Improvements in or connected with the Steering Means Mechanism of Velocipedes..
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 29th Feb. 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Steering Means
Mechanism of Velocipedes..
or
I, HENRY JOSEPH SHAWCROSS, Bachelor in Engineering, of the Water,
Engineer's Office, Municipal Buildings, Dale Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention has for its object to provide in connection with the steering parts,
or members of velocipedes, and particularly of bicycles of the present ordinary type,
a means, mechanism, or device, by which their steering is facilitated, or assistance
lent to it, by which it (the steering) is rendered easier, better, and the riding is
generally more comfortable to the rider in consequence.
The type of velocipede which is most general at present being the safety bicycle,
with rear driven wheel, the description of this invention will be made with reference
to this type of velocipede, and for the reason that in connection with that type of
velocipede, its application can be made with great advantage.
According to this invention, there is provided in connection with the steering
member, limb, or parts, of a velocipede, a means or device by which assistance is
automatically lent or afforded in the steering thereof, it being so adapted and
arranged that it always tends to cause the velocipede to run in a straight line, but,
at the same time,, so that the ordinary hand steering means, and the full and free
use of it, as at present, shall not, be interfered with, or restricted.
This is effected according to this invention by the employment in connection with
the steering limb or member of a spring or springs by which the wheel of such
steering limb or member will be caused to assume and lie in the same plane
as, or parallel with, the rear wheel, and be there firmly, but not rigidly 'held, and
tending thereby to keep the machine when in motion in a straight line, but at the same
time, allowing the steering limb or member to be easily and readily turned through a
less. or greater angle at the will of the rider; that is, leaving the full power and
facility for manual steering unrestricted. When the steering means is released, the
tendency is always to bring the wheel into the same plane as the rear wheel, that is
to return it to its original position, after being actuated. The tendency will thus
be for the machine to run in a right line as set, but, at the same time, it shall be
perfectly under the control of the rider either for preserving his 'balance, rounding
curves,, or steering where and as desired.
According to, one form of meaus or device under this invention, which will beé
applicable to existing types of machines, and existing machines, the steering bar,
that is, the handle bar, is connected to the frame through rubber or like springs, and
adjustable braces, by which tension may be kept on the handle bar on both sides,
and so adjusted as to hold the handle-bar in the central position, with the front and
back wheels in the, same plane; or, springs alone may be arranged in this manner
to act upon the steering, member.
In another form or arrangement, the spring or springs will be embodied in, or,
form part of, the velocipede, in connection with the steering parts or member, and
be adapted to bring and hold the steering wheel in the said central position, as
above stated. As regards, however, this means connected with the steering of
velocipedes, it is not restricted as to position or manner of application; to those

page_text: above specified, but in different cases, and under different conditions of use, forms,
and types of machines, and other circumstances, it may be applied or used in
connection with such part or parts as may be found, or deemed convenient or
expedient; and the means or devices may be made and sold as a separate attachment
for velocipedes, or otherwise.
Dated this 25th day of April 1895:
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Steering Means or
Mechanism of Velocipedes.
I, HENRY JOSEPH SHAWCROSs, Bachelor in Engineering, of the Water
Engineer's Office, Municipal Buildings, Dale Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Civil Engineer, 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 :-
This invention has for its object to provide in connection with the steering parts
or members of velocipedes, and particularly of bicycles of the present ordinary type,
a means or device by which their steering is facilitated, or assistance lent to it, by
which it (the steering) is rendered more certain, easier, better, and the riding is
generally more comfortable to the rider in consequence.
The type of velocipede which is most general at present being the safety bicycle,
with rear driven wheel, the description of this invention will be made with
reference to this type of velocipede, and for the reason that in connection with
that type of velocipede, its application can be made with great advantage.
According to this invention, there is provided in connection with the steering
member, limb, or parts of a velocipede, a means or device by which assistance 'is
automatically lent or afforded in the steering thereof, it being so adapted and
arranged that it always tends to cause the velocipede to run in a straight line, but,
at the same time, so that the ordinary hand steering means, and the full and free
use of it, as at present, shall not be interfered with, or restricted.
This is effected, according to this invention, by the employment in connection
with the steering limb or member of a spring or springs by which the wheel of such
steering limb or member will be caused to assume and lie in the same plane as, or
parallel with the rear wheel, and be there firmly, but not rigidly, held, and tending
thereby to keep the machine when in motion in a straight line, but at the same
time allowing the steering limb or member to be easily and readily turned through
a lees or greater angle at the will of the rider, that is, leaving the full power and
facility for manual steering unrestricted. When the steering limb is released, the
tendency shall be always to bring the wheel into the same plane as the rear wheel;
or a plane parallel thereto, that is to return it to its original position after being
actuated. The tendency will thus be for the machine to run in a right line as set,
but, at the same time, it shall be perfectly under the control of the rider either for
preserving his balance, rounding curves, or steering where and as desired.
According to one form of means or device under this invention, which will be
applicable to existing types of machines, and existing machines, the steering bar,
that is, the handle bar, is connected to the frame through rubber or like springs,
and adjustable braces, by which tension may be kept on the handle bar on both
sides, and so adjusted as to hold the handle-bar in the central position, with the
front and back wheel in the same plane,
.
A drawing illustrative of the form of device last described is hereto annexed, in
which Figure 1 is an elevation and Figure 2 à plan. The device illustrated is

page_text: adapted to be fixed to the backbone or main upper tube, and the handle bar of the
velocipede.
In the drawing, A represents the upper tube of the frame of a bicycle, and B the
handle bar of the machine. c are the rubber or like springs which are fixed
upon a small saddled, by the runge or loops, which saddle is fastened on the tube A
by hooks d and a lace or cord d, which laces over the hooks and passes under the
bar A. e designates generally the adjustable braces, connecting the springs c with
the handle bar or steering member. These braces consist of two end straps e',
passed round and attached to the handle bar B as shewn; a central strap.es, with
buckles et on the ends thereof into which e' is buckled, and by means of which the
adjustment of the braces is effected; that is to say, by drawing up the straps e¹
through the buckles e, more or less, the length of the whole braces can be made
shorter or longer as desired, and the brace will take up all the tension thereby
imposed. The connection of the india-rubber springac to the strap e³ is also effected
by sliding buckles c', and these can be adjusted or moved along such strap, in either
direction, as may be desired, and will grip in any desired position, and preferably
they are so arranged or disposed thereon that but slight tension will be exerted on
the springs when the wheel moved by the handle bar B is in its central position-
i.e. when it is "straight," and when it is moved to a small degree on either side of
such position, a small amount of free play or of almost unrestricted motions
of the whole device round the points of attachment to the frame will occur until
the braces el are drawn into the same straight line as the springs c and so on small
movement of the steering member is provided on either side of the centre position
unrestricted by the springs, but whenever the limit of this freedom is reached, then
full tension on one or other of the springs c is at once brought and the device comes
into action, and the advantages and facilities above specified connected with its use
come into play. Thus freedom of motion of the steering member through a slight
angle which is absolutely necessary for keeping ones balance on a bicycle is
obtained, and it will be plain that the point at which the springs come into play
and their tension exercised, may be varied according to the desire and fancy of the
rider; outside this limit of free movement, however, the movement of the wheel is
controlled, checked and influenced automatically by the device.
As regards this means connected with the steering of velocipedes, it is not
restricted as to position or manner of application to the position as above specified,
but in different cases, and under different conditions of use, forms, and types of
machines, and other circumstances, it may be applied or used in connection with
such part or parts as may be found or deemed convenient or expedient, and the
means or devices may be made and sold as a separate attachment for velocipedes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Meaus connected with or for steering velocipedes, consisting of or comprising
springs secured or adapted to be secured to the handle bar of the steering wheel,
and with the frame or body of such velocipede, and arranged and operating,
substantially as in the manner described.
2. The device for use in connection with the steering of velocipedes, having parts
arranged and operating as set forth with reference to and shewn in the drawings.
Dated this 25th day of January 1896.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
15 Water Street, Liverpool, Applicant's Patent Agents.