Improvements in Bicycle Bells.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycle Bells.
I, HERBERT NELSON GALE, of Bristol, in the County of Hartford and State of
Connecticut, United States of America, Mechanical Expert, 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 the class of devices more particularly used on bicycles or
like vehicles for the purpose of sounding an alarm, and the object of my invention
is to produce such a device, as a bell, with its base plate so constructed as to
admit of adjustment of the thumb lever or push button extending therefrom in
any desired position for its protection and for the convenience and safety of the
operator, and at the same time one in which the parts immediately clamping
the bell to the support shall be enclosed and free from projecting ends outside
of the structure; and a further object is to provide a device of this class whereby
the structure may be rigidly secured in place and adjusted without the use of
other devices than those immediately composing the structure.
To this end my invention consists in the device as a whole, in the combination
of parts, and in the details and their combination as hereinafter described and
more particularly pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the drawings:-
-
Figure 1 is a side view of my improved bell secured in place, as on a handle bar
of a bicycle, the striking mechanism being omitted.
Figure 2 is a detail view in vertical central section of the device.
Figure 3 is a detail top view with the gong and upper section of the base
removed.
Figure 4 is a detail side view of the parts disconnected and in section through
the base and clamp.
Figure 5 is a detail top view of the nut and side view of the clamp.
In the accompanying drawings the letter a denotes a support, as the handle
bar of a bicycle, b a sectional base plate mounted thereon, and c a gong supported
above the base plate. The gong is of usual construction and may be of any desired
shape and is secured to the upper end of a post d, as by means of interengaging
screw threads.
The base is formed in two sections. The upper section bis designed for
supporting the bell mechanism, and the lower section 62 co-operates therewith
in connection with other parts to clamp the device as a whole to its support, and
also serves as a case to enclose a portion of the clamping mechanism.
The post d is provided with a flange d¹ forming a shoulder lying within the base
and against the inner surface thereof, this post projecting through the base and
engaging at its lower end with a nut e. A flexible band is provided at or near
each end with means for attachment to the nut, in the form shown openings being
made through the band into which ears e¹ on the nut project.
An opening 63 is formed in the side of the base for the reception of a thumb
lever, which is common in this class of bells as a means of operating the striking

page_text: mechanism, the striking mechanism and thumb lever, however, being omitted
from the drawings as not necessary for a clear understanding of the invention.
The lower section 2 of the sectional base is of cup-shape for the reception of
the lower end of the post, the nut and the ends of the clamping band, thus forming
a casing completely enclosing these parts and providing a device free from pro-
jecting ends or obstructions. This lower section 62 is recessed on its under surface
for the reception of a handle bar a.
The upper section 61 of the base is loosely engaged with the post d so that it
may be freely rotated thereon except when the device is rigidly clamped in
position, and this section is preferably shaped to project within the section b³.
In assembling the device the flexible band f is placed about the support and
its ends engaged with the nut e. The Tower. section 62 of the base is then placed
in position with the nut and the ends of the band lying within this section, the
upper section b¹ of the base with the post d is then placed in position, and the
post rotated to engage the nut. The gong may now be secured in place on the
upper end of the post and the final clamping operation performed by a continued
rotation of the gong. Just before the device is rigidly secured in place the
upper section 6 of the base is rotated to locate the opening 63 in proper position,
after which the parts are firmly clamped in position by the rotation of the gong c.
Owing to the small frictional surface between the end of the post d and the
bottom of the socket in the gong as compared with the frictional surface between
the two sections of the base, the gong may now be easily removed by rotating in
the proper direction, and the device as a whole may be unclamped only by rotating
the base. The rotation of the base will loosen the parts by causing the rotation
of the post owing to the frictional contact between the shoulder formed by the
flange and the base. When the parts are once loosened by this operation the
post may be easily turned to disassemble the device if necessary.
An important feature of my invention resides in the loose mounting of a
section of the base on the post, the lower end of which engages with the clamping
means, this loose mounting of a section of the base enabling a thumb lever or like
part to be located in any desired position, and the enclosing of the clamping parts
within the base provides a neat and compact device, and one free from objections
present in a device where ends of bolts or screws, used to clamp the device, project
on the outer surface thereof, means other than those for clamping the parts and
assembling the bell not being required to finally adjust and secure the device in
position.
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 combination in a bicycle bell, a sectional base including a lower section
and an upper section rotarily mounted with respect to the lower section, a gong
support loosely mounted in the upper section, and a clamp device connected with
the gong support.
2. In combination in a bicycle bell, a sectional base plate including a lower
section having a socket in its under surface and an upper section rotarily mounted
with respect to the lower section, a nut located within the socket in
the lower section, a flexible band extending within the socket and
attached to the nut, a gong support loosely mounted in the upper section and in
engagement with the nut, and a gong adapted to be secured to the post.
3. In combination in á bicycle bell, a base plate consisting of a lower section
and an upper section rotarily mounted with respect to the lower section, a socket
in the under surface of the lower section, a nut located within the socket, a
flexible band having its enda extending within the socket and attached; to the nut,
á gong support loosely mounted in the upper section of the base, a gong adapted
to be secured to the support, and means connecting said support and nut whereby
on the rotation of the gong the nut is moved in the socket.

page_text: 4. In combination in a bicycle bell, a sectional base plate including a lower
section and an upper section rotarily mounted with respect to the lower section,
the lower section being shaped across its edge to fit a cylindrical surface, a socket
in the lower section, a nut located within the socket, a flexible band having its
ends extending within the socket, means for connecting the ends of the band and
nut, a gong support having a threaded end engaging the nut and loosely mounted in
the upper. section, and a gong secured to the gong support by means of inter-
engaging screw threads.
5. In combination in a bicycle bell, a sectional base including a lower section
and an upper section rotarily mounted with respect to the lower section, a clamp-
ing device, a gong support loosely mounted in the upper section of the base and in
engagement with the clamping device and having a shoulder resting against the
inner surface of the base in opposition to the clamp, and a gong secured to said
support.
6. In combination in a bicycle bell, a sectional base including a lower section
and an upper section rotarily mounted with respect to the lower section, said
lower section having a socket, a nut located within the socket a clamping band
with its ends adapted to engage the nut, a gong support loosely mounted in the
upper section and in engagement with the nut and having a shoulder resting
against the inner surface of the upper section, and a gong support secured to the
upper end of said support.
7. In combination in a bicycle bell, a sectional base including a lower section
and an upper section rotarily mounted with respect to the lower section, said lower
section having a socket and said upper section having a thumb lever opening,
a clamp device located within said socket, a gong support loosely mounted in said
upper section and in engagement with the clamp device, and a gong secured to
said support.
Dated the 101
1
1000
HERBERT NELSON GALE.
D. Young & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.