Pneumatic Hand Grip for Bicycles, Canes, Crutches, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1896-1ccepted, 20th Feb., 1897
Pneumatic Hand Grip for Bicycles, Canes, Crutches, and the like.
I, JULIAN KANE POGUE, Gentleman, of Webster Groves, St. Louis County,
State of Missouri, oue of the United States of North America, 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:-
My invention relates to an improved pneumatic hand grip that may be applied
to various uses, as, for instance, to bicycles, canes, crutches, hand tools of various
kinds, and other articles.
My invention consists in features of novelty hereinafter fully. described and
pointed out in the claims.
Figure I is a side elevation, showing my improvement applied to the handle bar
of a bicycle.
Fig. II is a section, taken on line II-II, Fig. 1.
Fig. I is an elevation of a modified form of sleeve upon which the pneumatic
coil may be wound.
Fig. IV shows the pneumatic coil applied to the hand hold of a crutch.
Fig. V shows it applied to the handle of a cane.
Fig. VI shows it applied to the handle bar of a bicycle near the head of the
machine.
Referring to the drawings, 1 represents part of the handle bar of a bicycle.
2 represents a sleeve adapted to fit over the end of the handle bar and which may
be cemented thereon after the usual manner. The inner end of the sleeve is flared
outwardly, as shown at 3. On the other end of the sleeve there is a head or
button 4, preferably provided with a bushing 5. 6 represents a tube, which may
be of circular or other form in cross-section, and which is wound in a spiral form
about the sleeve 2, as shown in Figs. I and II. This tube is air tight, so that it
may be inflated and thus form a pneumatic grip for the hand. The head or
button 4. is provided with a valve 7 of ordinary construction, and this valve
communicates with one end of the tube 6 by means of a port or air passage 8, so
that by applying an air pump to the valve, the tube may be readily inflated. One
end of the tube is cemented to the head or button 4, and the other end is tapered
down, as shown at 9, Fig. 1, and cemented to the adjacent coil. In lieu of this
manner of fastening the ends of the coil, a clip 10 that clamps the ends to their
respective adjacent coils may be employed, as shown in Fig. VI.
In Figs. I and II, I have shown the sleeve 2 in the form of a straight cylinder,
but if preferred, a sleeve slightly bulged in the centre, as shown in Fig. III, may
be used, and such sleeve may be provided with longitudinal slots to make it more
elastic to the grip.
In Fig. IV, 11 represents part of a crutch, the hand hold of which I have shown
provided with my pneumatic grip.
In Fig. V, 12 represents the handle of a cane, to which I have shown my
improved grip applied.
in Fig. VI, I have shown the grip applied to a handle bar of a bicycle up near
the head, a place where many riders prefer at times to hold the handle bars.
By making a pneumatic hand grip by forming a continuous tube into a coil,
provision is made for a uniform amount of air pressure in all of the coils or from
end to end of the grip, and the surface of the grip presents to the hand a series of
Price

page_text: corrugations running crosswise of the length of the hand, thus providing a secure
grip upon which the hand is not likely to slip.
While I have shown the coil applied to a sleeve adapted to be slipped over the
end of a handle bar of a bicycle, it is evident that the coil might be wound directly
upon the end of the handle bar, the same as it is wound directly upon the handle
bar up near the head, as shown in Fig. VI.
While I have shown the coil provided with a valve through which it may be
inflated and the supply of air renewed from time to time, if necessary, it is evident
that the coil might be inflated and the ends permanently sealed, which would
answer every purpose in case the tube should not become deflated.
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. As a new article of manufacture, a pneumatic hand grip consisting of a
number of rings lying side by side, substantially as described.
2. As a new article of manufacture, a pneumatic hand grip consisting of a coiled
tube, substantially as set forth.
3. As a new article of manufacture, a pneumatic hand grip consisting of a tube
coiled in spiral form and provided with a valve through which the tube is inflated,
substantially as set forth."
4. As a new article of manufacture, a pneumatic hand grip consisting of a sleeve,
and a tube coiled in spiral form upon the sleeve and provided at one end with a
valve, substantially as set forth.
5. As a new article of manufacture, a pneumatic hand grip consisting of a sleeve,
and a tube wound in spiral form upon the sleeve and having one end tapered down
and cemented to the adjacent coil, and a valve applied to the other end of the tube,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 12th day of December 1896.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.