Improvements in Cycles
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 10th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1898
I, WALTER GRIFFITHS, of Highgate Square, Moseley Road, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object "Improvements in Cycles" and refers to the
steering arrangement of cycles of the safety type by which I controll the steering
action of the front wheel to a sufficient extent to render it less sensitive in action
and thus assist a rider to take a straight course, while at the same time the steer-
ing action remains sufficiently free to render it possible for any rider to steer
round corners by the simple balancing of the body without applying the hands to
the handles. My controlling arrangement can be attached or detached to or from
any existing machine in a few minuits and its controlling power can be regulated
to the greatest nicety in a simple & effective manner.
It also assists in retaining the front wheel in a parallel position, when leaning
the handles against a wall or other support, and is of particularly assistance to
learners. In carrying my invention into effect I attach the top of a vertical spring
wire at each side of and to the steering head of the frame the lower ends of the
said wires being attached respectively to each side of the front fork near the
crown in such a manner that the normal position of the front wheel is in true
line with the back wheel and frame. These springs may be formed of one length
of wire bent round at the top and may be, rivitted, screwed or detachably clamped
to the head of the frame as follows. The springs are mounted in the ends of a
U band which fits around the front of the head, the said ends being turned over
so as to clip the wire, a loose wire curved to fit the head tube being placed against
the reverse side of the head, a clamp piece is then inserted which engages with the
wire thus retaining it in the ends of the U band, & by means of a fly headed screw
which passes through the clamp cross piece and bears againt the curved washer
the hole is clamped together, in a manner which is thoroughly secure and at the
same time can be quickly detached or attached without the use of tools and
without any provision on the head being made to receive them. The hole arrange-
ment is preferably placed at the back of the head where it mires the brake and is
readily attached.
The strength of the spring is readily adjusted by raising or lowering the posi-
tion of the clamp with regard to the springs & thus lengthening or shortening the
springs as may be desired, the lower ends of the spring may be attached to the
forks by hinged clips having an eylet screw nut into which the ends of
the spring fits in a manner which locks the said nut.
Dated this 9th day March 1897.

page_text: secured to the head and fork, I form the lug N Figures
and 5 on the head of
the machine into which the top of the spring tightly fits being retained in position
by the cap and I so bend the sides of the spring F as to turn them into the tops
of the fork crown at f³. In this case the strength of the spring may be adjusted
by the clip P which clips the two sides of the spring F together and which can be
raised or lowered so as to reduce or increase the length of the sides of the spring
part of the wire, the clip P being secured by the nut P'. The eyelets or holes into
which the ends of the spring F enter may be bushed with rubber so as to accom-
modate themselves to the action of the ends of the springs.
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:-
1st. The improvements in cycles substantially as and for the purpose herein set
forth and shewn upon the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In improvements in cycles, the spring attached to the head and fork
substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and shewn upon the accom-
panying drawings.
3rd. In combination with a spring F the means for adjusting the strength of
the said spring substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.
Dated this 9th day of December 1897.
WALTER GRIFFITHS.