IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Richard Trigwell of No 5 Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Richard Trigwell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th December 1882.
JAMES RICHARD TRIGWELL of N°.5. Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
"
My Invention relates to improvements in the steering arrangement of velocipedes,
and is chiefly applicable to bicycles having what is known as the "Stanley" or
closed head.
In this class of velocipedes the head is hollowed out and slotted thereat at the
back for receiving the steering portion or front end of the backbone of the machine,
which steering portion is pivoted at the upper and lower closed ends of the hollow
formed in the head on balls which have free play around and in the said ends,
the consequence being that when it is required to disconnect the bicycle, the,
bearing balls fall out and are liable to be lost.
Now my Invention consists in arranging the bearing balls in a circular groove
or channel formed on the inner circumference of the upper and lower ends respec-
tively of the hollow in the head, and confining these balls to their grooves or channels
by caps or rings in such a manner that they cannot leave the grooves and that half
the aggregate surface of the several balls is exposed and forms a bearing or pivoting
surface for the respective shoulders of the upper and lower pivots or ends of the
steering portion of the velocipede. The upper and lower ends of the hollow in the
head are formed by plugs screwed into the end and in these plugs I arrange the
bearing balls as described. Both ends are recessed at their centres beyond the
bearing planes or surfaces of the balls for receiving the centres or pivot ends of the
steering portion of the velocipede.
By my Invention the bicycle or other velocipede to which it may be applicable
can be taken to pieces without disturbing the bearing balls thereby avoiding the
danger of losing the latter and so rendering the velocipede useless for the time
being.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Lotters Patent filed by
the said James Richard Trigwell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
9th June 1883.
JAMES RICHARD TRIGWELL of 5 Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex,
[Machine Maker.] "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
37
My Invention relates to improvements in the steering arrangement of velocipedes
and is chiefly applicable to bicycles having what is known as the "Stanley" or
closed head.
In this class of velocipede the head is hollowed out and slotted thereat at the
back for receiving the steering portion or front end of the backbone of the machine,
which steering portion is pivoted at the upper and closed ends of the hollow
formed in the head on balls which have free play around and in the said ends, the
consequence being that when it is required to disconnect the bicycle, the bearing
balls fall out and are liable to be lost.
Now my Invention consists in arranging the bearing balls in a circular groove
or channel formed on the inner circumference of the upper and lower ends respec-
tively of the hollow in the head and confining these balls to their grooves or
channels by caps or rings in such a manner that they cannot leave the grooves and
that half the aggregate surface of the several balls is exposed and forms a bearing
or pivoting surface for the respective shoulders of the upper and lower pivots or
ends of the steering portion of the velocipede.
And in order that my said invention may be well understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same reference being made to the annexed
sheet of drawings, like letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
figures.
"
Figure is a side sectional elevation of the "Stanley" or closed head and
steering portion of a bicycle constructed and arranged according to my invention-
Figure 2 a back view of the head-Figure 3 a section of the head on line 1. 2. in
figure 2, and figures and 5 detached. views of parts of figure 1-a represents the
Stanley." or closed head of a bicycle, which head is hollowed out at b and formed
at the back with a slot c for the reception of the steering portion d of the back-
bone'e of the machine-The steering portion d is pivoted at its upper and lower
ends to the head a by means of shoulders f bearing on balls 9 which are arranged
in circular grooves à formed in the upper and lower closed ends i and j respectively
of the hollow b in the head a and are confined to the grooves by caps or rings k
in such a manner that whilst the balls g are allowed to have, free play in the
grooves h they cannot drop out or leave them, and that half the aggregate surface
(or thereabouts) of the balls g is exposed (see underside. view. of head i in
figure 5); and forms the bearing or pivoting surface. for the shoulders f of the
steering portion' d-The upper and lower closed ends i and j (see also figures 4
and 5) may consist of plugs screwed into the respective ends of the hollow b in the
head a as shewn, or in lieu of being screwed they may be let in plain and secured
to the head by screw feathers or keys, or they may be otherwise formed and fixed
to the head a as found most suitable for the reception of the bearing balls g-
Recesses are formed centrally in the ends i and beyond the bearing planes of
the balls g for receiving the centres or pivot ends m of the steering portion d.
By my Invention the bicycle or other velocipede to which it may be applicable
can be disconnected and the ends i and j taken out without disturbing the bearing
balls g thereby avoiding the danger of losing the latter, which renders the velocipede
useless for the time being, also the rapid wear and consequent risk to the rider

page_text: when using the ordinary centre steering bicycle is obviated, and the action of the
machine rendered safer and more pleasant.
My improved system is applicable to any form of bicycle or tricycle head.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider novel and original and
therefore claim as my Invention, is :-
1. In the steering portion of a bicycle (or other velocipede), arranging the
bearing balls in grooves or channels formed in the closed ends of the head and
confining the balls to the said grooves, substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
2. Screwing or otherwise forming or fixing the closed ends containing the
bearing balls to the head, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
In Witness Whereof I the said James Richard Trigwell have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 4th day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
JAMES RICHARD TRIGWELL (L.S.)