Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th Aug., 1893-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, EDWARD JOHNSON of No. 27 Spinney Hill Road Leicester, in the County
of Leicester Dairyman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
This invention refers to improvements in and relating to velocipedes or manu->
motive machines to provide means whereby relief. can be obtained (especially for
lady riders) in hill climbing, or as what is known as "scorching," or even in riding
on the flat by altering the elevation or pitch of the handles so that they can be
raised or lowered at will, and the handle bar held rigidly and firm at any elevation
desired. This invention is also useful in trick riding for the handle bar can be
adjusted circumferently and the handles elevated or lowered when desired without
having to raise or lower or otherwise interfere with the handle bar pillar or stock."
And avoiding any vertical adjustment of the handle bar pillar in its socket. The
rider being thus able to vary his position and ride with more ease than is now the
case. To carry out my invention I make the handle bar pillar to fit any kind of
fork, and arrange thereon a grip in combination with a thumb piece, or projection
above, secured to a plunger, through a vertical slot in the upper drilled out portion
of the pillar in which the plunger is fitted and rests on a coiled open spring or its
equivalent therein. When it is desired to change the elevation or pitch of the
handle bar, by putting the hand on the grip and thumb piece and pressing inwards.
the plunger is brought down and its upper end released from one of a series of
equidistant holes in part of the periphery of a disc, collar or rim in the centre of
the handle bar. The handle bar is then turned to the position desired, the thumb
piece released, when the plunger enters the hole immediately above it in the said
disc and collar and the handle bar is held rigidly and securely in the position
desired. Then by again depressing the plunger as before described the handle bar
will be freed and automatically assume its normal position. Or as an alternative I
make in the centre of the handle bar or attach thereto a pinion wheel or may be
quadrant having teeth upon part of its circumference, between the teeth of which
the conformable shaped end of the plunger will enter to hold the handle bar in the
manner above described set at any desired pitch or elevation.
The plunger may be arranged to telescope into the pillar if desired, and other
similar means of releasing the plunger may be employed without departing from
the essence of my invention. The handle bar is secured by collars on either side
of the central projection and hinged and screwed to a bracket or bearing on the
handle bar pillar.
Dated this 26th day of November 1892.
W. B. MAXFIELD,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, EDWARD JOHNSON of No. 27 Spinney Hill Road Leicester in the County
of Leicester Dairyman, 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 refers to improvements in and relating to velocipedes cr

page_text: manumotive machines to provide means whereby relief can be obtained (especially
by lady riders) in hill climbing; or as what is known as scorching, or riding on the
flat to enable the rider to alter the elevation or pitch of the handles by raising or
lowering them at will, at the same time keeping the handle bar rigid and firm at
any elevation.
This invention is also useful in "trick" riding for the handle bar can be altered
and adjusted circumferently without having to raise or lower or otherwise interfere
with the handle bar pillar or stock. And avoiding any vertical adjustment of the
handle bar pillar in its socket.
The rider being thus, able to vary his position and ride with more ease than is
now the case, besides being able to a certain extent avoid the wind when in front of
him. That my invention may be well understood reference is made to the sheet of
drawings annexed in which,
Figure 1. is an elevation of a handle bar with the arrangements thereon for
carrying out my invention.
Figure 2. is a modification of same.
Figure 3. a side view, partly in section of Figure 1.
Figure 4 an enlarged full sized view of Figure 2 without the hand lever for
depressing the plunger, and
Figure 5 a front view of the disc, collar, or rim I.
To carry out my invention I make the handle bar pillar A to fit any kind of
socket or fork and arrange thereon the thumb piece B secured to a rod on pro-
jection from the hollow plunger C, through the vertical slot 61, in the upper
drilled out portion D, of the pillar in which the plunger rests "see Figure 3" upon
the coiled spring E, or its equivalent such as a rubber buffer spring. When it is
desired to change the elevation or pitch of the handle bar F and handles, the
thumb piece B is pressed downwards, the plunger C is brought down and its
reduced upper end, or projection G released from one of a series of equidistant
holes H in part of the periphery of the disc collar, or rim I, in the centre of the
handle bar; either made in one with the handle bar, or separate as in Figure 5.
The handle bar F is then turned to whatever position desired. When the thumb
piece is released the projection G of the plunger C enters the hole immediately.
above it in the said disc or collar I, when the handle bar is held rigid and secure,
as before stated. Then by again depressing the plunger the handle bar will be
freed and automatically assume its normal position. Instead of having the thumb
piece B, I may use the hand lever J.mounted in the holder K, its inner hooked
end K¹ pressing upon the projection 6 from the plunger C. The said hand lever
returns to its first position by means of the spring j, pressing against the handle
ibar.
The handle bar F is secured in the collars L, on either side of the central
projection I, by screws 1, and nuts to the bracket or upper drilled out portion D
of the pillar A. Or as an equivalent of the disc or collar I Figure 5, teeth may
be cut upon the circumference of the disc or collar, and the end G of the plunger
made to fit therein if desired.
Or other equivalent means can be employed for operating the plunger than those
described without departing from the essence of my invention.
In the drawings, in each figure the handles are in the position as indicated
in Figure 1.
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:
In handle bars of velocipedes and the like, the employment of a disc or collar
having holes or teeth in the circumference thereof, in combination with a plunger,
and thumb piece, or lever to operate the same for adjusting the handle bar to

page_text: various heights or elevations, substantially for the purpose and in the manner as
herein before described and set forth.
Dated this 24th day of August 1893.
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
Of the "Central" Office for Patents, &c.,
19, Bowling Green Street, Leicester, Applicant's Agent.