Improvements in Bicycle Locks.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
Improvements in Bicycle Locks.
I MAXIMILIAN GESSLER, of 1118 Cedar Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
Chemist do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 has relation to improvements in bicycle locks.
The object is to provide an improved construction of lock adapted to be arranged
within the front tubing of the bicycle frame, and to be thereby entirely hidden
from view, the invention comprehending an improved form of lock wherein the
key is inserted directly into the bolt, and as the key is turned the bolt is forced
either outwardly or inwardly, in order to effect the locking or unlocking..
The device is also of such construction as to employ the fewest possible number
of parts, thereby securing not only lightness, but also simplicity in construction and
inexpensiveness in production.
With the above primary object in view, the invention consists of the devices and
parts, or their equivalents, as bereinafter more fully set forth.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the forward portion of a bicycle equipped with
my device.
2
Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale, through a portion of
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the locking mechanism.
Fig. 4 is a similar view, showing the key in place and the bolt drawn outwardly
to a locking position.
Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of the locking mechanism.
Fig. 6 is an end view of the bolt.
Fig. 7 is a plan view thereof, and
Fig. 8 is a cross section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.
Referring to the drawing, the numeral 9 indicates the upper brace sleeve of a
bicycle frame, 91 the outer stationary sleeve or tube, which the brace sleeve
surrounds, 10 the steering tube, 11 the handle-bar and 12 the handle-bar tube
telescoping into the steering tube.
In the application of my invention the locking mechanism is shown as disposed
in the handle-bar tube. This locking mechanism consists of a cylinder 13, which
is provided with an interior transverse opening 14, said opening formed with a
spiral screw-thread 15. A bolt 16 is adapted to fit in the opening 14, and this
bolt is provided with an inclined rib 17 which engages the screw-threads 15. The
bolt is also provided at its under side with a longitudinal slot 18, and with a vertical
opening 19 arranged just in advance of the rib 17, and extending downwardly to
the slot 18. Adapted to fit in this opening 19 is a tumbler pin 20. The pin is
prevented from falling through the longitudinal slot 18 by means of shoulders 21, 21,
forined in said slot (see Fig. 8) and upon which shoulders the lower end of the pin
is adapted to be normally seated.
Extending downwardly from the top surface of the cylinder to the opening 14
thereof are vertical pin openings 22, 221, in each of which fit locking pins 23, 23¹.
Above these pins are advisably arranged coiled springs 24, 24¹, and these springs
are pressed down against the pins by means of small screws 25, 25¹ engaging
threads in the openings 22, 22¹. These screws also serve to regulate the tension
of the springs.

page_text: Adapted to fit against the lower end of the cylinder is a disk 26 composed of
rubber, or similar material. Against this disk in turn fits a metallic plate 27.
The disk and plate are held to the lower end of the cylinder by means of a screw 28
passing through said plate and disk and entering the cylinder. These parts 26, 27
& 28 are used for the purpose of holding the cylinder firmly in place within the
tube. The locking mechanism is advisably arranged within the handle-bar tube
and in its application thereto, said tube is removed from the frame and the cylinder
inserted in place. A screw driver is then passed upwardly in the lower end of the
tube to engage the screw 28. This screw is then turned so as to compress the
disk and spread the edge thereof outwardly firmly against the inner side of
the tube. It is obvious that in this manner the cylinder is firmly held in place
against slipping without the necessity of passing screws, bolts, or other devices,
through the tubing, and thus marring the appearance.
The handle-bar tube 12 is provided with a bolt opening 29 registering with the
transverse opening 14 of the cylinder, and the steering tube 10, outer sleeve 9¹ and
brace sleeve 9 are likewise provided with openings 30, 30' & 31 respectively. The
openings 29 & 30 are adapted to be brought into register with the openings 30¹ & 31,
when the steering tube is turned so as to bring the wheel at an angle. In the
opening 31 is advisably fitted a sleeve 32.
The locking key employed by me is designated by the numeral 33. The upper
edge of the end of this key is provided with a bevel 34, and at the terminus of this
bevel with a depression 35.
.
Figure 3 shows the position of the parts when the bolt is in a normal position.
It will be seen that the pin 20 is below the plane of the upper end of the opening 19,
and that the pin 23 extends down into said opening 19, and bears against the upper
end of the tumbler pin 20. The bolt, therefore, is locked by the pin 23 against
being turned, and consequently forced outwardly. If now it is desired to lock the
machine, the front wheel is turned at an angle, so as to bring the several bolt
openings in register. The locking key is now inserted in the longitudinal key
slot 18 of the bolt. As soon as the beveled end 34 of the key contacts with the
lower end of the pin 20, said pin is raised, and when the key has reached the
limit of its in-movement by the contact of its shoulder 36 with the end of the bult,
the depression 35 will be directly under the pin 20, and said pin will then drop so that
its upper end is flush with the upper surface of the bolt, the depression being just
deep enough to bring about this result. The pin 23 is therefore prevented from
passing into the vertical opening 19 of the bolt, and locking said bolt against
turning. The key is now turned, and with it the bolt, and in view of the fact that
the inclined rib 17 of said bolt engages with the screw-thread 15, said bolt will be
forced outwardly into the registering opening 29, 30, 30¹ & 31 of the handle-bar
tube, steering tube, outer sleeve and brace sleeve, respectively. In this outward
movement of the bolt, its vertical opening 19 is finally brought in line with the
opening 22 of the cylinder. One complete turn of the key has the effect of
moving the bolt exactly the distance to cause this registration. Now the moment
the key is withdrawn, the piu 20, of course necessarily drops, and also the pin 23,
which latter passes partly into the opening 19 of the bolt, and thereby locks said
bolt in this locking position. When it is desired to unlock, the key is inserted, as
shown in Fig. 4, and said key is then given one complete turn, in the reverse
direction. This will cause the bolt 16 to travel inwardly, so that its opening 19
and pin 20 are brought into register with the opening 22 and pin 23 of the cylinder.
When the key is now withdrawn, the pin 23 is forced down into the opening 19 of
the bolt for the purpose of locking said bolt.
While I have shown the coiled springs 24 & 24¹ for forcing the pins 23, 23!
yet it will be obvious that these springs are not absolutely necessary to successful
results, inasmuch as the pins would readily fall into the opening 19 by gravity.
The springs, however, effect a more positive and certain movement of the pins.
As stated, the cylinder is advisably arranged within the handle-bar tube, in
view of the fact that said tube can be readily removed, so as to allow access to the

page_text: screw 28, in order to effect either the locking of the cylinder in place in the tube,
or its removal therefrom. However, the invention is not necessarily restricted
to this disposition of the parts, as it could be arranged within the steering tube.
In such case, it might be placed within said steering tube in the reverse position to
that shown in Fig. 2, that is to say, with the disk end of the cylinder uppermost.
In that event access to the screw 28 could be readily obtained by simply removing
the handle-bar tube and passing a screw driver downwardly to engage the
screw 28. Or, in cases where the lower end of the steering tube is open, as in
some constructions of bicycles, the locking mechanism would be arranged within
the steering tube, in exactly the same position it is placed in the handle-bar tube,
as shown in Fig. 2.
From the above description it will be seen that I provide a simple and effective
lock, in which but few parts are required, and in which the bolt is operated by
inserting the key directly into said bolt. This avoids the necessity of employing
a complicated tumbler adapted to be engaged by the key, and in turn to engage
the bolt. The entire device is completely hidden from view, and the mechanism
can be applied to a bicycle frame, without the necessity of changing any of the
parts of said frame, the only requirement being that the several tubes have
registering openings formed therein for the bolt.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the invention comprehend's
the employment of a bicycle lock in which the lock casing is fitted within the
inner rotatable tubing at the front of the bicycle frame, said tubing having a bolt
opening therein, which normally is out of register with the opening of the outer
stationary tubing, but which may be brought into register with said opening of the
outer stationary tubing when the inner tubing is rotated a desired distance. This
lock casing is provided therein with a bolt, and a key is adapted to be passed
through the openings when they are in registering position, to engage directly the
bolt, said key when turned in one direction causing the bolt to be drawn from
within outwardly through the opening of the inner rotatable tubing, and into final
engagement with the outer stationary tubing, whereby the inner tubing is locked
to the outer tubing, and is prevented from being turned, and consequently the front
wheel which is connected to the inner tubing through the medium of the usual fork
is prevented from being turned back to such position as to enable the machine to
be ridden. After the bolt is thus drawn out to locking position, it can subse-
quently be forced back to its normal position to unlock the machine by turning the
key in the opposite direction. By this construction, when the machine is unlocked,
no portion of the lock mechanism is visible, as the inner tubing is then turned so
as to bring its opening out of register with the opening of the outer tubing; and
furthermore by reason of the fact that the bolt is drawn outwardly through the
openings, when said openings are in registering position, only one set of said
openings is necessary, thereby greatly subserving strength in the framework of the
machine.
A
The invention differs from other constructions of bicycle locks in the respect that
the bolt is drawn from within outwardly by means of a key engaging the bolt
directly, said bolt being drawn through the opening of the inner rotatable tubing
and the opening of the outer stationary tubing, the opening of the inner tubing
being brought into register with the opening of the outer tubing by turning said
inner tubing a desired distance, and with it the front wheel of the machine-whereby
the bolt is enabled to be drawn outwardly into the opening of the outer stationary
tubing to thereby hold the inner tubing against rotation. It will thus be seen that
only one set of openings is necessary, viz. an opening in one side of the inner
tubing, and an opening in one side of the outer tubing.
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. In a bicycle lock, the combination, of the front outer stationary tubing of a

page_text: bicycle frame provided at one side with a bolt opening, inner tubing fitting closely,
revolubly in the outer stationary tubing, said inner tubing provided at one side with
a bolt opening, and having a connection with the fork of the front wheel, the inner
tubing adapted, when rotated a desired distance, to bring its bolt opening into
register with the opening of the outer tubing, and to also turn the front wheel of
the bicycle at an angle, a lock casing fitting within the inner tubing, and provided
with a screw-threaded bolt opening registering with the opening of the inner tubing,
lock mechanism within the casing, a bolt within the bolt opening of the lock casing,
said bolt provided with a feather engaging the screw-threads of the bolt opening,
and a key adapted, when the inner tubing is turned so as to bring the bolt openings
into register, to be passed through said openings and to engage the bolt directly,
said key when turned in one direction, adapted to draw the bolt from within
outwardly through the registering openings, and to finally engage the opening of
the stationary outer tubing, whereby the inner tubing, and the fork which carries
the front wheel, are held against rotation; and when the key is turned in the
opposite direction, the bolt is forced from without inwardly through the registering
openings to its normal position within the casing, whereby the inner tubing and the
front fork carried thereby are free to be turned.
2. In a bicycle lock, the combination, of the front outer stationary tubing of a
bicycle frame provided at one side with a bolt opening, inner tubing fitting closely,
revolubly in the outer stationary tubing; said inner tubing provided at one side with
a bolt opening, and having a connection with the fork of the front wheel, the inner
tubing adapted, when rotated a desired distance, to bring its bolt opening into
register with the opening of the outer tubing, and to also turn the front wheel of
the bicycle at an angle, a lock casing fitting within the inner tubing, and provided
with a screw-threaded bolt opening registering with the opening of the inner
tubing, lock mechanism within the casing, a bolt within the bolt opening of the
lock casing, said bolt provided with a feather engaging the screw-threads of
the bolt opening, a key adapted, when the inner tubing is turned so as to bring the
..bolt openings into register, to be passed through said openings and to engage
the bolt directly, said key when turned in one direction, adapted to draw the bolt
from within outwardly through the registering openings, and to finally engage the
opening of the stationary outer tubing, whereby the inner tubing, and the fork
...which carries the front wheel are held against rotation; and when the key is turned
in the opposite direction, the bolt is forced from without inwardly through the
registering openings to its normal position within the casing, whereby the inner
tubing and the front fork carried thereby are free to be turned, a disk of expansible
material against one end of the lock casing, a flat plate arranged against the outer
face of the expansible disk, and a screw passing through the plate, through the
disk, and entering the end of the lock casing, said screw when turned in one
direction, adapted to expand the disk, so as to cause its edge to bear tightly against
the inner surface of the inner tubing, in order to hold the lock casing in position.
Dated this 10th day of December 1896.
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent.