Improvements in Handles for Bicycles and other Machines.
Year: 1892

page_text: United States of America),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 15th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 15th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Handles for Bicycles and other Machines.
I, FERDINAND LOUIS LYMBURNER, of 4638 State Street, Chicago, in the
County of Cook and State of Illinois, United States of America, Book-keeper, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to he
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
Heretofore handles for the cranks of machines or the handle-bars of bicycles
have been made so as to be greatest in diameter at about their centres of length
and gradually become less in circumference as they approach their ends. These
handles are suitable for the grasp of persons having hands of given proportions,
but for persons whose hands are larger or smaller than that for which the said
handle is intended the grasp is neither as strong nor as comformable to the shape
of the hand as it should be.
The object of my invention is to provide a handle which is of such shape that a
large-handed person can obtain just as good a grasp as a small-handed person, and
which can be almost, if not entirely encircled, by the smaller fingers of the hand as
well as the larger, substantially as hereinafter fully described, and as illustrated in
the drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a plan view of the handle-bars of a bicycle having my improved
handles thereon; and
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section through my improved handles, showing
the preferred manner of securing them in place.
Referring to the drawings, A represents the handle bars of a bicycle, and
a represents a spindle of less diameter extending in alignment therewith from the
extremity of said handle-bars.
B represents a block, which has a suitable longitudinal opening therethrough, in
order that it may be slipped upon the spindle a of the handle-bars, and it is secured
in place upon this spindle by a suitable nut c, screwed onto the screw-threaded end
of the spindle. If desired, the end of the handle-bars A may be slightly increased
in diameter so as to increase the surface of the shoulder, against which the end of
the block B will bear when the nut c is suitably tightened. The outer contour of
the block B is such as to conform to the curvature of the inner circumference
of the horn-shaped shell handle C fitted over this block. This horn-shaped
handle C is greatest in diameter at its inner end and gradually decreases in diameter
until it terminates in a more or less sharp point at its outer end. It may be made
of natural horn or of any artificial material desired, and may be curved, as shown
in the drawings, or of such a shape that a straight line drawn through its centre
would intersect the centre of its ends. I secure this horn handle to the block by
means of a ferrule D, which is secured to the inner end of the block B, and has its
circumferential edges flanged over the contiguous edges of the horn handle, to
which it is secured by means of the lateral screws d.
If desired, the horn-shaped handle may be cemented to the block B. or it may be

page_text: entirely void of any medium for connecting it thereto otherwise than the screws d,
which passes through the flanges of ferrule D, through the horn of the handle, and
into the block B, as shown. If desired, the spindle a of the handle-bars may
extend clear through a suitable opening in the handle in longitudinal alignment
therewith instead of terminating on the inside thereof, and have a nut on the outer
end thereof for securing said handle in place. In this latter event, however, I
would prefer to put a suitably-shaped washer between the nut and the surface of
the horn-shaped handle, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Of course it will be
understood that, instead of the handle-bars A, the crank of the machine might be
substituted therefor.
The construction and effect of my improved handles would be substantially the
same when applied to machines as when applied to bicycles, although for the latter
purpose they are preferable in every way, affording, as they do, a suitable hand-
grasp and the most natural one of all sizes, besides being very ornamental.
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. The combination, with the handle-bars of a bicycle of a horn-shaped handle
secured to and forming a continuation of the ends thereof, said handles being
greatest in diameter at its inner end and gradually approaching a less diameter at
its outer end.
2. The combination, with the handle-bars of a bicycle, the outer ends of which
are curved to the rear, of a horn-shaped handle which is secured to the ends of said
handle-bars, is curved so that its centre forms a continuation of the curve of the
ends of the said handle-bars, and is greatest in diameter at its inner end and
gradually approaches a much less diameter at its outer end, as set forth.
3. The combination, with the handle-bars of a bicycle, having a spindle extending
from their ends, of a block B, a horn-shaped handle secured over the same, a nut c,
and a ferrule D, as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 15th day of February 1892.
W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.