An Improved Brake for Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Brake for Bicycles.
I, HENRY BATESON JAGGER 9, Windsor Road Southport, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Whereas the brakes at present in use upon bicycles consist generally of one
applied to the tyre, & as, in the case of rubber tyres, the application of the brake
wears out the rubber, & further in the case of pneumatic tyres becoming
"punctured" or bursting the brake becomes inoperative & so endangers the life of
the rider. Now this invention is designed to remedy the aforesaid defects by
making a brake that will operate on the "hub" or axle of the front wheel, the
pressure to be applied by the foot. It is proposed to enlarge the "hub" or axle
at the part between the "spokes" & the "fork to fix a steel spring to the "fork"
bring it round the aforesaid enlargement &, by means of a lever or "tread" again
fixed to the fork, to apply the brake with the foot. It is proposed to have the
brakes in duplicate, one each side of the wheel, so that the rider can have one
(either) foot on the brake & the other on the pedal, or both feet on the brakes thus
guarding against a possible accident by one or other of them failing to act.
Dated this 17th day of September 1896.
H. B. JAGGER.
1, HENRY BATESON JAGGER 9, Windsor Road, Southport, 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:-
Whereas the brakes at present in use upon bicycles consist generally of one
applied to the tyre, & as, in the case of rubber tyres, the application of the brake
wears out the rubber, & further in the case of pneumatic tyres becoming punctured
or bursting, the brake becomes inoperative & so endangers the life of the rider.
There are also brakes acting on the hub of the hind & front wheels, but
operated by hand levers attached to the handle bars, these however are incon-
venient on account of more strength of fingers being required to apply and keep
it applied than is possessed by the average lady rider at any rate.
Now this invention is designed to remedy the aforesaid defects by making a
brake that will act on the hub or axle of the front wheel the pressure to be applied
by the foot. It is proposed to enlarge the hub or axle at the part between the
spokes & the fork, to fix a steel band to the fork, bring it round the aforesaid
.

page_text: enlargement, &, by means of a lever or "tread" again fixed to the fork to apply
the brake with the foot.
The brake may be in duplicate, one each side of the wheel, so that the rider
may have one foot (either) on the brake & the other one on the pedal, or both feet
on the brakes, & so guard against a possible accident by one or other failing to
act.
To illustrate the invention, I append a drawing showing a method of fixing the
same, but it is understood that it may be varied at discretion so long as the same
results are obtained viz.; that of a band brake acting on the hub of the front
wheel, & operated upon by the foot.
Key to the drawing,
A. The front part of a bicycle.
B. The Spokes of the front wheel.
C. The ordinary Hub, situate between the fork & the spokes.
D. Enlargement of same.
E. Steel Spring Band, backed with leather or other suitable material, fastened
to the fork at
F & carried round the Hub, (which may be flanged to keep the spring steadily
in position) & fastened at
G to a lever swivelled on to the fork at
H, connected by the bar I with the foot lever
K, which is swivelled on to the fork at
L, The tread
M of the foot lever may be of rubber, or of "rat trap" or other form or shape.
as desired.
Ilav ug now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is,
A. Band brake acting on the hub of the front wheel operated by the foot to be
made & applied substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of June 1893.