Year: 1898

page_text: United States),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 7th June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 7th June, 1898-Accepted, 30th July, 1898
I, FREDERIC EHNINGER BALDWIN, of New Brighton, in the County of Richmond,
and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of the invention which forms the subject of my present application
for Letters Patent is to provide a brake which may be readily and easily applied
to any bicycle without alteration of the latter, or the addition to it of special
supports or guides
Stated in general terms, my improvement consists in a brake shoe provided with
any suitable means for forcing it into contact with the periphery of a wheel
and formed or provided with extensions in the nature of hooks which engage with
the sides of the front fork, or, in general, with a rigid part of the frame when the
shoe is depressed and drawn forward by the wheel
In bicycle brakes as commonly constructed the brake rod which carries the shoe
takes all the stiain due to the drag or pull between the wheel and shoe, and it has
been necessary, therefore, not only to employ rods of considerable strength, but to
provide special guides near the wheel, through which the rods passed and by which
they were supported on the frame This construction renders it difficult, and
often impossible, to attach any but a special brake to a bicycle of certain style,
and no brake, of which I am aware, has been heretofore produced which is capable
of application to bicycles generally without some modifications of or additions to
the latter
The improved brake which I have devised 18 one which is free from this
objection, and may be applied directly to any form of bicycle on the market Its
construction and mode of operation will be described by reference to the accom-
panying drawing.
Fig 1 is a perspective view of the front post and handle bar of a bicycle with
my improved brake attached thereto.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the brake-shoe
Fig. 3 is a section through the point of attachment of the brake lever to the
handle bar.
While the principle of the improved brake renders it possible to attach the
same to different parts of the frame and so that it may be applied to either wheel,
it 18 preferable to attach it ún substantially the manner shown so that it may be
applied by means of a simple lever to the front wheel between or immediately
in front of the front fork, as shown in the drawing In this particular mode of
application the invention will be described.

page_text: A. 18 the front post of any bicycle, B, B, the sides of the fork, C the usual
handle-bar and D the wheel running between the fork.
This is,
The brake consists of a shoe, oi as it 18 usually termed a spoon, E
or may be, of any of the usual forms or patterns, but it is distinguished by
having, preferably at its rear end, two lateral extensions F, F. These ale pie-
ferably formed as hooks which will engage with or embrace the side bura B of
the fork.
The surfaces of the hooks, and such portions of the shoe as are liable to come
in contact with the fork, are provided with pads G, or generally, covered or
coated with any material that will prevent the rattling of the shoe when vibrating
against the fork.
The principle of the construction of the shoe is such that when it is pressed
down upon the wheel it will be drawn tightly against the fork which takes up
the strain to the drag
Any suitable means may be employed to depress the shoe, but I prefer to use
a simple, longitudinally adjustable brake rod H, pivoted to a level K, which may
be attached to the handle-bar
As a means of attachment I employ a splint ring or clamp L which is placed
around the handle-bar This is tightened by a screw H, and by the screw bolt N
which forms a pivot for the lever The said bolt has a shoulder which abuts
against one member of the clamp and a threaded portion of smaller diameter
which draws together the two parts of the clamp The lever is always loose
upon the larger portion of the bolt, and 18 acted upon. by a spring
tends to raise the brake rod and shoe away from the wheel
which
In attaching the brake to a bicycle the shoe is tilted and introduced between
the sides of the fork, the lever secured to the handle-bar, and the telescoping 10d
adjusted to the proper length
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 18:
1 A bicycle brake comprusing a shoe, and means, adapted for attachment to
the frame of a bicycle, foi forcing the same into contact with a wheel, the shoe
being formed or provided with extensions on hooks for engagement with a rigid
part of the frame to prevent the shoe from being moved by the drag or pull of
the wheel
2 The combination an a bicycle brake of a handle oi lever adapted for attach-
ment to a bicycle frame, a rod, and a shoe carried thereby, the shoe being formed
or provided with extensions or hooks for engagement with the sides of the wheel
fork
3 A shoe for bicycle brakes having extensions or hooks adapted to engage
with a rigid part of the frame when the shoe 18 pulled or dragged forward by
contact with the wheel.
4 A shoe for bicycle brakes having extensions or hooks adapted to engage
with a rigid part of the frame when the shoe is pulled or dragged forward by
contact with the wheel, the said extensions or hooks being covered or coated with
a sound deadening material
1
1000
of May 1858
FREDERIC EHNINGER BALDWIN
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C,
Agents for the Applicant
Dated the 24th day of May 1896
FREDERIC EHNINGER BALDWIN
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C,
Agents for the Applicant