Improvements in Bicycle Lamp Brackets.
Year: 1895

page_text: .Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 8th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 8th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 30th Nov., 1815
Improvements in Bicycle Lamp Brackets.
I, WILLIAM NICHOLS BEARDSLEY, of 268 Stratford Avenue, Bridgeport,
Fairfield County, State of Connecticut, U.S.A. Book-keeper, 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 :-
My invention relates to lamp-supporting brackets for bicycles and it is especially
adapted to be applied to the fork part of the machine instead of the head, as
formerly placed, so as not only to bring the lamp near the ground for a clearer
view of the road, but also closer to the cyclometer or registering device located on
the front axle of the machine.
To enable others to understand my invention reference is had to the accompanying
drawings in which ;
Fig. 1 represents an upper plan view of the lamp bracket showing the clamp in
locked position about one of the forks of the bicycle, the latter being shown in
sectional view; and
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the bracket showing the clamping device unlocked and
thrown back so as to remove the bracket from the fork ;
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the bracket looking in the direction of arrow a
of Fig. 1;
Fig. 4 is a rear end elevation of the bracket looking in the direction of arrow b
of Fig. 3.
Its construction and operation are as follows; 1, 1ª are the upper and lower arms
of the supporting frame of the bracket, which frame consists, simply, of a piece
of metal bent around so that such arms 1, 1ª are on the same vertical plane. At
the free ends of such arms is placed the lamp support 2 consisting of a wire loop
whose free ends extend through the said arms 1, 1 of the bracket and are riveted
thereto. To keep the arms 1, 1ª parallel and firm the sheet metal support 3 is
placed between the same and its free ends are turned over to form the eyes c through
which eyes also pass the free ends of the, before mentioned, wire loop 2, which
latter arrangement serves to prevent displacement of the support 3. The offsets d
of the lamp support 2 form anvils or supports for the upper arm 1, so that when
the free ends of the wire support are riveted or headed against the lower surface of
the arm 1 the brace or support 3 will be firmly held between the arms of the
bracket.
4 is the sheet metal clamp having the eye 5 formed in one end, which eye is
journaled on the pin 6, the ends of which are fastened in holes in the arins 1 and 1*.
This pin should be located in the center, transversely, of such arms, for the purpose

page_text: hereinafter to be more fully described, and close to the vertical ends 1° of the
bracket arms 1, 1ª. In the free end of the clamp 4 is formed the eye to receive
the pin 7 on which pin is pivotally hung the clamping screw 8 carrying on its
threaded end the thumb nut 9; on the said clamp, and in rear of the pivotal point,
is located the forked portion 10 whose opening 11 serves to admit the body of the
clamping screw 8 and against whose outer face the nut 9 is supported.
The operation of the device is as follows: To attach the bracket to one of the
branches of the fork of a bicycle the clamp 4 is swung around in the position shown
The clamp
at Fig. 2, so that the fork will lie against the end 1 of said bracket.
is then brought around the fork 12 (Fig. 1) turning on its pivot carrying the forked
projection 10 to the opposite side (Figs. 1 and 3) of the bracket from what it
occupied when open, as shown at Fig. 2. The clamping screw also passes between
arms 1, 1 and into the fork opening of the projecting piece 10 when the clamp is
firmly locked by means of the nut 9. The clamp being made of sheet metal will
conform to the different forms and sizes of the fork which vary in different bicycles.
The object of pivoting the clamp midway of the arms of the bracket serves a
threefold purpose; First, the clamp swings clear of the bicycle fork, so that the
bracket may be readily attached or detached therefrom; Second, by simply
reversing or turning over the bracket on its pivotal pin 5 it can be made right or
left handed and used on either branch of the bicycle fork required, and Third, as
there is but little room between the wheel and the two branches of the fork there
can be no obstruction placed there that would be liable to come in contact with
the spokes of the wheel. Therefore, as this sheet metal clamp is thin it will occupy
but little space and the clamping screw and nut, by reason of the central pivotal
point, before mentioned, will be located to one side where there is plenty of room
to operate them.
It will, of course, be understood that, while the above described bracket is
especially designed for use on either of the branches of the fork of a bicycle I hold
myself at liberty to attach it to any other part of the machine where this can be
done without materially changing its construction.
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
consider novel and desire to claim is :-
1. In a bicycle-lamp bracket, comprising in combination, the frame as shown,
having arms 1, 1ª parallel with each other, vertical end wall 1b, clamp 4 pivotally
bung between said arms and near the vertical wall thereof, said clamp carrying at
one end a clamping screw and nut and at the opposite end means for locking said
clamp, lamp support 2 situated at the outer extremity of said arms and a support
or brace 3 between said arms, for the purpose bereinbefore described.
2. In a bicycle-lamp bracket, of the character described, comprising in combination,
arms, 1, 1, vertical end wall 1, the free ends of said arms carrying the lamp
support, a swinging clamp pivotally supported between said arms and central
therewith and near the vertical end wall thereof, said clamp carrying on one end a
clamping screw and nut and on the opposite end means for locking the same, so that
by reason of such central pivotal support of said clamp it will swing clear of the
end wall of the bracket so that such bracket can be readily attached or detached
from the bicycle fork, and also, can be manipulated from the side of said bracket
as described and for the purpose set forth.
T11:
L 3
of Antahan 1905
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.