IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I JULIAN LAUGHLIN of the City of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, one of
the United States of North America, Lawyer, do hereby declare the nature of my
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The following is a full, clear and exact description, reference being had to the
accompanying Drawings forming part of this Specification, and in which: Figure 1
is a front elevation with the handles or arms extended.
Figure 2 is a top view of same.
Figure 3 is a top view with the handles or arms folded.
Figures 4 and 5 are vertical sections taken on line 4-5, Figure 1; Figure 5
showing the parts in the position they occupy when the bicycle is tilted forward.
In both of these Figures the handles or arms are removed.
Figure 6 is an enlarged detail view illustrating my preferred form of joint.
My Invention relates to an improvement in bicycles whereby the handles or
arms are or can be folded when the apparatus tilts forward, as more fully described
hereinafter.
My Invention consists in features of novelty pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the Drawings A represents the upper part of the frame or yoke of
the main wheel and B the handles or arms of the apparatus.
C represents a head to which the yoke is secured in the ordinary way.
D represents the arm or frame of the small wheel on the end of which is a post Ď₁
journaled at its upper end in the head C and at its lower end in a cross piece A'
of the yoke or frame A. The handles are made fast to the head, as usual, and they
are made in two parts each hinged together at B' preferably by rule joints as shown
in Figure 6, or they may be formed in one piece each hinged directly to the head.
Extending out from each arm is a projection I, and the projections of the two
arms or handles are connected by a bar J hinged or pivoted to the projections and
made in two parts jointed together by a rule or other joint at Ji. Suitable
springs L are employed in some cases to form a connection between each projection
and the two parts of the bar as shown.
Secured between the handles is a counterbalance N, supported on a short shaft N¹,
journaled to the head, or by other suitable means. Connected to this counter-
balance is a pawl or dog O that, when the apparatus is in its natural position,

page_text: engages the bar J, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and holds it firm and rigid, thus
holding the arms as fixed or rigid as though they were formed in one piece with
the head. As soon however as the apparatus begins to tilt forward as shown in
Figure 5 the handles or arms can be thrown forward into the position shown in
Figure 3 so that they will be out of the rider's way and he will not become
entangled in them and injured when thrown from the apparatus as is the case with
solid handles, and where the hinged bar springs, counterbalance and pawl or dog
are used, the counterbalance when the apparatus thus tilts forward, will swing out
and disengage the pawl or dog from the bar and as soon as this takes place the
springs L will throw the handles forward into the position shown in Figure 3 and
thus the handles will be automatically folded. P represents the brake-bar jointed
at P¹ so as to fold with the handles.
The springs for bending the hinged bar could be dispensed with and other
equivalent means employed which would accomplish the same end.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. A bicycle having hinged handles, for the purpose set forth.
Second. A bicycle having hinged handles and a hinged brake lever adapted to
be folded as set forth.
Third. In a bicycle the hinged handles in combination with the mechanism
described or equivalent mechanism adapted to fold the arms automatically when
the apparatus tilts forward, as set forth.
Fourth. In a bicycle, the combination of the hinged handles and counterbalance,
the two being controlled by suitable means whereby the handles are folded when
the apparatus tilts forward.
Fifth. In a bicycle, the hinged handles in combination with a hinged bar
connecting the handles, a pawl adapted to engage the bar and a counterbalance
adapted to control the pawl, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. In a bicycle, the hinged handles in combination with a hinged bar
connecting the handles, springs adapted to bend the bar, a pawl for engaging the
bar and a counterbalance adapted to control the pawl, all arranged and operated
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated thin 10th day of Mov 1884