Improvements in Bicycle-bells.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
Improvements in Bicycle-bells.
We, THEODOR HOERMANN, of 211 Jackson Street, and JOHN FRANK KUHN, of
25 Bushwick Avenue, both of the City of Brooklyn, County of Kings and State of
New York, United States of America, Gentlemen, 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 a bicycle-bell of the class in which the clapper is actuated
by a temporary engagement of its actuating mechanism with the wheel-tire.
By our invention the bell is so placed and operated that it will not interfere with
the use of a brake, while, moreover, the actuating mechanism is such that a positive
and reliable motion will be transmitted to the clapper.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the fore part of a bicycle provided with our improved
bell. Fig. 2 is a front view thereof;
Fig. 3 a side view, partly in section, of the bell detached ;
Fig. 4, a section on line 4, 4, Fig. 3;
Fig. 5, an inner face view of base-plate a, showing the actuating mechanism
partly in section ; and
Fig. 6, a detail of cam-wheel e.
The letter a, represents a base-plate provided with a tappet post a', to which the
gong b, is attached by screw b¹. On its outer side the plate a, is made with a tubular
bearing or knuckle a², engaged by one end of a pivot c, the other end of which is
adapted to be attached to the bicycle-fork A, by clasp c'. The bell is thus attached to
the bicycle in such a manner that it may be tilted towards and away from the wheel-
tire B, to the side of which it is hung, Fig. 2. The extent of this tilting motion is
limited by a pin c², on pivot c, that engages a notch a³, a knuckle a², Fig. 4.
The plate a, is slotted, as at a', and through this slot projects outwardly the rim of
a laterally extending wheel e, which turns in the post a¹, and in a bearing a³,
projecting from the inner face of plate a. The wheel e, is provided with an interior
cam el, Fig. 6, which is engaged by one arm of a bell-crank f, pivoted to plate a,
at. The bell-crank is actuated moreover, by a spring g, and is connected at its
free arm to clapper h, adapted to strike the gong b.
The outwardly extending rim or section of wheel e, is placed opposite the side of
the tire B, but is normally held away from such tire by a spring i, which has a
tendency to tilt the bell with its lower end outwardly. If the bell is to be sounded, it
is tilted in an opposite direction, so that the wheel e, will contact with the tire B, and
will be rapidly revolved by the same. This tilting of the bell is effected by means of a
hand-string, which is attached to an arm a, of plate a, and extends to within easy
reach of the rider. As the wheel e, is rotated by tire B, it will, in connection with
spring 9, cause the bell crank f, to be rapidly vibrated, so as to vibrate the clapper
and sound the alarm. The alarm will be sounded as long as a pull is exerted upon the
hand-rope and will cease as soon as such pull is relaxed, because the spring i, will then
be free to tilt the bell away from the tire.
It will be seen that as our improved bell is placed at and engages the side of the
tire B, it will not interfere with the free application and use of a brake. Moreover,
our improved mechanism is such that the clapper is positively actuated and is under
the full control of the rider.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The combination in a bicycle-bell of a gong with a cam-wheel adapted to engage
the side of the tire, a clapper actuated by said wheel, and a spring-knuckle that
connects the gong to the bicycle-frame and permits a lateral tilting motion of the
gong, substantially as specified.
2. The combination of a tilting base-plate having a knuckle, with a pivot engaging
the same, means for connecting said pivot to the bicycle-frame, means for limiting the
tilting motion of the base-plate, a cam-wheel projecting through the base-plate, a
spring-actuated bell-crank engaging the same, and a clapper actuated by the bell-crank,
substantially as specified.
.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.