Year: 1897

page_text: I, OWEN JONES, of 68, Great Russell Street, in the County of London, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to folding handle-bars for bicycles and the like and is chiefly
designed to provide improved means for rigidly securing such handle-bars in position
for use.
In the specification of my former Application for Letters Patent, dated 31st October
1896, No. 24373, I have described a handle-bar made in two halves or parts which
are pivoted to the upper end of the upright or downwardly extending part of the
handle-bar, the inner ends of the folding or collapsable halves of the said handle-bar
being provided with projections which, when in position for use, are rigidly secured
together by means of a cap or nut.
Now according to one part of my said invention I provide improved means for
maintaining the folding halves of the handle-bar in position for use or for releasing
the same so as to enable them to be folded inwards. For this purpose I provide a bolt
or pin which is adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with one or both of
the inner ends of the said halves of the handle-bar so as to lock them in position or
release them.
My present invention also comprises an arrangement in which the cross-bar or
handle-bar is formed in one length or piece and is adapted to be turned vertically or
fore-and-aft about one or other of two bolts or pins which are mounted on or in the
upright of the handle-bar and which also serve for rigidly securing the two halves
of the cross-bar in position for use.
My said invention also comprises other improvements hereinafter mentioned.
In carrying my said invention into practice, according to one method; I arrange
the inner ends of the halves of the handle-bar so that they abut or nearly abut
against each other or more or less overlap one another when in position for use, and I
provide the socket or piece to which the said halves of the handle-bar are hinged or
pivoted with bearings in which turns a bolt having a handle or lever to enable it to be
readily turned about its axis, suitable means, such as a spring or other pin engaging with
a recess, being employed for holding the said lever and thereby the bolt, in its locking
position. The said bolt is arranged transversely to the said handle-bar at the point
where the ends of the said halves of the bar abut against each other or overlap one
another, and is cut away so that, when turned into one position, it will rest in
recesses formed in the ends of both halves of the said bar, but when turned into one
of two other positions it will allow one or other of the halves of the handle-bar to be
folded inwards. In this manner the two halves of the said bar can be successively
brought into and out of their operative position. In order to compensate for any
wear which may take place in the interengaging parts, I sometimes arrange for the
inner ends of the halves of the handle-bar to bed against the head of a set-screw
turning in the fixed piece or socket at the top of the upright and provided with a

page_text: capstan-head or other suitably-shaped head to enable it to be readily turned to take
up any slackness which may be present in the handle-bar when locked in position
for use.
According to another form or modification of my said invention I arrange the
inner ends of the said handle-bar so that they lie side-by-side or overlap one another
when the handle-bar is in position for use, and I pass a screw-threaded pin or bolt
through them so as to lock the said halves of the handle-bar in this position, the
said pin or bolt when unscrewed being preferably adapted to remain in one of the
said halves of the handle-bar or in the socket or pivot piece and thus prevent
detachment and possible loss thereof. Or, if desired, one or both of the said ends,
when they are arranged to move side-by-side, can be provided with slots having
circular enlarged ends, these slots being adapted to pass over a pin or bolt adapted
to fit the circular enlarged ends of said slots and having cut-away parts, so that, when
the said pin or bolt is in one position, the halves of the handle-bar can be readily
turned about their hinge-pin or pins or pivots, but when the said halves are in position
for use the said pin or bolt can be turned about its axis within the said circular
enlargements, so as to prevent it from again moving through the slots and the said
halves of the handle-bar will be locked in position. The said rotatable pin or bolt
can either he mounted in one of the inner ends of the halves of the handle-bar, or it
may be mounted in the pivot piece or socket.
According to a still further modification of my invention I arrange the inner ends
of the handle-bar so as to abut or nearly abut against each other or to overlap one
another and between the said ends I pivot a screw-threaded pin or bolt so as to be
capable of swinging towards one or other of the said halves of the handle-bar.
This bolt carries a nut which is adapted to screw down onto the adjacent inner ends
of the halves of the handle-bar and retain them in position for use, suitable
means being provided for preventing entire detachment and possible loss of the
said nut.
When I make the handle-bar in one length or piece, I provide two pins or bolts in
the fixed piece or socket, these pins being provided with cut-away parts adapted to
pass into slots formed in the said handle-bar and having circular enlarged ends; in
this manner when one of the pins is turned so that it will pass through the
corresponding slot in the handle-bar, the said handle-bar can be turned into a
fore-and-aft or vertical position about the other pin or bolt, and when both pins
rest in the enlarged ends of the slots and are turned so as to prevent their
passage through the slots, the handle-bar will be rigidly held in position for use.
The said pins or bolts are preferably provided with levers or arms to enable them to
be readily turned, each of these levers being preferably provided with a pin adapted
to spring into a recess formed in the bolt on the opposite side of the socket and
thus lock itself in position. Or, if desired, one or both of the side pins or bolts
can be made removable so that when one is removed the handle-bar can be turned
about the other.
Dated the 17th dan
bamba 1005
Improvements relating to the Handle-bars of Bicycles and the like.
I, OWEN JONES, of 68, Great Russell Street, in the County of London, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to 5

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention relates to folding handle-bars for bicycles and the like, and is chiefly
designed to provide improved means for rigidly securing such handle-bars in
position for use.
In the specification of former Letters Patent granted to me and dated 31st October,
1896, No. 24373, I have described a folding or collapsable handle-bar the cross-piece
whereof is made in two halves or parts which are pivoted to the upper end of the
upright or stem of the handle-bar, the inner ends of the two halves of the said
handle-bar being provided with projections which, when in position for use, are rigidly
secured together by means of a cap or nut.
Now, according to one part of my present invention, the pivoted halves of the
cross-piece of the handle-bar are arranged to be firmly fastened in their operative
position by a bolt or pin which is adapted to be moved into and out of engagement
with the inner end of one or both of the said halves so as to lock them in position
for use or release them as desired.
My present invention also comprises a handle-bar the relatively movable part or
parts whereof are secured in their operative position by means of a pin or bolt which
is so shaped that, by turning it about its axis through a suitable angle, it will permit
the folding of the said handle-bar. My said invention also comprises an arrangement
in which the cross-piece of the handle-bar is formed in one length or piece and is
adapted to be turned vertically or horizontally about one or other of two bolts or pins
which are mounted on or in the upright or stem of the handle-bar and which also
serve for rigidly securing the cross-bar in position for use.
And my said invention comprises other improvements hereinafter mentioned.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a vertical central section,
Figure 2 a horizontal section, and
Figure 3 a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1, showing one form of my
improved folding handle-bar.
Figure 4 is a vertical central section, showing another form or modification
thereof.
Figure 5 is a front elevation, partly in vertical section, and
Figure 6 a horizontal section on the line y, y, Figure 5, illustrating another
modification of my said invention.
Figure 7 is a vertical central section showing another modification thereof.
Figure 8 is a front elevation, partly in vertical section, and
Figure a plan, partly in horizontal section, showing a further modification of
my said invention, and
Figure 10 is a transverse section showing a still further inodification thereof.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3, I have shown an arrangement wherein the cross-piece is
made in two halves or parts b, b turning about separate pivot-pins 3, which pins
may, if desired, be made taper or conical. The solid pieces or blocks e, e¹ at the
inner ends of the halves b, b of the cross-piece, are so made that they abut or nearly
abut against each other when the handle-bar is in position for use, and the head or
socket d of the upright or stem of the handle-bar is provided with bearings in which
turns a pin or bolt r having a handle r¹ to enable it to be readily turned about its
axis. This bolt is arranged transversely to the handle-bar b, b at the point where
the blocks e, e¹ abut against each other. It is cut away at so that, when in the
position shown in Figure 1, it will be partly in one and partly in the other of two
recesses e formed in the adjacent ends e, e¹, of the halves b, b of the said bar, and
will therefore lock the said halves in position for use; but, when turned into the
position shown in Figure 2, it will lie within the left hand recess only and will
consequently allow the right-hand half 6 of the handle-bar to be folded inwards; and,
when turned from this position through an angle of 180 degrees, it will allow the

page_text: other half b of the handle-bar to be folded inwards. Pins or projections 2 provided
on the pivot-pins f and on the socket d are adapted to enter a hole or recess in the
lever, for the purpose of retaining the bolt r either in its locking position,
Figures 1 and 3, or in one or other of its unlocking positions, Figure 2. By these
means the two halves b, b can be folded inwards to reduce the width of the machine,
or can be brought into and locked firmly in their operative position.
To compensate for any wear which may take place in the inter-engaging parts, and
thus ensure rigidity of the handle-bar when in operative condition, the pieces e, e¹
are arranged so as to bed against the head of a set screw p turning in the socket d
and provided with a capstan-head p³ to enable it to be readily turned to take up any
slackness. Entrance of rain, dust or other matter into the socket d is prevented by
means of lateral cover-pieces or extensions et, Figure 3, on the sides of the
pieces e, e¹.
According to another form or inodification of my said invention I make the .inner
ends of the said handle-bar so that they lie side-by-side or overlap one another when
the handle-bar is in position for use, as shown, for example, in Figures 4, 5 and 6.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 4, a screw-threaded pin or bolt s is passed through
overlapping parts or eyes g, g¹ formed on the blocks e, e¹, and is secured in place so
as to lock the halves of the handle-bar in the position shown. This pin or bolt is
provided with a screw-threaded end s which fits into a tapped hole in the socket d,
the head 83 of the said pin or bolt bearing against the upper side of the block e¹. The
said pin or bolt is preferably also provided with a collar s² fitting loosely in a recess e
in the pieces e, el so that, when the said pin or bolt is unscrewed, it cannot become
completely detached, but will remain in the right hand half of the handle-bar.
Liability to loss of the said pin or bolt is thus obviated.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 5 and 6, the ends e, e¹ of the two halves b, b
of the handle-bar are made with projections g, g' which overlap each other, and are
provided with slots t having circular enlarged ends and adapted to pass over the
reduced part 4 of a pin or bolt r secured in the head or socket d, so that, when the
said pin or bolt is in the position shown in Figure 6, the halves b of the handle-bar
can be readily turned inwards about their hinge-pins f³, but, when the said halves are
again moved into line with each other, the pin or bolt r can be turned about its axis
into the position shown in Figure 5, and will then lock the halves b, b of the handle-
bar firmly in position. The said rotatable pin or bolt can, if desired, be mounted in
the inner end of one of the halves of the handle-bar, instead of being mounted in the
socket d as shown. An adjusting screw in the socket d can also be used in this
arrangement to ensure rigidity of the handle-bar when in operative condition.
It is evident that a pin or bolt cut away at both sides as at 74 can, if desired, be
substituted for the pin or bolt 7 shown in Figures 1 and 2, the form of the blocks e, e¹
being modified accordingly.
In the modification shown in Figure 7, the inner ends e, e¹ of the two halves of
the handle-bar are so arranged as to overlap one another, or to abut or nearly abut
against each other, and a screw-threaded pin or bolt is pivoted at ¹ to the socket d,
so that it extends upward between the said ends, and is capable of being turned or
-swung towards one or other of the pivot-pins f³ so as to release one or other of the
halves of the handle-bar. This bolt is provided with a nut h which can be screwed
down upon the inner ends e, e¹ of the halves of the handle-bar so as to firmly retain
them in position for use, a collar or head k² on the bolt k, or other suitable means
being provided for preventing complete detachment and possible loss of the said
nut h.
In the modification shown in Figures 8 and 9, the cross-bar is made in one length.
or piece b¹ and is provided with two pins or bolts having reduced parts adapted to
pass through slots t formed in the head or socket d of the handle-bar and having
circular enlarged ends t¹. When one of the pins or bolts is turned so that it will
pass through the corresponding slot t in the socket d, as shown at the left-hand side
of Figure 8, the handle-bar can be turned into a vertical position about the other pin

page_text: or bolt r, as indicated by dotted lines, and when both pins rest in the enlarged ends t¹
of the slots and are turned so as to prevent their passage through the slots, the
handle-bar will be rigidly held in position for use. The pins or bolts are provided
with levers or arms to enable them to be readily turned, each of these levers being
formed with a recess adapted to spring onto a pin 2 on the bolt'r on the opposite side
of the socket d, so as to lock itself in position; or, if desired, the slots t, t¹ can be
made in the inner or under side of the handle-bar b¹ and the pins or bolts r pivoted
in the socket d.
Or, one or both of the said pins or bolts r' can be made removable as shown in
Figure 10, so that, when one is removed, the handle-bar can be turned about the other.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 10, the handle-bar b¹ is made with an internal
channel 62 so that it will fit over a bar or piece d³ on the head or socket d of the
handle-bar stem.
It is evident that the arrangements above described can, if desired, be adapted for
handle-bars turning horizontally instead of vertically.
It is obvious, moreover, that the construction of my improved handle-bar can
be somewhat further modified without departing from the nature of my said
invention.
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. A folding handle-bar the cross-piece whereof is made in halves, which are pivoted
to the upright or stein and are secured in their operative position by a pin or bolt
movable into and out of engagement with one or both of the said halves, substantially
as, and for the purposes, herein before described.
2. A. folding handle-bar in which the relatively movable part or parts are secured in
their operative position by one or more pins or bolts so shaped that, when turned
about their axes through a suitable angle, they will permit the folding of the said
handle-bar.
3. A folding handle-bar in which the pivoted halves of the cross-piece are fastened
in their operative position by means of a pin or bolt which is secured in the upright
or stem and fits into recesses or seats in the inner ends of the said halves, and which
is so shaped that, by turning it about its axis in one or the other direction, the
corresponding half of the said cross-piece will be released.
4. A folding handle-bar wherein the inner ends of the pivoted halves of the cross-
piece overlap each other and are fastened together by suitable fastening devices,
substantially as, and for the purposes, herein before described.
5. A folding handle-bar the relatively movable part or parts whereof are connected
to the upright or stem by means of pins or bolts having cut-away or reduced portions
fitted in one of the parts and adapted to engage with slots or recesses in the other
part or parts, substantially as, and for the purposes, hereinbefore described.
6. A folding handle-bar in which the pivoted halves of the cross-piece are secured in
their operative position by means of a nut on a pivoted pin or bolt engaging with
the inner ends of the said halves, substantially as, and for the purposes herein-
before described.
7. The combination, with a folding handle-bar, of an adjusting-screw for ensuring
rigidity of the relatively movable part or parts when secured in operative position,
substantially as described.
8. A folding handle-bar in which the cross-piece is secured to the upright or stem
by means of two pins or bolts so that, when one of the said pins or bolts is moved out.
of engagement with it, it can be turned about the other pin or bolt.
9. The improved folding handle-bar having the separate halves of the cross-piece
pivoted to the upright or stem and provided with means for rigidly securing them in
position for use, substantially as described with reference to either of the forms or
modifications shown in the accompanying drawing.
10. The improved folding handle-bar in which the cross-piece is secured in the

page_text: upright or stem by means of two bolts or pivots adapted to be moved into and out
of engagement with the said cross-piece, substantially as described with reference to
Figures 8 and 9 or to Figure 10 of the drawing and for the purposes specified.
Dated the 27th day of June 1900
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.