An Improved Brake for Bicycles and Front Steering Tricycles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1898
4
Complete Specification Left, 15th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
!
An Improved Brake for Bicycles and Front Steering Tricycles.
JOSEPH JAMES JONES, 5, Rose Villas, Lower Edmonton, Middlesex, Teacher
and Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows;-
-
The object of my invention is to provide an improved method. of applying" a
brake to bicycles or front steering tricycles, whereby the brake can be applied
by the simple downward weight or pressure of the hand so doing, away with the
fatiguing operation of gripping the handle bar, and the brake handle, at the same
time, and raising or holding up the brake handle when descending hills or riding
through a crowded thorofare. The handle of the brake can be used to effectively
steer the cycle, while at the same time it is ever ready to be instantly and effec-
tively applied, without moving the hand, to the cycle.
To, carry out my invention provide a brake lever handle fitted on the side
of, or under the handle bar as is now frequently done, but at only sufficient
distance below it to insert the hand and hold the steering handle comfortably.
The fulcrum is attached to the handlebar and the brake rod or band to the end
of the brake handle and passing through or outside the front tube down to the
rim, or, band brake or brake drum on either the front wheel front chain wheel
rear wheel or crank axles, or wherever or by what means it can be most effectively
applied.
An Improved Brake for Bicycles and Front Steering
I, JOSEPHI JAMES JONES, of 5, Rose Villas, Lower Edmonton, Middlesex, School-
master, 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;
-
My invention relates to improvements in connection with the method of apply-
ing the brake to bicycles front steering tricycles and other similar vehicles:-and
the objects are:-
1 To render the application of the brake more easy.
: 2 To greatly increase the brake's efficiency.
3. To permit of greater power being applied to the brake.
4. To enable the steering to be done by operating the handle of the brake lever
and at the same time to permit of the brake being applied at any moment.

page_text: I attain the above objects by mechanism such as is illustrated in the accompany-
ing drawings, in which Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, are front views.
Heretofore mechanical brakes for front steering cycles and other similar vehicles
have been applied by upward pressure on one end of the brake lever-This
application by upward pressure is unsatisfactory inasmuch as it does not permit
of much power being brought to bear on the brake lever, and moreover when all
the power possible is applied, it cannot be continued for long without causing
fatigue to the fingers, and it does not provide for steering by the brake lever.
In carrying my invention into effect, I make the following changes in the mode
of bringing the brake into action, and in the position of the brake lever.
Instead of placing the brake lever invariably below the handle bar; I place it
either above or below, as may be convenient, according to the shape of the handle-
bar; and I situate the pivot or fulcrum of the brake lever either above, below,
or on one side of the handle bar, and I combine this with a down-pressing handle.
This combination may necessitate an alteration in the position of the pivotting
point of the brake lever from that used at present for upward pressure :—For
instance when the brake is applied by or through a pushing-down arrangement
of the brake rodas for example in the ordinary "spoon brake," the disposition.
shown in Figs. 1 and 2, may be employed.
If however the application of the brake is by or through a drawing-up arrange-
ment of parts:-as in the case of the "band-brake," the dispositions shown in
Figs. 3 and 4 may be used. All the drawings show the position of the brake
lever handle when the brake is out. of action, and the dotted lines show when it.
is in action; and in each figure the same letter denotes the same parts; "a is
the handle bar "" is the brake lever: "c" is the pivotting point or fulcrum.
of "d" the brake-rod spindle or its equivalent. The brake is put into
action by down pressure of the brake lever handle in the direction indicated
by the arrows. The brake lever can be arranged so as to be operated by either
right or left hand. The brake lever, as above described, may be applied to any
kind of brake, and although I prefer a band brake, I do not confine
to that kind only.
my
invention
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:―
1. Brake levers for bicycles and front steering tricycles, and other similar
vehicles, the said brake lever having its brake iod spindle or its equivalent
pivotted at or attached to some point between the ends of the lever, in combination
with a down-pressing brake handle as described and illustrated.
"2." Brake levers for bicycles front steering tricycles and other similar vehicles,
the brake spindle or its equivalent pivotted at or attached to the end of the brake
lever, in combination with a down-pressing brake handle as described and illustrated.
"3." Brake levers for bicycles front steering tricycles and other similar
vehicles so arranged that the steering can be easily performed while holding the
brake under immediate control, substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 15th day of October 1898.