Improvements in or pertaining to the Handle Bars of Velocipedes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th July, 1892-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or pertaining to the Handle Bars of Velocipedes.
I ARTHUR SYDNEY BOWLEY of The Grove Works Balham in the County of
Surrey Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is so to construct and fit the handle bars of
velocipedes and especially of safety bicycles that the same can be adjusted and the
handles thereof can be brought into various positions in respect of the rider as may
be desired and preferably without the rider stopping or alighting.
To carry out this object say in a safety bicycle the handle bar which is
preferably straight with cranked ends is mounted loosely in a sleeve on the end of
the down tube or tang that passes inside of the steering post and the handles thereof
are preferably such that they can comfortably be used whatever may be the position
of the handle bar.
;
The handle bar can be revolved in the sleeve to bring the handles into the
desired positions in respect of the rider and to effect this as also to clamp and retain
the same in such positions various devices may be used as for example the
following. The sleeve may be so created as to constitute a clamp and be provided
with the usual clamping screws or it may be fitted with a thumb or set screw.
Again a rocking lever or a pawl may be mounted on the side of the sleeve a tooth
on the end whereof would engage into one of a series of notches or recesses formed
round the handle bar or into one of a series of ratchet or other teeth also formed
therearound. Again a pinion properly mounted on the sleeve may engage a toothed
wheel round the handle bar.
According to another form the sleeve may be so prolonged as to constitute the
straight part of the handle bar and the cranked ends thereof that carry the handles
are separately loosely mounted at the ends of this prolonged sleeve it may be round
these ends by bands which can be clamped or otherwise secured thereon or it may
be they may pass into these ends wherein they can be secured by screwed collars
and nuts or otherwise or as above.
The brake if any could be fitted in any usual or other manner but the handle
thereof would not project beyond the straight part of the handle bar.
It is obvious that the tang must be raised or lowered as the handle bar is
revolved and clamped in various positions to bring the handles into the proper
relative and convenient positions in respect of the rider and to effect this without
obliging the rider to stop or alight as also to clamp and retain the same at the
desired elevation various devices may be used as for example the following.
A screwed rod may be mounted longitudinally inside the tang and pass through
and engage in the usual clamping block inside this tang which is connected with
the steering post by a thumb screw or otherwise as is customary. Again this
screwed rod may be mounted outside the tang and pass through and engage in a
block outside the steering post. Again the tang may be maintained at its highest
elevation by a coiled or other spring preferably placed inside the steering post
under the heel of the tang and can be forced down against this spring by a chain or
cord which most conveniently would pass down inside the tang to a fixed position
in the lower part of the steering post and could be actuated by a reel or small
winch mounted on the top of the tang or otherwise. Again a rack may be fixed'
along the outside of the tang whereinto can gear a pinion or wheel mounted on the
steering post. All these devices may be actuated by any suitable handles or other

page_text: appliances which handles or appliances can be retained in what positions they are
placed by any suitable racks or catches or otherwise.
In the same manner this invention would be applied to other velocipedes.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or pertaining to the Handle Bars of Velocipedes.
I ARTHUR SYDNEY BOWLEY of The Grove Works Balham in the County of
Surrey Engineer 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 what is now perhaps quite generally known as "The
Bowley Universal Handle Bar" and the object of the same is so to construct and
fit the handle bars of velocipedes of all descriptions and more especially of dwarf or
safety bicycles that the same can be adjusted and that the handles on such handle
bars can be brought into and secured in various positions in respect of the rider as
may at any time and from time to time be desired and that preferably without
necessitating the stoppage of the velocipede or the alightment of the rider.
In order the more clearly to explain this my invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I refer to the accompanying drawing wherein
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the handle bar of a velocipede as constructed and
fitted after and in accordance with my invention,
Figure 2 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of the upper end of the down
tube or tang of the velocipede and
Figure 3 is a vertical section of this down tube or tang with the upper end of the
steering post.
3
The handle bar A is made in any usual or other manner and the central part
thereof is preferably straight but both ends are cranked and this handle bar A is
mounted in the ordinary and proper position loosely in a sleeve B secured to and
on the upper end of the down tube or tang C that passes as is customary inside
the steering post D these two parts being fitted and connected together in any
ordinary or other manner and by any suitable means and appliances and the
handles E are such and are constructed and fitted in such an ordinary or other
manner it may be as is shewn in Figure 1 that they can comfortably be used
whatever may be the position of the handle bar A. The sleeve B may be secured
in any position in respect of the upper end of the down tube or tang C as may be
desired in each particular case whether on the top of the same or close beside the
same but perhaps in all cases and especially when the appliances that will herein-
after be described and that are shewn in the drawing are fitted and used it is most
convenient to form this sleeve B on the end of a bracket B1 which is secured round
the end of the down tube or tang C and projects forwards from the same a certain
desired distance.
The handle bar can be revolved in the sleeve to bring the handles into the
desired positions in respect of the rider and to effect this easily and quickly as also
to clamp and retain the same in such positions safely and securely many and various
devices and appliances may be fitted and used.
I shew in Figure 2 one very suitable and convenient arrangement. A series of
teeth Fare formed or secured round the handle bar A preferably being contained
in an annular groove formed therefor in the middle of the sleeve B and a lever G
with complementary teeth is properly pivoted it may be at H on the bracket B
preferably in a recess or slot in the middle of the same and of the sleeve B where-
through it can engage the teeth F and jaws J on the free end of this lever G
embrace a collar on a thumb screw K mounted on an upward prolongation of a

page_text: bolt L.which in the usual manner passes through the flanges M of the sleeve B to
regulate the diameter of such sleeve B and allow and cause it properly to receive
and surround the handle bar A. Thus in and by this arrangement the thumb
screw K can be rapidly revolved in the proper direction until it has so lifted the
free end of the lever G that the teeth thereof are entirely disengaged from the.
teeth F when the handle bar A can easily and quickly be revolved in the sleeve B
to bring the handles E into the desired positions in respect of the rider and then
the thumb screw K can be rapidly revolved in the opposite direction until it has
caused the teeth of the lever G to engage some of the teeth F when the handle
bar A is safely and securely clamped and retained in such position as is desired.
Although I consider this arrangement herein before described to be very suitable
and convenient I do in no wise limit myself thereto. For example a rocking lever
or a pawl may be mounted in a proper position it may be at the side of the sleeve a
tooth on the end whereof could engage one of a series of notches or recesses or it
may be one of a series of ratchet or other teeth formed or secured in a proper
corresponding position round the handle bar. Again a pinion properly mounted on
the sleeve may gear into a toothed wheel formed or secured round the handle bar.
I may also so prolong the sleeve that it constitutes the central straight part of
the handle bar in, which case the cranked ends of the handle bar that carry the
handles are or can be separately loosely mounted at the ends of this prolonged sleeve
it may be round and outside of these ends by bands or other appliances which can
be clamped or otherwise secured thereon in the proper desired positions or it may
be they may pass into these ends wherein they can be clamped and retained also in
the proper desired positions in manner as hereinbefore described or by screwed
collars and nuts or otherwise.
It may also very frequently be desirable that the down tube or tang should be
raised or lowered when and as the handle bar is revolved and clamped and retained
in various positions to bring the handles into the proper relative and convenient
positions in respect of the rider and to effect this easily and quickly as also to
maintain the same at the desired elevation safely and securely many and various
devices and appliances may be fitted and used.
I shew in Figure 3 one very suitable and convenient arrangement. A. screwed
rod N is mounted longitudinally inside the down tube or tang C which passes through
and engages a block P secured in the proper position inside the steering post D
and this rcd N can be operated and revolved by a wheel or handle R fitted thereon
just above the closed upper end of the down tube or tang C. Thus in and by this
arrangement the wheel or handle R can be rapidly revolved in the proper direction
and the screwed rod N working in the block will easily and quickly raise or
lower the down tube or tang C in the steering post D while as this rod N will not
revolve of itself the down tube or tang C will safely and securely be maintained at
such elevation as is desired.
Although I consider this arrangement hereinbefore described to be very suitable
and convenient I do in no wise limit myself thereto. For example a similar screwed
rod may be mounted outside the down tube or tang and pass through and engage a
similar block secured outside the steering post. Again a rack may be fixed along
the outside of the down tube or tang whereinto could engage a tooth on the end of
a rocking lever or of a pawl properly mounted therefor on the steering post or it
may be whereinto could gear a pinion also properly mounted therefor on the
steering post. Again the down tube or tang may be maintained at its highest
elevation by a coiled or other spring preferably placed inside the steering post
under the heel of the down tube or tang which could be forced down against this
spring by a chain or cord most conveniently passing down inside the same to
a fixed position in the lower part of the steering post and this chain or cord could
be operated by a reel or small winch mounted on the upper end of the down tube
or tang.
All these devices and appliances hereinbefore described may be actuated and
operated by any suitable handles or other apparatus and can be retained and

page_text: maintained in what positions they are placed and left by any suitable pawls or stops
or catches or otherwise.
The brake if any of the velocipede could be fitted in any usual or other manner
but the lever or handle thereof would not project beyond the central straight part
of the handle bar.
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 down tube or tang of a velocipede fitted with a
sleeve of a cranked handle bar capable of revolving in the sleeve and provided with
means whereby it may be clamped in any position in the sleeve substantially as and
for the purpose hereinbefore described and declared.
2. The combination with the revoluble cranked handle bar of a velocipede of
a down tube or tang provided with means whereby it may be raised or lowered and
maintained at any elevation in the steering post substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore described and declared.
3. The improvements in or pertaining to the handle bars of velocipedes
substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 14th day of July 1892.
HART & Co.