Year: 1898

page_text: I, ARTHUR FOWLER, of 29, Beaumont Street, in the City of Liverpool, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object primarily a bicycle steering head lock, All
the present locks with which I am acquainted are either frictional locks which are
unsatisfactory, or locks in which two lugs have to be brought opposite each other
before the lock can be effected or they are too expensive for ordinary purposes.
Now my invention is designed to form a cheap lock which can be instantly
applied and of which there is no chance that it shall be applied accidentally while
running. On the frame socket or lug I place two projecting lugs passing up
alongside the flange of the rotating socket of the steering pillar and in these lugs
place the bearings of a small spindle or pin on which is keyed a catch. This
catch has flattened portions against which a flat spring presses in such manner
that the catch has a tendency to remain closed or remain open but not at any
intermediate point. This catch fits into a groove cut in the flange when in closed
position. The pin or spindle can be supplied with a handle at the end or if
desired instead of a handle the spindle can terminate in the socket and be of any
peculiar shape to fit a key. The owner then by inserting the key into the end
of the shaft can at once lock or unlock the bicycle and indeed he can lock the
bicycle at any time by simply pressing the catch into position when the steering
pillar being revolved the spring forces it into this groove. If the catch is well
By
fitted it is practically impossible to open it by a knife blade or the like.
making two grooves the cycle can be locked with the wheels at right angles or in
line.
I, ARTHUR FOWLER, of 29, Beaumont Street, in the City of Liverpool, Engineer,
o 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 primarily a bicycle steering head lock. All
the present locks with which I am acquainted are either frictional locks which are

page_text: unsatisfactory, or locks in which two lugs have to be brought opposite each other
before the lock can be effected or they are too expensive for ordinary purposes.
Now my invention is designed to form a cheap lock which can be instantly
applied, and in which there is no chance that it shall be applied accidentally while
running. It will be understood from the following description, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which ;—
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the socket of the steering pillar raised
clear of the lug of the frame;
Figure 2 an end elevation;
P
Figure 3 a sectional plan showing the groove in the socket out of engagement
with the catch;
Figure 4 the groove in engagement.
A is the frame socket, or lug. On this I place two projecting lugs B passing up
alongside the flange C of the rotating socket D of the steering pillar, and in these
lugs I place the bearings of a small spindle or pin E on which is keyed a catch F.
This catch is by preference chamfered as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 2,
and it has flattened portions FF against which a spring G presses, in such
manner that the catch has a tendency to remain closed or remain open, but not
at any intermediate point. This catch fits into a groove H cut in the flange C of
the ball head clip or socket D when in closed position. The pin or spindle E is
supplied with a handle I at the end. The spring is by preference contained in
and protected from injury by the hollow casing J which is screwed into the lug B,
and this spring acts on the flats of the catch through the head K of the con-
centric stem L. To lock the steering, all that is necessary is to turn the handle I
so as to rotate the catch towards the groove H. Should the groove not happen
to register with the catch, the steering handles of the bicycle are turned one way
or the other, and then immediately the groove in the flange comes opposite the
catch, the latter will snap into it by the force of the spring, and hold the steering
rigid, thus preventing the front wheel wobbling about, when it is desired to rest
the bicycle against an object. To unlock the steering. the handle I is turned
back through an angle of 45 degrees, the spring by pressure against the flat K
holding the catch out of engagement with the groove H.
Where it is required to use the lock as a precaution against theft the handle I
may be dispensed with, and the spindle terminate in the socket and be of any
peculiar shape to fit a key. The owner then by inserting the 'key into the end of
the spindle can at once lock or unlock the bicycle and indeed he can lock the
bicycle at any time by simply pressing the catch into position, when the steering
pillar being revolved, the spring forces it into this groove. If the catch is well
fitted, it is practically impossible to open it by a knife blade or the like.
making two grooves, the cycle can be locked with the wheels at right angles or in
line.
By
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;
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1. A steering lock device consisting of a horizontally arranged rotatable spindle
or pin having a projecting catch or claw carried by one part of the steering head
and capable of being operated by a handle or key, a slot or groove in the other
part of the said head in which the said catch or claw is adapted to engage, and.a
spring so arranged as to automatically act on the catch so as to keep it in or out
of engagement with the slot or groove, substantially as described.
2. In cycles, the combination with one part of the steering head, a rotary catch
or claw keyed upon a horizontal spindle having a handle or key for turning same,
and with the other part of the steering head a groove or slot, the parts being so
arranged that by the action of a spring the said locking catch will when turned
in one direction engage in the said groove or slot and so lock the steering,pillar,

page_text: or by moving the catch in the opposite direction it will release itself from the
groove and allow the steering pillar to turn, substantially as set forth.
3. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my
improved steering lock substantially as set forth.
Datad this 10th das of A1 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents, of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham & London.