Improvements in or relating to the Brake Operating Mechanism of Velocipedes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 1st July, 1892-Accepted, 6th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
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Improvements in or relating to the Brake Operating Mechanism of
Velocipedes.
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I EDMUND WISEMAN of Cheapside, Luton in the County of Bedford Sewing
Machine Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
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This invention relates to improved means whereby one of the steering handles of
a velocipede may be caused to operate a lever connected with the brake plunger or
down rod, such handle cousequently serving as a combined steering and brake
operating bandle.
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Its object is to relieve the strain upon the hands caused by gripping the ordinary
arrangement of brake lever (often severely felt in long and steep descents) and to
permit the application of the brake without removing the hands from or disturbing
their position upon the steering handles.
According to one method of carrying out this invention, the handle bar upon one
side of its down tube (preferably the right hand side thereof) in lieu of extending
continuously up to the steering handle is divided or made in two portions, the
division or break occuring some little distance upon the inner side of the steering
handle. These two portions are so connected as to permit the outer portion, which
carries the steering handle, to have independent movement for the purpose of
operating a lever connected with the brake, whilst at the same time it is rigid with
the main handle bar as regards steering action. The abutting ends of the divided
handle bar are each provided with an arm projecting at right angles thereto, that
upon the inner or main portion of the handle bar having a bearing at its outer end
through which passes a spindle or rock shaft for operating the brake plunger or
down rod as hereinafter described, whilst that on the outer portion which carries
the combined steering and brake handle is secured at its free end to the aforesaid
rock shaft and acts as a lever arm for partially rotating the same by depression of
the handle. The inner end of the rock shaft passes through a lug or bracket
situate preferably beneath the handle bar near the down tube and terminates in a
short lever arm connected with the brake plunger or down rod.
A convenient
sliding bolt or catch is provided upon the outer portion of the handle bar which is
normally caused by a spring to engage with projections or notches upon or in the
face of the before mentioned arm or bracket terminating the inner portion of the
handle bar, thus preventing the accidental application of the brake.
When it is desired to apply the brake the sliding bolt or catch is withdrawn by a
convenient thumb> piece thereon and a downward twisting pressure applied to the
steering handle, this causes partial rotation of the before mentioned spindle or rock
shaft and consequent depression of the brake plunger. If desired the brake may
be maintained "on" by releasing the sliding bolt or catch and permitting it to
engage with another projection or notch on the before mentioned bracket. prefer
to provide the brake plunger or down rod with a convenient spring which exerts
its force to depress the same and applies a certain amount of brake pressure imme-
liately after the sliding bolt or catch is withdrawn, which pressure is increased as
desired by the action of the hand.
According to another method of carrying out my invention one of the steering
handles (preferably the right hand) is mounted upon the end of a lever pivotally
connected with the handle bar upon the further side of the down tube so as to be
capable of up and down movement, the brake plunger is connected with the said
ever between the handle and such pivot or fulcrum. As in the previously described
rrangement' the ordinary handle bar is made shorter upon one side of the down

page_text: '
tube than the other and terminates in a projecting plate or bracket the edge of which
has notches or projections with which engages a sliding bolt or catch on the said
lever. A transverse slot, is formed in the said plate or bracket in which slides
vertically a headed bolt or pin projecting at right angles from the lever, the object
of this arrangement being, to ensure the rigidity of the lever arm and handle as
regards steering action whilst allowing vertical play to the brake lever for applying
the brake. The said bolt or pin. has, preferably a spring washer for securing close
and constant contact of the lever and plate with freedom of vertical movement. A
spring is preferably disposed within the transverse slot bearing upon the piu or bolt
so as to offer resistance to the downward movement of the lever arm.
In its normal position the lever arm carrying the combined steering and brake
handle lies parallel with the handle bar and forms an extension of the shorter
portion thereof and is locked in position by the before mentioned sliding bolt or
catch. To apply the brake the bolt, or catch is withdrawn from the notch or pro-
jection in the plate and the handle depressed which thrusts down the brake plunger
or down rod and applies the brake.
It is obvious that the above described arrangements may be somewhat modified
without departing in any way from the spirit of my invention.
For the Applicant, ·
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON,
19, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Brake Operating Mechanism of
Velocipedes.
I EDMUND. WISEMAN of Cheapside, Luton, in the County of Bedford, Sewing
Machine Merchant, 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 improved means whereby one of the steering bandles of
a velocipede may be mounted upon and caused to operate when desired a lever
connected with the brake plunger or down rod, such bandle consequently serving as
a combined steering and brake operating handle.
Its object is to relieve the strain upon the hands caused by gripping the ordinary
arrangement of brake lever (often severely felt in long and steep descents) and to
permit the application of the brake by a downward or downward twisting pressure
of the steering handle without removing the band from such handle or disturbing
its position thereupon.
According to my invention, which is designed to be applied to velocipedes wherein
the steering is effected by the usual arrangement of a steering or handle bar fixed
across the head of the machine, or across a plunger entering the same, I construct
the steering or handle bar of less length upon one side of the head or head plunger
than upon the other side thereof, and so construct and arrange the brake lever that
a portion thereof which carries the combined steering and brake operating
handle forms practically a prolongation or continuation of the shorter portion of the
handle bar, with which the brake lever is so connected as to be rigid in relation
thereto as regards horizontal or steering movement, whilst it is capable of indepen-
dent downward movement for operation of the brake. I also provide a convenient
catch for locking the brake lever and steering bar together when desired.
I will now proceed to describe two convenient methods of carrying out my inven-
tion, having reference to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters refer
to corresponding parts in all the figures.
Fig. 1, (Sheet 1) is a plan of the steering bar of a velocipede provided with brake
operating mechanism constructed according to my invention.

page_text: Fig. 2, is a front elevation of a part of Figure 1.
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a is the steering or handle bar brazed or otherwise securely fixed in the socket h
of the head plunger or down tube c. Upon one side of the head plungere the bar a
may have a steering handle secured thereto in the ordinary manner (which I have
not considered it necessary to. illustrate in the drawings) but upon the other or
brake operating side of the down tube e the steering har a is constructed of less-
length and terminates in a bracket piece or projecting arm which serves as a
bearing for one end of a rock shaft & which is, supported at its other end in a suitable-
bearing preferably secured to, the underside of a socket piece on the bar a., his
a lever arm fixed to one end of the rock shaft.e the free end of which arm is bent
at an angle, so as to form the portion upon which is mounted the combined steering
and brake operating handlek, the bent over portion i of the brake lever / forming
practically a continuation of the shorter portion of the handle bar a. l'is the brake
plunger which is actuated by the short lever arm m connected with or formed on
the end of the rock shaft e. In the drawings I have shewn this lever arm m as
formed on the end of a sleeve n secured to the rock shaft by a screw n'. Upon
imparting a downward thrust or twist: to. the brake lever by means of the handlek
the lever arun will partially turn the rock shaft e and cause the short lever arm m
at the other extremity thereof to depress the brake plunger and apply the brake.
In order to fix the handle k in its elevated position in line with the handle bar a,
when required for steering purposes only, I provide the same with any convenient
catch bolt or locking device adapted to effect this and to be readily released by the
thumb or finger when required. As shewn in the drawings pis a bolt sliding freely
in a guide y and in a hole in the lever arm . is a convenient handle secured to
one end of the bolt P. is a helical spring, confined between the guide y and?
washer t, which tends to force the end of the bolt p into the notches or holes u u¹
formed in the face of the bracket piece d (see Fig. 3).
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When the bolt pengages with the upper hole the brake is intended to be out of
action and clear of the tyre, and I prefer to so adjust the distance between the tyre-
and brake as that when the bolt p engages with the lower notch the brake will
bear with a slight pressure upon the tyre, which pressure may be augmented as.
desired by further depression of the lever by the handle k.
I will now describe a modified arrangement of brake operating mechanism which
I am inclined to consider preferable to that just above described.
Figs. 4 and 5 (Sheet 2) are elevations of this arrangement looking from the front
and rear respectively.
Fig. 6, is a plan of Fig. 5.
As in the previously described arrangement the handle bar a is constructed of
less length upon the brake operating side of the down tube e than upon the other
side and terminates in a vertically disposed plate through which extends trans-
versely the siot d². represents the brake lever which has its pivot or fulcrum
at The brake plunger 1 is connected with the brake lever at the point 73:
situated between the fulcrum and free end thereof. The free end of the brake
lever extends past the end of the handle bar a, forming practically a continuation
thereof and terminates in the combined steering and brake operating handle.
Rigidity of the handle bar a and brake lever as regards steering movement is.
here shown as secured by the bolt traversing the slot this bolt passing through
a washer on one side of the plate and engaging with the brake lever on the
other side. This arrangement whilst seenring rigidity of the handle bar and brake
lever as regards horizontal or steering movement permits vertical play to the brake
lever for the purpose of operating the brake. is a helical spring maintained in
position in the slot by the pin which bears against the bolt and tends to
restore the brake lever to its normal or elevated position. p is a spring bolt,
here shewn as of precisely similar construction to that described with reference to
the first arrangement, which engages with the notches or projections u¹ formed
upon the edge of the plate d' (see Fig. 7). As in the previously described arrange-
ment, I prefer the brake to be so adjusted as to bear with a slight pressure upon

page_text: the tyre when the bolt p engages with the lower projection ', the pressure being
augmented by further depression of the brake lever as found necessary. In both
the above described arrangements the following essential features of my invention,
viz. relative rigidity of the combined steering and brake operating handle k and
handle bar a as regards horizontal or steering movement, and independent downward
movement of the brake lever which carries the handle k for brake operating
purposes will be found.
If desired in lieu of connecting the brake lever directly with the brake plunger
it might be caused to operate the same through the intervention of an intermediate
lever or levers conveniently arranged. By an arrangement of this sort the
proportion of the movement of the brake plunger to that of the brake lever could
be increased, but I do not claim the same as forming part of my invention.
In conclusion I would observe that I am aware that velocipede brakes have long
been known and used wherein the brake was applied by rotation of the handle bar
which was capable of turning freely in the head socket and operated the brake
either by a pinion cut in the handle bar which engaged with a rack on the brake
plunger, or by an eccentric on the handle bar engaging with a strap on the
brake plunger but these arrangements would be quite useless with the curved
handle bars, brazed or otherwise firmly fixed to the head or head plunger, now
universally employed, and they also put a certain amount of strain upon the wrist
when applying the brake. I would at the same time observe that I do not limit
or confine myself to the precise details of construction hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the drawings, which might obviously be somewhat modified without
in any way departing from the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. Brake operating mechanism for velocipedes, wherein the brake lever is so
constructed and arranged as that a portion thereof forms practically a continuation
of one end of the handle bar, and the brake lever rigid with the handle bar as
regards horizontal or steering movement whilst capable of independent downward
movement for operation of the brake, the brake lever and handle bar being locked
together when desired by a convenient catch substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
2. In combination with the handle bar or steering bar of a velocipede constructed
of less length upon one side of the head than upon the other, a brake lever forming
practically a continuation of the shorter portion of such handle bar and carrying
a handle which serves both for steering the machine and operating the brake, (the
said brake lever being so constructed and arranged as to be rigid with the handle
bar as regards steering movement whilst capable of independent downward move-
ment for operation of the brake) and a catch or spring bolt for locking the handle
bar and brake lever together when desired substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
3. The general construction arrangement and combination of brake operating
mechanism for velocipedes substantially as described with reference to and illustrated
in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings.
4. The general construction arrangement and combination of brake operating
mechanism for velocipedes substantially as described with reference to and illustratedl
in Figs. 4 to 7 of the drawings.
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E. P. ALEXANDER & SON, Fels. Chartd. Inst. P.A.,
19. Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.