Improvements in Brakes and Alarm Devices for Bicycles and Similar Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 16th Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes and Alarm Devices for Bicycles and Similar
Vehicles.
We, FREDERICK CLEMENT PALMER, (Inventor), and BENJAMIN FREDERICK JONES,
(Contractor), both residing at 687, East 135th Street, New York, in the County
and State of New York, United States of America, 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:-
This invention relates to bicycles and similar vehicles, and particularly to
brakes and alarm devices therefor; and the object of the invention is to provide
an improved brake for vehicles of this class in which the brake is connected with
and operated by a rod which extends through the handle bar, and is connected at
each end with the handles or grips which are revolubly mounted on the ends of
the handle bars; a further object being to provide a device of this class with an
alarm bell or gong, which is operated at the same time as the brake, and by the
same operative devices; and with these and other objects in view the invention
consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter
described and claimed.
In the drawing forming part of this specification, we have shown our invention
applied to a bicycle or to the frame thereof, and the separate parts of the con-
struction shown, are designated by the same numerals of reference throughout
the several views.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which:-
Fig. 1, is a sectional front view of the forward part of the frame of a bicycle
showing the forward fork in which the guide wheel is mounted, the handle bar,
and the parts connected therewith;
Fig. 2, a similar view showing a modified form of construction:
Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 1, showing another modification; and,
Fig. 4, a sectional side view of the construction shown in Fig. 3.
In the drawing forming part of this specification, we have shown at 5, the
forward fork of a bicycle frame, and the cross head of the yoke 5, is provided with
the usual upwardly directed tube 6, which passes through the tubular head 7,
of the frame of the bicycle, and to the upper end of which is secured a collar
or sleeve 8, and the tube 6, is free to turn in the tubular head 7, as usual in this
class of devices.
We also employ the usual tubular handle bar 9, which is provided centrally with
the tube 10, which passes into and is adapted to be adjusted in the tube 6, by
means of a set screw 11, of any preferred device.
Passing through the tubular handle bar 9, is a rod 12, which is preferably com-
posed of spring steel, and which projects at each end beyond the ends of the
handle bar as shown at 13, and passing through each end of the rods 12, or
through the eyes or heads formed thereon or secured thereto are pins 14, by
means of which the ends of the rod 12, are rigidly secured to the handles or
grips 15, which are revolubly mounted on the ends of the handle bar 9.

page_text: The grips or handles 15, are provided centrally with longitudinal bores which
are preferably closed at their outer ends, and the said handles are free to turn on
the ends of the handle bar, and in this operation as will be understood, the rod 12,
will also be turned.
The rod 12, is provided centrally and directly over the tube 11, with a yoke
shaped crank 16, and as shown in Fig. 1, we provide a bell or gong 17, which
is provided centrally of its convex side with a screw threaded tubular extension 18,
which is screwed into the lower end of the tube 6, in such manner that the bell
or gong is held centrally of the crosshead of the yoke 5, and immediately below
the same and passing through the tubular extension 18, of the bell or gong 17,
is a tubular rod 19, on the lower end of which is mounted, or to the lower end
of which is secured a brake shoe 20.
The tubular rod 19, is provided at its upper end with a head 21, which is free
to move in the tube 6, and between said head and the tubular extension 18,
of the bell or gong 17, which is rigidly connected with the yoke 5, or the cross
head thereof, is a spiral spring 22, the function of which is to force the brake
shoe 20, and the tubular rod 19, upwardly, and we also provide a rod 27, the lower
end of which is screw threaded and passes through the head 21 and into the tubular
rod 19 and is adjustable vertically in said tubular rod, and the upper end of the
rod 27, is provided with a yoke in which the crank 16, fits, or said upper end of
the rod 27 may be connected with the crank 16, in any desired manner.
Secured within the bell or gong 17, and adjacent to the tubular extension 18,
is a convoluted or coiled spring 23, the free end of which projects outwardly
towards the rim of the bell or gong, and is provided with a knocker 24, and secured
to or formed on the lower end of the tubular rod 19, is a lug or projection 25,
which when the brake is depressed, strikes one of the coils of the spring 23, and
forces the same outwardly, and as the lug or projection passes by said coil, said
spring is released, and the knocker 24, is drawn back into contact with the bell
or gong, and thus sounds the alarm.
The operation of this form of construction will be readily understood from
the foregoing description when taken in connection with the accompanying
drawing. In order to operate the brake, all that is necessary is to turn either of
the handles or grips 15, forwardly or backwardly as the case may be, and this
operation depresses the brake shoe 20, against the resistance of the spring 22,
and forces said brake shoe into contact with the tire of the guide wheel 28, which
is not shown and in this operation the alarm will also be operated as hereinbefore
described.
In Fig. 2, we have shown a modification of this form of construction in which
the alarm device is omitted, and in which the lower end of the tube 6, is closed
by a plug or stopper 28, through which the tubular rod 19, passes, and with this
exception, the construction and operation is exactly the same as that shown in
Fig. 1. This form of construction is preferable where an alarm bell or similar
device is not required, and by means thereof, our improvement may be applied
to almost any form of bicycle or similar vehicle now in use, the space between
the tire of the guide wheel, and the head of the yoke 5, being sufficient to allow
of the application of our improved brake thereto.
It will also be apparent that by means of the vertically adjustable tube 10,
of the handle bar, and the vertically adjustable rod 27, the handle bar may be
adjusted in the usual manner, and the application of our improved brake and
alarm device to bicycles and similar vehicles as usually constructed, does not
therefore interfere with the adjustable feature of the handle bar.
In Fig. 3, and 4, we have shown another modification in which the alarm bell
or device, the tubular rod 19, the spring 22, and the rod 27, are omitted, the yoke 5,
the tube 6, connected therewith, the tubular head 7, of the frame, the collar 8, and
the tube 10, of the handle bar being all of the usual construction.
In this form of construction however, we preferably mount upon the rod 12,
which passes through the handle bar, and directly over the tube 10, a grooved

page_text: wheel or similar device 30, and connect therewith a flexible cord or similar
device 31, and the flexible cord 31, is carried downwardly through the tube 10,
of the handle bar, and the tube 6, of the frame, and connected with one arm of
the crank lever 32, which is pivotally supported at one side of the cross head of
the yoke 5, as shown at 33, by means of a pin or bolt which passes through
depending hangers 34.
The outer arm of the brake lever 32, carries the brake shoe 20, and between
the end thereof with which the cord or other device 31, is connected and the
cross head of the yoke 5 is a spring 36 the function of which is to depress the arm
of the brake lever with which the cord 31 is connected, and in the operation of
this form of construction, all that is necessary in order to apply the brake is to
turn the rod 12, which passes through the handle bar by means of the handles 15,
as hereinbefore described, and this operation raises the end of the brake lever 32,
with which the cord 31, is connected and forces the brake shoe 20, into contact
with the tire of the guide wheel of the vehicle, and the said brake shoe 20, is released,
by releasing the pressure on the grip or handles 15, and allowing the spring 36,
to force the end of the brake lever 32, with which the cord 31, is connected down-
wardly.
It will be apparent that a rod may be substituted for the cord or other flexible
device 31, if desired, and it will also be apparent that the handle bar 9, may be
straight if desired, and that other changes in and modifications of the construc-
tion, herein described, may be made without departing from the spirit of our
invention, or sacrificing its advantages.
By means of our improvement we are enabled to apply a brake to a bicycle or
similar vehicle in such manner that the entire apparatus with the exception of
the brake shoe is concealed, from view, and the brake shoe may be
SO formed as to be almost invisible, or it may be made of orna-
mental form or so shaped as to detract from the appearance of the vehicle,
the brake shoe being located when the alarm bell or gong is not in use, directly
beneath the cross head of the yoke 5.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. The combination with the forward fork of a bicycle or similar vehicle and
the upwardly directed tubular stem connected therewith, of a tubular handle
bar provided centrally with a depending tube which passes into said tubular
stem, handles or grips loosely mounted on the ends of the handle bar, and free
to turn thereon, a rod which passes through the handle bar, and is connected
with said handles or grips, a bell or gong provided centrally with a tubular
extension which is secured to the lower end of said tubular stem, a spring supported
tubular rod which passes upwardly through said bell or gong, and into said
tubular stem, a rod which is connected with the rod which passes through the
handle bar, and with said spring supported tubular rod, and a brake shoe secured
to the lower end of said spring supported tubular rod and said bell or gong and
said tubular rod being also provided with means for sounding the alarm, sub-
stantially as shown and described.
2. The combination with the forward fork of the frame of the bicycle or similar
vehicle, and the tubular stem connected therewith, of an alarm device and brake
shoe supported beneath the cross head of the fork, a tubular handle bar provided
centrally with a tube which passes into said tubular stem, handles or grips
mounted loosely on the ends of said handle bar, and revoluble thereon, a rod which
passes through the handle bar and is connected with said handles or grips, and
devices connected with said handles or grips, and devices connected with the rod
which passes through the handle bar for operating the brake and the alarm said

page_text: device being located in and passing through said tubular stem, and through the
tube connected with the handle bar, substantially as shown and described.
3. The combination with the forward fork of a bicycle or similar vehicle in
which the guide wheel is mounted, of a brake which is located beneath the cross
head of said forward fork, said fork being provided with the usual tubular stem,
a tubular handle bar connected with said stem, handles loosely mounted on the
ends of said handle bar, and free to turn thereon, a rod passing longitudinally
through said handle bar and connected with said handles, and by means of which
said handles are held on said handle bar, and an operative device connected with
said brake and with the rod in the handle bar, and passing through said tubular
stem, said device being adapted to be operated by turning said handles and the
rod which passes through the handle bar, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 17th day of January 1898.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.