Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 22nd May, 1897
I, EDWARD SPENCER HALL, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at No. 553 West 156th Street, in the City of New York, County and
State of New York, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is to provide improved, more convenient and efficient
plunger brake devices for bicycles, tricycles, or other vehicles.
In this invention the brake head or spoon is pressed to the vehicle wheel by draft
devices operated preferably by a rotating handle on the steering handle bar.
These draft devices include an intermediate screw coupling which permits any
desired adjustment of the handle har. The lower portion of this coupling is,
according to this invention, combined in one self-contained structure with the lower
draft devices leading from the coupling to the brake spoon. Reversal of the draft
to lower the spoon to the wheel by upward pull on the intermediate connection
is obtained by passing the bight of the lower draft chain under a pin which is
The pin
fixedly held by rods which are fastened to the steering wheel fork crown.
does not enter the fork stem, thus preserving the full strength of the stem and
permitting the self-contained parts to be together slipped upward through the
steering wheel fork crown and be fastened thereto.
The invention also includes certain improvements in the intermediate draft
connections and in the brake operating handle, whereby the brake may be more
cheaply made and may be operated more easily and conveniently than heretofore.
The invention also includes certain improvements in the plunger brake head or
spoon which prevent injury to the pneumatic tire of a bicycle should the renewable
friction surface or shoe of the spoon be almost entirely worn away or should a much
overworn shoe by any possibility be torn from its fastenings.
The invention will first be described and then will be defined in claims hereinafter
set forth.
Reference is made to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,
and in which :
Figure 1 is a vertical sectional side elevation of front parts of a bicycle embodying
my invention.
Fig. 2 is a rear vertical sectional view of the central parts of the handle bar and
the intermediate draft connection.
Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the operating handle, taken at right angles to
1.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-section of the handle taken on the line a, a, in
Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross-section taken on the line y, y, in Fig. 3.
Fig. 6 is a front vertical sectional view of the self-contained parts of the brake
actuating mechanism and intermediate coupling and the brake spoon, drawn to the
same scale as in Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 is an enlarged side view of most of the parts shown in Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged top perspective view of the support and guide for the
intermediate screw coupling and draft devices.

page_text: Fig. 9 is a top perspective view of the brake head or spoon.
Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view showing the locking pin at the head of the
screw coupling.
Fig. 11 is a front sectional elevation of a slightly modified form of brake head or
spoon, and
Fig. 12 is a top perspective view of separated portions of the brake spoon
cap-plate and shoe.
I will first describe the improved intermediate connections and draft devices and
operating handle, and I will then describe the improved brake spoon.
The brake spoon or head 1, acts on the steering wheel 2. The spoon stem 3
tightly fits the hollow pendent portion 4 of a plunger which has an upper hollow
head portion 5. The plunger and spoon are vertically guided by passage of the
part 4 loosely through a plug 6 fixed by a screw 7 or other suitable fastening to the
crown of the fork 8 in which the wheel 2 is journaled. In the plug 6 are fixed
the lower ends of two guide rods 9, 9, which pass upward loosely through the
central part of the plunger and are fixed at their upper ends to a cap ring 10.
To and between the lower parts of the rods 9 is fixed a cross-pin 11.
To the plunger head 5 and preferably between angularly bent lugs 12, 12,
thereon, is fastened by a pin 13 one end of a draft chain 14 which passes downward
and under the pin 11 and thence upward to connect by a pin or otherwise with the
lower preferably bent end 15 of a screw rod 16. This rod extends above the
plunger and between the rods 9, 9, and through the cap ring 10. A normally
contracting spring 17, surrounding the rods 9, is connected at one end to the ring 10,
and at its other end to the plunger and preferably by the same pin 13 which fastens
the chain 14.
The screw rod 16 is the lower portion of an adjustable or telescoping coupling
which has an upper tubular part 18 having a head 19 and provided with an internal
screw thread 20 which fits the thread of rod 16. The tube 18 extends upward
through the stem 21 of the steering handle bar 22. By turning the tube 18 by
means of its head 19, the screw coupling may be adjusted to any length while the
handle bar is being raised or lowered. To prevent turning of the tube 18 by
unauthorized persons, such as public carriers, I provide a small pin 23, which
preferably has next its head a screw thread fitting threads in the tube head 19,
and entering a slot or hole in the handle bar. This locking pin 23 prevents
turning of the coupling tube 18 by the fingers, but it may be quickly removed by
a screw driver when the handle bar requires vertical adjustment.
There have hitherto been used in the upper draft connections a cylindrical block
sliding in the handle bar stem and supporting the upper tubular portion of the
telescoping coupling, and two chains connecting the sliding block to a single upper
chain in the handle bar and leading to the operating device at the handle. I now
employ a light stamped metal support which has a central hole in its horizontal
middle plate 24 to receive the. coupling tube 18, which has a shoulder 18 resting
on said plate. From this plate 24 the metal of the support is pressed downward to
form a flaring flange which preferably comprises a series of prongs 25, the ends
only of which touch the inner surface of the handle bar stemi 21 and have very
little friction thereon. Two opposite lugs 26, 26, bent upward from the plate 24.
form bearings to which are pivoted the lower ends of a stamped metal yoke 27
between the upper laterally curved ends of which is pivoted by a pin 28, the
lower end of a single draft chain 29, which passes upward at one side of the
coupling tube 18, and thence over a guide piu 30 into one side of the handle bar 22.
The chain 29 is coupled at its outer end to a wire 31 which passes along within
the handle bar and at its outer end is fixed to a metal plate 32. This plate enters a
tubular slide 33 and has a hole through which passes a pin 34 which has one
reduced or shouldered end 35 which enters the farther side of the slide. After
this pin 34 is thus adjusted to the slide and plate, a wire 36 is passed through the
pin to prevent accidental withdrawal of it. The wire 36 is removed when a new
pin 34 is to be substituted for a worn out one. The projecting end of the slide pin

page_text: works through a longitudinal slot 37 in the handle bar 22 and enters a slotted
worm or screw plate 38 brazed to the inside of the metal lining 39 of the revoluble
handle 40. The worm preferably has an initial quick-pitch and a following slow
pitch of thread.
As the handle 40 is turned to the right on the handle bar 22, the worm 38 draws
on the pin 34, the slide 33, the plate 32, the wire 31, the chain 29, the yoke 27, and
the support 24, 25, and lifts the coupling 18, 16, and pulls upward on the chain 14
the other end of which reverses the motion of the plunger 4, 5, and carries it
downward and lowers the spoon 1 to the wheel 2 to apply the brake and stop the
bicycle or vehicle. When the handle 40 is turned back again it is locked
automatically in normal position by a latch 52, and the spring 17 meanwhile forces
the plunger 5, 4, up again, thereby lifting the brake spoon from the wheel and
taking off the brake. The spring 17 holds all flexible parts of the intermediate
draft connection taut and prevents endwise looseness and rattling of them, and the
support 24, 25 laterally guides the coupling 16, 18, and the lower draft connections
and prevents rattling of these in the handle bar and fork stem.
The metal lining tube 39 of the handle 40, instead of turning for its whole
length directly on the handle bar 22, as has hitherto been the case, is made larger
in diameter and at its inner end receives the brazed ring 41 and at its outer end
receives a ring 42. By these two rings the handle turns on the handle bar with
very little friction. The outer ring bearing 42 is preferably held to the handle
lining tube 39 by radial lugs 43 projecting from the ring into notches of the tube.
Next the ring 42 is then placed within the tube an end plate 44 and then the end
parts of tube 39 which at first project beyond the plate 44, are pressed inward upon
the plate and preferably within a marginal recess thereof so that these impressed
portions of the lining tube finish about flush with the struck up center portion of
the plate. A headed screw 45 is passed into a round stud 46 which projects
outwardly from an end plug or part 47 fixed to and within the outer end of the
handle bar 22 and preferably by means of a pin 48 on one end of the plug entering
a hole in the handle bar, and a countersunk screw 49 passed through the side of
the handle bar into the other end of the plug. The stud 46 can easily be filed
down in fitting the handle so that the stud stands about flush with or slightly
beyond the outer face of the end plate to permit the head of the screw 45 to be set
up tightly to the stud and thus allow free rotation of the handle 40 on the handle
bar by its ring bearings 41, 42, without permitting endwise play of the handle.
The screw or worm plate 38 has larger diameter than the handle bar 22, and does
not touch it when the handle turns on the bar.
I make the handle catch of piece of spring metal 50, which is located inside
the handle bar and is held thereto at one end by a screw 51 passing through a
countersunk hole in the handle bar. The latch proper a square projection 52
which normally enters an opening 53 in the inner bearing ring 41 of the handle.
The latch 52 extends from a round boss 54 on the spring 50. This boss passes
freely through an opening in the handle bar. A push button 55 is fixed at one
end of its stem to the free end of the spring 50 and projects through the handle
bar at the forward end of the handle. By pressing the button inward the latch 52
is withdrawn from the handle notch 53 and the handle 40 may now be turned to
apply the brake in manner above described. When the handle 40 is turned back
to normal position the latch 52 again engages its notch 53 and locks the handle
until the next time the brake is to be used.
The improved brake spoon 1, has a stamped or cast cap-plate 56 to which is fixed
the stem 3 which enters the plunger 4, 5, of the operating devices. This plate 56
has slots 57 of T form, preferably two pairs of slots. These slots may have key-
hole form if desired. The plate 56 also has pendent end portions or lugs 58 at the
front and back edges, and also has pendent flanges or parts 59, at opposite side
edges.
The acting friction surface or shoe 60 of the brake spoon is made preferably of
rubber or suitable rubber compound. While forming this shoe mold into it two

page_text: metal wires 61, each of which has rounded cross-sectional form and has opposite
up-bent ends forming keys 62 on the extremities of which are formed heads 63 which
may enter the wider ends of the cap-plate slots 57 but will lock above the plate at
the narrower parts of the slots. The wire 61 is nearly as long as the brake shoe
and together with the keys 62 offers very large area of joint surface in the shoe,
thus making it almost impossible for a somewhat yielding or elastic shoe to be torn
away from the keys by frictional contact of the shoe with the tire when the brake
is applied. The rounded wire 61 has rounded bends where it joins with the two
keys 62 in a broad flat U form to permit said wire and keys to present only
rounded surfaces to the wheel tire should the shoe be much over-worn or should
it by any possibility be torn partly or wholly away from the key fastenings.
The clastic shoe 60 is connected with the cap-plate 56 by bending the thinner
central portion of the shoe and slipping the four key heads 63 through the wider
parts of the two pairs of T slots 57 and allowing the shoe to expand or straighten to
carry its keys into the narrow portions of the slots. Two spring-metal latches 64
which are centrally pivoted to the cap-plate 56, are now turned about parallel with
the front and rear edges of the plate and the ends of the latches then stand between
opposite heads of the keys above the plate to prevent return of the keys to the
larger part of the slots 57. The latches have depressed portions 65 which snap
into the larger parts of the slots 57 to prevent accidental turning of the latches
and securely lock the brake shoe 60 to the cap-plate 56. The latches may be
quickly turned away from the key heads to permit a worn-out brake shoe to be
removed and a new shoe substituted at any time or place and without the use of
tools. The latches normally cover the inner parts of the slots 57 not occupied by
the keys.
The pendent lugs 58 of the cap-plate 56 take the end wise or forward thrust of
the brake shoe 60 and the pendent side parts 59 of the plate take the lateral thrust
of the shoe, when the brake is applied, thus relieving the key and slot fastenings
and the latches from excessive strains. The front thrust-receiving lugs 58 may
alone be used, but I prefer to use these lugs at both front and rear ends of the brake
shoe. The side flanges 59 are preferably let flush into recesses 66, molded into the
shoe and the end lugs 58 may also be let in flush with the ends of the shoe if
desired.
Should the brake shoe be much overworn or be torn away from its fastenings,
the rounded wires 61 and their keys 62 may touch the side portions of a pneumatic
tire without puncturing the tire. The cap-plate lugs 58 always lie at their inner
edges outside the plane of the key connecting wires, hence the wires serve as a guard
preventing contact of the lugs 58 with the sides of the tire. In these respects the
brake spoon 1 is a material improvement over one having front and rear lugs
pendent from a cap-plate and having pins passed through the lugs and forming
journals for rotating brake shoes, as in the latter old construction the tire would be
cut or punctured by the pendent lugs should the rotatory brake shoes or blocks be
overworn or be torn from their pin journals.
If the shoe 60 of my brake spoon be much over-worn or be torn away from its
fastenings, the tire would not be injured by contact with it of the smooth bottom
face of the cap-plate 56. Safety of a pneumatic tire is thus assured under all
conditions of use of my improved brake spoon.
Insofar as concerns the connection of two shoe-fastening keys 62 by a rounded
and bent wire 61, and also insofar as concerns the relative positions of the parts 61, 58,
to cause the wire 61 to guard the tire against puncture by the cap-plate lugs 58, it
is immaterial whether the keys 62 have heads 63 adapted to T slots (or button-
hole slots) 57 in the cap-plate 56, or whether the keys are held to said plate in any
other manner.
For instance, the keys 62 may have upper threaded ends fitting
holes in the plate 56 and receiving clamping nuts above the plate.
If desired, the brake shoe may be formed in two independent side parts 60, 60,
shown in Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawing. These parts 60 each have an embedded
key wire 61, 62, having end heads 63, and the keys are locked at the narrow parts

page_text: of the slots 57 by latches 64 substantially as above described for the solid one-pie se
brake shoc 60.
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 vehicle brake comprising a plunger, a brake spoon hell thereto, a fixed
plug or part at the steering wheel fork crown, rods held to said plug, a pin fixed to
the rods, a flexible draft reversing chain held at one end to the plunger and passing
in a bight under the rod pin, a pulling connection at the other end of said chain,
and means operating said pulling connection.
2. A vehicle brake comprising a plunger, a brake spoon hell thereto, a fixed
plug or part at the steering wheel fork crown, rods connected to said plug, a pin
fixed to the rods, a flexible draft reversing chain held at one end to the plunger and
passing in a bight under the rod pin, a pulling connection at the other end of said
chain, means operating said pulling connection, and a retracting spring held at
opposite ends to the rod and plunger.
3. A vehicle brake comprising a plunger, a brake spoon held thereto, a fixed
plug or part at the steering wheel fork crown, rods connected to said plug, a pin
fixed to the rods, a flexible draft reversing chain held at one end to the plunger and
passing in a bight under the rod pin, a vertically adjustable handle bar, upper
draft devices at the handle bar, and an adjustable coupling in the handle bar
sustained by said upper draft devices and having its lower part connected to the
draft reversing chain at the plunger.
4. A. vehicle brake comprising a plunger, a brake spoon held thereto, a fixed
plug or part at the steering wheel fork crown, rods connected to said plug, a pin
fixed to the rods, a flexible draft reversing chain held at one end to the plunger
and passing in a bight under the rod pin, a vertically adjustable handle bar, upper
draft devices at the handle bar, an adjustable coupling in the handle bar sustained
by said upper draft devices and having its lower part connected to the draft
reversing chain at the plunger, and a retracting spring held at opposite ends to
the rods and plunger.
5. The combination in one self-contained structure, of the plunger 4, 5, to
which the brake spoon is adapted, the plug 6, rods 9, cap 10, pin 11, chain 14,
coupling screw-rod 15, 16, and spring 17, substantially as described.
6. The combination, with the handle bar, a brake operating device thereon, and
the two-part intermediate coupling having a shoulder and permitting vertical
adjustment of the handle bar, of a support 24, 25, on which the shoulder of the
coupling rests, a laterally curved yoke pivoted to the support, and a flexible draft
device connecting said yoke with the brake operating devices, substantially as
described.
7. The combination, with the handle bar having a slot 37, an operating handle
on said bar having an internal worm screw, and draft devices in said bar operating
the brake, of a tubular slide 33 in the handle bar, a pin 34 having one reduced
end 35 fitting one side of the slide, said pin projecting at its other end through
the slot 37 and engaging the handle worm, a retainer 30 for the pin, and a plate 32
in the slide coupling the pin with the draft devices of the brake, substantially as
described.
8. The combination, with the slotted handle bar and draft devices in said bar
actuating the brake, of an operating handle surrounding the bar and having end
rings bearing thereon, and also having an interior lining and a worm screw, both
having larger diameter than the handle bar; and a slide and pin within the
handle bar connecting the worm with the draft devices of the brake.
9. The combination, with the handle bar, of an operating handle turning
there and having an interior lining 39 and an end ring bearing 42 provided with
lugs 43 entering slots of the lining; an end plate 44 fitted within the lining and
upon which the end parts of the lining are pressed down, and a headed screw 45

page_text: entering a stud 46 projecting from the handle bar through an opening of plate 44,
substantially as described.
10. The handle bar having an end plug or part 47 provided with a stud 46, and
having at one end a pin 48, entering the bar, and at the other end a threaded hole;
a fastening screw 49 in the bar fitting said hole, an operating handle turning on
the bar, and a headed screw 45 passing from the outer end of the handle into the
stud 46, substantially as described.
11. The combination, with the handle bar and the brake operating handle
turning thereon, of a spring latch 50 held to and within the bar and having at its
free end a boss 54 fitting an opening in the handle bar and carrying a latch stud 52
adapted to a recess of the operating handle, substantially as described.
12. The brake spoon comprising a cap-plate having T slots, and a renewable
shoe carrying headed keys adapted to enter the slots and lock outside the plate.
13. The brake spoon comprising a cap-plate having T slots, and a renewable
shoe carrying headed keys adapted to enter the slots and lock outside the plate,
said plate having parts taking endwise thrust of the shoe and relieving its
fastenings when the brake is applied.
14. The brake spoon comprising a cap-plate having T slots and a renewable
shoe carrying headed keys adapted to enter the slots and lock outside the plate,
said plate having side parts taking lateral thrust of the shoe.
15. The brake spoon comprising a cap-plate and a renewable shoe having
fastenings adapted to engage the plate and connected by a rounded and bent wire
embedded in the shoe and preventing injury to a wheel tire should the shoe be
overworn or be torn from its wire connected fastenings.
16. The brake spoon comprising a cap-plate having pendent parts taking
endwise thrust of a brake shoe, and a shoe having fastenings engaging the plate
and connected by a rounded and bent wire embedded in the shoe, said connected
fastenings projecting toward the wheel tire beyond the pendent thrust receiving
parts of the cap-plate and guarding the tire therefrom should the brake shoe be
overworn or be torn from its wire-connected fastenings.
17. The brake spoon comprising a cap-plate having T slots, a renewable shoe
having headed keys adapted to enter the slots and lock outside the plate, and
latches held to the cap-plate and locking the keys in the narrow parts of
its slots.
18. The brake spoon comprising a cap-plate having two pairs of T slots, and
a renewable shoe made with a thinner central portion and having two pairs of
headed keys whose shanks are molded into the shoe, said keys adapted to enter
opposing pairs of cap-plate slots; and latches held to the cap-plate and locking
the keys in the narrow parts of its slots.
.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.