Improvement in Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 8th May, 1897-Accepted, 26th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Bicycles.
WILLIAM JOHN TANNER of 4 Rosary Gardens Kensington S. W. Gentleman do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of an arrangement by which the handle and cross bar on
bicycles are folded downwards on each side of the upright carrying the cross bar in
order that the bicycle may be more conveniently stored packed or carried.
In order to carry out this arrangement I divide the cross bar at each side and close
to the upright and then hinge the divided sections to the upright at the angles made
by the cross bar and the upright. By this means the two sections of the cross bar
can be folded down. When raised up in place I lock the hinge and join the upper
parts of the divided cross bar by means of a plate or plates fastened to the end or
ends of the divided sections of the cross bar and screwed pinned or bolted together in
order to make the two sections of the cross bar rigid and self contained.
Dated this Eighth day of August 1896
Improvement in Bicycles.
I, WILLIAM JOHN TANNER, of 4, Rosary Gardens, Kensington, London, 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,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures
marked thereon, that is to say:
My improvements in bicycles have reference more particularly to improved means
or locking joints for permitting the handle bar to be folded downwards, on each side
of the steering post, and for locking such handle bar when raised into position for use.
By means of my invention the machine can be more readily stored, or carried.
In carrying out my invention, the handle bar is divided on each side of the T piece,
and the sections or portions are hinged thereto. These sections or portions are each
provided with a locking joint consisting essentially of two members or parts, formed
preferably as plates, one being secured to the T, and the other to the handle bar at
that end in proximity to the said T piece. These plates may be adapted to interlock
or engage with each other, or to abut or impinge against each other.
Means are also provided whereby the members or parts of the locking joint can be
attached to the handle bar and T piece.
A suitable locking device is further provided to securely retain the members or
parts of the locking joint together, when brought into their interlocking, or into
their abutting, position.
And in order that my invention may be readily understood, I will describe the
same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one member or part of the locking joint, and

page_text: Fig. 2. a like view of the other member or part. Fig. 3 shews the members or
parts in their assembled or interlocked position.
Fig. 4 is an elevation shewing the locking joint applied to the folding handle
bar of a bicycle, the full lines indicating the handle bar in its raised and locked
position, and the dotted lines in its folded and unlocked position.
Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of a modified arrangement of my locking
joint, it being shewn closed in Fig. 5, and open in Fig. 6.
Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of another modified arrangement of the
locking joint, shewing the locking device closed and open, respectively.
Fig. 9 shews a still further modification of my locking joint.
The same letters of reference indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the
drawings.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, which shew my invention in its simplest form, and to
Fig. 4 which shews it applied to the folding handle bar of a bicycle, A designates
the handle bar, B the T piece, and C the steering post, the handle bar being
divided on each side of the T piece and hinged thereto at D.
The locking joint, by means of which the handle bar is secured and retained in
its raised position for use, consists essentially of the plates a and b, the former
being secured to the handle bar, and the latter to the T piece. The plate a is
furnished with teeth or projections' a', formed as continuations thereof, and the
plate b is provided with corresponding recesses or slots 6₁ into which the teeth
engage when the handle bar is raised into its position for use, and the plates
interlocked. The plates are each provided, on their underside, with a saddle piece c,
by means of which they are brazed, or welded, on to the T piece and handle bar
respectively. These saddle pieces may either be formed in one with the plates, or
may be brazed or otherwise secured thereto.
d is a turn button, or thumb screw, carried on the plate b, and designed to
securely fasten and retain the plates when interlocked, the fastening being effected
by turning such button, or screw, so as to cause it to lie across the teeth a¹, as
shewn in Fig. 3. On releasing this button, or screw, the handle bar is free to
fall into its folding position.
By preference, the teeth a¹ are tapered both in a longitudinal and in a transverse
direction, in order to allow them to more readily enter the slots or recesses
which are, themselves, shaped to correspond with the teeth.
In the arrangement shewn in Figs. 5 and 6, and which is similar to that
previously described, the plates a and b are combined with split rings e, e', provided,
on their underside, with lugs e hinged together at e³, and with tightening bolts e
and nuts. This arrangement is particularly applicable to existing folding handle
bars of bicycles, as it permits of the locking joint being readily attached to, or
detached from, the handle bar and T piece.
In the modification shewn in Figs. 7 and 8, I dispense with the interlocking
plates, and employ plates adapted to abut or impinge one against the other, while,
however, retaining the split rings. In this arrangement the plates a and b are cut
away, at their upper part to receive a locking stirrup or yoke f, pivotted at f¹ to
the narrow part of the plate b. This stirrup or yoke, which takes the place of
the button or thumb screw d shewn in Figs. 1 to 6, is provided with a locking
pin adapted to enter a hole a in the plate a when the plates are brought
together. It may be further provided with a transverse bar or tooth arranged
to enter a corresponding recess h¹ formed in the plate b, on the stirrup being
lowered to fasten the locking joint. By this arrangement, the pull on the handle
bar will take place on such tooth and so prevent strain on the pivot pin f
Fig. 9 shews a still further modification of my locking joint. In this, the plates a
and may be disposed as in either of the previous arrangements, and are also cut
away on their upper part, but they are of dovetail form and receive a corre-
spondingly shaped sliding clip i, instead of a stirrup or yoke. Said sliding clip is
fitted, on each of its sides, with a pin adapted to slide in grooves formed in
the plates a and b. These pins limit the travel of the clip (the extent of which

page_text: is shewn by dotted lines) and, at the same time, prevent it becoming detached from
the plate b, and so lost. The locking device employed is a pivotted transverse
catch; which takes over the rounded end of the plate a. This modification shews
saddle pieces c, such as described with reference to the first construction of locking
joint, but it is obvious that hinged split rings (as shewn in dotted lines) may be
employed in their stead, and for the purpose before mentioned; and conversely,
in lieu of the split rings shewn in Figs. 5 and 6, and 7 and 8, saddle pieces may
be substituted therefor."
Instead, also, of affixing the plate a to the handle bar, it may be affixed to the
T piece, and the plate b to the handle bar, or either of the plates may be affixed
to a portion of the handle bar which would be fitted into such piece, the
handle bar being then divided at a suitable point, on each side of the T piece, and
hinged together in any convenient manner.
Having now particularly described, and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same may be performed, I wish it to be understood
that I lay no claim to folding or divided handle bars in themselves, as I am aware
that such are not new, but what I claim is :-
1. A folding handle bar for bicycles provided with means for locking it when
in its raised or working position, said means consisting of plates adapted to inter-
lock with each other, or to abut or impinge against each other, means for securing
the plates to the handle bar and T piece respectively, and a locking device on
one of said plates to fasten them when in their closed position, substantially as
described.
2. In a folding handle bar for bicycles, a locking joint consisting of the plate a
having teeth or projections a', and the plate 6 having slots or recesses b¹ to receive
said teeth or projections, a saddle piece c formed on, or secured to, each of the
plates, and a turn button d (or its equivalent) upon the plate b, substantially as
described and as shewn with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings.
3. In a folding handle bar for bicycles, the combination with a locking joint
comprising a toothed plate a, slotted or recessed plate b, and fastening device d,
of adjustable split rings e, e', hinged together and forming part of said plates,
whereby such locking joint is rendered attachable, and detachable, substantially as
described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings.
4. The modified arrangement of locking joint in which the plates are arranged
to abut or impinge one against the other, and a pivotted stirrup or yoke, is employed
to secure them together, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 7 and 8 of
the drawings.
5. The further modified arrangement of locking joint, having either of the before
mentioned constructions of plates, and in which a sliding clip, with catch, is employed,
to secure them together, substantially as describe: with reference to Fig. 9 of the
drawings.
6. A folding handle bar for bicycles, constructed substantially as hereinbefore
described and shewn in the annexed drawings.
1000
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 54 Market Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.