Improvements in and relating to Attachments for, the Brakes of Bicycles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Jan., 1893
.Complete Specification Left, 4th Oct., 1893—Accepted, 4th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Attachments for, the Brakes of
Bicycles.
I, WILLIAM SHERWOOD PORTER, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at Waynesburg, Green County, Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Gentleman, (address, Post Office Box 100) do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The invention has relation to attachments to the brakes of bicycles, the object
being to provide a simple and efficient foot attachment for the ordinary hand brakes,
so that an increased power may be applied to the brake.
:
The attachment that forms the subject-matter of this invention is more
particularly designed for use in connection with what is known as rear brake
machines, although it may be used with front brake machines with but slight
modifications in the construction of the attachment.
In carrying out my invention I employ a pendent rod that is attached to the
lower end of the vertical rod which is usually actuated by the hand rod, said
pendent rod extending down to a point about in line with the usual foot rest on the
front wheel-fork.
The pendent rod is not only movably but adjustably connected with the usual
vertical rod by means of a suitable clamp connection having a screw-threaded
bearing for the upper end of said pendent rod so that the latter rod may be
lengthened or shortened with respect to the vertical rod, so as to be regulated as
to length, and also thereby vary the degree of friction or power exerted by the
brake shoe on the wheel. To the lower end of the pendent rod is movably
connected a foot lever which has its bearings in a clamp that fits around the front
fork on one side, and the effect of which arrangement is that by applying the foot
to the foot lever as well as the hand to the hand lever or rod, a double or increased
power is exerted upon the brake shoe with the natural effect of preventing any
slipping back of the wheels and also preventing accidents heretofore incident to
many forms of brake mechanism in use.
.
n 1000
JENSEN & SON,
.77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Attachments for the Brakes of
Bicycles.
I, WILLIAM SHERWOOD PORTER, a citizen of the United States of America,
residing at Waynesburg, in the County of Green and State of Pennsylvania, one
of the United States of America, Gentleman, 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 invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in attachments to
bicycle-brakes; and it consists, substantially, in such features of arrangement,
construction, and combinations of parts, as will hereinafter be more particularly
described and claimed.
"The object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective foot attachment
for the ordinary hand brakes of bicycles, so as to enable increased power to be
applied, substantially as will hereinafter be more particularly explained.

page_text: •
Figure 1 represents a view in perspective of a bicycle having my improvements
embodied in connection therewith.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the machine, also having my improvements
embodied. in connection therewith and showing the several parts of the brake
attachment more enlarged.
Figure 3 is a side elevation representing my improved attachment in use on the
machine, as when, for instance, power is applied to the brake.
Figures 4, 44, and 4B are enlarged views, in detail, representing in regular order
the several parts which constitute my improved attachment, the said views indicating
more clearly the general construction of each part.
My improved attachment is intended more particularly for use in connection with
rear-brake machines, although with but slight variation in arrangement it may be
applied with equal effect on machines having front-brake mechanism.
In the practice of the invention I attach to the lower end of the vertical rod,
which is actuated by the hand rod, a suitable pendent-rod, which extends down to a
point about in line with the usual foot-rest or step on the front wheel-fork, and this
pendent rod is both movably and adjustably connected to the usual vertical rod
first named to be lengthened or shortened with respect thereto, so as to be regulated
as to length, and also thereby vary the degree of friction or power exerted by the
brake shoe upon the wheel. The said pendent rod is in movable connection at its
lower end with a pivoted foot-lever which has its bearings in a clamp which fits
around the front fork on one side, and the effect of the whole construction and
arrangement is that by applying the foot to the foot lever, as well as the hand to
the hand lever or rod, a double or increased power is exerted upon the brake shoe
with the natural effect of preventing any slipping back of the wheels and also of
preventing many accidents and calamities heretofore incident to many forms of
brake mechanisms in use.
-
Reference being had to the several parts of the drawings by the letters marked
thereon, A represents the front wheel of an ordinary bicycle; B, the rear wheel;
C, the steering fork, and D the back-bone.
The letters E, F, G, and H, represent one form of rear-brake mechanisms in
common use upon bicycles, and it is in connection with such form that I have shown
my improved attachment. Secured or connected to the rod F at or near its lower
end in a removable manner is a clamp a, the said clamp being shaped at a¹ to slip
upon the said rod F, and also being split at a³, so as to be made to grasp said rod
more or less tightly, according to the degree of tightness to which the adjusting and
fastening screw b is set. The said clamp a is further constructed with a ring-shaped
portion a', which is screw-threaded on its interior surface, and which portion a receives
and holds in an adjustable manner the upper end of a pendent rod I, the said upper
end of said rod being likewise screw-threaded for a suitable distance to be received
and held by the screw-threaded ring-shaped portion a³ of the clamp a.
The said
pendent rod I extends down for a suitable distance-say to a point about in line
with one of the usual foot-rests or steps c-and at its lower end it is bent or turned,
as shown at d, so as to enter the slot e of a pivoted foot lever J, which is so shaped
as to receive the foot easily and conveniently. Instead of bending or turning the
lower end of said rod I, so as to enter the slot of the foot lever, the connection
could be easily made by a separate bolt or link, movably uniting said rod and foot
lever by the use of nuts to properly secure the connection and maintain the same.
The purpose of having the slot in the foot-lever is for enabling the lower end of
rod I to be adjusted in or out, and thus lengthen or shorten the degree of
movement of said rod when power is applied to the lever by the foot. The said
foot lever is pivoted in a clamp K, which fits around one tine or member of the
steering-fork, as shown, the said clamp being constructed of spring metal, so as to
be tightened more or less around the fork, according to the degree of tightness to
which the adjusting screw f is set, such screw being passed through the clamp, as
shown, so as to hold the same in place and enable adjustment thereof on the fork,
as it may be the wish to raise or lower the clamp. That portion of the clamp

page_text: through which the said adjusting screw ƒ passes is split vertically for a short
distance, as seen at g, so as to enable free movement or oscillation of the foot lever,
and it is also provided with an opening g¹ for passage of the pivot or screw which
holds said lever. Beneath the opening g' is a similar opening for the passage of
the adjusting screw. This clamp is also of spring sheet metal and can be easily and
quickly applied in place.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that by the use of my improved
attachment a greater amount of power is exerted upon the brake-shoc; consequently
a greater effect is produced upon the wheels of the machine. It will further be
seen that the attachment is very simple, cheap to manufacture, and not likely to
get out of order while in use. The many other advantages are so apparent that
it is unnecessary to particularly specify them further.
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 :--
In a brake attachment for bicycles, the combination, with the ordinary brake
mechanism, of a clamp attached to the ordinary vertical brake-rod, a supplemental
or pendent rod screw-threaded at its upper end and adjustable in said clamp, a
clamp fitting around one of the members or tines of the steering fork and adjustable
thereon, and a foot-lever pivoted to said clamp and provided with a slot or oblong
opening in which the lower end of the pendent rod is adjustably secured, substantially
as described.
Dated this 4th day of October 1802
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.