forcing them outwards and thereby
pressing them firmly against the internal sides of the handle-bar G, the effect
being that the handle is very rigidly united to the handle-bar.
If, now, it is desired to remove the handle, it is sufficient to rotate the screw in
the contrary direction; the hemispherical body D is thereby moved away, the
portions of the cylinder A approach one another, and the handle can be easily
withdrawn.
The pointed studs C and E have for object to prevent the cylinder A and the
hemispherical body D from turning with the screw.
Fig. 6 represents in elevation the handle fixed on its handle-bar; only the head
of the screw V is seen outside.
If desired, it is very easy to hide the head of the screw completely by merely
covering the handle with a cap H, of metal or other suitable material (Fig. 7).
Or the head of the screw may be received in a slight indentation made in the
cap H, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.
In order to increase the adhesion still more, an india rubber washer I may be
•

page_text: placed between the end of the cylinder A and the handle, as shown in Fig. 8.
For the flaring cylinder A there may be substituted two, or there may be more,
plain cylinders L and M (Fig. 9) with an india rubber washer N between them.
When the screw is turned, the two cylinders L and M are drawn towards each
other, which presses the india rubber washer out laterally to such an extent nз to
secure the handle iu position.
The cylinder A may be surrounded with a sheath of rubber or other suitable
material, so as to increase the adhesion.
The means of fixing that I have just described are applicable to all kin.ls of
handles, whatever be the material of which they are composed.
Dated this 24th day of September 1895.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
was apportaining to the handles of Cycles.
1, CHARLES LOUIS MERCIER, of 6, Rue des Tanneries Paris, France,
Manufacturing Engineer, 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 :-
At present the handles of cycles are permanently fastened on the handle-bars by
cement or other means. This mode of fastening has several drawbacks, in particular
that of not allowing the handles to be removed when desired for cleaning, renewal
or other purposes.
This invention relates to an arrangement which enables the handles to be firmly
fastened on the handle-bar in such a way as to permit of their being removed
when desired in a very easy manner. This arrangement essentially comprises a
device which is arranged within the handle and is pressed against the surface
of the hardle-bar by means of a screw passing longitudinally through the
handle.
When the screw is turned in one direction, pressure is applied to the handle-
bar with the result of fixing the handle, and when the screw is turned in the
reverse direction, the pressure is relieved and the handle can be removed.
My invention can be carried out in many ways, some of which, based on the
same principle and differing only in details, I will now, by way of example, proceed
to describe, reference being made to the accompanying drawings.
One construction, represented in Figs. 1 to 7 comprises a cylinder 1 of wood or
other suitable material, perforated in the direction of its length, one of its ends
being made of concave Haring form and is divided longitudinally for about one half
of its length into a number of portions separated from one another by small slits or
spaces 2 (see Figs. 1 and 2) and its other end having fixed thereto a pointed
stud 3 (Figs. 1 and 3); a metallic hemispherical piece 4 carrying a stud 5 (Fig. 4)
and formed with a scre threaded hole 6 extending axially throughout its entire
length; aud a long screw 7 with a hemispherical or flat head.
The fastening of the handle upon the handle-bar is effected in the following
manner :-
I commence by placing the hemispherical piece 4 into the concave flaring end
of the wooden cylinder 1, after which I insert the whole into the handle 8. The
cylinder is made so as to leave an annular space between. its outer surface and
the inner surface of the handle.
I then insert the tube 9 which constitutes the handlebar, into the handle 'the
said tube fitting into the vacant annular space between the cylinder 1 and the
handle 8..

page_text: The pin 3 enters a small cavity formed in the end wall of the handle 8. This
handle is provided with a hole through which is passed the screw 7 which enters
the screw-threaded part 6 of the piece 4. If now the screw be rotated in the
proper direction the piece 4 will be moved longitudinally in the direction of the
arrow 10 passing along between the portions of the divided flaring part of
the cylinder 1, and forcing them outwards so as to cause them to press tightly
against the internal surface of the handle bar 9 the result being that the handle will
be very rigidly connected to the handle bar (Fig. 5).
If it be desired to remove the handle, it is sufficient to turn the screw 7 in the
reverse direction whereupon the piece 4 will be moved back, the divided portions
of the cylinder 1 will approach each other and the handle can be readily
removed.
The pins or studs 3 and 5 have for object to prevent the cylinders 1 and the
piece 4 from turning with the screw.
Fig. 6 is an elevation showing the handle fixed on the bandlebar. Externally,
only the head of the screw 7 can be seen, in addition to the handle itself.
If desired, it is easy to conceal even the head of the screw.
This can be done
by covering the handle with a cap 11 of metal or other material (Fig. 7). Or the
head of the screw may be received in a recess made in the cap 11, as shown in
Fige. 8 and 9.
To still further increase the adhesion of the handle to the handle bar an india
rubber washer 12 may be placed between the end of the cylinder 1 and the handle,
as shown in Fig. 8.
In place of the flaring cylinder 1 there may be substituted two, or, it may be
more small plain cylinders 13 and 14 (Fig. 9) with an india rubber washer 15
between them. When the screw is turned, the two cylinders 13 and 14 are moved
towards each other, which presses the india rubber out laterally to such an extent
as to secure the handle in position.
The cylinder 1 may be surrounded by a sheath of rubber or other suitable
material so as to increase the adhesion.
Figs. 10 and 10^ illustrate a modification of the arrangement shown in Fig. 9.
Instead of a rubber washer there is employed a metal plate 16, which is cut out
as shown in Fig. 10 and of convex shape as shown in Fig. 10 and which bears
against a second plate 17 also of convex shape, as shown in Fig. 10, but not cut
out. The plate 17 has a diameter slightly smaller than that of the plate 16, so
that the plate 17 enters in the plate 16. Fig. 10 shows the pressure-producing
device in position. When the screw 7 is turned in such a direction as to cause the
cylinders 13 and 14 to move towards each other, the space separating the latter is
obviously diminished, and the sides 18 of the plate 16, into which the plate 17
enters, are moved slightly apart and are thereby pressed tightly against the
handle bar tube and produce a powerful clamping action which has the result of
keeping the handle firmly fixed. If now the screw 7 be turned in the reverse
direction, the cylinders 13 and 14 will move away from each other and increase the
vacant space separating them, and the elasticity of the plate 16 will cause it to
reassume its original diameter, thus relieving the pressure against the handlebar,
and thereby allowing of the removal of the handle. The plate or cap 17 may be
of any metal and it is not necessary that it should be elastic, but the plate or
cap 16 should be of steel or of some suitable elastic metal; because it should be
capable of undergoing deformation and of subsequently returning into its original
condition.
As shown in Fig. 104, the cap 16 is cut out at its periphery in such a manner as
to form a certain number of projections 18 separated from one another by a space;
the number of the projections 18, may, of course, be varied, as also may be the sizes
of the intermediate spaces.
In the arrangement just described, it is not absolutely necessary to use two
cylinders 13 and 14; for one of them 13, can be dispensed with as shown in
Fig. 11. In this case it is sufficient to form in the cap 16, a small hole into which

page_text: enters the small point 5 of the nut 4; this prevents the whole apparatus from
turning when the screw 7 is operated.
Finally, in either of the preceding cases, there may be placed upon the arrange-
ment of caps 16 and 17; a second similar arrangement 19, 20 as shown in Fig. 12,
having the effect of producing a more powerful tightening action.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 13 the pressure is produced on the handlebar
by means of three claws which are moved apart when the screw 7 is turned so as
to cause the piece 4 to enter in between them.
The arrangement consists of three parts 21 soldered to the metal disc 22 and
provided respectively at their ends with claws 23. The disc 22 is furnished with a
small point 3, designed to prevent the device from turning when the screw is
operated. Finally, the disc 22 is formed with an opening to allow of the passage
of the screw 7, upon which is screwed a spherical or conical ball 4. The latter
may be formed with suitable notches to receive the claws in. such a manner that
the ball shall not turn with the screw. It will be clearly understood that when
the screw 7 is turned, in such a manner as to cause the ball 4 to move in the
direction of the arrow 10, the ball will enter between the claws 23, and will force
them to move away from one another. These claws, in moving apart, press
against the handlebar tube and thereby fix the handle firmly in place. If, on the
contrary the screw be turned in the reverse direction, the ball 4 will leave the claws,
which will consequently release the handle bar and will approach the screw.
pressure being relieved, the handle can be removed with the greatest ease.
The
Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section through another arrangement and Fig. 15 a
longitudinal section through a modification thereof; Fig. 16 shows a section taken
on the line -x of Fig. 14, and Fig. 17 a section taken on the line y y
Fig. 15.
of
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 14 and 16, I use a small cylinder 24 of wood
or other suitable material, recessed at its inner end in the form of a hollow cone.
Its.other end is formed with an aperture large enough to allow of the passage of
the screw 7, and it is fixed to the handle by means of one or two projections 3
which. merely serve to prevent the cylinder 24 from turning when the screw is
being, tightened, as. I shall hereinafter describe.. In the recess of the cylinder 24
there fits a truncated cone 25 corresponding in form to the said recess. The
cone-25 is formed interually with a square hole in which there is inserted a square
nut 26 almost equal in dimensions to the said square hole.. This nut is provided.
with a screw thread similar to that of the screw 7.
The procedure of fixing the handle upon the handle-bar is as follows:-
The cone 25 is placed into the recess in the cylinder 24 and the two together are
placed into the handle 8, which is then put upon the handle-bar 9. By rotating
the screw 7, the cone 25 is drawn in the direction of the arrow 10, in consequence
of the nut 26, which, being squared and maintained in an opening of the same
form, cannot turn. In this movement, the cone 25 forces the thinned edges of the
cylinder 24 to spread out, with the effect of making them bear.forcibly against the
internal walls of the handle-bar 9.
In the arrangement represented in Figs. 15 and 17 there is employed, in lieu of
the cylinder, a wedge 24, which is pressed against the internal surface of the
handle-bar. 9 by a piece. 25 having, the form indicated in the drawing—i.e. a
cylinder from which there has been removed a sort of ungula forming the
wedge 24. The arrangement of the nut 26 is the same as in. the preceding
arrangement and the operation is identically the same. The thickness of the end 27.
of the ungula or wedge 24 may be increased and that of the end 28 of the piece 25
diminished, two wedges being thereby formed that will slide on each other, the
tightening being still produced by the screw 7.
It will, of course, be understood that there may be applied to these two arrange-
ments. the two caoutchouc fittings hereinbefore described with reference to the
arrangements represented in Figs. 1 to 9.
In the arrangement represented in Figs. 18 and 19 the tightening device

page_text: comprises a hollow tube 29, which may be of any suitable metal and whose end 30
is made to flare slightly and is provided with slits 31. The size and number of
these slits may be varied; there may be only two of them, in which case they
should be pretty large and the head 30 would be formed of only two parts
separated from each other by the vacant spaces 31. The other end of the tube 29
is provided with a disc 32 provided axially with a screw-threaded opening
corresponding to the screw 7. The tube 29 is placed as shown in Fig. 19, between
the handle bar and the handle 8. If then, the screw 7 be turned in such a manner
as to cause the tube to advance in the direction. indicated by the arrow 10, the
conical part 30 will become compressed by the rectilinear walls of the handle and
the diameter of the tube 29 will consequently be diminished, which will produce
an energetic clamping of the handle-bar quite sufficient to keep the handle in
place. If the screw be turned in the contrary sense, the handle will be loosened
and can then be removed. The length of the tube 29 may be practically equal to
or less than that of the handle in order to ensure that the handle shall be well held
all that is necessary is that a sufficient part of the handle-bar pass into the handle.
I have indicated in dotted lines, at 33, a position that may be assumed by the
screw-threaded dise; in this case it is necessary, of course, to prolong the screw,
as represented in dotted lines. Finally in lieu of making use of a tube 29, I may
employ simply a conical part 30 connected to the threaded bottom 32 by several
small rods 34 (Fig. 20).
All the means of fixing that I have just described are applicable to all kinds of
handles, whatever be the material of which they are composed.
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. Means for fastening a handle on a cycle handle bar comprising a device
arranged within the handle and pressed against the surface of the handle-bar by a
screw passing longitudinally through the handle, substantially as herein before.
described.
2. Means of the kind specified in the preceding claim for fastening a handle on
a cycle handle-bar comprising a cylinder 1 perforated in the direction of its length,
one of its ends being made of concave flaring form and divided longitudinally into
several parts separated from one another by slits or spaces 2, and its other end
having fixed to it a stud 3; a metallic hemispherical piece 4 carrying a stud 5 and.
formed with a screw-threaded axial hole 6; and a longitudinal screw 7 ; the
arrangement being such that rotation of the screw 7 in one sense will cause the.
piece 4 to force outwards the separate parts of the cylinder 1 and produce pressure
thereof against the bundle-bar, whilst rotation of the screw in the contrary sense:
will remove the said pressure; substantially as described and shown.
3. Meaus of the kiud specified in Claim 2 for fastening a handle on a cycle.
handle-bar, combined with an india-rubber washer 12 inserted between the handle
and the adjacent end of the cylinder 1, for the purpose of increasing the adhesion.
between the handle and the handle-bar substantially as described and shown.
4. Means of the kind specified in Claim for fastening a handle on a cycle
handle-bar, comprising two rigid posts 13 and 14, an interposed india-rubber
washer 15 and a longitudinal screw with nut, the arrangement being such that on
turning the screw in a the proper direction in the nut the washer will be pressed
out laterally against the handle-bar, substantially as described and shown.
5. Meaus of the kind specified in Claim 2 for fastening a handle on a cycle
handle-bar in which the cylinder 1 is provided with a sheath of rubber or other
suitable material adapted to increase the adhesion between the said cylinder and
the handle-bar.
6. Means of the kind specified in Claims 3 and 4 for fastening a handle on a
cycle handle-bar, in which there is substituted for the india-rubber washer one or
more metal plates 16, each of which is made convex and slit as indicated in

page_text: Fig. 10, and bears against a second metal plate 17, also made convex but not slit
and of a diameter a little less than the plate 16, the arrangement being such that
on turning the screw 7 in the proper direction the sides of the plate or plates 16
will spread out and bear forcibly against the sides of the handle-bar substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown.
7. Means of the kind specified in Claim 6 for fastening a handle on a cycle
handle-bar, in which the cylinder 13 is omitted, substantially as described and
shown.
8. Means of the kind specified in Claim 1 for fastening a handle on a cycle
handle-bar, comprising a dise 22 with three branches 21 which are furnished with
claws 23 at their free ends and between which is fitted a kuob 4 adapted to be
moved inwards and outwards by a screw 7, whereby it will respectively spread out
the claws 23 and allow them to resume their normal positions, substantially as
described and shown.
9. Means of the kind specified in Claim 1 for fastening a handle on a cycle
handle-bar, comprising a cylinder 24 which is conically recessed at its inner end
and is prevented from rotating in the handle, and into which fits a couical piece 25
adapted to be moved backward and forwards longitudinally in the cylinder 24 by
a screw 7 by means of a nut 26 carried internally by the conical piece 25, the
arrangement being such that the piece 25, in penetrating into the recessed
cylinder 24, will force the thinned edge of the latter to bear forcibly against the
sides of the handle-bar, substantially as described and shown.
10. Means of the kind specified in Claim 9 for fastening a handle on a cycle
handle-bar, in which there is substituted for the conically recessed cylinder, a
cylinder from which an ungula has been removed, this ungula being afterwards put
back into place, the arrangement being such that by drawing the cylinder outwards
by means of the screw 7 the uugula will be forcibly tightened against the side of
the handle-bar, substantially as described and shown.
11. Means of the kind specified in Claim 1 for fastening a handle to a cycle
handle-bar, comprising a tube 29 whose one end is made to flare slightly and is slit
and whose other end is fixed to a disc furnished with a screw threaded hole to
receive a screw 7, this tube being located between the handle-bar and the handle
and the arrangement being such that by screwing up the screw the conical end of
the tube 29 will be made to penetrate into the interior of the handle and the
consequent diminution of the diameter of the tube 29 will fix the handle firmly in
place, substantially as described and shown.
12. Means of the kind specified in Claim 1 for fastening a handle on a cycle
handle-bar in which for the tube 29 there is substituted a conical part 30 connected
to the screw-threaded disc 32 by small rods 34, substantially as described and
shown.
13. Means of the kind specified in the preceding claims for fastening a handle
on a cycle handle-bar, combined with a cap 11, which for the purpose of preventing
the head of the screw projecting outward either entirely covers the said head or
has a recessed part in which the head of the screw will lodge, substantially as
described and shown.
Dated this 24th June 1896
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, Applicant's Agent.