Improvements in and relating to Brakes for Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Brakes for Velocipedes.
I, IGNAZ WEISE of Passan, in Bavaria, German Empire Technical Expert 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 an improved brake for the front or steering wheels of
bicycles, tricycles and like velocipedes, in combination with an improved form of
wheel rim upon which the said brake may operate to effect the arresting of the
progress of the machine.
My invention is designed with the object of providing a brake simple in construction,
and easily manipulated by the hand or feet or both of the rider, and which shall
quickly and effectually arrest the progress of the machine without incurring the
hitherto experienced hazards of rupturing the tyre (when such brake operates directly
thereupon) or of breaking or otherwise injuring the spokes, and the possible over-
throw of the machine, when the brake is constructed and arranged to operate upon
the sides of a rim of ordinary construction.
In the accompanying drawings
Figs. 1 and 2 Sheet 1 are front and side elevation respectively of my improved
brake (adapted to be operated by hand) and so much of the front fork of a velocipede,
and my improved rim as will serve to illustrate one method of carrying my invention
into effect.
Figs. 3 and 4 Sheet 2 are like views of an alternative arrangement adapted to be
operated by the feet or hand or both of the rider.
Fig. 5 is a detail hereinafter explained.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 Sheet 1, for the purposes of my invention I provide a
rim A, the cross sectional formation of which is such, that while its upper portion is
adapted to receive a tyre and cover B in the ordinary way, its lower or inner portion C
is of rectangular formation, so as to provide at its sides two vertical surfaces a and a',
and at b a seating for the air bag of the tyre when inflated.
Upon the members D and D of the front fork is fixed braces or collars E and E',
upon which are fulcrummed a pair of angular levers, the lower members F and Fi
of which are adapted to carry a pair of resilient blocks G and G', the active surfaces
of which are presented to the sides a and a' of the rim of the wheel, while the upper
members H and H' of the said levers converge towards the centre of the steering
rod J, and are connected to a suitable spring K. The rod J carries a bracket. L and
screw c, upon which may slide vertically a slotted triangular plate M, the lower point
or apex of which engages with slots in the ends of the members H and H', while its
upper portion or base is connected to the lower end of a rod N, the upper end of
which would be connected to the usual brake lever upon the handle bar of the
machine.
The tension of the spring K operates to draw together the ends of the members H
and H', and place the blocks G and G¹ clear of the faces a and a¹ of the rim of the
wheel, but when the plate M is lowered by the lowering of the rod N, manipulated
by the brake lever, the members H and H would be parted by the plate M, against
the tension of the spring K, which would cause the blocks G and G' to impinge upon
the surfaces a and a' of the rim and so arrest the progress of the machine.
In Figs. 3 and 4 Sheet 2 I illustrate a modification of the foregoing arrangement,

page_text: 1
which provides means by which the said brake may be operated by the hand and feet,
or by the feet only of the rider.
In carrying this arrangement into effect I provide a pair of approximately T shaped
levers pivotally mounted at points d and d upon brace pieces O connected to the
members and D₁ of the front or steering fork of the machine, the lower members P
and P of the said levers being adapted to carry the resilient blocks G and G¹, while
the upper outer members R and R extend horizontally at each side of the machine
sufficiently to receive the feet of the rider, and are notched, cross-hatched, serrated
or otherwise roughened upon their upper surfaces e and e¹ to prevent the feet from
slipping therefrom. The opposing upper members S and S' of the said levers overlap
each other, and are provided with coinciding slots f through which, and the forked
end g of a rod N¹ (which embraces both the members S and S¹) is passed a screw
bolt or pin h. In this arrangement 1 provide a tubular bracket Lin lieu of the
bracket L, which serves as a guide for the rod N', the upper end of the said rod being
connected to the brake lever upon the handle bar, in such a manner that the usual
operation of this lever may impart an upward pull thereto. I may find it desirable
(especially when the brake is to be operated by foot power only) to mount a spiral
spring k around the rod N¹ between, and abutting against the forked end g and the
bracket L' as shewn by Fig. 5, the expansive tension of which would operate to press
downwardly the portion g and consequently the members S and S' (the slots f in
these permitting such movement) and so keep the blocks G G out of touch with the
surfaces a and a¹ of the C portion of the rim A, but when the brake is to be applied,
a downward pressure upon the members R and R' by the feet of the rider, or an
upward pull of the rod N¹ from the lever upon the handle bar, or both, would cause
the blocks G G¹ to impinge upon the surfaces a and a¹ and so arrest the progress of
the machine.
I may provide upon the lever members H and H' in the arrangement shewn by
Figs. 1 and 2, arms or projections equivalent to the members R R' in the arrangement
shewn by Figs. 3 and 4, in order that these may be operated upon by the feet of the
rider in like manner.
I may find it convenient to face the surfaces a and a' with wood, vulcanite,
hardened rubber or other material suitable for inducing a better grip upon these by
the blocks G and G¹.
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. In a brake for velocipedes, the combination of a wheel rim, adapted to provide
two vertical surfaces, upon which may impinge resilient blocks, connected to levers
mounted upon the steering fork of the machine, and arranged to be operated by the
feet of the rider, or the usual brake lever upon the handle bar, or both, for causing
the said resilient blocks to press upon the said vertical surfaces upon the rim,
substantially as described and shewn.
2nd. In a brake for velocipedes, the combination of a wheel rim such as A, having
a rectangular section such as C, providing two vertical surfaces a and a¹, a pair of
resilient blocks G and G connected to the lower members F F¹ of a pair of pivotted
levers whose upper members H H¹ are drawn together by a spring K, a triangular
plate M connected to a rod N, fastened to the brake lever upon the handle bar,
adapted to lower the said rod N and plate M and separate the members H H¹ and
cause the blocks G G to impinge upon a a' substantially as and for the purposes
described and shewn by Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.
3rd. In a brake for velocipedes, the combination of a rim A, having a rectangular
section C, and two vertical surfaces a and a', a pair of resilient blocks G G connected
to the lower members P P¹ of a T shaped lever whose upper members R R' are
adapted to be operated upon and lowered by the feet of the rider, while its upper
members S S are adapted to be raised by a rod N' actuated by the usual brake lever
upon the handle bar, such raising of S and S₁ or lowering of R and R' or both

page_text: operating to cause the blocks G and G₁ to impinge upon a and a¹, substantially as
and for the purposes herein described and shewn by Figs. 3 and 4 of the appended
drawings.
Dated this 14th day of December 1896.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1 Broad Street Buildings, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.