New or Improved Coupling or Connection for Securing Adjustable Tubes and Rods.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Dec.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New or Improved Coupling or Connection for Securing Adjustable
Tubes and Rods.
I, GEORGE DARBEY, of 7, Perry Road, Bristol, Musical Instrument Dealer, 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 follow-
ing statement:-
My invention relates to a new or improved coupler for use in securing tubes
and rods which slide one within the other, and are adjustable at varying
lengths, the object being to grip them, when adjusted, in such a manner that
it is impossible for them to be moved accidentally.
With many of the couples now in use for adjusting rods for cycle brakes, the
only grip is formed by the end of a screw being pressed against a cylindrical
surface, so that practically the tension is of the very smallest, and the slightest
backward motion of the screw will destroy the grip, by my invention the outer
tube is made to grip the inner tube or rod, which is held in position by a screw
in such a manner that a reliable adjustment is obtained.
My invention consists in making the outer tube with an inner flange on one
end to engage in any one of a series of grooves or rings made around the inner
tube or rod, and cutting two or more slits in the outer tube, that it may be
slightly compressed or enlarged as the inner flange is made to engage in the rings,
the outer tube is held tightly in position by an ordinary or special clip as herein-
after described, so that the flange cannot slip out of the ring.
The means by which my invention is put into operation will be fully described
in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Figure 1 is a
section and elevation of the outer tube with an inner flange formed on the end,
and cuts made of a suitable length for the tube to be expanded or compressed as
it is forced and adjusted to its proper ring or groove on the inner tube or rod;
Fig. shows the inner tube with a series of grooves or rings cut around it to
receive the flange of the outer tube; Fig. 3 shows a connecting rod from the
lever on the handle bar of a cycle to the crank, shoe, or other part which operates
the brake, the attachment being made with my improved coupler, the split ends
of the outer tube allowing the flange to be held in one of the grooves by an
ordinary clip, as shown: Figs. 4, 5, and 6 illustrate a special grip for holding.
the two tubes together; and Fig. 7 shows the invention applied to the adjustable
leg or rest of a violoncello, where a solid rod on which circular grooves are cut,
is made to slide in an outer tube with a flange as already described to engage in
the grooves.
The same letters indicate similar parts in all the figures. Figs. 1 to 6 are
much larger than actual size.
A is an outer tube of any required length, with two or morer slits B cut in
the end, the extreme end is flanged inwards at C, so that it may engage in either
of the grooves d on the inner tube or rod D; the slits B in the outer tube allow
the flange to be readily pressed into the required groove, the end is then
surrounded by an ordinary clip E, as shewn in Fig. 3, which compresses the

page_text: **
flange into the groove, and as the whole tension is on the flange and groove, the
screw clip is unaffected by any strain, and the clip shown may be considered
sufficient for all practical purposes. But to obtain absolute security, which is
a matter of vital importance with cycles fitted with "free" wheels, a special
clip is provided, as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, a sleeve F is formed with a screw
threaded stert f, to slide over the end of the outer tube A, a shaped washer
or ferrule G is made to fit the curved surface of the sleeve, and suitable chases
are made in the sleeve above and below the stert to permit the washer to pass
through and engage on the outer tube, when the nut H on the stert forces the
washer inwards; the action of the nut also pulls the other side of the sleeve
against the tube, so that it is gripped all the way round, and it will be impossible
for the flange to escape from the groove by accident.
This method is adapted to all kinds of coupling where the rods and tubes have
to be adjusted to various lengths; one of these is shown in Fig. 7, where a
violoncello leg or rest 1 has a number of grooves & cut around it, a tube A is
inserted in the plug which fits in the bottom of the 'cello; as it is desirable that
the leg shall slide freely in the tube, so that it can be adjusted at the required
height without the exertion of much force, a segment only of the flanged end
of the tube is employed, and this segment, say one third, is elongated to form a
tongue, with the flange at one end, and this is easily shifted from one groove to
another, until the right height is obtained, a thumb screw or the like is sufficient
to keep the flange in the groove, and thus prevent the annoyance of the leg
giving way at an inopportune moment.
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. In the construction of couplers for adjustable tubes, or tubes and rods,
making slits in the outer tube with an inner flange at the extreme end to
engage in grooves or rings on the inner tube or rod, the flange and groove being
held in contact by screw clips surrounding the slit tube, substantially as described
and shown.
2. In couplers as described for adjustable tubes or rods, making a sleeve to
surround the end of the outer tube with a shaped washer to pass partly through
the sleeve and bear on the tube, and thus bring all parts of the flange to press
tightly in the groove to form an absolutely reliable adjustment, substantially as
described and shown.
3. The manufacture of legs or rests for violoncellos and similar instruments
to slide in tubes having flanges to wholly or partially surround the legs, grooves
having been made thereon to receive the flanges when properly adjusted, thumb
screws or the like securing them in position, as herein described and shown.
Dated this 19th day of September 1899.
J. G. WESTLAKE,
Applicant's Agent, 2, John Street, Bristol.