Year: 1897

page_text: ALBERT EGERTON LEGH SLAZENGER Manufacturer Lawrence Pountney Hill
Cannon St London E.C. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
.'
Cycles have hitherto been ridden with the front or guiding wheel held by the
hands without any mechanical aid to direction and the wheel will if released at
once take a course either right or left unless ridden by an expert who by careful
sway of the body on a perfectly level road may for a short distance keep the steer-
ing wheel in a direct course, I am also aware there is a lock which fixes the
wheel in a straight line only but if applied no steering power is in the control of
the rider.
My invention consists of the application of Elastic or spring attachments so
opperating upon the guiding wheel as to compel it to run straight when the
pressure which forces the wheel from the straight course is released but at the
same time permits the wheel to be guided by the ordinary steering appliances.
Having described the nature of my invention whilst I do not confine myself to
this particular mode of applying the springs I propose to attach a spring or
springs or elastic bands to the head of the fork on either side and connect them
with the middle bar, Another way would be to have a highly tempered flat spring
placed in front or behind the fork head and connected to the tube in which the
steering rod works, either of these or similar modes would impel the wheel to
return to a straight course when deflected by any irregularity in the surface of
the road as the spring or band would readjust the wheel in its original direction
and the application of these or similar springs or bands would not interfere with
the ordinary steering gear.
I, ALBERT EGERTON LEGH SLAZENGER of Lawrence Pountney Hill, Cannon
Street, London. Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 provide means whereby the steering may be
more readily and efficiently controlled thereby helping to retain the steering wheel
in a line with the cycle and in the desired direction.

page_text: According to my invention I make use of springs, elastic bands or the like and
fit the same to the steering fork or stem in such a manner that the force of the
springs elastic bands or the like tends to keep the steering wheel straight.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig 1 illustrates the application of one form of my invention to the steering
wheel of a cycle.
Fig 2 is a sectional plan view of same.
d is a
Fig 3 is an elevation and Fig. 4 a sectional plan of another form of my inven-
tion. a is the head socket of a cycle, 6 is the fork and c the steering stem.
portion of a cycle frame.
It
Referring to Figs 1 and 2, one or more coil spring or springs e are suitably
connected to the steering stem or fork. In the drawing two springs are shown
connected to the crown of the fork at each side f, f, and to the tube d at g.
will be obvious that if the wheel is forced out of the traight line, one of the
springs is in tension as shown by Fig 2 and on the handle bar being released, the
spring returns the steering wheel to the straight line.
In a similar manner the flat spring e', in Figs. 3 and 4, acting between the
pins h fixed to the frame, serves to return the steering wheel to the straight line.
The spring el is fixed to the steering stem or fork crown so that any deviation
from the straight line causes a corresponding deflection of the spring.
In the drawings I have illustrated two methods of carrying out my invention,
but it will be obvious that orther methods of arranging the springs, clastic bands
or the like may be employed without departing from the spinit of my invention.
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:-
An improvement in cycles, consisting of means for automatically returning the
steering wheel in line with the cycle, characterised by a spring or springs such
as e, el, so arranged relatively to the steering fork and frame of the cycle to effect
the object in view, substantially as set forth.
101 n
1
1007
GEORGE DOWNING & SONS,
8 Quality Court London W.C.. Agents.