Improvements in or relating to the Handle Bars of Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1892-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1892.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Handle Bars of Bicycles,
Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
I JESSE MILLER of 4 High Cross Street Leicester in the County of Leicester
Tin & Iron Plate Worker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
--
I propose to make the handles, handle bars and brake handles of bicycles,
tricycles and other velocipedes, adjustable without moving front wheel, that is to
say the handles may be adjusted in a line with the wheels, for convenience of
And I propose
storage, transport and safety in standing when left by the rider.
to carry out the above invention as follows. Disconnecting the handle of machine
at A I insert a ball-joint in the T piece which will act as a swivel to allow the
handles, handle bars, and brake handles, being brought in a line with the wheels,
also a spring bolt B under handle bar enclosed in case C, to secure it in position
also a catch D to facilitate the entry of the bolt into the holes made in upright E
for its reception, also a swivel joint and crank in brake rod F, to allow the handle
to be turned round, the dotted lines G are intended to show the handles in their
original position.
7th day of Daarmbor 1901
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in or relating to the Handle Bars of Bicycles,
Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
I, JESSE MILLER. of 4 High Cross Street, Leicester, Iron and Tin Plate Worker,
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 has reference to bicycles, tricycles and similar vehicles and
is designed with a view of enabling the handle bar and the brake attachment
which are fixed transversely to the line of the wheels and the direction in
which the machine travels, to be readily and easily moved into a line with the
wheels and the direction of the length of the machine.
This will permit of the machine occupying a much less space for storing or
transporting purposes, as the handle can be moved into the position indicated
independently of any movement of the front wheel of the velocipede; while in the
case of a bicycle so constructed, it may be more readily and safely rested against a
wall or other support when the rider wishes to temporarily leave his machine.
The invention will be understood from the following description in reference to
the accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1 is a back view of the handle bar and brake attachment arranged in
accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of my improved arrangement.
Figure 4 is an underside plan of the tube or sleeve.
Figure 5 is a cross section on the line a. a and Figure 6 a section of the post on
the line both of Figure 3.
Figure 7 is a horizontal section on the line cc of Figure 1.
Figures 3. 4. 5. and 6 are drawn to, a larger scale than the other figures.

page_text: Only so much of the velocipede is shewn in the drawing as is necessary to
illustrate the application of my invention thereto.
In order to carry out my invention I weld or otherwise secure to or within the
handle bar A a bolt A' or equivalent hollowed or recessed at its lower end to
partially receive and form a bearing for a ball B upon which the handle moves as
hereinafter described.
The other part of the bearing for the ball is similarly formed in the upper end
of the post C at the lower end of which is the usual fork C₁ carrying the front
wheel C2 of the machine.
In order to prevent the handle bar being unintentionally raised on the post C
the boss A² connected to the former is screw-threaded and engaged by an internally
screw-threaded tube or sleeve D tightened against a collar C on the said
post C.
The lower end of the tube D is formed with a hexagonal or other shaped
aut D² to admit of a wrench being used to tighten the tube D if such should be
necessary.
The edge D³ of the ring is milled or serrated to allow of the hand of the rider
being used to tighten or release it, which under ordinary circumstances will
generally be all that is required.
While, however, from the foregoing it will be observed that the handle is free
to move on the ball B, it is necessary that it should be prevented moving accidentally
or at other times than desired by the rider.
For this purpose, then, a bolt F is located within a hole C, Figure 6, passing
through the boss A² of the handle bar and partly into the post C.
The bolt F is carried within a case G or other support welded on or otherwise
attached to the handle bar, and its inner end is preferably hollow and internally
screw-threaded to receive the screwed end of a ring-headed pin H passing through
the opposite end of the case and encircled by a spiral spring H' which serves to
keep the bolt F in its outward position.
When the handle bar is in its ordinary position on the machine i.e. transversely
to the length of the machine, the bolt is located within the hole C4 which is of such
a depth as to minimize the possibility of the bolt becoming accidentally disengaged
while the rider is on the road.
The depth of the other two holes C is not so great as C, as when the handle is
turned on the ball B so as to be in the same line as the wheels, the same necessity
for extra depth does not exist as all that is required is that the hole be sufficiently
deep to allow the end of the bolt to lodge therein, this of course will be readily
understood as when the machine is idle, there is no likelihood of the bolt becoming
accidentally dislodged, and further, it is desirable to keep the holes as shallow as
possible in order not to unnecessarily weaken the post.
From the foregoing it will be readily understood that when the rider desires to
place the handle of his machine into a straight line with the wheels thereof, as
herein before explained, it is only requisite to withdraw the bolt F by the
ring H², the handle can then be freely moved on the ball and the bolt allowed
to enter one of the holes C³ according to the direction in which the handle is
turned.
In order that the brake lever J may not offer any impediment to the turning of
the handle for the purpose stated, it is slightly cranked at J' where it passes in
front of the tube D and is furnished with a slot J so that the bolt J which con-
nects the brake lever to the handle and acts as a fulcrum to the former may slide
in the said slot when the handle is moved.
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 1-
1. In a bicycle, tricycle or other velocipede the combination with the handle bar
of a ball joint for the purpose of enabling the handle bar to be moved into a line

page_text: with the wheels of the vehicle substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
2. In a bicycle, tricycle or other velocipede the combination with a movable
handle bar such as A of a spring-controlled bolt such as F carried within a case
such as G and adapted to enter holes in the boss A2 and post C substantially in
the manner and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
3. The improvements in bicycles, tricycles or other velocipedes whereby the
handle bar may be moved into a line with the wheels and fixed in such position at
the will of the rider substantially in the manner and for the purpose described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 20th day of February 1892.
JESSE MILLER.
W. P. Thompson & Boult.