Improvements in Handles for Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 19th June, 1897
Improvements in Handles for Velocipedes.
We, WILLIAM JOHN GROTENHUIS and HENRY TURNER SIDWAY, Manu-
facturers, both of Monadnock Block, Chicago, Cook County Illinois, United
States of America, do hereby declare the nature of our invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates particularly to the handle portion of bicycles, tricycles
and similar vehicles, and especially to that class of handles known as flexible or
yielding handles, and has for its object the providing of a simple, economical
and efficient handle. The invention consists principally in the combination of
an elastic metallic core adapted to be secured to the handle bar of velocipedes
and a fibrous flexible covering for inclosing the same.
The invention consists further in the combination of an elastic metallic core
formed of a series of elastic metal strips independently and longitudinally arranged,
a fibrous flexible casing for inclosing the same and means for securing the handle
portion at one end thereof to the handle bar.
The invention consists further and finally in the features, combinations and
details of construction hereinafter described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is an elevation of a handle constructed in accordance with our
improvements; Fig. 2 a longitudinal sectional elevation of the same;
Fig. 3 a cross sectional view, taken on line 3 of Fig. 2 looking in the
direction of the arrow;
Fig. 4 a side elevation of the elastic metallic core portion ;
Fig. 5 a perspective view of the cup-shaped end portion ;
Fig. 6 a perspective view of the end of one of the elastic metallic strips, showing
the means by which it is detachably and removably secured to the cup-shaped
end portion; and
Fig. 7 a perspective view of the means by which the handle portion is
secured to the handle bar.
In the art to which this invention relates, it is well known that a rider of a
bicycle, tricycle or similar vehicle in taking long rides, or even during short
rides, over rough roads, experiences a feeling of numbness or "cramp in the
hands due to the constant succession of small shocks that are transmitted to the
hands during the vibrations of the handle bar. It is also well known that during
riding the hands of the rider perspire quite freely which causes excessive friction
between the hands and the handle bar to the discomfort and annoyance of the
rider. Our invention, therefore, is designed principally to overcome these
objections by providing a structure such as will be more fully hereinafter set
forth.
In constructing a handle bar in accordance with our improvements, we provide
an elastic core A formed of a series of independent elastic strips a longitudinally
arranged and secured at one end to a securing ring a¹ by means of rivets or
otherwise. It will be noticed that these strips as suggested are independent
strips-that is, they are flexibly secured together, so that each and every strip may
have an independent lateral movement adapting them to yield to hand pressure and
vibrations, and thus soften the shock to the hand.
D

page_text: To flexibly secure these strips together at their opposite free ends and to the
handle bar, we provide a cup-shaped portion B having a plurality of strips b forming
in one integral portion, and which are preferably, when considering the base,.
S-shaped in longitudinal view. The end of each of these strips of the cup-shaped
portion is provided with a notch, slot, perforation or opening into which the
bayonet shaped projections a² of the longitudinal strips of the core may be inserted-
as shown particularly in Fig. 4-and which locks such strips to the cup-shaped end
portion and acts to flexibly secure them together. The provision of this cup-shaped
end portion as shown in the sectional view of Fig. 2-gives an additional yielding
motion to each of the free ends of the longitudinal strips and makes them better
suited to obtain the results desired.
In securing the cup-shaped end portion to the handle bar, a slotted cylindrical
securing block C is provided having a central conical wedge shaped piece C
provided with several lugs c adapted to enter one or more of the slots in the
securing block, which prevents the rotation of such securing block. The securing
block is also provided with a number of indentations c¹ into which projection; 6²
of the cup-shaped piece may be inserted to prevent such parts from having
independent rotations. The conical wedge is provided with a threaded opening
into which a securing screw D may be inserted-as shown in Fig. 2-so that
by passing such screw through the opening 3 of the cup-shaped portion and
into the threaded opening of the conical wedge, the tightening of such screw
causes it to secure such parts together and to the handle bar.
To protect the hands, keep them cool and present a finished appearance to the
handle, a covering E is provided formed preferably of fibrous or similar material-
such as leather or cloth-and is secured to the strips at one end by means of a
ferrule e, and is passed around into the cup-shaped eund portion, as shown at ein
Fig. 2, where it is held in position by means of the securing screw. It is further
provided with a series of openings e in the cup-shaped portion where, by the
compression and expansion of the handle during the riding of the vehicle, it acts
in the manner of a bellows to exhaust and draw in a fresh supply of air, thus
serving to keep the hands cool and prevent in a large measure the usual
perspiration.
The advantages of our improvements are (1) that a flexible handle is provided
for absorbing the small shocks and vibrations incident to riding, while at the same
time it furnishes sufficient rigidity for imparting power to the handle bar; (2) the
shape of the end of the handle permits the rider to take hold of that portion in
the hollow of his hands, and at the same time provides a cushion to receive shocks
and prevent injury to the handle bar during the falling of the wheel; and (3) in a
large measure prevents heating of the hands and consequent perspiration.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :
1. In a handle for velocipedes, the combination of an elastic metallic core formed
of a series of independent longitudinal strips secured rigidly together at one end
and flexibly at the other end, and a covering of fibrous material for inclosing and
protecting the same, substantially as described.
2. In a bandle bar for velocipedes, the combination of a core portion formed of a
series of metallic strips independently and longitudinally arranged and secured
together by a ring at one end and flexibly to each other by means of a cup-shaped
portion at the other end, substantially as described.
3. In a handle bar for velocipedes, the combination of an elastic core formed of
a series of metal strips longitudinally arranged one end of which is cup-shaped and
provided with an integral securing disc, and a covering of flexible or yielding
material having perforations therein, substantially as described.
4. In a handle bar for velocipedes, the combination of an elastic core formed of
a series of metallic strips longitudinally arranged, a ring for rigidly securing the

page_text: ends of one portion of the longitudinal strips together, a cup-shaped disc-
flexibly securing the other ends of the metallic strips together, an expanding
cylindrical block adapted to be inserted into the handle bar and provided with
one or more indentations, projections on the cup-shaped disc adapted to enter
the indentations on the block, and means for securing the cup-shaped disc to.
the block to expand the same and hold the parts in operative position, sub-
stantially as described.
5. In a handle for velocipedes, the combination of an elastic core formed of
a series of metal strips longitudinally arranged and secured rigidly together at
one end by means of a securing ring and provided with bayonet shaped free.
ends, a cup-shaped end portion having a series of strips formed integrally with
a base portion the free ends of such strips having indentations perforations.
or openings adapted to receive the bayonet shaped ends of the metallic strips-
and flexibly secure the parts together, substantially as described.
Deted this 27th day of Anril 1807
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.