An Improved Device for Clamping the Steering Mechanism of Cycles and the like to their Framings.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date
plication, ôrd dune, 1697
Complete Specification Left, 24th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 30th Oct., 1897
UT
Complete Specification Left, 24th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 30th Oct., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Device for Clamping the Steering Mechanism of Cycles
and the like to their Framings.
I, GEORGE YATES COOPER, Managing Director of the New Cooper Cycle Fittings
Company Limited, of 89 Belmont Row, in the City of Birmingham, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is an improved device for locking the steering mechanism of
cycles, or, in other words, an improved means whereby the steering wheel can be
clamped rigid to the cycle frame so that the said wheel becomes for the time
being a rigid part thereof.
It is important to enable a rider to stand his machine, or to lean it against a
wall for a period of time, or for other purposes, that the joint of the steering
wheel should have a check placed upon its freedom, and this is the object of the
invention; the same being accomplished in a very simple and effective manner.
The clamping device is for the most part concealed, the only element thereof
open to view being a rotatable screw nut, or its equivalent, by which the device
is operated, and preferable this should be somewhat concealed by being arranged
under one of the lugs of the socketed cycle head. The device is distinguished
by a narrow split spring metal band, fitted to the interior of the socketed head
and arranged to surround the steering post, and a closing-in wedge or inclined
bolt or cross pin, adapted to reciprocate in a transversely directed channelled
extension formed from out of the metal of one of the lugs. The split band, as
aforesaid, is pegged at one point to the inside of the tube of the socket head,
adjacent to one of the lugs, leaving a free end to constitute the gripping or
clamping medium for locking the steering post. Against this free end of the
spring split band impinges the inclined portion of the cross wedge or bolt before
mentioned, so that as the bolt is pulled through the channelled extension of the
lug, by a screw nut with a milled head which works upon one of its ends and
bears against the end of the channelled extension, the free springing end or
member of the split band is pulled inwards and is made to grip saddle-wise upon
the steering post. The gripping part of the band is caused to recede, or stand
free from the steering post, if the cross bolt or wedge is let out by the unscrewing
of the milled headed nut or its equivalent; the gripping portion of the spring
band at this time automatically forcing the wedge or bolt back immediately the
pulling-in means is released.
The metal of the socketed head is cut away adjacent to the channelled extension,
to allow the wedge or bolt to impinge upon the gripping band.
It is preferable in a gentleman's machine to fit the device to the crown lug of
the head, but in a lady's cycle it will no doubt be found more neat to apply it
to the lower lug of the head.
A aetachable key can be the medium for traversing the bolt or wedge, and

page_text: so clamping the steering, in order to prevent the device being easily tampered
with whe a machine is left unguarded.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1897.
W. P: THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Agents for Applicant.
An Improved Device for Clamping the Steering Mechanism of Cycles
and the like to their Framings.
I, GEORGE YATES COOPER, Managing Director of the New Cooper Cycle Fittings
Company Limited, of 89 Belmont Row, in the City of Birmingham, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed; to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention is an improved device for locking the steering mechanism of
cycles and other similar steered vehicles to their framings or, in other words,
an improved means..whereby the steering wheel can be rigidly clamped to the
machine's framing so as to become for the time being a rigid part thereof.
oľ
It is important in a cycle to enable a rider to stand his machine
to lean it against a wall for a period of time or for other purposes that the joint
of the steering wheel should have a check placed upon its freedom. To accom-
plish this in a very simple and effective manner is the object of the invention;.
the device constituting the same being capable of being put into and out of
action very quickly.
The said clamping device is for the most part concealed, the only element thereof
open to view being a rotatable screw nut, stem, pin, or their equivalents, by which
the device is operated, and preferably this should be somewhat concealed by
arranging the same under one of the lugs of the socketted cycle head. The
device is distinguished by a split spring metal band or its equivalent fitted
within the interior of the socketted head to surround the steering post, and a
closing-in wedge or inclined bolt or cross pin working within a transversely
directed channel upon the socketted head and operated by a screw nut or its
equivalent, the latter being adapted to close in to grip onto the steering post
the former, when the nut or its equivalent is screwed up, and to release the said
steering post when the nut or its equivalent is screwed out.
The practicability of the device is set forth in the accompanying sheet of
drawings, a socketted head portion of a cycle framing with the steering post in
position within it and the device applied to the crown lug being shown partly
in side elevation and section at Fig. 1. Fig. 2 represents a horizontal section
through the clamping device upon the dotted line F, Fig. 1, the gripping band
in both views being shown standing clear of the steering post. Fig. 3 is a front
end elevation of the crown lug part, Fig. 1, and shows the chanuelled extension
wherein the locking bolt is disposed, and the milled nut for traversing it.
In Fig. 4 is shown a modification of the means for traversing the closing-in
wedge or inclined bolt in order to render the locking device somewhat a permanent
one, a detachable key being used in connection therewith. The socketted head
of the framing is built in the ordinary manner of a tubular waist a² and crown
and base lugs a, a, to which are connected the different tubular bar members
of the frame's body. The tube forming the waist a³ extends through the lugs

page_text: as aforesaid, and through this takes the steering post c as ordinarily; the mounting
and connection of which latter is accomplished by anti-friction ball bearings in
a manner well known. Disposed within the inside of the tubular waist a and the
outside of the steering post c as aforesaid, so as to surround the latter, is a split
spring metal circular band d, pegged at 2 to the tubular part a², so as to permanently
connect it thereto, but having its other part, d³, left free; the latter constituting
a gripping or clamping tongue to the steering post c. Against this free end d³
of the split spring band impinges or works the inclined portion g' of a wedge,
bolt, or pin 9, arranged to reciprocate transversely within a socket or channel
formed upon the front h² of the crown, lug a3. The one end of the channel or
socket is open for the introduction of a bolt or pin g, as also is the inner side
to admit of the inclined portion of the bolt bearing against the free end of the
split band; the tubular part a² is also slotted at m, shown clearly in dotted lines
in Fig. 3; for the latter purpose.
The inclined wedge or bolt g has a screwed shank passing through a piercing
in the partly closed side g³ of the channel or socket h, upon which works a milled
headed screw nut e, the end of the shank ea of which bears and works against the
outer face of the closed-in socket. The said nut e is prevented from becoming
detached from the screwed shank g2 by a central set pin e³, which prevents its
loss. In Figs. 1 and 2 the steering post is shown free to turn within the socketted
head, the position being with the steering unlocked. If the milled nut e is rotated
to pull inwards the bolt or pin g in the direction of the arrow, (shown in Fig. 2)
the free limb or end of the split metal band d will be forced inwards to grip
saddlewise upon the steering post c, and prevent its free turning, which latter
is essential to good steering, and so a lock is placed upon that mechanism. The
gripping part of the spring band will automatically free itself from the steering
post immediately the cross bolt or wedge g is let out by the unscrewing of
the milled headed nut e; the said bolt being forced back by the energy in the free
limb immediately the pulling in means is released.
In the modification, Fig. 4, the milled headed screw nut e is dispensed with,
a detachable key being used instead. In this arrangement the inclined bolt g
is provided with an axially screwed hole g, with which engages the screwed
shank of a rotatable pine, bearing a squared end or post e³ for
the attachment of a leg with a squared hole in it. A collar is pro-
vided upon the screw pin to abut against the partially closed bottom of the
channel or socket h for the pulling-in of the bolt g. The post or angular end e
can be varied in shape to make its operation more difficult without the key
proper, and this locking device will he found much more secure against inter-
ference than the former one.
In a lady's machine the locking device will be preferably fitted to the lower
lug of the socketted head.
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:-
First. A steering lock device, consisting of a split metal band or its equivalent
having a free gripping end or limb, and being attached to the inner side of the
tubular member of the socketted head to surround the steering post, and an
inclined traversing bolt or its equivalent arranged within the socketted head,
and adapted to act upon or impinge against the free end or limb of the band,
as aforesaid, substantially as described.
Second. The combination with the tubular waist and the lugs of the socketted
head of a split spring metal band d fixed to the said waist so as to embrace the
steering post, the said band having a free end d³, an inclined bolt or pin g working
within a channel or socket h, and having a screwed shank g², and a milled headed
nute adapted to work upon the said screwed shank, and to bear against the
face of the socket h, substantially as described.

page_text: Third. The combination with the socketted head of the split metal band d,
having a free end or limb d³, an inclined bolt or pin g having an axial hole g²
within it, and a rotatable pin e having a screwed shank and an angular post
or end e³, the latter to fit the key substantially as described in reference to
Fig. 4.
1
29
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Also of Liverpool, London, and Manchester,
Agents for Applicant.