Improvements in Handles for Velocipedes or Bicycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1895-Accepted, 4th May, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Handles for Velocipedes or Bicycles.
I, CHARLES ALLEN DAVIS, of No. 1013 Sixteenth Street, Washington,
District of Columbia, U.S.A., Physician, 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 handles for steering bars, particularly for the steering
bars of a bicycle as popularly made, and consists in handles which fit the hands
when grasped thereby while riding.
Fig. 1 shows an upper view of the handles of a steering bar;
Fig. 2 shows an under side of the handles ;
Fig. 3 shows an under view of the right handle ;
Fig. 4 shows an under view of the left handle ;
Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of the preferable form of my handles, by means of
which they may be adjusted to different positions to suit the rider ;
Fig. 6 is a view of part of the adjusting device.
The handles A, are each provided with depressions a, a, a, a, into which the
fingers of the appropriate hand fit easily and comfortably. Also, a depression or
hollow for part of the thumb, to fit it when it rests in the usual position peculiar
to a rider who grasps the handle. It will be noticed that this depression is oblique,
running off over the end of the handle. The hollows a, a, a, are also obliquely
situated and parallel to each other to fit the rider's fingers. Upon the upper side
of each handle is an irregular surface b, to conform to the mounds and hollows of
the palm of the hand of the rider.
This handle differs from an oar handle because hollows a would be squarely at
right angles with the axis of the handle. It differs from an umbrella handle or foil
handle, as in this case the thumb hollow is more extended and almost parallel to
the axis of the handle. My invention is limited to a handle having the peculiar
characteristics pointed out.
The handles may have their parts smoothed and conventionalized, or they may
be perfect fits for individual hands. They may be moulded, or they may be made
from plastic material grasped by the hands and squeezed to the desired shape,
and then hardened.
In Fig. 6, is shown the adjusting device for the handles. When pulling on the
handles a rider's hands often assume a different position from that when resting on
the handles. As the handles fit the hand, they should be adjustable to suit the
different positions desired. For this purpose, upon each end d of the handle_bar,
I mount rigidly a ring or stop e, and a spring f, thrusting against this ring. Next,
I slide the handle A, having a shell g upon the bar. The shell should fit the bar
through most of its length, and be sufficiently large at the inner end to pass over
the ring e
Thus shaped, the shell g, provides a second ring or stop h, which
thrusts against the spring, so that the handle A, may be forcibly moved inwardly
along the handle bar. The shell g at its outer end is enlarged to fit over a cap l.
A tooth k, is mounted rigidly on the shell. The cap is mounted on the outer
end of the handle bar d, and is provided with slots m, into any one of which this
tooth k, is normally projected under the influence of the spring f. The cap 1, is
secured to the bar, so that it will not turn, by the aperture 8, screw n and threaded
cross bar o, rigidly mounted within the har, and by the posts or studs p, passing
into the holes r.

page_text: The shell g, of the handle rests on the bar d, the cap and the ring e. The
depression of the middle of the shell permits the pull on the handle bars to be
directly on the bar d, itself.
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. Handles for a steering bar, having depressions or hollows to more or less
fit the hands of a rider while riding.
2. Handles for a steering bar having depressions or hollows in an oblique
position for the thumbs and fingers to fit the thumbs and fingers of a rider while
riding.
3. Handles for a steering bar having depressions or hollows, some in an oblique
position for the thumbs and fingers, and some to fit the palms of the hands of
a rider while riding.
4. A handle for a steering bar, having means for securing it to the steering
bar, and additional means for releasing and locking said handle in different
positions.
5. A handle for a steering bar, having a spring release, and a locking device
for locking said handle in any desired position.
6. A handle for a steering bar, adapted to be adjusted for the purposes set
forth.
7. A steering bar provided with a rotatable handle having a limited sliding
movement on said bar, means for normally preventing said sliding movement
adapted to be released by hand, and a locking device normally locking said handle
from rotation.
8. A steering bar provided with a rotatable handle having a limited sliding
movement on said bar, means for normally preventing said sliding movement
adapted to be released by hand, and a locking device normally locking said handle
from rotation, and released by said sliding movement.
Dated this 18th day of March 1895.
CHARLES ALLEN DAVIS.