Improved Adjustable Handle-bar for Velocipedes with Handles which can be Moved in Any Direction.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Adjustable Handle-bar for Velocipedes with Handles
which can be Moved in Any Direction.
1, JEAN BAPTISTE FONDU, of 86 Boulevard de la Senne, Brussels, Belgium,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this iuvention 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 to provide means for changing the height of the
handle-bar of a velocipede, while in motion, giving to the handles any desired
inclination, and that entirely by hand, without the help of a key or other tool, a
winged screw, a piston, or a lever, secured within reach of the rider, enabling him
to lift or lower the handles as little or as much as he wishes, and to retain them, as
well as the entire handle-bar, in the position he so places them. Moreover, my
invention enables the cyclist to arrange the handle-bar, with his hand, so that it
will be parallel with the wheels and remain in that position as long as required thus
facilitating the storage of a large number of velocipedes in a limited space and safe
from all liability to injury.
The following is a description of my device referring to the accompanying
drawings.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 shew clearly the systems I employed and the advantages
by way of simplicity and the immediate fixation of the parts.
The handle-bar 1 turns freely in the coupling-box 2 in which is fixed the handle-bar
tube 8. This coupling-Lox carries two winged branches 4 & 5 into which is engaged
in the thread of the worm-wheel 7, soldered to the tube of the handle-bar 1. This
endless screw, being snugly fitted in the worm-wheel will maintain the handle-bar
firmly in the place where the screw leaves it. It will be readily understood that to
change the height of the handles while the machine is in motion, it is not necessary
for the rider to dismount. All that is necessary is to take hold of the winged head 8
with the thumb and fore-finger, and so turn the screw 6 to the right or left according
as it is desired to raise or lower the handles. The parts, being made of hard steel do
not wear out; the screw is held in its place by a square 9 fixed to the end of the
screw by a little pin; it is possible therefore to bring the handle-bar right round so
tl at the curves may be turned upwards instead of downwards; by using a little
socket crank which fits on the square-ring this movement can be more rapidly
executed; in the same way, by acting on the square ring 9, the handle-bar can be
brought in the plan of the wheels. To effect this latter result, we have placed on
the handle-bar tube 8 a washer 10 forming the outside threaded nut of the endless
screw 11 threaded. The nut carries a socket 12 with two tightening claws 13 to fix
it on the tube 3. All that is wanted, therefore, is to fasten the nut 14 of the bolt 14'
and the latter is thus keyed to the said tube 3. The socket 12 has a groove 15 so
that its pressure may be exercised on the whole circumference of the handle-bar tube.
The socket 17 is screwed on the steering tube 16 and it is held at the required
distance by the screw thread, so that there will be no unsteadiness, or any pressure on
the halls 18 while in this position. This socket 17 is fixed to the steering tube 16 by
means of a bolt 19 which passes through the branches 20 of the socket 17. This
socket carries the two winged branches 21 between which the endless screw 11 turns,
and just as in effecting the change of position in the handle-bar, all that has to be
done is to turn this screw by its winged head 8 in order to bring the handle bar into

page_text: the required position. To fix it in position, when leaving it in a stand, a little
socket, in which a spring piston 40 is lodged may be secured to the socket 17. Of
course it is sufficient if the lower ball-bearing 23 has a projecting part 24 which is
pierced with holes 38 to engage the end 37 of the piston 40. The Figs. 4 & 5 show
how the position of the handle-bar may be changed in either direction, by means of a
spring piston 22 and perforated ring 25. This perforated ring must be fastened to
the box 2. With the ring 25 provided with holes 27 the piece 28 bearing the spring
piston must be fixed on the tube of the handle-bar, Figs. 4 & 5. The two latter
figures are shewn by way of example, as capable of effecting the same change, during
motion, as with the endloss screw, but the latter method possesses considerable
advantages over the other.
Figs. 6 & 7 show the new application of the endless screw to the adjustment of the
bandles by means of which the latter may be made to assume the most convenient
position to the hand, and may be instantaneously fixed, or locked, as soon as they are
placed in the desired position.
My system enables the handles to be placed at the most convenient inclination,
when the handle-bar has been raised or lowered. The cyclist being thus able while
riding, to alter the height of the handle bar and the position of the handles will not
be so much fatigued as if he had always to keep them in same position.
Figs. 6 & 7 sufficiently explain themsolves; the system is the same as that of the
handle-bar.
A wheel 29 toothed on the outer edge is soldered on the end of the tube 30 to
which is fixed the rod 31 of the handle 32; into this tube is introduced a second
tube 33 constituting part of the bandle-bar 34 and therefore the handle is free to
turn on this fixed tube 33 which thus forms an axis, the handle being operated
means of the endless screw 35. This endless screw is engaged in a ring 36 fixed to
the curve of the handle-bar 34 and enabling the rider to give the handles 32, the
desired position. The endless screw being closely fitted in the nut, these handles
remain firmly fixed at the place to which the screw brings them. To lock the drive-
wheel of the velocipede when it is to be stored or left at rest, all that is nce led is to
engage the end 37 of the piston 40 in the stoppage holes 38 which are made in the
projecting part 24 of the bearing 23. To release it, the piston must be lifted by the
button 39, the latter is held under pressure of the spring 41.
Figs. 8, 9 & 10 shews another lever and stop-piston system by which, without the
help of tool or key, the handle bar can be placed instantaneously parallel with the
wheels and locked in this position; this device is shewn applied to the cycle handle-
bar we are about to describe.
On the tube of the frame 51, Fig. 9 the ball bearing 52 is fixed. This box, or
bearing forms the connexion with the horizontal and vertical tubes 51 & 53. In
this ball bearing is made, all the balls are lodged in a groove made in the box
contrived so as to make the ball pass to the upper part by exercising force. The
groove being sufficiently wide, the balls, when they enter, turn easily and are only
a millimeter wider than the box to allow the piece 54 which covers it, to rest on the
balls. Thus the all-bearings may be dismounted without any fear of the balls falling
out. The piece 54 is fixed on the tube 55 which is of a piece with the fork governing
the wheel, by means of a hook 56 with which this piece 54 is furnished and which
fits into the split 57 formed in the said tube 55. The nut 58 screwed on the same
tube 5.5 serves to regulate the pressure of the ball-bearings of the fork and to keep
it in this position.
The holes 59 are intended to receive the locking pin; these holes being thus
made all along the circumference, lessen its weight. The pioce 510 is fixed on the
tube of the handle-bar 511, by means of a bolt 512 or a screw screwed into one of
the branches 513 of the said piece 510. In the latter, a frame is formed adapted
to receive the lever 514 pivoting on an axle 515. This lever 514 has a projecting
part 516 which engages in one or other of the three openings 517 517, 517"
cut in the piece 54 according to the position it is desired to give to the handle-bar.
In the position indicated in the drawing the handle-bar is in its normal position

page_text: to allow the rider to keep the curves of the handle-bar downwards. If the lever 514
engages in the opening 517 the bar is then parallel to the wheels and is thus in a
convenient position for transport or storage. The extension 526 at the same time
engages in the two hooks 520 of a piece with the box 52 and the front wheel is
thus rigidly held.
Since this lever 514 is held in this position by the pressure-spring 521, all that
is required to release it is to lift it by the rear end 522 and let it travel on the
box 54 until it meets the opening 517 or 517". The lattor is used when it is
desired to turn the curve of the handle-har upward, in order to change a racing
cycle into an ordinary one. In this case it will be necessary to give a half turn to-
the handle-bar.
It will be seen that this alteration is effected in the simplest manner and that the
device is applicable to all kinds of velocipedes. In order that the lever 514 may
not get out of the locked position while the machine is in motion, I have added a
pin 514 passing through the frame 513 and the lever 514. A spring of any suitable
kind may be added, if desired.
In Fig. 9 the lever 514 has a projection 526 which serves two purposes 1 to fix the
handle-bar in position 11 to prevent the latter from rising, as it is stopped below the
box 52.
In Fig. 8 it is the projecting part 516' which prevents it from rising, owing to the
nut 58, which covers it.
In the Fig. 8 the balls act inside a steel box 532 driven into the tube 51, therefore
the tube 511 of the handle-bar turns easily, without rocking, in the steering
tube 55.
The fork of the front-wheel may also be wedged, or made immoveable, by fixing to
the tube 51 a box 533 in which there is a piston 534; this piston has a flat end 535
and a washer 536 on which rests a spiral spring 537 which rests, at the other side, on
the bottom 538 which is screwed into the box 533. This spring exercises thoroforo
a continual pressure on the piston 534, the end of which is engaged in a rectangular
opening, formed in the tubes 51 & 55, so that, to release the velocipede, it is only
necessary to pull out the cover 339 of the box to which the piston-rod 531 f
fixed, thus releasing the end of the piston from the tubes 55 & 51 and giving a
quarter turn to the cover, the piston will rest against the fixed tube 51 and set free
tube 55.
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
claim is :
Each of the features, or points, described as above, or shewn in the accompanying
drawings, whether the same are applied in their integrity as a whole, or whether one
of the said features or points is applied separately and independently, but more
particularly the device of the endless screw applied to effect changes in the position of
the handle bar, the steering tube and the handles.
Dated this 15th day of December 1896.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, A.M.I.C.E., M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.