Improvements in Attachments for Bicycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1897-Accepted, 5th June,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Attachments for Bicycles.
I, JOSEPH HERMANN MEYER, residing at No. 365 Humboldt Street, in the
City of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings, and State of New York, United States of
America, Tin Smith, 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 :-
This invention relates to bicycles and similar vehicles, and the object thereof, is
to provide an improvement in vehicles of this class by means of which the fork
in which the forward or guide wheel is mounted may be prevented from turning
when the hands are removed from the handle bar or when pressure on the handle
bar is removed.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement
are designated by the same numerals of reference in each of the views, and in
which
Fig. 1, is a central vertical section of a part of the frame of a bicycle, and
showing my improvement, the improvement being also in section;
Fig. 2, a similar view, showing a part of the frame in section, and showing my
improvement in full lines; and
Fig. 3, a section on the line 3, 3, of Fig. 1.
In the drawing forming part of this specification, I have shown at 5, a part of
the upper horizontal, tubular rod of the frame of a bicycle which is provided with
the usual coupling 6, through which the tubular head 7, which forms a part of the
frame passes, and I have also shown at 8, a part of the tubular stem of the forward
fork of the vehicle in which the guide wheel is mounted, said fork and said wheel
being not shown, and mounted in, and longitudinally movable in the upper part of
the tubular stem 8, is a part of a tubular rod 9, which forms the support of the
handle bar which is not shown.
Formed in the tubular head 7, at a predetermined point below the tubular
coupling 6, with which the tubular rod 5, is connected is an annular inwardly
directed shoulder or projection 10, and mounted on the stem 8, is a sliding
sleeve 11, which is provided at its lower end with an annular flange or shoulder 12,
and mounted between said sleeve, and the inwardly directed annular shoulder 10,
is a spiral spring 13.
The tubular stem 8, is provided in its opposite sides with longitudinal slots 14,
which are shown in full lines in Figs. 2 and 3, and in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and
passing through said slots, and through the tubular rod 9, and the sleeves 11, is a
pin or bolt 15.
The sleeve 11, is cut away longitudinally on the side thereof, adjacent to the
tubular rod 5, as shown at 16, in Figs. 2 and 3, and pivotally connected with the
annular flange or shoulder 12, or hinged thereto, is a jaw 17, and when the tubular
rod 9 is depressed, the jaw 17 is folded adjacent to the side of the tubular stem &
of the forward fork as shown in Fig. 2, and the said stem and the fork connected
therewith may be turned in the usual manner by means of the handle bar, and the
vehicle may be guided as will be readily understood, by simply turning the handle
bar, but whenever it is desired to lock the forward fork so as to prevent the same
from turning, and so as to enable the vehicle to proceed in a straight line, the
pressure on the handle bar is removed, and the tubular rod 9, is raised by the

page_text: spring 13, and the jaw 17, is projected through an opening 18, which is formed by
means of inwardly directed shoulders or projections 19, at the point where the
tubular rod 5, connected with the tubular coupling 6, and in this position of the
parts, the forward fork will be securely held in line with the drive wheel of
the vehicle, and the vehicle will proceed in a straight line.
It will be apparent that this device may be operated at any time by depressing
the handle bar on the rod 9, connected therewith, so as to guide the vehicle or turn
the forward fork in which the guide wheel is mounted, and whenever this pressure
is removed from the rod 9, or the handle bar, the spring 13, will force the rod 9
upwardly, and the jaw 17, will be projected as shown in Fig. 3, and the forward
fork will be locked so as to hold the guide wheel in line with the drive wheel of
the vehicle.
Although I have shown my improvement applied to what is known as a
"diamond frame" bicycle, it will be apparent that it may be applied to a bicycle
of any desired form or construction, and also to a ladies' vehicle of this class, and
I also form in the tubular coupling 6, and in the tubular head 7 of the frame,
holes or openings 20, by means of which the pin or bolt 15 may be inserted or
removed, and these holes or openings are adapted to be closed by a screw threaded
plug 21.
This device is simple in construction and operation, and is perfectly adapted to
accomplish the result for which it is intended.
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 tubular head of the forward part of the frame of a
bicycle, through which the stem of the forward fork passes, of a spring operated
sleeve mounted in said stem, and adapted to be forced upwardly, a rod which forms
a support for the handle bar and which is movably mounted on the upper end of
said stem, said stem being also provided with slots at the opposite sides thereof,
and a pin or bolt which passes through said slots, and through said rod and
through the sliding sleeve, said sleeve and the frame of the vehicle being also
provided with means for locking the parts together so as to prevent the fork in
which the guide wheel is mounted from turning, substantially as shown and
described.
2. The combination with the frame of a bicycle, provided with the usual
tubular head through which the stem of the fork passes, of devices connected with
said stem and adapted to be operated by the rod with which the handle bar is
connected for preventing the forward fork from turning, substantially as shown
and described.
3. The combination with the frame of a bicycle provided with a tubular head
as 7, through which the tubular stem 8, of the forward fork passes, of a spring
operated sleeve mounted on said stem, a rod which forms a support for the handle
bar, and which is longitudinally movable in said stem, a pin or bolt which passes
through said rod, and through said sleeve, and through slots formed in the opposite
side of said stem, and a locking device connected with said sleeve and adapted to
operate in connection with the frame of the vehicle, substantially as shown and
described.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.