Improvements in and connected with Handles and Saddle Supports for Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in and connected with Handles and Saddle Supports
for Cycles.
I, THOMAS BROWETT, of 8, The Polygon, Eccles, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to improvements in and connected with handles and saddle
supports for cycles and has for its object to provide means whereby the raising and
lowering of the handles or saddle in their sockets is greatly facilitated and same
can be locked securely in the desired position.
In the usual construction of handle bars a vertical tubular stem is provided
which is usually constructed to slide inside the tubular extension of the steering
fork and pass through a split bush provided with a tightening screw to draw its
jaws together and cause it to grip the stem of the handle bar. The construction
of the usual saddle support is similar to that of the handle bar and the following
description of my improved device may be taken as applying equally to either
part.
One method by which my invention may be carried out may be described as
follows:--
The stem of a handle bar whether solid or tubular is constructed with a groove
cr channel along its length from the lower end or near thereto to as near the
cross bar as is requisite and in the groove is brazed or otherwise secured a rack or
its equivalent which may be made of a narrow.strip of hard brass or steel with
teeth or notches or a series of holes on its outer surface. The tops of such teeth
are kept some distance below the cylindrical surface of the stem so as to leave a
groove or key way and into this groove or key way a pinion with suitably shaped
teeth and of about the same width as the groove (so as to slide but not shake
thereon) is fitted and gears into the rack. This pinion lies in the slot between the
jaws of the handle bar clip and is mounted on a square or "D" shaped portion of
a bolt or pin fitting in the holes usually provided in the jaws of the said clip so as
to turn freely therein. One end of such bolt or pin is provided with a nut head or
its equivalent by which the said bolt or pin may be rotated and the other and is
screwed and fitted with a nut or its equivalent, by which the said jaws may be
drawn together and the handle stem gripped. The said pinion by lying in the slot
ir the clip and entering the groove in the handle stem keeps the handle bar always
square with the front wheel and prevents it slipping round; when turning the
said bolt or pin with a key by hand, the said pinion is rotated and raises or lowers
the handle stem by means of the rack as may be required. The outer nut is then
tightened up and retains the handle bar in position. Great convenience and safety

page_text: is obtained by this device as frequent accidents have occurred by the handle bar
slipping round in its clip when a sudden strain was brought to bear upon it. The
stem of the handle bar may be graduated and the divisions marked with figures to
enable a rider to know where to re-set it after it has been altered to suit some other
rider.
Instead of the said rack and pinion, a rack and reversible pawl may be used
and the rack may be formed simply by drilling holes or punching recesses in the
face of the usual tubular stem at convenient distances so as not to weaken the tube
100 much. The invention described admits of several modifications in details
without departing from the essential features of my invention.
For instance a worm and worm wheel may be used either alone or in conjunc-
tion with a rack and pinion and the position of the rack and pinion may be varied.
Or again a screwed rod with a suitable nut thereon may be fixed to the stem, the
nut being mounted between ears so that its position is fixed and when rotated by
hand it will raise the screwed rod and with it the stem and handle bar.
A second key or feather may also be used sliding in another channel or groove
formed in the stem to prevent the same turning round.
Dated this 18th day of August 1806
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
Agents to Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Handles and Saddle Supports
for Oycles.
1, THOMAS BROWETT, of 8, The Polygon, Eceles, in the County of Lancaster,
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:--
My invention relates to improvements in and connected with handles and saddle
supports for cycles and has for its object to provide means whereby the raising and
lowering of the handle or saddle in their sockets is greatly facilitated and same can
be locked securely in the desired position.
In the usual construction of handle bars a vertical tubular stem is provided
which is usually constructed to slide inside the tubular extension of the steering
fork and pass through a split bush provided with a tightening screw to draw its
jaws together and cause it to grip the stem of the handle bar. The construction
of the usual saddle support is similar to that of the handle bar which renders my
invention equally applicable to either part.
And in order that my invention may be more fully understood I have caused
to be appended thereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures, Figs. 1 and 4 being back views,
Figs. 3 and 6 longitudinal sections and Figs. 2, 5 and 7 cross sections of a handle
bar and stem, and Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a side view partly in section and
a cross section of a saddle support constructed in accordance with my invention.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, when applying my invention to a handle bar, a
rack A is secured to the stem B3 of the handle bar, so as to be flush with its surface,
er below same. A pinion C gearing with the rack A is mounted on a square part

page_text: of the usual bolt D used to draw the ears of the clip D' together, and secure the
handle bar to the socket B' of the front fark. This bolt D has a head on one end,
and a nut at the other. By slackening the nut the holt may be turned by its
head, and the pinion C rotated in either direction so as to raise or lowor the handle
bar after which the nut is tightened and the handle bar thereby secured in position.
The stem B is graduated and numbered, see Fig. 1, to enable ready re-adjustment
after alteration.
The rack A is "shrouded" at its sides, and the body of the pinion C fits the slot
so formed, thus forming a sliding key, and retaining the handle bar always square
with the machine, even if the bolt D of the clip D' is left, or becomes slack. This
feature secures full control of the steering gear and prevents accidents from this
cause.
The invention is applicable to ordinary clips and handle bars as now made, and
does not alter, except in detail, the present method of construction.
It is very cheap to make in numbers, and adds very little weight (about 1 ozs.).
Referring to Figs. 4, 5 and 6, which shows a modification of my invention,
instead of mounting the bolt D directly in the ears of the clip D' it is mounted in
two eccentric washers E, E let into the said cars, and coupled by a bridle F. After
the nut has been slacked the bolt D can be moved towards or away from the rack A
by moving the bridle either up or down, so that by this means the pinion C can
be drawn out of gear with the rack A, as shown in dotted lines Fig. 6, permitting
the handle bar to be turned round or removed entirely.
If desirable a recess G may be formed in the handle bar stem B, seo Fig. 4,
at a right angle to the rack A so as to permit of locking the handle bar in position
in line with the frame of the machine, by moving the pinion C into the said recess
by means of the bridle F.
In lieu of employing the rack A, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, a groove may be
pressed into the stem 1, see Figs. 7, and its bottom formed with holes in which
the pin shaped teeth of the pinion ('engage.
Figs. 8 and 9 shows how my invention is applied to a saddle pin and socket in
identically the same manner as to the stem and socket of a handle bar and which,
permits of the instant removal and ready replacement of the saddle.
The device as applied to the handle bar can be made adjustable while riding,
simply by using wing nuts, instead of hexagon on the bolt D.
The ears of the clip 1 through which the bolt 1) passes may be formed with
such a space between them that they will grip tightly the sides of the pinion C
when drawn together by the bolt D and by proper adjustment the clip may then be
made to simultaneously grip the handle bar stem. However it is not necessary
for both these gripping actions to take place simultaneously as if the clip is
adjusted to grip the stem before it grips the sides of the pinion (which construction
I prefer) the handle bar is secured in place exactly as is now usual without my
invention. Again if the pinion is gripped before the clip grips the stem the
pinion gearing with the rack prevents vertical movement and movement under
twisting strain is prevented, or limited, by the shrouded rack fitting or
approximately fitting the sides of the pinion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what
I claim is:
Ist. In handle bar supports for cycles, a rack A on the handle bar stem B in
combination with a pinion C on the bolt D of the clip 1 or its equivalent, which
pinion is adapted to gear with the said rack and when rotated raises or lowers the
handle bar, and which bolt when screwed up serves to lock the handle bar in the
desired position, all substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
2nd. In saddle supports for cycles, a rack A on the saddle stem B in combination
with a pinion C on the clip bolt D, which pinion is adapted to gear with the said

page_text: rack and when rotated raises or lowers the saddle and which bolt when screwed up
serves to lock the saddle support in the desired position, all substantially as and
for the purpose herein before set forth.
Deted this 12th day of Nov 1907
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents in Applicant.