Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles, Tricycles, and all Vehicles having Rubber Tyres.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Apr.,
1898
Complete Specification Left, 16th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles, Tricycles, and all Vehicles
having Rubber Tyres.
I, JOHN WILLIAM JONES, 34, Deane Road, Fairfield, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
provide a piece of wire of suitable strength and bend the same together to form
an arm, and make two loops, to form a pivot or hinge about the centre, and at the
other end of the loops, I bend the wire almost to the shape of a shoe horn, this part
of the wire may be covered with rubber or any other materials to act against the
wheel. I join the ends of the wire together firmly with a nut or a band.
the two loops I pass a pin and have it fastened to the frame of the vehicle at a
suitable distance from the wheel. I provide a tubular wire spring, preferably turned
one half left hand and one half right hand, or any other suitable spring to release the
brake.
Through
The improvements are as follows:-1st. As the brake is applied on the wheel
different to all brakes hitherto in existence I am able to produce a lighter and a
more reliable brake. 2nd. Also the wheel in revolving helps to lock itself, the brake
being so arranged that it points in a direction opposite to that of the motion of the
tyre.
Assuming that the brake is to operate on the hind wheel of a gentleman's bicycle
I provide, near the saddle pin a sheave block or a bell crank. On the top bar, or ou
the handle bar, or other convenient place I provide a slide or frame, which may be
made semi-circular straight, or otherwise with ridges or steps to act as a rack.
Then I provide a check sliding piece preferable with a spring, and a tongue taking
into the rack. Also provided is a piece of wire, cord or chain, one end of which will
be fastened to the part of the brake which is called the arm, and the other end of
which will be brought to the sheave block or the crank, and thence connected to the
check sliding piece. To manipulate the brake, the check sliding-piece is moved
along the frame to a suitable distance pulling on the cord and thereby pressing the
brake against the wheel and there remains until the brake is required to be released,
which is done by a slight touch or pressure from the point of the finger, on one end
of the sliding piece or tongue. In the piece I preferably provide a pin screw, where-
by the same can be tightened or locked by the aid of a small key, and the machine,
when the rider has dismounted can be left in safety. The brake can be attached to
suit the construction of any vehicle with rubber tyres.
Dated the Thirteenth day of April 1898.

page_text: Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles, Tricycles, and all Vehicles
having Rubber Tyres.
I, JOHN WILLIAM JONES, of 34, Deane Road, Fairfield, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Builder, 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
The invention consists essentially in forming a brake from a piece of wire bent so
as to form an arm or lever, two loops to act as a pivot or hinge, and a spoon or shoe
horn shaped part to bear against a wheel. This latter part of the wire is preferably
covered with rubber or other suitable material. The ends of the wire are joined
together by a nut or band. A pin is passed through the said two loops and such pin
is secured to the frame of the vehicle at a suitable distance from the wheel. A
tubular or helical wire spring, preferably turned one balf left band and one half right
hand is provided to keep the brake normally away from the wheel. The brake is
arranged on the frame so that it points in a direction opposite to that of the motion
of the tyre so that when the brake is in contact with the wheel there is brought into
play in some degree a selfacting wedge or locking action, by which means very little
pressure on the arm or lever is needed to fully apply the brake. A wire cord or
chain is connected at one end to the arm or lever and at the other end to a 'check
piece free to move in a slide or frame attached to the frame of the vehicle at any
convenient point and provided with steps or ridges to act as a rack.
The check piece is preferably provided with a tongue or like device taking into the
rack and with a spring to keep the tongue engaged with the rack.
When the check piece is moved along the slide the cord is pulled and the brake
applied and remains applied until the check piece is released by a slight pressure on
one end which raises the tongue out of engagement with the rack. preferably
provide the check piece with a pin screw whereby the check piece can be locked in
position when the brake is applied.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of so much of a
bicycle frame and wheel as is necessary to illustrate my invention as applied to.a
bicycle. a is the top tube, 6 back forks, c seat pillar, d part of tyre of the back
wheel, e is a piece of wire of suitable strength bent so as to form an arm f, two loops g,
and a spoon or shoe horn shaped part or brake shoe h. The part is covered with a
rubber tube or other suitable covering i to take the wear caused by friction
against the tyre d. The ends e¹ of the wire are joined firmly together by a band
or nut j. A pin k is passed through the loops and such pin is secured to the
back forks b by clips and jam nuts 12 at such a distance from the tyre as that
there will be, when the brake is applied to such tyre, a wedging or locking action
set up between the tyre and the brake. The arrows show the direction of motion
of the tyre. m is a tubular or helical wire spring secured at each end m¹ to the
nuts. The spring presses at m² on the arm f so as normally to release the brake.
The tension of the spring is adjusted by rotating the nuts which are then locked in
position by tightening the nuts 12. n is a wire or cord attached to the arm f and
passing over a pulley near the saddle pin and fastened to the check sliding piece o
free to move in a slide or frame o¹ secured to the tube a by clips or in any convenient
manner. The piece is provided with a tongue p taking into a rack g in the

page_text: frame o¹.
is a spring for keeping the tongue engaged with the rack. When the
check piece is pushed forwards the cord n is pulled and the brake is applied and
is kept applied as long as the tongue p is engaged with the rack q. When the
brake is to be released the check piece is rocked on the rounded portion of by
pressing on the projecting end o³ so as to raise the tongue p out of engagement with
the rack. The check piece is then free to slide back. s is a pin screw, operated by
a small key, by means of which the check piece can be locked so as to prevent the
tongue being raised out of the rack, the brake being thereby locked in position.
The brake may be operated by any convenient ineans other than the check piece if
desired.
Fig. 3 is a side view of a modification of check piece and slide frame. Like letters
denote equivalent parts to those in Figs. 1 and 2. In this view the slide is semi-
circular and the check piece is pivotted at t. is the tongue pivotted at pl and
taking into the rack q and kept in contact with the rack by a spring. n is the cord
passing under the pulley n¹ and attached to the brake arın as before mentioned.
Fig. 4 is a side view partly in section illustrative of my invention as applied to the
front wheel of a bicycle. Like letters denote equivalent parts to those in Figs. 1
and 2. top tube, front forks, d tyre of wheel, f brake arm, h, i brakeshoe. In
this case instead of a cord being used to pull the arm fa rod n is used to push the
arm f downwards thereby applying the brake. The rod n is provided at its upper
end with a tongue p and acts as the check sliding piece. q is the rack into which
the tongue p takes. spring to keep the tongue engaged with the rack. The brake
is released by pressing the rod n sideways until the tongue is disengaged from the
rack. 8 pin screw for locking the tongue in engagement with the rack when
desired.
I do not confine myself to the particular arrangements above described as it will
be obvious that many variations of check sliding pieces, racks and tongues may be
made, and that the brake and connections may be applied to other vehicles than
bicycles without departing from the nature of my invention.
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 :-
First. A brake formed from a piece of wire bent into shape to form an arm or lever,
a pivot or hinge, and a brake shoe substantially as set forth.
Second. A brake arranged to point in a direction opposite to the motion of the
wheel tyre substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Third. The combination with a brake of a helical spring arranged and operating
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. The combination with a brake of a check sliding piece provided with a
tongue or the like taking into a rack, and connections between the sliding piece and
the brake substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fifth. The combination with a brake of a check sliding piece provided with a
tongue or the like taking into a rack, and a pin screw or the like for locking in posi-
tion, and connections between the sliding piece and the brake substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
Dated tha Thintaanih
day of 1000