Improvements in Handles and Handle Bars for Velocipedes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Handles and Handle Bars for Velocipedes.
I, ALEXANDER MCLEOD, of 78, Queen Street, Brisbane, in the Colony of Queens-
land, Confectioner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
This invention relates to an improved handle for cycles its object being to
minimize the vibration on the hands and wrists of the rider more especially
when riding on rough roads and consists in providing a spring secured to the
handle bar as hereafter explained.
The end of the handle bar is cut off in a diagonal sweep. The under side of
the outer casing forming a part of the handle and pivoted to the handle bar has
its inner end rounded off.
In connection with the handle bar and the pivoted handle I use a flat or ceil
spring and I provide the handle bar with a slot (preferably on the underside) and
a set screw which secures the spring in position and allows for adjustment of the
same according to the weight exerted by the rider upon the handles, some riders
bearing much heavier upon the handles than others."
The outer casing is pivoted to the handle bar by means of a pin inserted in a hole
in the casing and bar.
When the outer casing is made of parallel tubing the inner ferrule of the handle
grip is made movable to allow of its being slid up the handle bar, to admit of
access to the pin inserted in the hole, when the pin is removed the outer casing
with cork, felt, or other handle grip can be removed together, exposing the spring
and allowing its adjustment according to requirements. To adjust the handle to
the required pressure springs of different strengths are employed the spring being
held in position by studs on the casing and is easily removed and the spring re-
placed by one of greater or lesser strength.
Where the outer casing is bellied outwards I employ for the handle grip a piece
of rubber tubing stretched over the casing, when necessary to remove the casing
the rubber covering is turned back at one end to obtain access to the loose piu in
the hole, when the casing can be easily removed.
Instead of a steel spring I may employ a solid or inflated rubber ball, several

page_text: depressions being made in the bottom half of the handle bar and the ball placed
in one of these depressions according to the resistance required to be attained.
In a modification I provide a spiral spring with metal disc at one end, and a
washer at the other end, the said washer being made a fixture at the end of the
handle bar. Links which may be stamped out of the solid and the edges turned
back at right angles are secured to the outer casing and the handle bar by making
V or U-shaped incisions in the same and punching the piece inwards, forming
lugs through which a hole is made and the links secured thereto by pins running
from side to side. A wire rod screwed at one end is inserted between the links.
and the washer and screwed into the disc, the other end of this rod has a round
head with slot for a turn screw and a flat shoulder which fits into a slot in the
links when the rod is turned half round, the flat shoulder prevents it from coming
out of the said slot. Holes are stamped out of the links through which the rod
passes.
A removable ferrule is provided at the end of the casing so that when the spring
is required to be adjusted the ferrule is removed and the rod turned by a screw
driver to either extend or compress the spring as required. The end of the handle
bar is shaped to conform to the sweep of the outer casing.
For practical purposes I have found that a simple flat spring is most effective,
it can be easily and cheaply applied, either to the upper or lower side of tubing
and fixed either inside or outside of same and the adjustment is both convenient
and speedy, and in no way interferes with the brake, but I do not confine myself
to this particular form or description of spring, any of the modifications may be
substituted or double or other forms of spring employed so long as the principle
of the invention is not departed from.
In using my, invention as the rider exerts his weight upon the handles in riding
on rough roads, the outer casing being pivoted presses against the spring affording
a certain amount of resiliency and minimizing to a great extent the vibration on
the hands and wrists of the rider, so objectionable in the rigid handles hitherto
employed, at the same time it in no way interferes with hill climbing where the
strain on the handles is exerted in an upward direction, the underside of the handle
bar preventing the outer casing from moving in an upward direction.
Dated this 22nd dor of March 1900
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant,
Improvements in Handles and Handle Bars for Velocipedes.
I, ALEXANDER MCLEOD, of 78, Queen Street, Brisbane, in the Colony of Queens-
land, Confectioner, 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:―
This invention relates to an improved handle for cycles its object being to
minimize the vibration on the hands and wrists of the rider more especially
when riding on rough roads and consists in providing a spring secured to the
handle bar as hereafter explained.
Referring to the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a broken elevation of a handle bar with the handle secured in
position.

page_text: Figure 2 an elevation showing the end of the handle bar and outer casing.
Figure 3 a side elevation showing the handle bar, outer casing and spring in
position for action.
Figure 4 an elevation of the underside of the handle bar and outer casing.
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 illustrate modifications.
Figures 9 and 10 are sections on lines A B and C D of Figure 8, and
Figure 11 illustrates the end of the handle bar shewn in Figure 7.
Like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures. A is the
handle bar the end of which is cut off in a diagonal sweep as shewn at A¹; B is
the outer casing, the underside of one end being rounded off as at B'.
C in Figures 2 and 3 is a flat spring, in Figure 5 a coil spring and in Figures 6
and 8 a spiral spring.
When using flat or coil springs the handle bar is provided with a slot D (prefer-
ably on the underside) and a set screw E which secures the spring in position and
allows for adjustment of the same according to the weight exerted by the rider
upon the handles, some riders bearing much heavier upon the handles than
others.
The outer casing is pivoted to the handle bar by means of a pin inserted in a
hole on the casing and bar.
Where the outer casing is made of parallel tubing as in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7,
the inner ferrule G of the handle grip is made movable to allow of its being slid
up the handle bar, to admit of access to the pin inserted in the hole F, when the
pin is removed the outer casing provided either with cork, felt, or other handle
grip can be removed together, exposing the spring and allowing its adjustment
according to requirements. To adjust the handle to the required pressure in
Figure 6, springs of different strength are employed the spring being held in posi-
tion by studs on the casing B, the handle is easily removed and the spring replaced
by one of greater or less strength.
In Figures 6 and 8 where the outer casing is bellied outwards I employ for the
handle grip a piece of rubber tubing H stretched over the casing, when necessary
to remove the casing the rubber covering is turned back at one end to obtain access
to the loose pin in the hole F, when the casing can be easily removed. In Figure 7
instead of a steel spring I may employ a solid or inflated rubber ball J, several
depressions being made in the bottom half of the handle bar as shewn in Figure 11
and the ball placed in one of these depressions according to the resistance required
to be attained.
In Figure 8 C is a spiral spring with a metal disc K at one end, and a washer L
at the other end, the said washer being made a fixture at the end of the handle
bar A. M and M³ are links which may be stamped out of the solid and the edges
turned back at right angles, the links are secured to the outer casing and the
handle bar, by making V or U shaped incisions in the same and punching the
piece inwards, forming lugs through which a hole is made and the links secured
thereto by pins N running from side to side. A wire rod P screwed at one end
is inserted between the links M and M³, and the washer L, and screwed into the
disc K, the other end of this rod has a round head O with slot O' for a turn screw
and a flat shoulder Q2 which fits into a slot Q in the link M, when the rod is turned
half round the flat shoulder prevents it from coming out of the said slot. Q¹
and Q are other holes stamped out of the links M and M¹ through which the rod
may pass.
R is a removable ferrule on the end of the casing B, so that when the spring is
required to be adjusted this ferrule is removed and the rod P turned by a screw
driver to either extend or compress the spring as required. In Figures 6 and 8
the end of the handle bar is shaped to conform to the sweep of the outer casing.
For practical purposes I have found that a simple flat spring as shewn in Figure 2
is most effective, it can be easily and cheaply applied, either to the upper or lower
side of tubing, and fixed either inside or outside of same and the adjustment is
both convenient and speedy, and in no way interferes with the brake, but I do

page_text: not confine myself to this particular form or description of spring, any of the modi-
fications may be substituted or double or other forms of spring employed so long
as the principle of the invention is not departed from.
In using my invention as the rider exerts his weight upon the handles in riding
on rough roads, the outer casing B being pivotted at F, as shewn in Figs. 3, 5, 6,
& 7, presses against the spring C, affording a certain amount of resiliency and
minimizing to a great extent the vibration on the hands and wrists of the rider,
so objectionable in the rigid handles hitherto employed, at the same time it in
no way interferes with hill climbing where the strain on the handles is exerted in
an upward direction, the underside of the handle bar preventing the outer casing
from moving in an upward direction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In an improved handle for cycles the end of the handle bar cut away to form
a diagonal sweep, in combination with an outer casing such as B, pivotted at F,
as herein described and illustrated by drawings.
2. In an improved handle for cycles a spring such as C, of any well known form
or description or a solid or inflated rubber ball such as J, in combination with the
handle bar A, and outer casing B, as herein described and illustrated by drawings
3. In an improved handle for cycles, the spring C in combination with the wire
rod P, the links M and M¹ as and for the purpose set forth and as described and
illustrated by drawings.
Dated this 7th day of December 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.