Improvements relating to the Steering Gear of Velocipedes and like Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 12th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 13th May, 1899
Improvements relating to the Steering Gear of Velocipedes and
like Vehicles.
A communication from GEORGES CHAPELLE, of Le Perreux, in the Republic of
France.
I, ARTHUR FREEMORE SPOONER, of 323, High Holborn, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the steering gear of velocipedes and the like and com-
prises the improved steering lock hereinafter described.
According to the said invention a socket is provided placed at a convenient
height in the steering head forming a continuation or part of the front fork, and
which is retained in position in the ordinary manner by a clamp.
This socket is spread out at its upper end so as to form two wings or projections
between which is supported the horizontal part of the steering or handle-bar whilst
its vertical portion or stem occupies the interior of the said socket. A thumb-
screw which engages in a slot in the upper part of the socket serves to insure the
connection of the two pieces at the same time that two snugs or projections, by
arresting the collar of the said thumb-screw, prevent the extraction of the steering
stem which might otherwise occur accidentally during the ordinary or usual efforts
of driving on the part of the rider of the velocipede.
In the vertical portion of the handle-bar or steering stem is provided a screw-
threaded stem which can be rotated from the exterior by means of a milled head.
This screw is prevented from becoming displaced in a vertical direction by reason
of the above mentioned thumb-screw which engages in an annular groove provided
in the said screw-threaded stem. The said screw-threaded stem serves for the
purpose of raising or lowering at will a plunger to the upper part of which is
brazed, soldered, or otherwise secured a nut adapted to screw upon the said screwed
stem. This plunger is split or slotted thereby admitting of its being guided by a
fixed snug, which serves to prevent it from turning, whilst admitting of its
moving freely in a longitudinal direction. The said plunger terminates at its
lower end in an inclined plane.
In addition to the parts which have just been described, two bolts are likewise
provided which bolts are connected by a lever which is pivoted to the steering head
tube, and which lever is prolonged at its upper end so as to form a stem which
carries a suitable spring. In front of each of the above mentioned bolts, jointed
to the said lever, are provided suitable holes which are formed both in the steer-
ing head tube and in the steering socket, so that when the bolts are engaged in
the said holes the said steering head tube and the steering socket will be firmly
locked together, and consequently, as these govern the direction of the wheel
mounted in the front fork the two latter will be likewise fixed.
The stem forming a prolongation of the lever carrying the bolts terminates at

page_text: its upper or free end in an inclined plane which, when the steering stem is in
place, comes into contact with the inclined plane of the plunger, which operates
to withdraw the said bolts. The steering head tube of the socket is then conse-
quently liberated and the movement of the steering stem is rendered possible.
When, however, the rider leaves the velocipede and desires to lock the steering it
suffices, after having slightly unscrewed the herein before mentioned thumb-screw
so as to bring the lower part of its collar to a level with the governing.snugs,
to pull up the vertical portion of the handle bar or steering stem and thus to
draw out the said steering stem and with it the plunger of the intermediate piece
which action will result in the inclined plane on the extremity of the said plunger
no longer acting upon the inclined plane on the end of the bolt lever extension and
of causing the two bolts to enter, under the action of the spring hereinbefore
mentioned, into their corresponding holes and thus to accomplish the object.
The adjustment of the height of the steering stem can be effected by slightly
unscrewing the herein before mentioned thumb-screw, and by turning in one or the
other direction the milled head on the screw-threaded stem.
It will be evident that the system which has been above described as applied
more particularly to a bicycle can be also advantageously used in connection with
any other similar vehicle without departing in any way from the principle of the
invention.
Improvements relating to the Steering Gear of Velocipedes and
like Vehicles.
A communication from. GEORGES CHAPELLE, of Le Perreux, in the Republic of
France.
I, ARTHUR FREEMORE SPOONER, of 323, High Holborn, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 the steering gear of velocipedes and the like and com-
prises the improved steering lock hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical central section through the steering head of a bicycle in its
normal running position.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the steering head in its locked position.
Figure 3 shows in perspective on a smaller scale the handle-bar, and
Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 3 showing the intermediate socket which
serves to connect the handle-bar to the steering head.
According to the said invention a socket A is provided placed at a convenient
height in the steering head tube B forming a continuation or part of the front
fork C, and which is retained in position in the ordinary manner by a clamp D.
This socket A is spread out at its upper end so as to form two wings or projec-
tions a between which is supported the horizontal part of the handle-bar E whilst
its vertical portion or stem E occupies the interior of the said socket. A thumb-
screw e which engages in a slot a in the upper part of the socket A serves to
insure the connection of the two pieces at the same time that two snugs or pro-
jections a", by arresting the collar of the said thumb-screw e prevent the extraction

page_text: of the stem E' which might otherwise occur accidentally during the ordinary or
usual efforts of driving on the part of the rider of the velocipede.
In the vertical portion E¹ of the handle-bar is a screw-threaded stem V which
can be rotated from the exterior by means of a milled head r. This screw V is
prevented from becoming displaced in a vertical direction by reason of the above
mentioned thumb-screw e which engages in an annular groove provided in the
said screw-threaded stem V. The said screw-threaded stem V serves for the pur-
pose of raising or lowering at will a plunger 1, to the upper part of which is
brazed, soldered, or otherwise secured a nut P¹ adapted to engage with the said
screwed stem V. This plunger P is split or slotted as shown at p thereby admit-
ting of its being guided by a fixed snug p, which serves to prevent it from turn-
ing, whilst admitting of its moving freely in a longitudinal direction. The said
plunger terminates at its lower end in an inclined plane F.
In addition to the parts which have just been described, two bolts H, H' are
likewise provided, which bolts are connected by a lever I which is pivoted at i to
the steering head tube B, and which lever is prolonged at its upper end so as to
form a stem I which carries a suitable spring R. In front of each of the above
mentioned bolts H, H', which are jointed to the said lever I, are suitable
holes J, J formed both in the steering head tube B and in the steering socket K,
so that when the bolts are engaged in the said holes J, J' the said steering head
tube B and the steering socket I will be firmly locked together, and consequently,
as these govern the direction of the wheel mounted in the front fork C, the latter
will be likewise fixed.
The stem I terminates at its upper or free end in an inclined plane G which,
when the handle-bar E is in place, comes into contact with the inclined plane F
of the plunger P which operates to withdraw the said bolts H, H. The steering
head tube B is then consequently liberated from its socket K thereby rendering the
movement of the parts possible. When, however, the rider leaves the velocipede
and desires to lock the parts it suffices, after having slightly unscrewed the here-
inbefore mentioned thumb-screw e so as to bring the lower part of its collar to a
level with the governing snugs a", a", to pull up the handle-bar E and thus to
raise the vertical portion E¹ thereof and with it the plunger P which action will
result in the inclined plane F on the extremity of the said plunger P no longer
acting upon the inclined plane G on the end of the bolt lever extension I¹ and of
causing the two bolts H, H to enter, under the action of the spring R, into their
corresponding holes J, J and thus to accomplish the object.
The adjustment of the height of the handle-bar can be effected by slightly
unscrewing the thumb-screw c, and by turning in one-or the other direction the
milled head on the screw-threaded stem V.
It will be evident that the system which has been above described as applied
more particularly to a bicycle can be also advantageously used in connection with
any other similar vehicle without departing in any way from the principle of the
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:
1. A steering head and lock for bicycles and the like, comprising a socket A
serving to connect the handle-bar E to the steering head tube B by means of a
screw e penetrating into a slot a formed on one of the wings a, a with which the
said socket A is provided and retained by snugs a" a to prevent the raising of the
handle-bar while running; in combination with two bolts H, H' actuated by a
spring R on the stem I' with an inclined plane G in contact with another inclined
plane formed at the base of the plunger P with the object of controlling the
Jocking or unlocking of the steering parts according as the said handle-bar is
lowered or raised.
2. A steering lock for bicycles and the like comprising a pivoted lever I carry-

page_text: ing jointed bolts H, H' which engage with apertures J, J¹ in the steering head
tube and steering socket, the said lever I being adapted to be operated by the
raising or lowering of the handle-bar E substantially as set forth.
3. The steering and locking gear for bicycles and the like constructed substan-
tially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 12th day of April 1899.