Improvements connected with Cycles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left; 6th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 22nd June, 1885-
Improvements connected with Cycles.
We, ROBERT MCLAUCHLAN MCDONALD and ALEXANDER MCDONALD both
of Clyde View Oottage, Radnor Park, Dalmuir, Dumbartonshire, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to cycles and it has for its object to provide them with
an electric light combined with a detector shocking coil and if desired an electric
bell.
Fitted on the cycle, preferably at the front, is an electric battery or accumulator
in a case, in or in conjunction with which is fitted a shocking. coil. An electric
incandescent lamp, either with or without a reflector and magnifying leus, is or
may be fitted on top of the case on suitable mountings. An electric bell is also
placed on top of the case or in 'any other convenient position.
The lamp and battery are connected with a switch in any usual manner.
The bell and primary wires of shocking coil are connected in same circuit
with battery or part of battery as desired and the terminals are carried to either
or both of the handle bars of the cycle, contact being made by means of one or
more hidden springs.
The arrangement is such that on any person catching hold of either or both
handle bars they complete the circuit (by means of the contact springs) with the
bell, battery and primary wires of shocking coil and thereby cause the bell to ring.
The bell being, as it is, in common circuit with the primary wires of shocking coil
makes and breaks, alternately, the circuit flowing through primary wires of shocking
coil which induces an intense current in secondary wires of shocking coil whose free
ends are carried to insulated contacts one on each handle bar.
It will readily be seen that when any person (other than owner of cycle who of
course switches on and off the current as desired) touches one or both handle bars,
the bell will ring and at the same time a severe shock will be administered.
As the shocking coil can be switched on and off at the will of the owner of
cyclé, he can use the electric-bell' in the same manner as an ordinary cycle bell.
If desired the shocking coil and bell may be used apart from the lamp.
Dated this 25th day of August 1894.
We, ROBERT MCLAUCHLAN MCDONALD and ALEXANDER MCDONALD, both
of Clyde View Cottage, Radnor Park, Dalmuir, Dumbartonshire, 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 :-
At present if a cyclist leaves his machine out in the street' it is very frequently
meddled with and sometimes stolen. Now the object of this invention is to fit on

page_text: the cycle an electric bell and shocking coil arrangement for the purpose of adminis-
tering a severe electric shock to any person meddling with the machine and at the
same time sounding an alarm.
In carrying out our invention we fit on the cycle, preferably at the front, an
electric battery, enclosed in a suitable case, in connection with which is fitted a
shocking coil. An electric bell is also fitted on the machine.
The bell and the primary wires of shocking coil are connected in the same circuit
with the battery and the terminals are carried to either or both of the handles of
the cycle contact being made by means of one or more hidden spring contacts fitted
in the handles, or by other suitable arrangement.
A suitable switch is provided whereby the owner can switch on and off the
current as desired.
The device can be carried out in various ways and it is to be understood that we
do not confine ourselves to any specific arrangement.
On the annexed sheet of drawings we have shown, by way of example, one way
of carrying out the invention.
Fig. 1 is a plan of a handle bar of a cycle with our accessories applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section of the same.
Fig. 3 shows in section to an enlarged scale one of the handles.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the handle Fig. 3.
Figs. 5 and 6 are sectional and plan views of a switch.
a is the handle bar, b is the usual pillar supporting the haudle bar.
c is a wood
or metal case containing a powerful dry cell d and a shocking coil e f is an electric
bell fitted on the handle bar. 9 are the hollow handles which may be fitted on the
handle bar by ferrules g. is a cylindrical block of wood or other insulating
material which is passed through the hole in the top of the handle and then
secured in place by a cross pin i passed through it and the handle. The block h is
provided, in its centre, with projecting button switch j, made, preferably, of
insulating material and which is normally pressed upwards by the spiral spring k.
is a metal contact piece fitted in the block h just below the shank of the button j.
Both handles are alike.
The primary wire 1 runs from one pole of the cell d then to the electric bell f
and from it through a horizontal hole 2 in the block h, to a metal contact piece at
the bottom of the shank of the buttonj (see Fig. 3). The return wire 2 runs from
the metal contact / then to the primary coil of the shocking coil e and from it to the
other pole of the cell d. A branch wire 1 (Fig. 2) also runs from the wire 1, in
the same manner to the contact on the shank of the button j of the other handle
and a return branch wire 2ª connects the contact of this handle to the wire 2.
In this manner the button switches j on both handles are brought into primary
circuit.
The wire 3 of the secondary coil is led straight to a wire or metal strip
terminal m which is partially embedded in the surface of an insulating coating of
rubber or other suitable substance » cemented on the exterior of the handle. As
will be seen, at Figs. 3 and 4, the metal terminal m winds spirally round the handle
and thereby presents a large surface for contact. The other wire 3ª of the
secondary coil is led in the same manner to a spiral terminal partially embedded in
the insulating coating n on the exterior of the other handle.
o, o are small shaped switches fitted on plates p secured in the ends of the
handle bar as shown at Fig. 3. These switches are properly insulated and are
capable of making and breaking the circuit through the primary wires. The full
lines Fig. 3 show the head of the switch in contact with the contact p¹ and the
current switched on. The dotted lines show the switch moved out of contact with
the piece p' and the current therefor switched off.
As will be seen at Fig. 2 the wires 3, 3º, are led to a switch 9 at the bottom of
the case c, by means of which the secondary circuit may be closed or broken. The
switch which may be constructed as shown at Figs. 5 and 6 consists of a disc q' of
insulating material with a spindle or shauk g' which passes out through the cover q³
=

page_text: and is provided at its end with a square or triangular recess in which a similar
shaped key can be inserted. The face of the disc q¹ has a countersunk metal
strip q provided with two contacts q, 9. The disc is pressed against the backing
plate 9 made of wood or other insulating material by means of a spiral spring 90.
This backing plate has contacts 97, 98 to which the two parts of the wire No. 3 are
connected (see Fig. 5). The construction of the switch is such that when the key
is inserted in the recess and turned 45° the contacts q, q will be turned away out
of contact with the terminals q', q8 and the circuit broken. By turning the key
further round or back again the circuit will be again broken. When the disc is
turned so as to bring the contacts 9, 9, 97, 98 in contact they are pressed tightly
against one another, by the spring 90.
As the switches do not form a special feature of our invention any suitable and
well known switch can be used.
0,
The whole arrangement is such, that, after the primary and secondary current
have been switched on by the owner by means of the switches
o and q
should any person who is not acquainted with the device catch hold of either of the
handles separately he presses down one of the buttons ; and at once completes
the circuit, (by means of the contacts in the block h) with the bell, battery, and
primary wires of shocking coil and thereby causes the bell to ring loudly. The
bell being, as it is, in common circuit with the primary wires of the shocking coil
makes and breaks, alternately, the circuit through these wires and thereby induces
an intense current in the secondary wires of shocking coil whose free ends 3 3ª
are carried to the contacts m on the handle so that immediately a person grips
both handles simultaneously he brings his bands in contact with the said contacts m
and subjects himself to a severe shock.
It will readily be seen from the above description that when any person other
than owner of cycle (who of course switches on and off the current as desired)
touches one or both handles separately the bell will ring, but when both are
touched simultaneously a severe shock will be administered.
As the shocking coil can be switched on and off at the will of the owner of the
cycle by means of switch 9 he can use the electric bell in the same manner as an
ordinary cycle bell, and ring it, when desired, by means of either switch o or o¹.
The bell being in common. circuit with the primary wires obviates the necessity
of using an ordinary contact breaker.
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
consider novel and desire to claim is :-
1. The combination with a cycle of an electric battery fitted thereto and an
electric shocking coil connected with the battery for the purpose of administering
shocks to persons interfering with the machine.
2. The combination with a cycle of an electric battery fitted thereto, an electric
shocking coil connected with the battery and an electric bell arranged in common
circuit with the primary wires of the shocking coil and serving as a contact
breaker.
3. The combination with a cycle of an electric battery fitted thereto, an electric
shocking coil connected with the battery, an electric bell arranged in common
circuit with the primary wires of the shocking coil and serving as a contact
breaker, and means for switching on and off the primary and secondary currents.
4. The construction of the device substantially as hereinbefore described and
shown on the annexed drawings.
Dated this 4th day of April 1895.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.