Improvements in Handle Bars for Bicycles, Tricycles, and like Road Carriages.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 19th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 10th Apr., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Handle Bars for Bicycles, Tricycles, and like
Road Carriages.
I, ALLEN ANSCOMBE, of 28 West Hill Road, Brighton in the County of Sussex,
Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a handle bar for bicycles, tricycles, and
like road carriages, which can readily be made to occupy very little space when not
in use.
For the purpose of explaining my invention, I will describe the same with reference
to a safety bicycle of the usual construction.
Instead of mounting the handle bar rigidly upon the top of a short rod held within
the steering tube, I fix upon the top of said short rod a cross piece, say three inches
in length or thereabouts, and trough shaped or grooved in such a manner that the
handle bar may lie within the same. Said handle bar is preferably made square or
rectangular where it lies in the trough or groove, the latter being similarly shaped to
receive it and hold it firmly without any play. Near to one end of the cross piece
aforesaid, a short horizontal pin is inserted, passing through from one side to the other,
and also through the handle bar, thus forming a hinge upon which the latter may turn
and assume a vertical position when desired; and to render this action possible the
bottom of the groove may be partially cut away at the required end. I secure the
handle bar within the groove of the cross piece preferably by means of a cover sliding
lengthwise over the same, and, for additional security, furnished with dovetailed or
like grooves fitting over corresponding fillets upon the exterior of the cross piece,
and, if desired, also upon the centre portion of the handle bar. Said cover may be
made to remain on the handle bar after being pulled clear of the cross piece by means
of a stop, and its weight will assist to some extent in keeping the said handle bar in
its vertical position. I may, however, provide any other suitable means for holding
or locking the handle bar within the groove without departing from the spirit of my
invention.
It will be understood that my invention is applicable to various forms of handle
bars, and existing handle bars can be adapted to work as above described without
much difficulty.
Dated thin 10th d... of M... 1906
STANLEY, POPPLEWELL & Co.,
7 and 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Chartered Patent Agents.
MILETI
Improvements in Handle Bars for Bicycles, Tricycles, and like
Road Carriages.
I, ALLEN ANSCOMBE, of 28, West Hill Road, Brighton, in the County of Sussex,
Surveyor, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide a handle bar or steering handle for

page_text: bicycles, tricycles, and nike row carriages, winen can readily be made to occupy very
little space when not in use.
For the purpose of explaining my invention, I will describe the same with reference
to a safety bicycle of usual or ordinary construction, and will refer to the accompanying
sheet of drawings, on which,
Figure 1 is a view of a portion of a handle bar or steering handle constructed
according to my invention, when in position for use,
Figure 2 is a view of the same with the securing device drawn on one side or
unlocked to enable the handle bar to be turned or swung into a vertical position or
thereabouts, and
Figure 3 shows the same after having been swung round into last mentioned
position.
Instead of mounting the handle bar rigidly upon the top of a short rod held within
the steering tube, I fix upon the top of said short rod A a cross piece B, say 3 inches
in length or thereabout, and trough shaped or grooved in such a manner that
the handle bar C may lio within or against the same. Said handle bar C is preferably
enlarged at that part which lies within or against the trough or groove and may have
its sides brought up vertically, as will be seen by Figure 1. The handle bar may
however, be made rectangular or of other shape to enable it to be held firmly within
or against the trough or groove of said cross piece B without any play. Near to one
end of cross piece B aforesaid a short horizontal pin D is inserted, passing through
from one side to the other and also through the handle bar C, thus forming a hinge,
upon which the latter may turn and assume a vertical position when desired; and to
render this action possible the bottom of the groove may be partially cut away or
undercut at the required end, as at E. I may secure the handle bar C within or against
the trough or groove of the cross piece B by means of a locking device or cover F,
sliding lengthwise over the same, and, for additional security, furnished with grooves
or turned down edges G fitting over corresponding fillets H upon the exterior of the
cross piece B, and, if desired, having also a grooved strip or saddle M riding over a
fillet or rib N on the centre portion of the handle bar. Said cover F may be made to
remain on the handle bar after having been drawn clear of the cross piece B by means
of a stop P, and its weight will assist to some extent in keeping the said handle bar
in its vertical position.
A screw-down stop J working in a boss K carried upon the cross piece B may be
provided for locking the sliding cover F in the position shown in Figure 1, the bottom
of the thread L binding against the flat portion of the centre part of the handle bar
or serving as a bolt locking against the end O of the rib N. The end O may be
enlarged as shown so that the grooved strip or saddle M being unable to pass over
same may cause the cover F to be slid off only in one direction.
I may, however, provide any other suitable means for holding or locking the handle
bar within the groove of the cross piece B, or otherwise causing it to be held rigidly
in a horizontal position upon or against said cross piece, without departing from the
spirit of my invention.
It will be understood that my invention is applicable to various forms of handle
bars, and existing handle bars can be adapted to work as above described without
much difficulty.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The improvements in handle bars for bicycles, tricycles, and like road carriages,
consisting of a handle bar lying when in use, within or against a troughed or grooved
cross piece mounted on top of steering pillar, said handle bar being pivoted at or near
one end of said cross piece, and the latter being undercut so that said handle bar may
be turned round into a vertical position or thereabouts, in combination with a suitable
locking device substantially as described.

page_text: 2. For bicycles, tricycles, and like road carriages the method of and means for
mounting a handle bar so as to render it capable of occupying very little space when
not in use substantially as described.
3. A handle bar for bicycles, tricycles, and like road carriages, constructed or
arranged in the manner and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
Dated this 18th day of February 1897.
STANLEY, POPPLEWELL & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents,
7 and 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.