A New or Improved Clamp or Clip for Compressing Parts of Veloci- pedes, Attaching Articles to Velocipedes, and for other similar purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 18th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1898
A New or Improved Clamp or Clip for Compressing Parts of Veloci-
pedes, Attaching Articles to Velocipedes, and for other similar
purposes.
We, CHARLES WALTER HATHAWAY, Works Manager, and THE TRIUMPH CYCLE
Co., LTD., Cycle Manufacturers, both of Priory Works, Priory Street, Coventry,
Warwickshire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to a new or improved clamp or clip for compressing parts
of velocipedes, attaching articles to velocipedes, and for other similar purposes.
It consists essentially of a flexible or jointed band or the like (hereinafter referred
to as the band), a block or the like (hereinafter referred to as the block) having
converging sides, and a bolt passing through the ends of the band and edgewise
through the block, so that when the distance between the enlarged ends (e.g. a
head and screw nut) of the bolt is reduced, the bolt slides along the block drawing
the band with it, and the space encompassed by the band and the block is con-
tracted.
We will describe our invention, by way of example, as applied to a "handle-
bar clamp" or "head clip" for a velocipede. The block we may make of two
similar plates of triangular or like form, the bases being concavely curved or
otherwise shaped to bear against the split steering stem of the machine. These
plates are secured one over the other at a suitable distance apart by any suitable
connections between their apices, or between their bases, or between both, but
a clear space must be left between the base and the apex of the block, the space
opening out at each side of the block. A band of flexible spring steel, looped
wire, or the like is passed round the said split stem and the ends thereof are
adapted to lie against the sides of the triangular block. A headed screw bolt is
passed through both ends of the band and transversely through the block, so
that the head of the bolt bears on one end of the band and the screwed end of
the bolt projects through the other end thereof, the band being perforated for the
purpose.
Upon a nut being screwed onto the end of the bolt, it bears on the correspond-
ing end of the band; tightening the nut causes the head of the bolt and the nut
to press indirectly on the converging sides of the block and causes the bolt to
move bodily towards the apex of the triangle. In so moving, the bolt draws the
band with it and grips the said split steering stem between the band and the
block and contracts the stem around the stalk of the handlebar. The band may
be connected to the adjusting cone of the steering head; or, instead of bearing
directly on the steering stem, the band may bear on a split sleeve surmounting
the said cone and interposed between the said band and the said stem.
The bolt is preferably bent so that its two ends lie at right angles to the respec-
tive sides of the block, thus ensuring that the head and the nut shall bear fairly
on the ends of the band; by these means a frictional hold is obtained on the

page_text: band between the head and nut of the bolt and the respective sides of the block,
and this hold goes to relieve the direct tensional strain on the perforated ends of
the band.
If it be desired to use a straight bolt, wedge pieces may be introduced between
the bolt head and nut and the respective sides of the block, the form of the said
wedge pieces being such that the respective outer faces thereof will lie parallel
when the parts are in position. Or the under surface of the bolt head may be
inclined at the same angle as the adjacent side of the block, and a wedge piece
used under the nut only. In some cases it may not be necessary to use even the
one wedge piece if an inclined headed bolt be employed.
Clamps and clips constructed substantially as described may be applied to the
locking of the adjustment of saddle pillars, bearing cones and cups, brake
plungers and the like; also to the attachment of brake fulcrums, saddles, bells,
inflator carriers lamp brackets, foot-rests, gun clips and the like to velocipedes,
the brake fulcrum or corresponding part being made in one with or connected
to either the band or the block or possibly to the bolt of the clamp or clip.
And the said clamp or clip may be applied in like manner to similar or analo-
gous purposes.
We do not confine ourselves exactly to the above description as our invention is
capable of modification without exceeding its fair scope.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry, 75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Patent Agent for the Applicants.
A New or Improved Clamp or Clip for Compressing Parts of Veloci-
pedes, Attaching Articles to Velocipedes, and for other similar
purposes.
We, CHARLES WALTER HATHAWAY, Works Manager, and THE TRIUMPH CYCLE
Co., LTD., Cycle Manufacturers, both of Priory Works, Priory Street, Coventry,
Warwickshire, 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:-
to as
Our invention relates to a new or improved clamp or clip for compressing parts
of velocipedes, attaching articles to velocipedes, and for other similiar purposes.
It consists essentially of a flexible or jointed band or the like (hereinafter referred
"the band"), a block or the like, (hereinafter referred to as "the block")
having converging sides, and a bolt passing through the ends of the band and
edgewise through the block, so that when the distance between the enlarged ends
(e.g. a head and screw nut) of the bolt is reduced, the bolt slides along the block
drawing the band with it, and the space encompassed by the band and the block
is contracted.
And in order that our invention may be properly understood we will first
describe the same with the aid of the accompanying drawings, by way of example
as applied to a "handlebar clamp" or "head clip" for a velocipede.
Figure I. is a side elevation of a built-up block.
Figures II and III. are plans of the clamp in position.
Figures IV., V. and VI. are side elevations of the clamp or clip applied to a
brake fulcrum, a bell, and a lamp bracket, respectively.

page_text: Like numerals indicate like parts in all the figures.
Referring to Figs. I. to III., the block 2 is made of two similar plates 3 of
triangular or like form, the bases 5 being concavely curved or otherwise shaped
to bear against the split steering stem 6 of the machine. These plates are
secured one over the other at a suitable distance apart by any suitable connec-
tions 4 between their apices 7, or between their bases 5, or between both, but a
clear space 8 must be left between the base and the apex of the block, the space
opening out at each side of the block. It will be obvious that the block may
be cast in one piece or otherwise constructed. A band 9, preferably of flexible
spring steel, is passed round the split stem 6 and the ends 10, 11 thereof are
adapted to lie against the sides of the triangular block 2. A headed screw bolt 12
is passed through both ends of the band 9 ard transversely through the block 2;
so that the head 13 of the bolt bears on one end (10) of the band and the screwed
end 14 of the bolt projects through the other end (11) thereof, the said ends of
the band being perforated for the purpose.
Upon a nut 15 being screwed on to the end 14 of the bolt 12, it bears on the
corresponding end 11 of the band; tightening the nut causes the head 13 of the
bolt and the nut 15 to press indirectly on the converging sides of the block 2
and causes the bolt 12 to move bodily towards the apex 7 of the triangle. In so
moving, the bolt draws the band with it and grips the split steering stem 6
between the band 9 and the block 2 and contracts the stem around the stalk 16
of the handlebar. The band may be connected to the adjusting cone 17 of the
steering head, as by the ear 18 and screw 19, and bear directly on the split
stem 6, as shown in Fig. II.; instead of bearing directly on the said stem, the
band may bear on a split sleeve 20 surmounting the cone 17 and interposed
between the band 9 and the stem 6, as shown in Fig. III.
The bolt 12 preferably bent as shown in Fig. II. so that its two ends lie at
right angles to the respective sides of the block 2, thus ensuring that the head 13
and the nut 15 shall bear fairly on the ends 10, 11 of the band; by these means
a frictional hold is obtained on the band between the head and nut of the bolt
and the respective sides of the block, and this hold goes to relieve the direct
tensional strain on the perforated ends of the band.
If it be desired to use a straight bolt, wedge pieces 21, 22 may be introduced
between the bolt head 13 and nut 15, and the respective sides of the block 2 as
shown in Fig. III. The wedge pieces are so formed that the respective outer
faces thereof will lie parallel when the parts are in position, and they may have
lugs 26 on their under sides entering the space 8 so as to prevent their turning
round out of position. Or the under surface of the bolt head 13 may be inclined
at the same angle as the adjacent side of the block, and a wedge piece 22 used
under the nut 15 only, as shown in Fig. IV. In some cases it may not be neces-
sary to use even the one wedge piece if an inclined headed bolt or nut be
employed; an example of this is shown in Fig. V., where the bolt head side of
the block is inclined to, and the other side thereof is made parallel to, a radial
line struck from the centre of the band and passing through the centre of the
base of the block; but we do not prefer this construction.
Clamps and clips constructed substantially as described may be applied to the
locking of the adjustment of saddle pillars, bearing cones and cups, brake
plungers and the like; also to the attachment of brake fulcrums, saddles, bells,
inflator carriers, lamp brackets, footrests, gun clips, and the like to velocipedes,
the brake fulcrum or corresponding part being made in one with or connected
to either the band or the block or to the bolt of the clamp or clip.
Fig. VI.
shows a lamp bracket 23 made in one with the band 9; Fig. IV. shows a brake
fulcrum 24 made in one with the block 2; and Fig. V. shows a bell with its
pillar 25 made in one with the bolt 12. And our clamp or clip may be applied
in like manner to similar or analogous purposes.
We do not confine ourselves exactly to the above description as our invention
is capable of modification without exceeding its fair scope. For instance, the

page_text: band may not be made of spring steel and it might be constructed of a bent loop
of wire or a length of suitable chain; if wedge pieces be employed the bolt might
be constructed of two headed parts the shank of one being adapted to screw into
the shank of the other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A clamp or clip for compressing parts of velocipedes, attaching articles to
velocipedes, or for some other similar purpose, constructed, arranged and adapted
to operate substantially as herein described or as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
2. A clamp or clip for compressing parts of velocipedes, attaching articles to
velocipedes, or for some other similar purpose, consisting of a flexible or jointed
band or the like, a block or the like having converging sides, and a bolt passing
through the ends of the band and edgewise through the block, so that when the
distance between the enlarged ends of the bolt is reduced, the bolt slides along
the block drawing the band with it, and the space encompassed by the band and
the block is contracted.
3. In a clamp or clip for compressing parts of velocipedes, attaching articles
to velocipedes, or for some other similar purpose, the employment of a block
having converging sides and a clear space between its base and apex, such space
opening out at each side of the block.
4. In a clamp or clip of the kind herein referred to, the employment of a bolt
bent so that its ends may lie at right angles to the respective sides of the block
to be used therewith.
5. In a clamp or clip of the kind herein referred to, the employment of a
straight bolt together with one or more wedge pieces, an inclined under surface
to the bolt head, or the like.
Dated this 17th day of November 1898.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry, 75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Patent Agent for the Applicants.