Improvements in Clamps for a Variety of Important Uses, such as Securing a Bicycle Bell to a Bicycle, or the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883), as required by the
decision of the Comptroller General of the 20th day of July 1897.
Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in Clamps for a Variety of Important Uses, such
as Securing a Bicycle Bell to a Bicycle, or the like.
I, EDWARD DAYTON ROCKWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at
Bristol, County of Hartford, State of Connecticut, United States of America,
Inventor, 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:-
One object of my invention is to produce in a clamp specially adapted for
securing a bell to a bicycle handle bar a shorter support for the base of the bell
than in clamps heretofore employed.
Another object of my invention is to produce in such a clamp embodying a band
clip, means for winding up the free end of the band clip to fit the clamp to
different bars, without the necessity of removing any screw or similar separable
part.
Heretofore in clamps of this general class, either one end of the band has been
permanently fastened to the clamp and a screw at the other end has been depended
upon entirely for fastening and adjusting the clamp in place, or where both ends
of the clip have been made separable from the clamp, one or more screws have
been employed for securing any adjustment provided for in the device.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. I is a section of a handle bar showing my clamp in side elevation secured
to a bell;
Fig. II is a view taken at right angles to the same;
Fig. III is a plan view of a plate from which my clamp or frame is made;
Fig. IV is a perspective view of the clamp frame complete;
Fig. V is a side elevation of the band clip head and screw detached;
Fig. VI is a view illustrating the manner of winding the free end of the clip by
the aid of the clamp frame;
Fig. VII is a view of a modified form of frame and band clip, showing the band
surrounding a section of handle bar, and one side of the frame removed.
Referring to the figures on the drawings:
1 indicates a handle bar of a bicycle. 2 indicates a bell of any suitable and
ordinary construction, the base 3 of which is secured in any usual manner to my
clamp frame 4. This frame, on account of economic reasons, I prefer to make of
sheet metal. The sheet may be formed, as illustrated, in Fig. III of the drawings.
Afterwards it is stamped by the aid of dies to produce parallel side pieces 5, and
an end piece 6, which, in the completed article, is brazed, or otherwise secured
across the front of the side piece. The plate, as originally stamped, is provided
with narrow recesses 7, which may be called key slits, being located opposite each

page_text: other when the sides of the frame are struck up. The end piece 6 is also provided
with a screw slot 8, the lower end of the end piece upon opposite sides of the front
piece being struck up to form lugs 10.
11 indicates a band clip made of suitable, readily flexible sheet metal, as for
instance brass. It is designed to encircle the handle bar and being fastened at
opposite ends of the frame to constitute means for securing a bell in position
thereon. In width, it is slightly narrower than the distance between the sides
pieces 5 of the frame 4 and these, when the bell is secured to the handle bar, prevent
the band clip from being displaced laterally.
Accordingly, upon one end of the clip I provide a head 12, preferably an angle
head, as illustrated, which is firmly secured to the band, as by means of a rivet 13
passing through the head and the band, the head being preferably, split, or made
of two parts to receive the end of the band between them. In the end of the head
I provide a screw threaded aperture 14 and within it, a screw 15 which fits within
the screw slot 8 and whose head rests against and is supported in position by the
lugs 10 when the parts are properly assembled.
Upon the end of the clip opposite the head, I provide a winding key 16, which
preferably consists of a piece of flat metal firmly secured, as by a rivet 17 to the
clip, and having its opposite ends 18 projecting so as to enter the key slits and
retain the end of the clip against a tension upon it in engagement with the frame.
Such tension, it will be perceived, is obtainable within meagre limits, through the
aid of the screw 15. If, however, the handle bar to which the bell is secured, be
of a size materially different from the one to which the clip is first adjusted, the
key end of the clip is wound upon or unwound from the key so as to make the band
of suitable length. The winding of the end of the clip by the aid of the key is
readily accomplished by inserting it into one of the key slits and using the bell as
a wrench, as illustrated in Fig. VI of the drawings.
One feature of this invention is that the clip can be entirely separated from the
frame without removing any screw or other part liable to be lost or misplaced,
because the only screw employed forms a part of the clip and may be always
carried upon it.
The extremities of the key slits are rounded, as illustrated at 18, whereby, when
the band clip, its key and screw have been properly adjusted, the screw may be
inserted into its slot 8, the clip placed round the handle bar, and by pressure
against the keyed end, the key may be forced into the slits 7, thereby rendering it
feasible to secure the parts together without the aid of a screw driver.
In Fig. VII of the drawings I have shown a modified form of my device, in
which key slits 19 are shown as opening towards the handle bar, instead of from it,
as shown in the other drawings, and the winding key 20 is illustrated as cylindrical,
with terminal lugs 21 adapted to enter the slits 19.
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 a clamp, the combination with a frame, band clip, and means for securing
the band clip at one end to the frame, of a winding key secured to the clip at
the other end, and means for fastening the key to the frame, substantially as set
forth.
2. In a clamp, the combination with a frame, band clip and adjustable means for
securing it to the frame at one end, of a winding key secured to the clip at the
other end, and means for securing the clip to the frame, substantially as set
forth.
3. In a clamp, the combination with a frame provided with parallel sides and
opposite key slits, of a band clip means for securing it to the frame at one end, and
a winding key at the other end adapted to enter the key slits in the frame,
substantially as set forth.
4. In a clamp, the combination with a frame provided with opposite parallel

page_text: sides and key slits therein, of a band clip, means for securing it at one end to the
fraine, a winding key secured at the other end adapted to enter the slits, the width
of the band being slightly narrower than the distance between the sides of the
frame, whereby, when the key is inserted into the key slits, the band is
confined between the frame sides against lateral displacement, substantially as set
forth.
5. In a clamp, the combination with a frame and a band clip, of adjustable means
such as a winding key for securing the said clip to the frame carried entirely upon
the clip, substantially as set forth.
6. In a clamp, the combination with a frame provided with opposite parallel
sides and key slits in the sides provided with rounded ends, of a band clip, means
for securing it at one end to the frame, and a winding key secured at the other end
adapted by pressure to be forced over the rounded ends of the key slits into them,
substantially as set forth.
7. In a clamp, the combination with a frame provided with a slot for a screw, of a
band clip, having attached at one end a head or nut into which the said screw takes,
the other end of said band clip being provided with a key which fits into slits in the
frame, substantially as set forth.
EDWARD DAYTON ROCKWELL.
Jensen & Son,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.