A New or Improved Adjustable Handle Bar for Cycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Adjustable Handle Bar for Cycles.
I, JOSEPH THOMAS WHEELER ALLEN, of 139, Capel Street, Dublin, Ireland,
Medical Practitioner, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to a new or improved adjustable handle bar for
cycles, whereby the handle bar may readily be tilted out of its normal position and
thrown into line parallel to the plane of the machine.
In carrying out my invention I mount on the top of the handle stem a horizontal
tube or sleeve in which works a shank formed on the front of the handle bar. So
far the handle bar is capable of a rotary movement at the top of the handle stem.
To hold the handle bar in its normal position and make it rigid I arrange in the
handle stem a vertical pin the base of which rests on a spiral spring fixed in the
stem, and the free end of which penetrates the horizontal tube or sleeve and also
an aperture provided in the shank of the handlebar on right angles thereto. This
pin is held in its position of engagement by the pressure of the spring underneath
and is operated or disengaged by means of a suitable thumb clip working through
an elongated slot and attached to a shoulder or collar provided on the pin.
According to my invention the ordinary brake gear of the cycle is not interfered
with as the brake handle will move with the handle bar.
As thus constructed the action of my invention is as follows:-
In order to tilt the handle bar from its normal position it is only necessary to
press on the thumb clip whereby the vertical pin is withdrawn from engagement
with the shank of the handle bar which latter is now free to be turned into line
parallel with the plane of the machine.
Upon freeing the thumb clip the pin then shoots into an aperture in the shank
at right angles to the first described aperture and the handle bar is thus held in
its new position until the pin is withdrawn from engagement as before described.
Dated this 21st day of April 1897.

page_text: the middle of the said handle-bar can be tilted with the latter as shewn in dotted
lines in Figure 1.
In practice I advantageously secure the handle-bar when in its upright position
to the front tube of the frame by a suitable locking device so as to prevent the
front wheel of the machine from oscillating.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be preformed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a cycle the combination with a handle bar having a central cylindrical
extension or shank, of a handle-bar stem having a tubular socket into which the
handle-bar shank fits and of a spring catch arranged in the hollow stem and con-
sisting of a pin normally held by a spring in a hole in the extension or shank of
the handle-bar and having a pin working in a slot in the handle-bar stem, sub-
stantially as, and for the purpose, herein before described and as illustrated.
2. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved handle-
bar and handle-bar stem herein before described and illustrated in the accompany-
ing drawing.
1000
POCOT
Linnuva TO
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1 day
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.