Improvements in and connected with Handle Bars for Bicycles and Perambulators.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 29th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Handle Bars for Bicycles and
Perambulators.
I, JOHN THOMAS BOWER, of 60 Brockley Road, Brockley, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the handle bars of bicycles and perambulators; and
consists of improvements whereby the handle bar may be turned in its socket ;
and also whereby the socket and handle bar may be turned about the steering
pillar in a horizontal plane; so as to place the handle bar in a position parallel to
the frame of the machine while the steering wheel remains in its normal position.
By turning the handle bar in its socket the position of the handles may be adjusted
to suit any rider, and by turning the socket and handle bar in a horizontal plane
through a quadrant of a circle, the machine can be taken through a narrow passage
or doorway.
In order to effect these purposes, I insert in the upper end of the steering pillar
the vertical part of a socket or tee piece through the horizontal part of which the
handle bar passes. The socket is capable of being rotated in the upper end of the
steering pillar to an extent which is limited by a screw or pin which is fixed in
the pillar, and enters a quadrantal or semi-circular groove in the vertical part of
the socket-piece.
When in its normal position, that is at right angles to the frame of the machine,
the handle bar can be locked by means of a split key, or pin which passes
transversely through the steering pillar, and through the vertical part of the socket.
The handle bar fits into the horizontal part of the tee piece loosely enough to
enable it to be turned therein, and in its middle part which is inside the tee-piece,
an annular groove is formed, into which fits the point of a screw. This latter is
screwed through the tee piece, and by tightening it up the handle bar can be
rigidly fixed with the handles in any desired position. The groove engages with
the point of the screw, and prevents the handle bar from sliding out of the tee
piece.
Where my invention is applied to perambulators the horizontal adjustment may
be dispensed with as the handle bar is required only to rotate in the socket or
tee picce.
Dated this 7th day of September 1896.
WILLIAM J. MUNDEN,
106 Priory Park Road, Kilburn, London, N.W.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Handle Bars for Bicycles and
Perambulators.
I, JOHN THOMAS BOWER, of 60 Brockley Road, Brockley, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, 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 to the handle bars of bicycles and perambulators, and
consists of improvements whereby the handle bar may be turned in its socket ;
and also whereby the socket and handle-bar may be turned about the steering
pillar in a horizontal plane, so as to place the handle bar in a position parallel to
the frame of the machine, while the steering wheel remains in its normal position.
By turning the handle bar in its socket the position of the handles may be adjusted
to suit any rider, and by turning the socket and handle bar in a horizontal plane
through a quadrant of a circle, the machine can be taken through a narrow passage
or doorway. These two improvements may be combined in one machine or either
may be employed separately.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the handle bar with fittings in section.
Fig. 2 is a section of the handle bar shewing fittings in elevation.
Fig. 3 is a modification.
Figs. 4 and 44 shew modified forms of pins.
Fig. 5 shews a modified form of screw.
Fig. 6 shews a modification.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 4, A indicates the handle bar of an ordinary rear
driving safety bicycle which fits the bore of the horizontal limb b of the tee
piece B in such manner as to turn freely therein, thus allowing the handles to be
turned either up or down to any position as shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 1. At
its middle part the handle bar has a groove a round the whole or part of its
circumference to receive the point of a screw 63 which is tapped into a boss
forming part of the tee piece B. The lower or vertical limb 6 of the tee piece
is inserted in the upper end of the bore of the steering pillar C in such manner
as to turn freely therein, thus allowing the handle bar to be moved round in a
horizontal plane. A quadrantal or semi-circular slot or groove 63 is formed in the
vertical limb of the tec piece, and a screw passing through the steering tube
prevents the handle bar and tee-piece from being drawn upwardly out of the
steering tube C. A hole is bored through the steering tube, and a corresponding
hole b is bored in the vertical limb of the tee-piece. When the handle bar is
adjusted to its proper position for use, these two holes coincide, and a pin 67 can be
inserted, thus ensuring that the turning of the handle bar in the horizontal plane
will be accompanied by a corresponding movement of the steering tube C, forks
and front wheel. The screw 2 has a hole 9 bored in its head for the insertion of
a rod or "tommy" by means of which the screw can be tightened up, or unscrewed,
and this hole is preferably of such a size as to fit the pin 67 which can thus be
used for these purposes.
By loosening the screw 62 the handle bar may be
be adjusted to any height as shewn in dotted lines.
secured the tightening up of the screw fixes the
turned so that the handles may
When the desired position is
bar in its position, the point

page_text: of the screw pressing in the groove a. One or more additional screws 62 may
be used.
In some cases I bore holes at the bottom of, or in place of, the groove a, and
form the screw 62 as shewn in Fig. 5 with a point 6x of a shape to fit either of
these holes, thus rendering it possible to secure a perfectly rigid fixture.
The screw * prevents the vertical limb or socket piece 6 from being drawn up
out of the steering tube C, while allowing it to be turned therein, and when the
position for use is secured, the insertion of the pin 67 through the coinciding holes
in the socket piece 61 and tube C fixes the two in that position. By withdrawing
the pin 67 the handle and tee piece can be turned through a quarter of a circle,
thus allowing the handle bar to be in the same plane as the frame of the machine.
This allows the machine to be taken through a narrow doorway or a hall, or stowed
away, while occupying but small space.
Fig. 3 shews a modified method of constructing the handle bar, a block D is
formed with a groove a, and its ends d are shaped so as to receive the inner ends a¹
of the handle bars which are brazed in this position, and inserted through the tee
piece so as to bring the groove a underneath the point of the same.
Fig. 4 shews a modified form of the pin 67; in this case the part 68 immediately
under the head is screwed so as to enter a female screw formed in the hole 6º, in
the upper end of the steering tube C. The pin (preferably slightly tapered) is
first pushed in as far as possible, and then fixed in position by a few turns. The
point of the pin may be screwed for the same purpose.
In Fig. 6 is shewn a modification wherein the handle bar is allowed to turn in
a horizontal plane only, so that it may be parallel to the frame of the machine
without turning the steering wheel. In this case, the fittings, as before described,
for the vertical limb 6 of the tee-piece B are retained, but the screw 62 and boss
are dispensed with, the handle bar being brazed or otherwise firmly fastened in the
ordinary manner in the horizontal limb 6 of the tee-piece B.
Where this invention is applied to perambulators the horizontal adjustment may
be dispensed with as the handle bar need only rotate in the socket or tee piece, or
two sockets may be employed in this case.
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. A handle bar for bicycles and perambulators which turns in a socket or sockets,
as shewn and described.
2. In a handle bar for bicycles and the like, the tee piece B (into the horizontal
limb of which the said handle bar is brazed or otherwise firmly fastened) the
vertical limb or socket part of which is free to rotate in the upper end of the
steering pillar C, said rotating movement being limited by a quadrantal slot 6³,
which engages a pin 4 passing through both steering pillar and socket part,
together with a locking pin, all substantially as shewn and described.
3. In a handle bar for bicycles and the like, the tee-piece B, the vertical limb
of which is fixed in the upper end of the steering pillar, and the horizontal limb
of same being provided with a boss and a tightening screw or screws the point or
points of which engage an annular groove formed upon the whole or part of the
circumference of said handle bar, by means of which device, the handle bar can
be rotated, therefore making the handles adjustable in height to suit any rider,
all substantially as shewn and described.
4. A handle bar for bicycles and perambulators, which turns in a socket or tee-
piece, the lower limb of which fits into the steering tube of the machine in such.
manner that the handle bar can either be turned in a horizontal plane, or be fixed
in the normal position for use, substantially as shewn and described.
5. For use in a bicycle or perambulator, the combination of the handle bar A
having a groove a, the tee piece B, the screw or screws 63, the socket part b¹,

page_text: having a slot 63, the screw 6, the holes 6, the pin ', and the steering tube C,
substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 29th day of March 1897
WILLIAM J. MUNDEN,
"The Inventor's Assistant " Office,
106 Priory Park Road, Kilburn, N.W.,
Agent for the Applicant.