An Improved Form of Socket for the Stem of a Cycle Handle-bar.
Year: 1898

page_text: An Improved Form of Socket for the Stem of a Cycle Handle-bar.
I, CHARLES RANSOM, of No. 599, High Road, Chiswick, in the County of
Middlesex, Fitter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
The present invention has reference to an improved form of the socket into which
the stem of a cycle handle-bar is clamped.
It is customary to make both the said socket and the stem of cylindrical form, so that
they are circular in transverse section, and to hold the stem firmly and rigidly in
the socket by means of a split collar or clamp fitted on top of the socket tube, which
is tightened around the stem by means of a bolt, clamping two ears on the split
collar together.
It is found in practice that to thus accurately adjust and grip a handle-bar having
a cylindrical stem firmly in a cylindrical socket requires in the first place, a very
true eye, much skill and often time also, and secondly the tightening up can only
be effected by considerable force and even when both are satisfactorily accomplished
there is no dependence to be placed upon them as both the strain on the bolt and the
constant vibration of the machine induce a gradual loosening or slackening back
of the parts, and as the slightest relative movement of them renders the steering
inaccurate this is an important defect and becomes the more so the faster one is
travelling and hence a circumstance of great moment to those engaged in a race.
According to my present invention, the object of which is to enable a perfectly
true adjustment to be at once attained, and a thoroughly rigid and lasting grip or
tightening up of the handle-bar stem in its socket to be effected, I form the interior
surface or part thereof of the said socket of triangular, square, or other shaped
figure bounded by planes.
Of these figures I prefer the square-prism or other four-sided prism and I form
the stem of the handle-bar to fit into and correspond therewith.
I do not necessarily make the whole length of the socket of this special section;
in practice it is quite sufficient for about two inches down from the top to be so
formed. Instead of the socket tube itself being so specially formed, the special
section may if desired be formed in a bush which is forced or otherwise fixed firmly
into the end of the ordinary socket tube.
The clamping device remains the same as usual.
An Improved Form of Socket for the Stem of a Cycle Handle-bar.
I, CHARLES RANSOM, of No. 599, High Road, Chiswick, in the County of
Middlesex, Fitter, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
[Price 8d.]

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
The present invention has reference to an improved form of socket for the stem
of a cycle handle-bar, the object of it being to facilitate the adjustment and pre-
vent the stem turning in the socket.
It is customary to make both the socket and the stem cylindrical in form and to
clamp the latter tightly in the socket by means of a split collar with lugs, fitted
on the top of the socket tube, which collar is tightened up by means of a bolt passing
through holes in the said lugs.
It is found in practice that to accurately adjust and firmly grip a handle-bar
having such a form of stem, requires much skill, a true eye, and often considerable
time to effect, as unless very accurately adjusted the steering is affected, and, more-
over, the tightening-up can only be effected by considerable force, and even when
satisfactorily accomplished, no reliance can be placed on it, as the strain on the
bolt and the constant vibration or jarring of the machine induce a gradual loosen-
ing or slackening back of the nut, and as the slightest relative movement of the
stem around in its socket renders the steering inaccurate, this is an important
defect and becomes the more so the faster one is travelling, and hence a circum-
stance of the greatest moment to those engaged in a race.
By my present invention such adjustment and fixing may be most speedily and
accurately made and without any knowledge of sighting," and only a com-
paratively feeble force is required to effect the tightening-up.
According to my invention I form the interior surface of the said socket, or part
of it, of triangular, quadrangular, octagonal or other polygonal figure bounded by
planes. Of these figures I prefer the square and octagonal prisms and I form the
stem of the handle-bar to fit into and correspond therewith.
I do not necessarily make the whole length of the socket of this special form; in
practice it is found quite sufficient for about two to three inches of it to be so
formed.
In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention and forming part of
this specification:-
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the head of a cycle shewing the handle-
bar stem socket and adjacent parts in section.
Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figures 3 and 4 represent the elevation and plan respectively of the handle-bar
stem socket detached.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 shew modifications in the form of the socket.
Referring to Figures 1 to 7, both inclusive, a is the handle-bar, b is the stem
thereof specially formed of triangular, quadrangular, octagonal or other angular
figure bounded by plane surfaces; c is the socket of corresponding form into which
the handle-bar stem 6 is gripped by means of the split collar d with lugs e which
is tightened up by means of the bolt or in any other usual way. 9 is the steering
tube or top of the fork h which works loosely within the head i of the cycle frame,
and in the top end of which, which is split for the purpose, is inserted the socket c.
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. A cycle handle-bar, the external surface of the stem of which is in the form
of a prism.
2. A socket for the stem of a cycle handle-bar, the internal surface of which is
in the form of a prism.
3. The combination of a cycle handle-bar the external surface of the stem of
which is in the form of a prism, and a handle-bar stem socket, the internal surface
of which is in the form of a prism corresponding to the stem it holds.
4. The combination with a cycle frame of a handle-bar the external surface of

page_text: the stem of which is in the form of a prism, and a handle-bar stem socket the in-
terior surface of which is in the form of a prism corresponding therewith.
Dated this 3rd day of May 1898.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.