Improvements in Bicycles and such like Machines."
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Bicycles and such like Machines."
1, THOMAS ARCHIBALD FISHER HALL, of Kilmory, Hill Lane, Southampton, in
the county of Hants, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to Bicycles and such like Machines, and consists of the
improvements herein described by means of which the handle bars of bicycles
and such like machines can be readily folded down into a more or less vertical
petition as desired and as casily replaced in the ordinary horizontal position,
and the handles readily adjusted to varying heights.
In constructing and fitting handlebars, according to my invention, I provide
a short fixed length of tubular handlebar extending horizontally to an equal
length on each side of the handlebar pillar head. The outer lengths of handle-
bar, one on each side of the pillar head, are formed of tube and connected to the
middle fixed length aforesaid, in manner. hereinafter described.
In passing I note that my handlebars are made in three main lengths, and
that the method of construction and mode of fitting the two outer lengths to the
fixed middle length is exactly similar.
The inner end of the outer lengths of handlebar, is finished with a flange or
collar formed on, or fitted round the outside of the tube, leaviny the end open.
I further provide two complete fittings one for each side of the machine-cach
formed of two short pieces of rod of about equal length and connected together
by a hinged joint, one end of these fittings is inserted in the inner end of the
outer lengths of handlebar and secured in same in position so that the hinged
joint projects outside of the flange or collar on the tube end. To fix the handle-
bars in position for riding, the free end of the hinged fittings aforesaid,
is inserted and passed into the open ends of the fixed length of handlebar, one
on each side of the machine, until the hinged joint is entirely housed, the outer
lengths of handlebar will then be in a horizontal position in which they are
secured by a screw threaded cup nut or ferrule, which, when screwed up on the
outer ends of the fixed part of handlebar-which is screw threaded to receive
the nut, covers same.
The head of the cup nut is made to take and fit over the collar on the inner
end of the outer length of handlebar and when the nut is screwed up it bears
against the said collar and brings it with the outer length of handlebar forward
until the face of collar is close up against the outer face end of the fixed length
of handlebar, both outer ends of handlebar being thus secured in the riding
position.
The cup nuts are free to turn where fitted on the outer lengths of handlebar,
at the back of the aforesaid collar. When it is desired to hinge a handlebar down,
on one or both sides of the machine, the cup nut is unscrewed and the hinged
fitting withdrawn from its housing in the fixed length of handlebar until the

page_text: hinged joint is quite outside of same, it is obvious the handlebar can then be
turned down into a more or less vertical position or close to the handlebar pillar
to which it can be secured, if desired, by a strap or other suitablo means.
Various means may be adopted to prevent the hinged fitting from coming
entirely out of the ends of the fixed part of handlebar, for instance, I may some-
what reduce the diameter of the part of the hinged fitting which fits in the fixed
length of handlebar, for the whole length, excepting at its extreme inner end
where the full diameter will be retained (that is the inside diameter of the fixed
part of handlebar) thus forming a collar or shoulder, and provide and secure a
short washer or ferrule at the inside of the outer end of fixed part of handlebar,
thus the hinged fitting can be brought forward with the outer length of handlebar
until the shoulder aforesaid will butt against the said ferrule which forms a stop.
Various means may be adopted to further secure and prevent, the outer lengths
of handlobar turning, except when desired, in the ends of the fixed length, and to
provide for the placing of the handles of the machine at varying heights for
riding by altering the angle of same; for instance, I may arrange and fit on the
inner face of the collar on the end of the outer lengths of handlebar one or more
projecting studs and on the face of the outer ends of the fixed length of handle-
bar corresponding holes arranged in position to suit varying angles to which the
handlo can be placed.
Having decided upon the angle at which I wish to place the handle or handles
the outer length or lengths of handlebar is or are rotated in the fixed length and
the studs placed in the holes corresponding to that which will give the desired
angle of handle, the cup nut or nuts will then be screwed up thus firmly securing
everything in place.
Duted this second day of February 1897.
THOMAS, ARCHIBALD FISHER HALL.
Herbert P. Blake.
High Street, Southampton. Agent for the Applicant.
mprovements IN DICÓCIOS anⱭ BUVO NIke Machines,
I, THOMAS ARCHIBALD FISHER HALL, of Kilmory Hill Lane, Southampton, in
the county of Hants, Gentleman, 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 Bicycles, and such like machines, and consists of the
improvements herein described by means of which the handlebars of bicycles
and such like machines can be readily folded down into a more or less vertical
position as desired, and as easily replaced in the ordinary hinged position, and
the handles readily adjusted to varying heights.
In the accompanying drawings I have shewn what I consider to be the best
means of carrying out my invention in which:
Fig. 1 is an eud view in elevation, partly in section shewing a bicycle head and
handlebar in part, fitted-ready for riding--according to my invention.
Fig. 2 a plan on top of Fig 1 partly in section.
Fig. 3 a similar elevation partly in section shewing the handlebars disengaged
from the pillar head.
Fig. 4 a plan on top of Fig. 3 partly in section.
In constructing and fitting the handlebar to a bicycle or such like machine,

page_text: according to my invention, I provide a short fixed length A of tubular handlebar
extending horizontally to an equal length on each side of the pillar head B.
The outer lengths C, C, of handlebar are formed of tube and connected to the
fixed length A in manner hereinafter described.
In passing I note that my handlebars are made in three main lengths and that
the method of construction and mode of fitting the two outer lengths C, O, to the
iniddle fixed length A is exactly similar.
On the ends of the fixed length A, I form or fit a collar or shoulder D.
The inner end of the outer length of handlebar is furnished with a flange or
collar, or the same may be provided at b, on the part E hereinafter described.
I further provide two connected fittings E, E', one for each side of the machine,
each formed of two short pieces of rod and connected together by a hinged joint,
one end of these fittings is inserted in the ends of the outer lengths C, C, of the
handlebar and secured in same in position so that the hinged joint projects out-
side of the collar or shoulder b.
To fix the handlebar in position for riding the end a, of the hinged fitting E',
is inserted into the ends of the fixed length A of handlebar, one on each side of
the machine, until the hinged joint in entirely housed in same, the lengths C, C,
of handlebar will then be in a horizontal position in which they are secured by
a screw threaded nut or ferrule F, which when screwed up on the outer ends of
the fixed part A,-which is screw threaded to receive the nut F, covers same.
The nut F is made to take and fit over the collar or shoulder b, and when the
nut is screwed up it bears against the said collar and brings the outer length of
handlebar forward until the face of collar is close up against the outer end
of the fixed length of handlebar, both the outer ends of handlebar being
thus secured in the riding position The nuts F, F, are free to be turned
on the outer length of handlebar at the back of the collar or shoulder b. When
it is desired to hinge a handlebar down on one or both sides of the machine, the
nut F is unscrewed and the hinged fitting is withdrawn from its housing in the
fixed length of handlebar until the hinged part is quite outside of same,
it is obvious the handlebar can then be turned down close to the handle bar pillar,
to which it can be secured if desired by a strap or other suitable means.
Various means may he adopted to prevent the hinged fitting E, E', from coming
entirely out of the ends of the fixed part of handlebar A, for instance, I may
somewhat reduce the diameter of the part E, of the fitting for the whole length
excepting at its extreme inner end, where the full diameter will be retained (that
is the inside diameter of the fixed part of handlebar) thus forming a shoulder c,
and further provide and secure a short washer or ferrule d, at the inside of the
outer end of the fixed part of handlebar, thus the hinged fitting can be brought
forward with the outer length of handlebar until the shoulder c, will butt against
the ferrule d, which forms a stop.
Various means may be adopted to prevent the outer lengths C, C, of handlebar
from turning, except when desired, in the ends of the fixed length A, and to
provide for the placing of the handlebar ends at varying heights for riding by
altering the angle of same, for instance 1 may arrange and fit on the inner face
of the shoulder b, one or more projecting studs and provide on the face of the
outer end of the shoulder or collar D, of fixed length of handlebar, corresponding
holes arranged to take the studs and in position to suit varying angles to which
the handles can be placed, and fixed, by means of the nut F.
But I have shewn on the accompanying drawings the means I prefer to adopt
to secure the above object, in which I provide on the face of the shoulder D'a
series of teeth e, and corresponding teeth e', on the face of the shoulder b, having
decided upon the angle at which I wish to place the handle or handles, the outer
length or lengths of handlebar is or are rotated in the fixed length and then
placed in the desired position so that the teeth are in engagement, the nut or
nute F will then be screwed up thus firmly securing the handle or handles in
place.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I deolare that what I
claim is:-
1st. The herein before described improved folding down handlebars for bicycles
and such like machines, and the method of adjusting them to various heights,
substantially as hereinbefore set forth. with reference to the accompanying
diawings.
2nd The improvements relating to bicycles and such like machines comprising
the folding handlebars all constructed and combined substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawings and operating as and for the
purposes above specified.
Dated this 20th day of October 1897,
T. A. FISHER HALL.
Herbert P. Blake.
70 High Street, Southampton. Agent for the Applicant.