Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 16th Dec.. 1896-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1897
1 WILLIAM BRATBY, Junior, of Oakfield, Hale, Bowdon, in the County of
Chester, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in brakes for velocipedes and particularly
to velocipedes provided with pneumatic tyres. It is well known that the brakes at
present in use which act upon the tyre, frequently cause injury to the tyre, and
for this reason are in great disfavour with cyclists.
My invention has for its object to obviate this defect and provide a brake which
whilst being exceedingly efficient will not act upon the tyre itself and thus save
the tyre from damage or injury.
In carrying my invention into effect, I provide in front of the steering post of
the velocipede a post or bracket secured to the steering post, and to this bracket
I pivot loosely two limbs or links. The. lower ends of the links are adapted to
embrace the rim of the velocipede wheel and are provided with suitable pads of
rubber or other resilient material. The links in their normal position are kept
from contact with the rim of the wheel by means of a suitable spring or other
A brake lever connected to the handle bar of the velocipede in the usual
or any suitable manner is connected to a rod which is formed at its lower end with
an open mouthed sleeve which embraces the pivotted links.
By operating the brake lever in the usual manner the sleeve formed on the
brake rod descends and compresses the pivotted links, which causes the rubber or
other pads with which the links are provided to engage with more or less friction
against the rim of the wheel and the revolution of the wheel is retarded.
Immediately the brake lever is released the spring returns the pivotted links
again to their normal position.
It will thus be seen that my improved brake, acting upon the sides of the
rim, instead of upon the surface of the tyre as usual obviates any damage to
the tyre..
I do not confine myself to the use of the hollow sleeve for compressing the links
as the brake rod might be provided with a ring or fork to embrace the links or other
suitable meaus for compressing the links may be adopted. In order to obtain a
better gripping surface for the brake pads of the pivotted links the rim might be
formed with flat sides, or the brake pads might be formed to any suitable shape to
suit the varying sections of rims.

page_text: I WILLIAM BRATBY, Junior, of Oakfield, Hale, Bowden, in the County of
Chester, 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 and accompanying drawings:-
My said invention relates to improvements in brakes for velocipedes and
particularly to velocipedes provided with pneumatic tyres. It is well known that the
brakes at present in use which act upon the tyre, frequently cause injury to the
tyre and for this reason are in great disfavour with cyclists.
My invention has for its object to obviate this defect and provide a brake which
whilst being exceedingly efficient does not act upon the tyre itself and thus saves
the tyre from damage or injury. This object I effect by providing a brake acting
upon the rim of the wheel.
And in order that my invention may be more completely understood I will now
refer to the annexed sheet of illustrative drawings.
In the said drawings
Fig. 1. represents a front view of my improved brake shown applied to a
bicycle.
Fig. 2. is a view at right angles to Fig. 1.
To the crown of the front fork a I secure a bracket b to which is pivotted loosely
two curved clips c. The lower ends of the clips c are adapted to come in contact
at times with the sides of the rim d of the velocipede wheel, and are provided with
suitable brake pads e of rubber or other suitable material. In their normal
position the pads of the links c are free from contact with the wheel rim as shown
in Fig. 1. of the drawings. A spring applied at the handle bar in the usual
manner or in any other suitable position is used to retain the brake handle f in its
normal and if considered desirable a spring may be employed to ensure the opening
of the clips c when the brake is taken off.
The usual brake lever fis connected to a vertical rod 9 the lower adjustable
sleeve prolongation g' of which is secured to the bracket by means of loosely
pivotted bridles. The prolongation g' is provided with a ring or eye a which
surrounds the upper ends of the pivotted clips c. When the brake lever is
operated in the usual way the brake rod g g' is depressed and the eye is slipped
down over the clip arms c thus squeezing together the pivotted clips and bringing
the pads e to bear upon the sides of the rim d with any required degree of pressure.
When the brake lever is released the rod g g returns to its normal position by the
agency of a spring as aforesaid in the usual or any suitable manner, and the
pivotted links c are moved apart so as to be isolated from the rim by a spring or
.other means.
It will be seen that my improved brake acting upon the sides of the rim, obviates
any damage to the tyre.
To obtain a better gripping surface for the brake pads of the pivotted clips the
rim d might be formed with flat sides, or the brake pads might be of any suitable
shape to suit the varying sections of tyres.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. The improved brake for velocipedes, constructed, arranged and acting in the
manner and substantially as described and shown.

page_text: 2. In brakes of the indicated nature the compressor or brake rod 9 g' formed
with or carrying an eye or ring a in combination with the pivotted clips c furnished
with brake pads e capable of being brought to bear upon the sides of the wheel
rim and arranged and acting substantially as described and illustrated.
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5 John Dalton Street, Manchester, Chartered Patent Agents.