Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles and similar Vehicles.
I, SYDNEY PITT, of Sutton, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention (which has been communicated to me from
abroad by Lewis Hazelius Taylor, Jr., Stockbroker, of The Gladstone. Apartment
House, in the City of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania,) 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 this invention is to provide concealed brake mechanism which may
be conveniently operated by means of a single movement of a lever pivotally secured
upon the handle bar of a vehicle near the hand grip, and preferably parallel there-
with Said mechanism comprising within said handle bar, a flexible connector
between said operating lever and the brake. Said connector being concealed
within the said handle bar and the steering head of the vehicle, it is desirable to
provide means to vary its effective length in order that the height of the handle
bar post in the frame head may be readily adjusted for the individual rider. This
invention, therefore, comprehends means whereby such variation of length of the
said concealed connector may be secured; as hereinafter described in detail.
In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1, illustrates the application of a con-
venient form of my invention to an ordinary bicycle frame, a portion of the
handle bar, steering head etc., being broken away.
Figure 2, shows a modified form of support for the brake.
Figure 3, is a perspective view of one of the parts shown in section in Figure 1.
Figure 4, is a front view of the handle bar of Figure 1, partly in section, showing
preferred means for flexing the concealed connector around the junction of the
handle bar and its hollow post.
Figure 5, shows modified means for flexing the concealed connector at said
junction.
Figure 6, is a section on the line 6, 6, of Figure 1, on a larger scale.
Figure 7, is a perspective view of a clamp shoe for the connector.
Figure 8, is a perspective view of the flexing sector shown in Figure 4.
Figure 9, is an edge view of the sector shown in Figure 4.
Figure 10, is an inverted plan view of the brake, showing its application to the
support shown in Figure 2.
Figure 11, is a view of the brake end of the flexible connector, showing the
tapered ferrule with which it is preferably provided.
Figures 12 and 13, are fragmentary sections, of a modified form of handle bar,
showing means for flexing the concealed connector around the junction of the
handle bar and its post.

page_text: Figure 14, shows a modified form of operating lever, and illustrates the method
of adjusting the effective length of the concealed flexible connector.
Figures 15 and 16, show modified forms of operating levers each secured upon
the extremity of a handle bar within which the flexible connector is concealed.
Referring to Figure 1: A is the handle bar, and B the hand grip upon the
extremity of said bar C is the brake operating lever inserted through the slot a³,
in the bar A, and fulcrummed at a, in a lever bearing a Said bearing is pre-
ferably made in two parts which may be secured upon the bar A, by means of the
screws a².
,
e.
A flexible brake connector D, secured to the lever C, is concealed within and
extends through the handle bar A, to the junction of said bar and its post
At said junction the connector is flexed at right angles by means hereinafter
described, and extends down to its point of attachment upon the end g, of the
brake G. From the post e, down, the flexible connector D, is of course concealed
within the fork head E, said head being mounted for rotation as usual in the
head f, of the frame F.
The brake G, is mounted in a bearing h, and provided with a suitable spring J,
adapted to normally retain said brake out of contact with the wheel tyre. The
spring J, abutting at its upper end against a fixed shoulder h¹, acts upon the end g,
of the brake G, through the sleeve I, which surrounds the connector D.
In the form shown in Figure 1, the bearing h, for the brake G, is made integral
with the fork head. The abutment h¹, being separately secured in the tubular
post of the fork head E. As shown in Figures 2 and 10, said two members, h
and h¹, may be connected by or be integral with a sleeve H. Said sleeve H, being
adapted to contain the spring J. Such a construction is desirable for use upon
ordinary frames not provided with brake bearings h.
For convenience in assembling the parts, it is desirable to provide means to
detachably secure the connector D, to the brake G, as well as to the operating
lever C. But for convenience of manipulation, I prefer to extend said connector D,
a sufficient length beyond the point of its attachment to the operating lever C,
to provide for more than the range of adjustment of the handle bar A. Said sur-
plus length of the connector D, is conveniently concealed within the handle bar,
as indicated at , but may be readily pulled out for said adjustment, as shown
in Figure 14.
I prefer to attach the connector D, upon the lever C, by means of the clamping
device shown in Figures 1, 6, and 14. The clamp shoe K is fitted in lever C,
in a slot c, of such width as to permit of the free movement of the connector
through it in the adjustment of the latter. The shoe K, is preferably concaved
in its face proximal to the connector D, and is caused to clamp and retain the latter
in its adjusted position by rotation of the clamp screw k¹, in the threaded socket c³,
in lever C. The reduced end 3, of the screw k¹, by engagement in the notch
(see Figure 7) prevents the longitudinal displacement of the clamp shoe K.
It is therefore obvious that if it is desired to raise or lower the handle bar A,
and post e, in the frame head f; the concealed, flexible connector D, may be
slipped freely in either direction through the lever C, in accordance with such
movement of the handle bar; when the clamp screw k¹, is retracted as indicated
in Figure 14.
I prefer to provide the end of the connector 1), with a tapered ferrule d (see
Figure 11) and to attach said connector to the brake G, by means of the clamping
device shown in Figures 1 and 10. Said device being similar to that of the lever C,
need not be described.
Referring to Figures 1, 4, 8 and 9, L is a sector pivotted at e², in a suitable
bearing e, in the handle bar A. The connector D, is flexed around the junction
of the bar A, and its post e, in a groove in the face of said sector. The constructed
portion of the groove 7, insures that the sector shall rock with the operative
movement of the connector D, but does not bind the latter so as to in any wise
prevent its longitudinal adjustment.

page_text: As indicated in Figure 5, the connector D, may be flexed through a tube which is
rigidly secured in a handle bar of ordinary form.
In the form shown in Figures 12 and 13, a small opening is provided in the
handle bar A, through which the flexible connector D, is directed by a curved
junction flange having suitable fixed guide pieces.
In Figure 15 I have shown the fulcrum point a, of the lever C, located within
the handle bar A. In such a form it would perhaps be necessary to carry the
connector D, through an opening a³, in said bar, to conveniently attach it to the
lever C.
In Figure 16 I have shown the fulcrum point a, of the lever C, located below
the handle bar A. In such a form it would perhaps be necessary to make the
lever C, as indicated, and turn the connector around a guide roll a', before attaching
it to said lever.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, it is obvious that a
connector clamp similar to that shown in Figures 1 and 14 may be applied to the
modified forms of levers shown in Figures 15 and 16. It is also obvious that the
hand grip B, may be provided with a removable end cap b, as indicated in the
latter figures; and that various other modifications may be made as convenience
may require. I therefore do not desire to confine this invention to the precise
embodiment which I have shown and described, but I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In brake mechanism for vehicles provided with handle bars, a brake, a brake
operating lever fulcrummed upon the handle bar near the hand grip thereof, a
handle portion of said lever extending parallel with said hand grip, an operating
connector between said brake and said lever, concealed within said handle bar,
substantially as set forth.
2. In brake mechanism for vehicles provided with handle bars, a brake, a brake
operating, flexible connector, a grooved sector pivotally mounted within the
handle bar, whereby said brake connector may be flexed in concealed position
within said handle bar, substantially as set forth.
3. In brake mechanism for vehicles provided with handle bars, a brake, a brake
operating flexible connector, a sector pivotally mounted within the handle bar, a
groove in the face of said sector provided with a constricted portion adapted to
receive said connector, whereby said connector may be flexed in concealed position
within the handle bar, substantially as set forth.
4. In brake mechanism for vehicles provided with handle bars, a brake, a brake
operating lever adapted to be fulcrummed upon a handle bar near the hand grip
thereof, a flexible connector between said brake and said operating lever, and
means to adjust the effective length of said connector, whereby said connector
may be concealed in said handle bar and be therein adjusted in relation to said
lever, substantially as set forth.
5. In brake mechanism for vehicles provided with handle bars, a brake, a brake
operating lever adapted to be fulcrummed upon a handle bar, a flexible connector
between said brake and said operating lever, having surplus length beyond said
lever, a connector clamp upon said lever, whereby said surplus of the connector
may be concealed in said handle bar, and said connector be therein adjustably
clamped upon said lever, substantially as set forth.
6. In brake mechanism for vehicles provided with handle bars, a brake, a brake
a handle bar, a flexible
operating lever adapted to be fulcrummed upon
connector between said brake and said operating lever, a connector clamp upon
said brake, whereby said connector may be inserted in concealed position within
said handle bar and detachably secured to said brake, substantially as set forth.
7. In brake mechanism for vehicles provided with handle bars, a brake, a brake
spring, an operating connector for said brake, and a brake bearing adapted to

page_text: contain said spring and provided with an orifice for said connector, said bearing
being adapted for insertion in the hollow frame of the vehicle, substantially as set
forth.