Year: 1896

page_text: Da'e of Application, 25th July, 1896-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1895
I, FRANZ JOSEF BRONS, of 8 Karpfenstrasse, Lubeck, Germany, Merchant, 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:-
This invention relates to a device for locking the steering gear of velocipedes which
is so arranged that although the gear can be readily locked it cannot be unlocked
by any unauthorized person without the proper key, and, further, in the event of
a party essaying to ride away on the machine, when locked, it will only move in
a circle.
The invention is illustrated on the accompanying sheets of drawings, whereon,
Fig. 1 shows the device attached to and locking the steering gear of a velocipede.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 3 a cross section of the device. The latter
view shows the key s inserted in the lock.
Fig. 4 shows the position of the handle bar of the velocipede in relation to the
frame when the device is locked.
Figs. 5 5 and 6 show in vertical and cross sections a modification of the device.
The device, as shown in Figs. 1 to 3, consists, essentially, of a casing which is
fixed in any suitable manner to the pillar or sleeve a of the steering fork a'. In
this casing is arranged a bolt c which works in guides and is acted on by a spring d
in such manner as to be caused to normally assume the position shown in Fig. 2.
The bolt has a recess e in it. Fitted also in the casing is a second holt i, working in
guides g, h, which is normally forced upwards by a spring so that it bears constantly
against the bolt c.
When the bolt e is pressed inwards its inner end enters the hole k in the
spindle of the steering fork a' and locks it in position so that it cannot be turned to
either side thereby preventing the steering of the machine. The opening is so
situated in the fork a', that, when the bolt is shot, the fork and handle bar is held
in position at an angle to the frame (see Fig. 4) so that whenever the velocipede is
driven forward it has a constant tendency to travel in a circle.
When the bolt c is pressed into the opening & the proper distance the bolt i shoots
up into the recess e and prevents the bolt being retracted.
In order to open the lock it is necessary to use a key which acts on the
spring and withdraws the bolt i from the recess e whereupon the bolt c, under the
action of the spring d, automatically slides back and releases the steering fork.
For additional safety the key can be made with wards of different shape so as to
act on two or more springs f which retract two or more bolts i as shown at Fig. 3.
The key, which may be hollow barrelled and in such case guided by the pin t
when being inserted in the lock, is carried in the pocket of the rider.
To facilitate adjustment of the parts when about to be locked, the frame and
also the steering fork may have marks on them which, when made to coincide,
indicate that the parts are in the proper position for being locked.
The lock can be fitted at any desired part of the cycle, thus, for instance, it
can be fitted at the lower edge of the sleeve or pillar a so that, when the steering
fork is in the slant or angled position the bolt shoots into the forked part in which the
wheel is fitted.

page_text: The modification shown at Figs. 5 54 and 6 consists in hinging to any suitable
part of the sleeve or pillar a, a bar q. In Figs. 5 and 6 the hinge is shown at r.
To this bar is fixed a pin u provided with a notch or opening uso made that
when the bar is folded down the pin u enters a hole in the sleeve a and spindle a¹
of the steering fork, and, when in this position can be locked by means of a catch v,
revoluble about its axis and arranged within the spindle. This catch can be
turned by a key engaging with the square v1 of the catch so as to engage with
the opening at the end of the pin u as shown. The openings in the sleeve a and
spindle a' are so made that when they coincide so as to admit the pin the steering
fork will be at an angle with the frame other than a right angle.
The characteristic feature of the invention consists, as already stated, in so
locking the steering fork by means of a device capable of being opened by a key,
that, when locked, the cycle will only be able to move in a circle.
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. The combination with a velocipede of a device for locking the steering fork
so arranged that when the fork is locked it is held at such an angle to the frame
that the velocipede can only travel, in a circle, substantially us and for the purpose
set forth.
2. The device for locking the steering fork of a velocipede constructed substan-
tially as herein before described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings
annexed.
3. The modified construction of the locking device substantially as herein before
described and shown at Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 24th day of July 1896.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.