An Improvement in the Steering Head for all Classes of Cycles.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1889-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Steering Head for all Classes of Cycles.
WILLIAM EDWARD ROBERTS Cycle Manufacturer St. James' Cycle Works Bristol
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
An Improvement, whereby the leverage of the Handle Bar is assisted in the
guiding of Cycles.
For assistance I define that part of a Cycle or Velocipede by which the steering
takes place "The Head," and that part of the frame or body of the Cycle working
therein the Neck."
The top and bottom ends of the Neck work between Conical Cups, Hollow
Cones, Balls, or Tingle Balls in the "Head." The Top cone or conical Cup being
adjustable.
Attached to the lower part of the said "Head" and directly under the above named
"Neck ":
are the forks or fork holding the Steering wheel. The handle bar or Tube
to which the handle bar is attached is inserted or fastened to a lug made with the
said. Head, which lugs projects backwards towards the Seat, the Handle Bar or tubo
carrying the handle Bar being sloped or placed in any direction with regard to the
said "Head" as may be desired.
The Improvements previously described give the following advantages.
A. The aforesaid handle Bar being attached behind and nearer the seat than the
neck prevents that looseness and tendency to fall to either side which characterizes
the steering Wheels of other Cycles, where the Neck working between Centros is
placed behind or nearer in the direction backwards towards the seat, than the
handle Bar.
B. Also the Handle Bar being fitted in the first named position, A, the leverage
is increased to the advantage of the rider, and thereby enables the Machine to be
steered in any direction which may be desired with greater ease than if the said
Handle Bar were fitted in front of the Neck and therefore further forward from
the Seat.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Steering Head for all Classes of Cycles.
I WILLIAM EDWARD ROBERTS Cycle Manufacturer, St. James Cycle Works
Bristol 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 relates to means of connecting the fork of the steering wheel of
all classes of cycles with the frame of the velocipede. In the following description
1 call that part of the cycle or velocipede in which and by which the steering takes
place the head" and that part of the frame of the cycle or velocipede working
therein the "neck."
"
The object of my invention is to so connect the tubular pillar which carries the
handle bar, with the fork of the steering wheel as to allow the "neck to work
centrally within the "head" instead of securing the "neck" within projections
formed upon the head of the steering fork in the manner usually adopted for
tricycles and rear driving bicycles.
For this purpose I form upon the "head"a lug or projection pointing in the
direction of the rider, in which I secure the tubular pillar to carry the handle bar

page_text: in the manner illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a
sectional side elevation of the "head" and the "neck" connected together and
Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1. In both the figures the same parts are indicated by
like letters of reference.
A is the "head" B is the "neck" C is the lug or projectionjin which I secure by
brazing or otherwise the tubular pillar D to carry the handle bar which may bo
connected thereto in any of the well known ways for allowing of its adjustment in
height to suit the requirements of the rider. E is the screw bolt by means of which
and the lock nut F the "neck" B is secured within the "head"A in a manner to
allow the head to be rotated thereon sufficiently for steering purposes. G is a lug
through which a rod passes in the usual way to operate the brake of the steering
wheel.
The arrangement of parts hereinbefore described may be advantageously adopted
in all classes of cycles in which the handle may be fitted upon the "head" nearer
in the direction of the rider than the axial line about which the partial rotation of
the "head" for steering purposes takes place as by this arrangement the "head" of
the steering fork is confined to a rotatory movement and the translation of the
" 'head," which occurs in combination with its rotation when the "neck" is fitted
between centres projecting from the "head," is obviated resulting in a steadier and
easier steering movement than that depending on the combined rotating and
translating movement of the "head" referred to.
I have illustrated the means of connecting the "head" with the "neck
" in its
simplest form (that of centres working in conical holes) but it is obvious that any
of the known arrangements for connecting these parts such as by the employment
of balls to form the adjustable bearing may be adopted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of a "head" rotating upon a "neck" centrally secured therein,
with a lug or projection, extending therefrom in the direction of the rider, to receive
the pillar which supports the handle bar for steering purposes substantially as
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 28th day of September 1889.
AYRTON & THOMAS,
Agents for the Applicant.