Improvements in Bells designed for Use upon Bicycles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 4th July, 1893-Accepted, 5th Aug., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bells designed for Use upon Bicycles.
I, EDWARD DAYTON ROCKWELL a citizen of the United States, residing at
Bristol, in the County of Hartford, and State of Connecticut, U.S.A., Inventor,
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 :-
The object of my invention is to produce an improved bell and bell mechanism
that is especially adapted for use as an alarm upon bicycles; that is simple and
neat in construction; that is particularly symmetrical and attractive; and that is
especially adapted as a whole to be used as a chime bicycle bell-that is, a
bell for use upon a bicycle that will give simultaneously a plurality of harmonious
⚫ notes.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a top plan view of the bell applied to a bicycle handle-bar with the
gong on that side removed;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same, looking towards the lever or handle;
Figure 3 is a central vertical section looking from one end;
Figure 4 is a view of a modified form of my device, showing a modified form of
connecting gear for driving the mechanism;
Figure 5 shows a modified form of my bell with the semi-circular stays
removed.
Referring to the figures on the drawings, 1 indicates a section of a handle bar
of a bicycle, which, for convenient explanation I illustrate and describe, it being
understood that any other suitable support may be substituted therefor. 2 indicates
a frame-piece, which is bifurcated, as indicated at 3, for the admission of the
handle-bar or supporting-piece. 4 indicates a yoke provided with pivotal
projections 5 on opposite sides, adapted to enter slots 6, let in corresponding
positions into the bifurcated sides of the frame. 7 indicates a projection
extending from the side of the yoke, and preferably internally screw-threaded.
In use the yoke is fastened to the frame-piece, and the two parts are securely
fastened to a handle-bar or the like. For this purpose I prefer to employ
symmetrical semi-cylindrical stays 9, one of which is preferably cast integrally
with the frame-piece, and the other is a separate independent piece provided with
an aperture 10, through which a screw 11 may be passed into the internally screw-
threaded projection 7 of the yoke. The opposite ends of the stays are provided
with semi-circular recesses 12 to neatly fit the circumference of the handle-bar, so
as to give it the appearance of being formed upon it.
Any suitable mechanism for securing the frame-piece upon the handle-bar or
support may be substituted for that which is shown. I prefer, however, the
mechanism above described, on account of the symmetrical beauty of its appearance
in combination with the gongs of the bell. Moreover the stays, as illustrated,
form a covering for the frame-piece and yoke, whereby they are entirely concealed
from view from the outside of the bell when the gongs are in place. These
coverings I have called them in this connection-may be used in combination with
any suitable frame piece or mechanism for attaching the bell to a support, and as
such coverings I desire to claim them.
The frame-piece is provided preferably on each side with a stud 13, which is
externally screw-threaded to carry an internally screw-threaded gong 14 in the
usual manner.
When two gongs are employed and set in position, as illustrated in
Figure 2 of the drawings, the effect produced is that of a perfect globe horne upor

page_text: the handle-bar. In practice the parts are usually made of bright metal, which
materially enhances the beauty of the bell.
A bell of the description just given, namely, one having a pair of gongs carried
on opposite sides of the handle-bar, and preferably in combination with stays, and
the like, forming a complete globe, I consider to be a new and valuable invention
without regard to the mechanism employed for sounding the bell. I however prefer
the mechanism illustrated and now to be described.
15 indicates a striker-carrier preferably centrally pivoted upon one of the
studs 13 as an arbor. 16 indicates strikers carried on the extremities of the
carrier, preferably of the loosely pivoted kind, and carried upon pins 17 and
retained by springs 18 and washers 19 in a well known manner and adapted to be
thrown by centrifugal force against a lug 20 in their path. For retaining the
striker in proper proximity to the frame-piece I prefer to employ a spring 21
seated at one end against the top of the carrier and at the other against a flange 22
fixed upon the stud. I also prefer to employ precisely similar mechanism upon the
opposite stud 13, and to gear the parts together by a common shaft 23 and gears 24,
meshing with the pinions 25 upon the inner side of each of the carriers respectively.
26 indicates suitable bearings for the shaft in the frame.
It will be observed that by employing this mechanism I am able to drive the
carriers synchronously, by the aid of the simplest mechanism, and by the rotation.
of the shaft 23 to cause the two gongs to sound in imitation of electric bells, as
desired. For rotating the shaft 23 I may employ any suitable means, preferably
by a lever 27 projecting through a slot 28 in the side of the bell, and in operative
engagement with the shaft. prefer to employ a continuous lever, as for example
a gear wheel 29 carried in suitable bearings 30 in the stay 9, and meshing with a
pinion 31 fixed upon the shaft. With this arrangement the gear presents its
roughened surface at the outside of the bell, and may be conveniently operated
by the thumb of the operator to sound the bell. It also possesses the merit of
being always ready for operation without adjustment, as by a spring or any other
device.
While I do not wish to confine myself to any particular form of lever, I prefer
to use the continuous form, as illustrated; but do not desire to limit myself to any
particular mechanism for operatively connecting it with the driving-shaft of the bell
mechanism. Such connecting mechanism may be varied in many ways without
departing from the scope of my invention, as for example I may employ a wheel 33
as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, which is provided with a peripheral
groove 34, a cylindrical rubber ring 35 embedded therein, in combination with a
peripherally grooved small wheel 36 fastened to the shaft. The groove of the
small wheel may be knurled if preferred; but the relations of the large wheel and
the small wheel are substantially the same as the large gear and the small gear
heretofore described. Power is communicated through the friction of the rubber
ring upon the peripheral groove of the small wheel; while the soft rubber surface
of the wheel 33 presents a more delicate surface for manipulation, which is desirable
in bells manufactured for ladies use.
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 :-
1. In a bell mechanism, the combination with the gongs of the frame-piece
located between the same, and provided with diametrical openings, so as to set
over the handle of the bicycle, and internal mechanism for sounding the gong,
operated by a wheel extending through a slot in the frame piece, substantially as
specified.
2. The combination in a bicycle bell, of a frame piece having diametrical
openings through which the handle-bar passes, the gongs located on each side
thereof, the toothed wheel journaled in bearings in the frame and extending through 5
a slot in the periphery of the frame-piece, and the train gearing with said toothed

page_text: wheel, and with a striker carrier, the gongs and frame-piece serving to conceal the
internal mechanism, substantially as specified.
3. In a bell, the combination with a frame-piece adapted to carry a gong and bell
mechanism, of semi-cylindrical stay pieces within the gongs united to the frame-
piece on opposite sides, and adapted to secure it in place upon a bicycle handle bar,
or like support, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. In bell mechanism, the combination with a frame-piece adapted to carry a gong
and suitable sounding mechanism, of a stay piece on one end of the frame-piece,
bifurcations on the other adapted to receive a handle-bar, or like support located
between the gongs of another stay-piece and a yoke and also located between the
gongs adapted to fasten the other stay piece to the bifurcations of the frame,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. In a bell, the combination with a frame-piece and gongs, of a striker-carrier
and striker thereon, and a continuous lever projecting from the side of the frame,
and operatively connected with a carrier to drive it, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
6. In a bell, the combination with a frame and gongs thereon on opposite sides, of
striker carriers, and striker adapted to sound the gongs, of a continuous lever
consisting of a cog-wheel projecting from the side of the frame, and mechanism
connecting the said lever with the striker carriers to operate them, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
Bristol. Connecticut. February 6th 1893.
Signed in the presence of-
E. B. SPRING.
CHARLIE Downs.
EDWARD DAYTON ROCKWELL.