Improved Adjustable Handle-bar, and Socket-joint for the Break- lever of Bicycles and like Vehicles
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 14th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"Improved Adjustable Handle-bar, and Socket-joint for the Break-
lever of Bicycles and like Vehicles."
I, WILLIAM SMITH (trading as Smith Bros.,) 63, 65 Piccadilly, Hanley, and
77 Liverpool Road, Stoke-on-Trent both in the County of Staffordshire. Bicycle
and Tricycle Manufacturer. do hereby declare the nature of this invention.
to be as follows:-
This my Invention has reference to an improved adjustable handle-bar for
bicycles and the like vehicles, and a socket joint for the end of the break-lever of
such machines.
The object of my said Invention being to enable such machines to be passed
through, or stored in narrow passages, and to enable such handle-bars to be
adjusted, reversed and readily disconnected from the upper end of the steering-
tube, or steering-pillar of such machines.
In carrying my said Invention into practice I make a steel, wrought-iron, or
other metallic lug of suitable shape and size, in which lug I bore or otherwise
form a suitably sized hole, and around or partially around the body of such lug
about mid-way of its depth I form a horizontal slot of suitable width by any
suitable means. Such metallic lug 1 fix by brazing, clamping, bolts and nuts
or the like suitable means to a suitably shaped handle-bar against its inner side,
and near to, and through the upper portion of the steering-tube of bicycles or
the like machines I bore or drill a hole of suitable size, and in the upper end of
such steering-tube I fit a segmental, or other suitably shaped metallic block.
After fitting or passing such lug over or around the upper end of the said steering-
tube, I pass the threaded end of a suitable metallic bolt through the horizontal
slot of the lug on the handle-bar, through the hole in the steering-tube, and
screw the threaded end of such bolt into the metallic block in the upper end of
the steering-tube, so that such block will be tightly forced against the inner s.de
of such steering-tube, and the underside of the bolt-head forced against the outer
surface of the said lug, and so retain such handle-bars in position for use on
such machines.
In order to enable such handle bars to be readily adjusted, disconnected or
reversed, and in order to obviate the loss of time occasioned in disconnecting the
outer end of a break-lever from the upper end of its break-rod when jointed in
the ordinary way, I make break-levers with a suitably shaped knob or boss it
their outer end, in which knob I bore a hole of suitable size and depth, such hole
extending from the lower side of such knob towards its top side, into which hole
the upper end of the break-rod loosely fits. In and across the lower side of such
knob or boss I form a groove or channel of suitable depth by any suitable nicans
so that a metallic pin or the like fixed or attached transversely to its break-rod

page_text: near to its upper end may fit or bear in such channel or groove to prevent the
said break-rod from twisting when such break lever is operated.
Dated this 11th day of December 1896.
JOHN NEWTON
Longport. Staffs. Agent for Applicant.
"Improved Adjustable Handle-bar, and Socket-joint for the Break-
lever of Bicycles and like Vehicles."
I, WILLIAM SMITH (trading as Smith Bros.,) 63-65 Piccadilly, Hanley, a d
77 Liverpool Road, Stoke-on-Trent both in the County of Staffordshire. Bicycle
and Tricycle, Manufacturer. 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 my Invention has reference to an improved adjustable handle-bar for
bicycles, tricycles and like vehicles, and a socket joint for the upper end of the
break rod of such machines, the object of my said Invention being to enable such
machines to be passed through or stored in narrow passages, and to enable such
handle-bars to be adjusted reversed and readily disconnected from the upper
end of the steering tube, or steering pillar of such machines.
In order that my said Invention may be more readily understood and explained
in detail I have hereunto annexed two sheets of Drawings on which letters of
reference are marked on corresponding parts on all the Figures alike.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Sheet 1, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a tubular metallic handle-bar
for a bicycle or like machine connected to a handle-bar stem or stalk according
to my Invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of the connecting lug, and of a portion of the handle-
bar to which it is brazed or connected shewn at Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of Figure 1, partly in section shewing
more particularly the way in which such handle-bar and socket or lug are con-
nected to the stem or stalk of such machines or vehicles.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the steel or wrought-iron lug shewn at
Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Figure 5 is an end elevation of Figure 4 looking in the direction indicated by
arrow A.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the steel or wrought-iron metallic block or nut
inserted within and secured to or against the tubular upper end of the steering
tube or bar of such machines.
Figure 7 is an end elevation of Figure 6 looking in the direction indicated by
arrow B.
Figure 8 is a plan view of Figure 6.
Sheet 2, Figure 9 is a similar elevation to Figure 1 shewing my improved
method of connecting the upper end of the break-rod to the inner end of the
break-lever of such vehicles having adjustable and reversible handle-bars.
Figure 10 is a front elevation of Figure 9 looking in the direction indicated by 4
arrow C.
Figure 11 is a plan view of Figures 9 and 10.
Figure 12 is an enlarged view of a metallic globular knob or boss rigidly
fitted or fixed to the inner end of the break lever of such machines, and

page_text: Figure 13 is a front elevation of Figure 12 looking in the direction indicated
by arrow D.
Figures 1, 2, 9, 10 and 11 being drawn about one-third of their full size, and
Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 12 and 13 about three-fourths of their full size.
On reference to the drawings hereto annexed a represents a steel, wrought-iron
or like suitable tubular metallic handle-bar having one end of a suitably shapel
steel, wrought-iron or like suitable metallic lug b brazed thereto so as to secure
the tubular back part c of such lug at a suitable angle.
After fitting the upper end of a removable tubular handle-bar stem or stalk d
into the back portion e of such lug b I place or fit a suitably shaped steel,
wrought-iron or like suitable metallic plug or nut e in the inserted upper cad
of the said tube d in the position shewn at Figure 3 so that one end of a
threaded metallic bolt may be passed through the slot or aperture formed in
the portion of the lug b, through a hole formed near to the upper end of the
tube d and screwed into the threaded hole formed in the metallic plug or nut c.
It will be readily understood that as the threaded bolt f is screwed up or tightened
the metallic plug or nut' e will be drawn against the inner surface of the tube d
and jamb or press such tube against the inner surface of the portion c of the
metallic lug band retain the handle-bar in normal position, such handle bar with
its lug may he readily removed from the machines to which they are fitted, turned
to any suitable angle and retained at such angle, or such handle-bar may be
turned to and scured in line or nearly in line with its machine for enabling such
vehicles to be passed through or stored in narrow passages, or such handle-bar a
and its connecting lug & may be removed from the upper end of the tube d by
unscrewing and removing the bolt f and placed upside down, or reverse to the
position shewn on the drawings hereto annexed.
b
The break-lever g I pivottally connect by means of a metallic pin or bolt h
to the divided metallic clip i on the handle-bar a.
At or on the inner end of the said break lover I form or fix a globular or other
suitably shaped knob or protuberance j, in which knob I drill or bore a conical
or other suitably shaped hole or aperture & into which hole the suitably shaped
upper end of the brake-rod / loosely fits and is retained therein by the upward
pressure of a metallic spring or springs fitting on or around the lower end of the
said break-rod g, a metallic pin m fixed in the upper end of the break rod and
fitting into a groove formed in the underside of the protuberance ; preventing
the break-rod from twisting when pressed down or operated.
When it is desired to alter the position of the handle-bar a on bicycles or like
vehicles to which they are fitted, the bolt is first slackened or unscrewed by
means of a spanner or the like placed on or over the nut shaped head f2 of such
bolt which will release or ease the pressure of the metallic block or nut e against
the inner side of the tube d permitting the knob j at the inner end of the break
lever g to be removed from its normal position and with the handle-bar a placed
in line or nearly in line with the framing or wheels of such machines, or at any
desired angle thereto for enabling such vehicles to be stored in, or passed through
narrow passages.
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
1st The improved method of connecting metallic handle-hars of bicycles r
like vehicles to the stem or stalk of their handle-bar by brazing or clamping a
suitably shaped metallic lug to such handle-bars mid-way or about mid-way of
their length, the tubular back portion of such lug having a slot of suitable width
formed therein at right angles or at about right angles to its longitudinal axis,
and into which tubular back portion the upper tubular end of the stem or stalk
of such handle bar fits and is rigidly held in such tubular hack portion by a
threaded metallic bolt passing through the slot or aperture in such lug, through

page_text: a hole or aperture near to the upper end of such stem or stalk and screwing into
a metallic plug or nut inserted into the upper end of such stem or stalk for the
purpose of clamping or rigidly connecting such handle bars to the stem or stalk
of the handle-bars of such machines for enabling such handle bars to be
connected to their stem or stalk in the position shewn on the drawings hereto
annexed, or upside down or reverse to that position, and for enabling such
handle-bars to be placed horizontally or nearly horizontally in line with the
framing or wheels of such vehicles so that such machines may be passed through
or stored in narrow passages or the like as herein substantially described and set
forth.
2. The improved method of fitting or connecting the upper end of the break
rod of bicycles or like machines to the inner end of their handle bar break-lever
by forming or fixing a globular, spherical or other suitably shaped metallic knob
or protuberance on or to the inner end of such break levers, so that the upper
end of the break rod of such vehicles may fit or be fitted into a conical or other
suitably shaped hole or aperture drilled or otherwise formed in the underside of
such knob or protuberance, the upper end of such break rods being kept in
position in the hole or aperture in the underside of the protuberance at the end
of the break lever by the upward pressure of a metallic spring or springs fitting
on or around the lower end of such break rods as herein substantially described
and set forth.
3. The improved method of connecting the handle-bars of bicycles or like
vehicles to the stem or stalk of their handle-bar in combination with the
improved method of connecting the upper end of the break-rod with the inner
end of the break-lever of bicycles or like machines as shewn on the drawings
hereto annexed at Figures 9, 10 and 11 for the purpose of enabling the handle-
bars of such vehicles to be readily fixed in the position shewn, reversed, turned to
any desired angle, or in line with the framing or wheels of such machines, and
secured in such position when desired as herein substantially described and set
forth.
JOHN NEWTON
Longport, Stoke-on-Trent. Staffordshire. Agent for Applicant.