Improvements in or relating to the Handle-bars and Saddle-supports of Cycles.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Handle-bars and Saddle-supports
of Cycles.
I, WILLIAM JOHN BUTLER, of 158, Derby Road, in the City of Nottingham,
Surgeon, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide means for readily adjusting the
height of handle bars and saddles of cycles and also of removing handle bars or
of turning them parallel with the direction of the machine and so economise room
in passages, railway carriages and the like also for convenience in storing.
In carrying out my invention I provide a handle bar column or seat pillar
consisting respectively of an upper and inner, and a lower and outer tube: the
upper tube has a lever pivotted inside same the upper and lower extremities of
which are set away from opposite sides of the tube by means of suitable springs,
the upper extremity of the lever has a push button or its equivalent passing
preferably through the back of the tube while the lower extremity of the lever
has a similar projection or bolt adapted to pass through an orifice in both the
inner and outer tubes and so rigidly connect the two tubes together: the tendency
of the springs being to press the push button on the top end of the lever and the
bolt on the lower end of the lever through their respective openings, a suitable
number of openings may bo arranged in the lower tube for vertical adjustment
and one or more holes in the side for holding the handle bar parallel with the
direction of the machine and a screw nut or suitable fastening may be affixed
to the push button to rigidly fix the lever in position.
It will be understood that it is not absolutely necessary to my invention that
the holes to receive the bolt should pass completely through the front of the
tube as an inner tube having holes therein may be brazed inside the outer one,
the push button indicating when the bolt and hole are engaged.
Tated this fith day of April 1899
W. SWINDELL,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Handle-bars and Saddle-supports
of Cycles.
I, WILLIAM JOHN BUTLER, of Gloster Road, Bognor, in the County of Sussex,
late of 158, Derby Read, in the City of Nottingham, Surgeon, do hereby declare
Price 8/1

page_text: 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 this invention is to provide means for readily adjusting the
heights of handle-bars, and saddles of cycles or velocipedes, while also enabling
the handle-bars and saddles to be removed with facility, and the handle-bars of
the said machines to be placed in a line parallel with the frame. By the last
arrangement the machines can, in the case of bicycles, be more readily packed for
travelling, or stored, than is the case at present, and they can be more safely
rested against walls and the like when required, than can the present machines
and when the handle-bar is locked in the plane of the machine the latter can be
more readily led through a crowd or narrow passage. Further, the handle bar
and saddle when secured as herein described, can without appreciable trouble
be readily removed, which is a great advantage to owners of machines, as by
doing this the chances of the theft of them when left standing is very consider-
ably mitigated, and the annoyance of using a wet saddle after a rider has
sheltered him or her self can be prevented by the saddle being removed and
sheltered with the rider when the whole machine cannot be. Another advantage
of this invention is that handle-bar stems cannot be displaced or twisted by any
sudden wrench or be drawn unexpectedly from the steering-tube" owing to
the "head-clip having become loose, as has happened to some riders of cycles or
velocipedes, much to their danger.
99
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of this invention as applied to the "head"
of a bicycle; Figure 2 shows it applied to saddle supports; and Figure 3 shows,
to a larger scale, a side view of the catch apparatus; and Figure 4 is a plan
view of the same. Figure 5 is an enlarged plan view of a. split." positioning
collar."
a
1..
a, is a handle-bar column, or stem.
al, are the handles.
"
b, is a "seat-pillar," to which the saddle of the cycle or velocipede is attached."
c, is a steering tube" preferably not slit.
"
d, in the case of bicycles, to which the drawing shows the invention applied, is
"down tube" or frame tube.
«
e, is a head tube."
f, is the "head clip" which in this invention is only used to fix the lamp
bracket and to contain the upper bearing ball race and balls and retain them in
position, as the inventor does not necessarily slit the top of the steering tube for
the purpose of clipping the handle-bar stem, as is commonly done, as this is a
source of weekness to the steering tube owing to the necessity for it to be slit
when the handle bar stem is retained in position by this means.
.g, is a handle-bar.
h, is a pivoted lever which is placed within the handle bar stem (a) formed
with a catch or catches (i) at its lower end, and a push (2), at its upper end. The
lever (h) has a pivot (k) at or about its centre, which is riveted or screwed to the
handle bar stem (a).
1, 1, are springs which tend to press the catch () and "push" (7) outwards.
These springs (1) may be as shown or of other forms, and one only may be
used, but as a precautionary measure the inventor prefers two.
m, m, are pins to hold the springs (1, 1) in place.
n, n, n, are holes in the "stearing tube" (c) and " down tube" or frame tube (d)
through which holes the catches (2, 1) enter, and lock the handle bar stem (a),
and seat pillar (6), in the positions required. It will be seen that there are
two sets of holes in the steering tube (c) these being for the purpose of set-
ting the handle-bar either in its normal position or at right angles therewith.
A third set of holes may be made in the "steering tube" (c) should it be desired
to permit of the handles being turned to either the right hand or left-hand of
the machine, but two sets of the lioles (n, n, n) are oridinarily sufficient? The

page_text: inner part of the steering tube (e) and
down tube (a), may be lined with a
short length of tube and secured thereto. These inner tubes only, need be pierced
with holes to take the catches (i): when these inner tubes are used the handle
bar stem (a) will have to be reduced in diameter to accommodate themselves
thereto on the steering-tube (c) and the "down tube" (d) may be reinforced with
a short length of tube outside the steering tube (c) and the down tube" (d) in
lieu of inside, with advantage, as it will cover over the holes (n, n, n,) in the
steering tube (c) and down tube (d) respectively and prevent dirt and moisture
getting within the frame by way of the holes.
The "push" () is screwed, and is provided with a nut (o) which is used for
the double purpose of keeping the lever (h) in position, and enlarging the surface
against which the thumb or finger is pressed when the lever is actuated.
Above the head clip (f) is the lamp bracket. (p) which is secured in the ordinary
manner by a shallow nut (9) screwed on to the top of the "steering tube" (c) anu
the lamp bracket may be rendered more. rigid by having a projection inside the
collar to engage with a notch on the head of the steering tube (c) or the lamp
bracket may be brazed to the " head-clip."
66
In order to facilitate the placing of the handle-bar stem. (a) in the position
desired a
positioning-clip" (r) is provided, which is made to rest on the top of
the steering-tube (c) or the nut (g) should the latter happen to project above the
former; after this is done not the slightest trouble will arise in finding the hole
for the catch (). On the positioning-clip" (r) is formed a hook or finger (s)
which is made to engage with the hole in the lamp bracket (p) ordinarily made
therein to reduce its weight or in a purposely made hole and to fit the same; the
object of the finger (s) being to steady and frustrate any tendency on the part
of the handle-bar stem (a) to shake.
The connection of the end of the ordinary hand worked brake-lever with the
top of the "brake-rod" must be made, when such brakes are used with machines
to which this invention is applied, in a manner to permit of their easy discon-
nection; one way of doing this is to make the connection by forming on the end
of the brake-lever a cup which shall fit on to the top of the "brake rod," the
brake lever being steadied in position by means of a spring attached to the
handle bar or the head of the brake-rod" of the brake may be made with a loop
into which the end of the brake-lever, it being made with a suitable curve, would
engage. By this arrangement of brake connection, which forms no part of this
invention, the handle-bar and stem can be lifted and rotated, and with it the
positioning clip (r) and its finger (s) which will become disengaged from the
lamp bracket, and the whole can then be slewed around or removed as may be
desired.
66
the
66
To work this invention assuming that the handle-bar and stem, and seat pillar,
have been removed the nuts (o, o) are screwed back on the pushes (j, j), and by
means of them the pushes are pressed by the thumb or finger of the rider of the
machine when the catches (i, 1) will recede into their respective tubes then, the
ends of the handle-bar stem (a), and the seat pillar (b), are inserted into the
steering-tube (c) and the 'down tube" (d), and lowered until the desired posi-
tions are attained when the pushes are released, and the catches (, ) enter those
of the holes (n, n, n) that are opposite to them. The "positioning clip (r) on
"
handle-bar stem (a) is next lowered on to the top of the steering-tube (c),
and having been firmly pressed down so that its finger (s) is properly adjusted in
the hole in the lamp bracket, its bolt is screwed up tight, and the connexion
between the brake-lever and brake-rod is made after this the nut (o) on the
"push is screwed up until it bears firmly against the handle-bar stem; the
object of this being to thoroughly secure the catch in its place. The positioning
clip (r) on the seat pillar" (b) is pressed on to the top of the "down tube."
after the "seat pillar" has been adjusted as to height, and it is then secured in
place by its clamping screw or bolt.
"
"

page_text: 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. The means, herein described, and set forth by the drawings, for enabling
the easy rotation, removal, or adjustment of the heights, of handle bar stems and
the easy adjustment, or removal of "seat pillars" of cycles or velocipedes.
2. The lever with catch, push, nut and springs or spring in combination with
the holes in the handle bar stem, seat pillar, steering tube, and "down tube" used
for the purpose of enabling the easy rotation, removal, or adjustment of the
heights, of handle-bar stems, and the easy adjustment, or removal of seat pillars "
of cycles or velocipedes.
"
3. For the purposes of steadying and for readily finding the adjustment holes
for handle-bar stems of cycles or velocipedes constructed in the aforesaid manner
the positioning clip" with finger, as herein described.
Dated this Sixth day of January 1900.
E. H. G. BREWSTER,
Agent for Applicant.