Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 4th June, 1886.
Complete Left, 4th Mar., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 5th Apr., 1887.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I HARRY THRESHER of 19 Dalston Lane, in the Parish of Hackney in the county
of Middlesex, Mechanic do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the handles appertaining to the front seat of tandem
tricycles of the "Humber" or other analogeous type, and has for its object the
adjustment of the handles with respect to the saddle, instantaneously while riding,
so that the best support or the greatest leverage may be readily obtained.
Although applicable to tandem velocipedes my invention may be applied to all
types of velocipedes in which this particular shape and construction of handles is used.
In the "Humber" type of tandem velocipede, the handle bar for the front rider is
carried from the seat support, or from some convenient part of the frame contiguous
thereto, and consists of a tubo fixed to the seat support or frame in the centre of its
length, the ends being curved forwards, and upwards, and provided at their free ends
with suitable supports or handles. This arrangement (loes not permit of the adjustment
of the handles irrespective of the scat.
According to my invention I use the same form of handle bar, but, instead of
fixing the bar to the seat support, or frame, I mount it loosely in a socket fixed thereto
so that the bar may move both radially and laterally in it. On the end of the socket
I fix a disc provided with any suitable teeth, and on the bar I fix a similar disc fitted
with teeth to correspond, and engage with, the teeth on the disc fixed to the socket on
the seat support, or frame, and are kept up thereto by a spiral, or other convenient
form of spring, acting laterally between the har and the socket carrying it. This
spring is controlled by a finger lever or its equivalent mounted in convenient proximity
to one of the handles, so as to be within easy reach of the hand. By this means the
action of the spring can be controlled, and the teeth on the disc fixed to the handle bar
may be disengaging from those on the disc fixed to the socket on the seat support, or
frame, by moving the handles laterally which allows the handle bar to be raised or
lowered at pleasure, and locked instantaneously by releasing the finger lever.
It will be obvious that my invention may be carried out in other ways than that
hereinbefore described.
DAL: ... T. 1886
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70 & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I HARRY THRESHER of 19 Dalston Lane in the parish of Hackney in the County of
Middlesex, Mechanic, 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 :-
My invention relates to that type of handle bar for velocipedes which is curved at
the ends to bring the handles into a convenient position for the rider, such as is-for
instance applied to the front seat of a "Humber" type tandem tricycle, and also to
many types of front steering and rear driving bicycles and tricycles, in which the
steering wheel is controlled by a transverse handle bar in which owing to the inclination
of the raked steering post the handle bar must be curved to bring the handles back to
a convenient position for the rider; and it has for its object the adjustment of the
position of the handles with respect to the saddle, by revolving the handle bar in
the socket that carries it, so that the best support and most convenient position of the
handles may be instantly obtained whilst riding, and it further enables the handle bar
to be turned backwards or forwards to facilitato mounting and dismounting, which
with some types of direct steered tricycles is a matter of some inconvenience-especially
for ladies owing to the position, length, and curve, of the handle bar.
I carry my invention into practical effect as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings in which Figs. 1 and 2 Sheet No. 1.-which are a side olevation and plan
respectively show its application to the adjustable seat support of a
"Humber"
tandem tricycle, and Fig. 3, Sheet No. 2 is a view showing its application to the
steering post of a front steering and rear driving bicycle, tricycle, or other velocipede.
Throughout the several views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 Sheet No. 1 of the accompanying drawings, I take a
handle bar A provided with suitable handles A', A', and bent to any desired curve or
radius, and I mount it loosely in a socket B, fixed to, or forming part of, the adjustable
seat support or pillar B', which is usually made hollow and is provided with a plate at
the top to receive the spring on which the seat or saddle is mounted. The bar A is
made a good fit in the socket B, so that it may turn freely therein, and also move
laterally without any shake or slackness. On one end of the socket B, I form or fix
a disc provided with a number of teeth c, c, etc., of a V or coned shape, and on the
handle bar AI form, or fix, a similar disc C₁ with similar teeth c¹, c¹, etc., which
engage with the teeth c, c, etc., on the disc C. Encircling the bar A, on the opposite
side of the socket B to the disc C, is a spiral spring D which is confined between the
edge of the socket B, and a collar a formed on, or fixed to, the bar A, thus exerting a
lateral force between the bar and the socket, and so keeping the teeth on the discs C
and C perpetually engaged under any strain applied to the ends of the bar.
To unlock the teeth c and c¹ etc. to permit of the handle bar being rotated to alter
the position of the handles, the bar A is moved laterally against the spring D by means
of a bell-crank finger lever Ẹ, pivotted to a snug a¹ on the handle bar A; a bell-crank

page_text: lever F pivotted to a second snug a' on the bar A; and two lengths of cord, wire, or
chain G and G¹. The cord, wire, or chain G connects the arm of the hell-crank
finger lever E with one arm of the bell-crank lever F, and the length G¹ connects the
bell-crank lever F with the seat support B¹, so that when the finger lever E is clasped
to the handle A¹, it pulls the bar A laterally, and so disengages the teeth of the discs C
and C, when the handle bar A may be turned round in the socket B, into any desired
position, and immediately fixed there by releasing the finger lever E.
Instead of using both a finger lever E, and a bell-crank lever F, I sometimes use
only a finger lever. In which case I mount it on the outside of the bar A instead of
on the under-side thereof, and make it sufficiently long for its free end to be in a line
with the chain G¹ to which it would be connected. In this case the finger lever would
be grasped sidewards instead of upwards.
Referring to Fig. 3 Sheet No. 2 of the accompanying drawing. The handle bar A
carrying suitable handles A1, A2, and bent to any desired curve or radius, and brought
back any desired distance from the socket supporting it, is mounted loosely in a
socket B, fixed to, or forming part of, the raked steering post ✗, or of an adjustable
pillar B' fitting therein. The bar A is fixed to the socket B by the arrangement
hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 Sheet No. 1 of the accompanying
drawings, and is preferably controlled by the single finger lever E mounted on the side
of the bar A, as hereinbefore described. The various positions in which the handle
bar would be placed in actual use are shown in dotted lines, although it will be obvious
that it may be placed in many others, as its position is only limited to the degree of
fineness of the teeth of the controlling discs C and C. The forward and highest
position of the bar represents its approximate position to render ingress and egress to
the seat of the machine more convenient.
It will be seen that by making the handle bar to move laterally in its socket, and by
making the locking discs with V shaped, or coned teeth, all slackness and wear-of
which there is a considerable amount due to the leverage obtained by length of the
handle bar, and the distance of the handles from the socket carrying the bar is taken
up as it occurs, and there is no loose intermediate piece as would be the case with a
sliding clutch.
I do not limit myself to the exact form of locking discs, and teeth, hercinbefore
described and shown, as any equivalent arrangement in which a lateral jambing action,
with possibility of taking up wear is maintained.
When it is desired to use my invention merely as a means of varying the position of
the handles as a means of facilitating ingress and egress to the machine, it will only
be necessary to provide two teeth on the locking discs, one to lock the bar in its normal
position, and the other to lock it in its elevated position. In this case I sometimes
dispense with the finger lever for controlling the locking discs, as the bar can be
conveniently pulled laterally to release the discs, when the machine is not in motion.
Or instead of the finger levers as hereinbefore described and shown, I provide a small
lever in close proximity to the discs, operating, through an eccentric or equivalent
device, to force them apart against the spring keeping them engaged.
I am aware that this type of handle bar has already been made adjustable in its
socket by means of a split socket and grip bolt and nut, and by a spring finger and
catch or equivalent device; but I am not aware that these handle bars have ever been
mounted either, so that they may be instantly adjusted in any desired position whilst
riding, or that any slackness or wear between the parts is automatically taken up, thus
securing perfect rigidity of the bar with the frame of the machine.
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. Mounting the curved, bent or cranked handle bars of velocipedes, in the manner,
and for the purpose, as specifically hereinbefore set forth.
2. In a velocipede having a handle bar, the supports or handles of which are
mounted thereon out of the axial line of the socket carrying the bar; mounting the
bar loose in its socket so that it may rotate therein and also move laterally in one

page_text: direction, and controlling its position with respect to the said socket, by two toothed
discs, one fixed to the bar and the other to the socket, by means of a spring acting
laterally between the said bar and socket as hereinbefore described and shown.
3. In a velocipede mounting the curved, bent or cranked steering har loosely in the
socket carrying it, and connecting and fixing it thereto by means of a clutch consisting
of two discs having coned or V shaped teeth, such discs being kept engaged by a
spring acting laterally between the bar and the socket carrying it, and releasing the
said clutch by causing the bar to move laterally in its socket as and for the purpose
herein before set forth.
4. In a velocipede having a bent, curved, or cranked handle bar mounted so that the
position of its handles, or supports, may be varied as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2 Sheet No. 1 of the accompanying drawings; controlling
the clutch or locking discs by means of a finger lever, and connecting cords, wires, or
chains, either with or without a bell-crank lever as hereinbefore set forth, so that the
position of the handles may be varied by a rider while riding, without removing either
hand from the handles.
5. In a tandem velocipede the combination with the seat support B', of the curved
bandle bar A, the socket B₁, the discs C and C fixed respectively to the socket B, and
the bar A, and cach having coned, or V shaped, teeth c and c¹ etc., to engago with
cach other, the spring D, the fixed collar a or its equivalent on the bar A, the finger
lever E, the bell-crank lover F both pivotted to snugs on the bar A, and the chains G
and G¹ or other equivalent flexible connections, all combined, arranged, and operating,
as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a velocipede the combination with the raked steering post or head X, or with
the adjustable pillar B¹ fitting therein; of the loose curved steering handle bar A,
carrying the disc C³ having coned, or V shaped teeth, the toothed disc C with similar
teeth fixed to, or forming part of, the socket B, the spring D acting between the
socket B and a collar, or sholder a, on the bar A, all combined, arranged, and
operating as and for the purpose set forth.
100
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, 71 & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.