Improvements in or relating to Steering Apparatus for Cycles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 27th July, 1892-Accepted 24th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Steering Apparatus for Cycles.
We, JOHN WALES, of Priestfield, Mowbray Road, Upper Norwood, Brigade
Surgeon, Army Medical Staff (retired), and WILLIAM GARNEYS WALES, of
same address, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of our invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO STEERING APPARATUS FOR CYCLES to
be as follows:-
The same letters of reference upon the several figures indicate corresponding
parts.
A. Fig. I is a handle made of hard wood, or other suitable material, and about
four inches in length and about one inch in diameter, and grooved around its
circumference in four places to fit the four fingers and improve grip. It is
perforated longitudinally by a hole or channel, shown in section at B Fig. II to
admit a cord to fit closely yet slide through it with some frictional hold between
them. It has a second hole or channel C in the center of its length to meet the
longitudinal channel at right angles, and of a diameter to admit the cord double to
slide through it with some frictional resistance.
This handle is strung with a cord to fit the channel, and in the manner shown in
Fig. III. D is a knot fixed in a definite position on the cord so that when the
bridle is fixed as in Fig. IV and in Fig. V at E. G. F. the lines of angle drawn
from the fixed points on the steering bar E and F to the fixed point on the
Baddle G (or other part where fixed) would intersect the ends of the handle when
it is drawn home upon the knot as at H.
I. Fig. III is a hook attached to the loop end of the bridle and adapted for
fixing on to the back of cycle saddle (or other suitable part). KK are the rein
parts of the bridle, terminated as in Fig. VI with a loop and a button L, made of
ivory bone or other suitable material, for adjusting the length of the reins on the
steering bar and fixing them, (the loop is preferably to be hitched on as in
Fig: The bridle is to be used 1. when pushing a cycle along, as shown in
Fig. IV. The hand rests on the back of the saddle to push while the fingers grip
the handle and control the steering thereby. The hook and loop lie in a convenient
position between the fingers as at M. 2. In giving automatic steering action,
which is obtained by fixing the hook over the back of the saddle (or to other
suitable part) and slipping the handle forward on the cord as shown at A Fig. V,
where it will remain with a firm grip, and give tension on the bridle and automatic
steering action, and which is further improved, and checked at a certain point, by
the play, from side to side, of the handle as shown in Fig. VIII.
Fig. IX and X show the positions to which the handle permits itself and loose
cord to be slipped between or on either side of the riders knees when the bridle
is not in use, and where the handle is conveniently at hand when the rider
dismounts.
Ontation 50th 1001
JOHN WALES.
WILLIAM GARNEYS WALES.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Steering Apparatus for Cycles.
We, JOHN WALES of Priestfield, Mowbray Road, Upper Norwood, Brigade
Surgeon Army Medical Staff (retired) and WILLIAM GARNEYS WALES of
same address, Civil 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 :-
This invention will be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings,
Figures 1, 2 and 3 being respectively a view of the handle, a section of the
handle, and a view of the handle with a portion of the cords and hook attached.
Figures 4 and 5 are details of the cleat buttons and loops.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 show its application for steering purposes.
Figures 9 and 10 show positions of the bridle when not in use.
"
A is the handle preferably made of wood and having a longitudinal channel B of
the size of the single cord and a short cross channel C joining the channel B but
of a size to accommodate the two cords which may be drawn through and knotted
as at D Figure 3 and the hook I secured in the loop thus formed. The "bridle
may be made of any convenient length each of the ends being provided with a
cleat button L leaving a loop as shown in Figure 4 which may be placed single
around the handle bar of the cycle to which it is applied as in Figure 5 or may be
looped around as in Figure 4 so as to obtain a hold upon the handle bar. The
handle A can be drawn along the cords K as required to adjust the tension or for
other purposes.
In using this steering apparatus the rider when pushing his machine may grasp
the handle with his fingers as shown in Figure 6 and resting the hand against the
back of the saddle can push the machine and by turning the handle A can corre-
spondingly turn the handle bar and so steer the machine. As an automatic steerer
for holding the handle bar evenly across the machine so that the latter will run in
a straight line the apparatus may be placed as in Figures 7 and 8 where the hook I
is hooked on to the back of the saddle at G the cords K being secured to the ends
of the handle bar at E and F by the cleat buttons L. Each of these consists of a
block or piece of wood, ebonite, or the like each provided with two holes one of
which is adapted to be moved along the cord K and the other receives the cord
which is knotted behind it as indicated in Figures 4 and 5. By slipping the button
along the cord the knotted end will be drawn along with it and the length of the
cord thus adjusted.
In Figures 9 and 10 the apparatus is shown drawn up to the handle bar so as to
be out of the way of the rider; these positions it is intended to occupy when not
in use.
In Figure 9 the handle is shown in the centre and in Figure. 10 to one
side, the cord in both cases being looped up as much as necessary to stretch it as
tight as required.
It will be readily appreciated that this device when not required for steering
purposes may be used for strapping luggage, parcels etc. on to the machine since
the hook the handle A. and the cleat buttons L afford all the necessary means
for adjusting its length so as to fit the object to be secured.
We prefer to construct the handle A as described and illustrated in Figure 2 of
the accompanying drawings as by making the hole B only large enough to accom-
modate a single cord a better grip is obtained; it will however be understood that
it will be possible to work the apparatus even if the hole B were as large as the
hole C. The hook I need not necessarily be secured upon the back of the saddle
for steering purposes as it may be fixed to some other suitable part of the saddle or
machine from which the necessary purchase can be obtained.
The tightening effect is obtained and adjusted by altering the angles of the cords
by means of the sliding handle.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. A cycle appliance consisting of the cord or cords such as K handle such as A
hook I and cleat buttons L the whole constructed and operating substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In an apparatus such as described the combination with a cord such as K
hook such as I secured at the centre of the length of the cord and cleat buttons
such as L of a handle such as A longitudinally pierced as at B with a hole large
enough to accommodate a single cord and having a branch hole C large enough to
accommodate two cords and the handle being adapted to slide upon the cords
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination with a cycle of a "bridle or appliance such as described
having its ends connected to the handle bar and adapted to be secured to the saddle
and adjusted as to length substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete appliance
for cycles substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 27th day of July 1899
JOHN WALES,
WILLIAM GARNEYS WALES,
Per W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicants.