Improvements relating to Cycles and other Road Vehicles
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 11th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"Improvements relating to Cycles and other Road Vehicles."
I, WILLIAM STARLEY, of St. John's Works, Coventry, in the County of Warwick,
Cycle Manufacturer. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates chiefly to cycles of the safety type such as are at present
in general use but my improvements are in part applicable to motor-cars and other
road vehicles.
One part of my invention consists in the manner in which I construct and
arrange a cycle framing with its pin or saddle pillar, to give greater security with
convenient means of adjustment to suit the rider. For this purpose I dispense with
the ordinary direct attachment of the upper ends of the tubular back stays to the
diagonal tube of the cycle framing, and interpose a short connecting rod or link
between such parts. The connecting pin or bolt at the diagonal tube end of such
rod serves also as a clamping bolt for binding the split or slotted end of the tube
upon the L pin or saddle pillar stem in the ordinary manner. The connecting pin
or bolt at the opposite end of the rod or link serves also as a clamping bolt for a
split socket piece attached by pins or by other means to the upper ends of the back
stays. The centre of such socket piece receives an auxiliary stem jointedly connected
to the rear end of the L pin or saddle pillar. On slackening the bolts of the
connecting rod or link the L pin with its auxiliary stem can be raised or lowered
to suit the rider and effectually secured in the required position by tightening the
bolts and thus setting up a clamping action on each stem.
Another part of my invention relates to the provision of a brake upon the crank
axle and for this purpose I form a cone upon the central part of the axle within the
bottom bracket, and fit upon the same a conical sleeve or bush which is prevented
from rotating in any convenient manner. In connection with such conical sleeve or
bush 1 arrange a lever for convenient operation either by a hand or foot of the rider
and by means of which the small end of the conical sleeve may be drawn.or
forced towards the large end of the cone, and thus sufficiently tightened upon the
same to cause the momentum of the moving machine to be rapidly absorbed by the
friction between the cone and the sleeve. I provide a spiral or other spring to
withdraw the sleeve from the cone and thus prevent frictional loss when the brake is
not in action.
The third part of my invention consists in the provision of means whereby the
handle of a cycle may be lowered to a greater extent than is possible with 'the
ordinary methods of construction, and thus dispensing with the use of inconveniently
curved handles and enabling the rider to make ready adjustment within a greater
range than is provided with existing machines. On one side of the head tube I
form an aperture extending nearly the whole distance between the socket or bracket
pieces, and of a width sufficient to allow of the required movement of the fork stem
in steering. On one side of the fork stem passing through the head tube, I make a
slot or aperture of a width slightly in excess of the thickness of the handle
attachment lug which projects from a split sliding plug within the fork stem. Such
split plug can be adjusted to the required position by sliding it up or down within

page_text: the fork stem as may be required and is secured in position by means of a conical
screw and nut fitting within conical apertures formed within the plug. The conical
screw and nut are drawn together for the purpose of expanding or wedging the split
plug against the inner periphery of the fork stem by a suitable key or like tool
inserted through the upper end of the stem. The handle is attached directly to the
projecting lug from the inner split plug without the use of the ordinary handle
stem.
The fourth part of my invention relates to the provision of convenient and
effective means whereby I am enabled to dispense with the inner tube of a
pneumatic tyre of a cycle or other vehicle wheel, and to the construction of a strong
and durable mud-guard for covering or partially covering such tyres. In the
application of this part of my invention I employ an endless rubber band which I spring
on to the rim of the wheel to form an air tight joint at the edges of the outer
cover. Upon each inner edge of the cover I attach a flap like strip of rubber in
tension and in such a position that on inflation such strips are forced by the air
pressure on to the rim band hereinbefore described and effectually prevent the
escape of the compressed air under the edges of the cover. The cover is secured to
the wheel rim by an overlapping coil of wire on each edge and by an inwardly
projecting bead on each side of the rim.
In constructing my improved mud-guard employ a strip of thin sheet steel or other
metal which I so form as to provide a central projecting rib on its inner side for the
purpose of stiffening the guard and preventing its deflection on to the wheel by the
tension of the cords or attachınents of the dress guards when applied to ladies'
machines.
Dated this son. day or December 1990.
1, WILLIAM STARLEY, of St. John's Works, Coventry, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer 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:-
This invention relates chiefly to cycles of the safety type such as are at present
in general use but my improvements are in part applicable to notor cars and other
road vehicles.
In the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter referred to.―
Figures 1 and 2 illustrate my improved adjustable L pin or saddle pillar or
support.
Figures 3, 4, and 5, illustrate my crank axle brake, Figures 6 and 7 the adjustable
handle bar, Figure 8 a pneumatic tyre, and Figure 9 a mud-guard constructed in
accordance with my invention.
The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.
One part of my invention consists in the manner in which I construct and arrange
a cycle framing with its L pin or saddle pillar, to give greater security with
convenient means of adjustment to suit the rider. For this purpose I dispense with
the ordinary direct attachment of the upper ends of the tubular back stays to the
diagonal tube of the cycle framing, and interpose a short connecting rod or link

page_text: between such parts, or the horizontal portion A of the L pin or saddle pillar. The
connecting bolt or pin B forms a pivot connection between the rear end of the L pin
and an auxiliary supporting stem C which can be clamped at any desired position
within the clip boss or socket piece D attached to the upper ends of the back stays E.
On slackening the bolts d and F, the L pin with its auxiliary stern C can be raised
or lowered to suit the rider and effectually secured in the required position by
tightening the bolts and thus-setting up a clamping action on each stem.
Another part of my invention relates to the provision of a brake upon the crank or
other axle or spindle and for this purpose I forin a cone as G Figure 5 upon the
central part of the axle within the bottom bracket or like part G, (Figures 3, 4
and 5), and fit upon such cone G a conical sleeve or bush G which is provented from
rotating in any convenient manner.
In connection with such non-rotatable conical sleeve or bush G2 I arrange a lever
as G3 which is preferably operated by a rod G connected with a lever on the handle
bar of the machine, or adjacent thereto. When the rod G is moved in the direction.
of the arrow 1 the end g of the lever G engages the projection g' from the conical
sleeve G and by forcing such projection down the inclined aperture g in the bottoin
bracket causes the small end of the conical sleeve to be drawn or forced towards
the large end of the cone, and thus sufficiently tightened upon the same to enable
the momentum of the moving machine to be rapidly absorbed by the friction
between the cone and the sleeve. I provide a suitable spring, preferably in cont
nection with the lever G³, to withdraw the sleeve from the cone and thus preven
frictional loss when the brake is not in action. To lighten the cone and obtain a
more effective action I sometimes cut a spiral groove around its periphery.
The third part of my invention consists in the provision of means whereby the
handle or handle bar of a cycle may be lowered to a greater extent than is possible
with the ordinary methods of construction, and thus dispensing with the use of
inconveniently curved handles and enabling the rider to make ready adjustment
within a greater range than is provided with the existing. machines. On one side of
the head tube H (Figures 6 and 7.) I form an aperture J extending nearly the whole
distance between the socket or bracket pieces, and of a width sufficient to allow of
the required movement of the fork sten in steering. On one side of the fork stem
passing through the head tube, I make a slot or aperture K of a width slightly in
excess of the thickness of the handle attachment lug L which projects from a split
sliding plug L' within the fork stem. Such split plug L' can be adjusted to the
required position by sliding it up or down within the fork stem as may be required,
and is secured in position by means of a conical screw and nut fitting within conical
apertures formed within the plug as illustrated. The conical screw and nut are
drawn together for the purpose of expanding or wedging the split plug against the
inner periphery of the fork steun by a suitable key or like tool inserted through
the upper end of the stem. The handle or handle bar L is attached directly to the
projecting lug from the inner split plug without the use of the ordinary handle
stem.
The fourth part of my invention relates to the provision of convenient and effective
means whereby I am enabled to dispeuse with the inner tube of a pneumatic tyre of
a cycle or other vehicle wheel, and to the construction of a strong and durable mud-
guard for covering or partially covering such tyres. In the application of this part
of my invention I employ an endless rubber band M (Figure 8) which I spring on to
the rim N of the wheel to form-an air tight joint at the edges of the outer cover 0.
Upon each inner edge of the cover O I attach a flap like strip of rubber as P in tension
and in such a position that on inflation such strips are forced by the air pressure on to
the rim band herein before described and effectually prevent escape of the compressed air
under the edges of the cover. The cover is secured to the wheel rim by an over-
lapping coil of wire on each edge and by an inwardly projecting head on each side of
the rim.
In constructing my improved mud-guard I employ a strip of thin sheet steel or
other metal which I so form as to provide a central projecting rib on its inner side or

page_text: central corrugations as illustrated at Figure 9, for the purpose of stiffening the guard
and preventing its deflection on to the wheel by the tension of the cords or attach-
nents of the dress guards when applied to ladies' machines.
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 is:-
1. In cycles, the combination of an L pin or saddle pillar or support with an
auxiliary stem, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. A brake for cycles and other vehicles comprising.the.combination of a fixed cone
upon the crank or other axle or spindle with a non-rotatable but sliding sleeve or
bush, substantially as described.
3. The combination with a cycle handle bar of. an adjustable attachment lug and
means for securing same within the fork stem, substantially as and for the purposes
described:
4. In pneumatic tyres for cycle and other vehicle wheels the combination of an
outer cover as with flap like strips P and a rim band M-substantially as and for the
purposes described and as illustrated at Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.
5. A mud-guard for the pneumatic tyres of cycle and other vehicle wheels having
central corrugations substantially as and for the purposes described and as illustrated
at Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated 18125, day of September TODT.
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London., W.C.
13 Temple Street, Birmingham.
Agents for the Applicant.