Improvements relating to Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Bicycles.
I, LUCIEN STEPHEN CRANDALL, of the Village of Parish, County of Oswego,
and State of New York, United States of America, Gentleman, 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:-
My invention relates to bicycles and has for its object to provide means to maintain
the steering head and fork in alignment with the frame of the machine for movement
in a straight direction without the necessity of the handles being held; while steering
which renders necessary the deviation from alignment in either direction, may be
effected by a positive but small effort applied to the handle bar.
My invention consists in the provision upon the steering tube or spindle or upon a
fixture thereto, of a recess so disposed that when the steering tube or spindle is
placed with the fork in longitudinal alignment with the machine frame, a catch bar
or bolt secured to some part of the frame, under the control of a spring enters
therein and maintains, the steering tube or spindle in that position until a small
positive effort is applied, when it is required to steer the machine from a straight
course.
In the accompanying drawings ;-
Figure 1 illustrates a safety bicycle in elevation, with my invention applied.
Figures 22 and 3 are respectively enlarged detail side elevations and plan
showing one manner of carrying my invention into effect, while,
Figure 4 is a modification thereof and
Figure 5 is a detail side elevation of another modification, while,
Figure 6 is a detail end elevation.
Figures 7, 8, and 9 are side and end elevations and sectional plan respectively of
another modification, and
Figures 10, 11 and 12 are side and end elevations and sectional plan of a further
modification in which my invention is carried into effect.
As illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings I secure
upon the top surface of the fork bridge piece A a guard or guide race D upon which
is formed a depression a in line with the front steering wheel and upon which a
catch-bar or rod B engages, such rod being suitably mounted in a bracket C secured
to the frame of the machine, and so mounted as to rest, while exerting a
slight
pressure, within the depression a formed in the guard or guide race D so that on
the rotation of the steering tube the catch-bar or rod is lifted out of engagement
with the depression a under the resilient resistance of its length and passes upon either
side of the depression and allows of the ready and easy steerage of the machine.
It will be seen that by this arrangement the steering tube and fork are held in
alignment with the frame of the machine and a slight effort applied to the handle
bar is required to overcome resistance of the catch-bar B in being raised from the
depression a.
As shown in Figure 2 I prefer to provide the guide rail or race D with an
inclination on each side towards the depression a so that a normal tendency will be
exerted for the alignment of the fork and tube.
Figure 4 shows a modified form of guard or guide race D similar to that shown
in Figure 5 and in detail end elevation in Figure 6.
Figure 5 shows a modification in elevation in which the catch-bar B is substituted
for a catch bolt B' acting under control of a spiral spring b, at the end of which

page_text: bolt a roller is mounted so as to offer the least resistance to the steerage of the
machine when the bolt has under the resistance of the spring been raised from
the central depression in the guard or guide race D.
The bracket C carrying the catch-bolt B₁ is shown as secured to the oblique
tube passing from the socket head.
Figures 7, 8 and 9 show a modification of the arrangement illustrated in
Figure 5 in which the bracket C¹ instead of being secured to the obliquely
disposed tube, is secured to the socket head E and the fork bridge piece_A
is formed so as to provide a semi-circular path upon which the catch-bolt B 2
may bear, on the movement of the steering tube.
Figures 10, 11 and 12 illustrate a modified arrangement in which a catch is
provided upon the upper extremity of the socket head and is formed as a spring B 3,
at the extremity of which is secured a ball-shaped catch piece F which when the
steering tube and fork are placed in alignment with the frame of the machine,
engages with an axial recess G formed upon the extension of the T-socket H
provided at the junction of the steering tube and handle-bar.
A slight effort is required at the handle-bar to effect the withdrawal of the
spring catch B 3 from engagement within the axial recess but the steering otherwise
is unresisted and easily and readily effected.
It will be observed that while the catch-piece, bar or bolt requires a slight effort
applied to the handle-bar to effect its release from engagement with its complementary
recess or depression, yet the further movement or rotation of the steering tube is
readily and easily effected without further resistance, while the catch-piece bar or
bolt is not disengaged upon the passage of the steering wheel upon any small
obstruction in its path, so that the rider is thereby able with a sense of security
to propel his machine without the necessity of continually holding the steering
handle-bar.
It will be understood that I do not confine myself to the particular forms herein-
before described in which my invention is carried into effect, as my invention is
generally defined in the provision of recesses or depressions within or upon either
the steering head or tube, or upon the frame or upon fixtures thereto, wherein may
enter a spring controlled catch-piece bar or bolt secured to or upon the frame of the
machine, or upon the steering tube, or parts in integral connection therewith,
for the purpose of maintaining the steering tube and fork in alignment with the
frame of the machine, so that movement in a straight course is possible without the
necessity of the handle-bar being continually held for the direction of the machine
while the steering is unresisted and readily effected.
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-
1. Means for maintaining and for tending to maintain the steering tube and fork
for safety bicycle or other velocipede in alignment with the frame consisting of a
spring actuated catch-piece, catch bar or catch bolt which engages with a recess or
depression, the one either provided in or upon the frame of the machine, while the
other is provided within or upon the steering tube or upon some part in integral
connection therewith or vice versa substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described.
2. Means for maintaining the steering tube and fork of a safety bicycle or other
velocipede in alignment with the frame consisting of a spring actuated catch piece,
catch bar or catch-bolt secured upon the frame of the machine for engagement with
a recess or depression within or upon the steering tube or upon some part in integral
connection therewith, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
3. Means for maintaining the steering tube and fork of a safety bicycle or other
velocipede in alignment with the frame consisting of a spring actuated catch-piece,
catch-bar or catch-bolt secured upon the frame of the machine for engagement with

page_text: a central depression or recess formed in a guard or guide race provided upon the
steering head tube or fork, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
4. Means for tending to maintain the steering tube and fork of a safety bicycle or
other velocipede in alignment with a frame consisting of a spring actuated catch
piece catch bar or catch-bolt secured upon the frame of the machine for engagement
with a recess or depression formed in a guard or guide race having inclinations
towards and on either side of such recess or depression, such guard or guide race
being provided upon the steering tube or fork substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described.
5. Means for maintaining the steering tube and fork of a safety bicycle or other
velocipede in alignment with the frame substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described, and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
6. Means for tending to maintain the steering tube and fork of a safety bicycle or
other, velocipede in alignment with the frame substantially as and the purpose
hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings.
7. Means for maintaining the steering tube and fork of a safety bicycle or other
velocipede in alignment with the frame substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7 8 and 9 of the accompanying.
drawings.
8. Means for maintaining the steering tube and fork of a safety bicycle or other
velocipede in alignment with the frame substantially as and for the purposes
herein before described and illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 25th day of Santamber 1906
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.