Improvements in or relating to the Handle-bars of Cycles...
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 13th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 15th Jan.. 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Handle-bars of Cycles...
We, JOHN WILLIAM DEANS of Gowthorpe Road, Engineer, WILLIAM DUNN
FOSTER, of 7, Westbourne Grove, Manufacturer, and ROBERT JOHN FOSTER of 1,
Westbourne Grove, Manager, all in Selby, in the County of Yorks,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in or relating to handle-bars for
cycles and is as follows:-
The handle-bars are formed in the usual or any suitable manner and of any
suitable shape for instance the said handle-bars may be brazed or otherwise rigidly
secured to a central socket which latter is provided (advantageously on the under-
side thereof) with one or more projections or lugs for instance three downwardly
projecting lugs which are pivotted or hinged in any suitable manner to the upper
end of the head or steering post which latter is formed or arranged in any suitable
manner for the purpose for instance in the case of the three downwardly projecting
lugs from the handle-bar socket the head of the steering post may be provided with
a block or other suitable end which latter is forked upwardly the two upwardly
extending arms of said fork entering between the three lugs aforesaid and a pin
or bolt or other suitable means provided to pivot or hinge these said parts together
so that the handle-bar is thus free to be revolved or adjusted with respect to the
head or steering post of the machine.
Or the handle-bars may be pivotted or hinged to the head or steering post in any
other suitable manner.
In order to hold said handle-bars in the desired position according to the present
invention means are provided to adjustably hold and rigidly maintain said handle-
bars as follows:
-
A crank or crank-like arm (or arms) or projection extends from the aforesaid
handle-bar socket or from the aforesaid downwardly extending lugs on said socket
for instance extends horizontally or thereabouts and this crank or projecting arm
towards its end has a rod or connection pivotted or otherwise suitably jointed
thereto.
This rod descends advantageously vertically or thereabouts and has suitable means
provided thereon or acting in conjunction therewith by which same is held and con-
trolled in such wise that same may be raised or lowered (i.e. adjusted vertically) and
thus rock the aforesaid crank, arm on the handle-bar and thereby cause the handle
ends of the handle-bars to be raised or lowered.
The following means have been found advantageous for raising and lowering the
handles according to the present invention.
The aforesaid descending rod (jointed to the aforesaid crank) is screw-threaded
and screws through or into a revolvable sleeve or nut (with a milled edge on the
exterior of the latter or provided with other suitable means to revolve same) such
sleeve or nut which may be termed the female screw being journailed or held in
Dion 077

page_text: any suitable manner-but so as to be free to revolve-in a collar or bearing
adapted to receive same such collar or bearing being rigidly fixed formed or
mounted on or to the head or steering post (below the point where the handle-bars
are hinged thereto as aforesaid) in any suitable manner.
Thus by revolving the female screw aforesaid thereby, the descending rod is raised
or lowered.
Or the parts may be arranged vice versa i.e. a male screw held in said collar or
bearing but free to be revolved therein such screw screwing into a female screw or
socket jointed to the aforesaid crank arm or extension.
Or instead of the foregoing the said collar or bearing may be suitably connected
to said crank arm and arranged to be adjusted vertically upon or with respect to
the head or steering post.
Thus it will be seen that the handle-bar socket (i.e. at the point where said bars
meet over the steering post or head) is rocked or revolved at this point in manner
aforesaid and thereby the handles or handle-bar ends are raised or lowered.
Instead of or in addition to the said means of adjustment-elastic pads or
cushions of any suitable character may be introduced between the said nuts or sleeve
both above and below the aforesaid collar or bearing for same whereby vibration
or jar on the handles is prevented or reduced.
For instance the descending rod aforesaid (jointed to the aforesaid crank fixed on
the handle-bars or handle-bar socket) may screw into and through a sleeve or flanged
sleeve or sleeve nut or the like with milled edge by which same can be adjusted
vertically as aforesaid and then this sleeve has mounted thereon one or more rubber
or other elastic cushions in the form of rings washers or buffers for instance two
rubber washers between which is mounted a double flanged collar or metal washer
or washers in or between which a socket or equivalent device is arranged or mounted
so as to be free to oscillate or turn or move therein and in such socket or sockets
a pin screw or bolt is inserted from opposite sides thereof viz. from the arms of
a fork or the like which embrace or partly encircle said socket and cushions such
fork or the like being formed in any suitable manner or carried on any suitable
clip or device to clip on to or be otherwise suitably secured to the steering post or
head or other desired part of the machine.
The whole of the aforesaid parts (elastic washers or cushions, metal washers or
collar, socket, etc.) on the aforesaid adjusting sleeve may be mounted and secured
thereon in any suitable manner for instance by a washer and nut screwed on said
sleeve whereby these said parts will all be held packed together between the last-
named washer and the aforesaid flange on the sleeve.
Thus it will be seen that means are provided to adjust the handles as aforesaid
and at the same time a cushioning action on the handle is provided.
Any suitable brake lever or brake-operating mechanism may be used in conjunc-
tion with the foregoing adjustable handle-bar and such brake or brake-operating
mechanism arranged or constructed in any suitable manner so as to be adapted
for use with such handle-bars i.e. to adapt itself to the varying positions of the
handle-bars for intance with the ordinary lever brake at present well-known and in
common use in order that the adjustment of the handle-bars may take place
without affecting or being affected by the brake or brake-operating mechanism
we fix a universal joint or equivalent at the end of the brake arm or lever into
which the downward rod of the brake works by means of a joint or socket fixed in
the same; the downward rod being free to move up and down and the universal
joint at the end of the brake arm or lever revolving in or round the fixed joint or
socket. In this way the brake lever can be adjusted to any angle to meet the
adjustment of the handle-bars.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to the Handle-bars of Cycles.
We, JOHN WILLIAM DEANS of Gowthorpe Road, Engineer, WILLIAM DUNN
FOSTER, of 7, Westbourne Grove, Manufacturer, and ROBERT JOHN FOSTER of 1,
Westbourne Grove, Manager, all in Selby, in the County of Yorks,
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 has for its object improvements in or relating to curved or bent
handle-bars for cycles and is as follows:-
The handle-bars are formed in the usual or any suitable manner and of any
suitable shape for instance the said handle-bars may be brazed or otherwise rigidly
secured to a central socket which latter is provided (advantageously on the under-
side thereof) with one or more projections or lugs for instance three downwardly
projecting lugs which are pivotted or hinged in any suitable manner to the upper
end of the head or steering post which latter is formed or arranged in any suitable
manner for the purpose for instance in the case of the three downwardly projecting
lugs from the handle-bar socket the head of the steering post may be provided
with a block or other suitable end which latter is forked upwardly the two upwardly
extending arms of said fork entering between the three lugs aforesaid and a pin
or bolt is provided to pivot or hinge these said parts together so that the handles
are thus free to be adjusted with respect to the head or steering post of the machine.
Or the handle-bars may be pivotted or hinged to the head or steering post in
any other suitable manner.
In order to hold said handle-bars in the desired position according to the present
invention means are provided to adjustably hold and rigidly maintain said handle-
bars as follows:
A crank or crank-like arm (or arms) or projection extends from the aforesaid
handle-bars just over the steering post or from the aforesaid downwardly extending
lugs on said socket for instance extends horizontally or thereabouts and this crank
or projecting arm towards its end has a rod or connection pivotted or otherwise
suitably jointed thereto.
This rod descends advantageously vertically or thereabouts and has suitable
means provided thereon or acting in conjunction therewith by which same is both
cushioned and held and controlled in suchwise that besides preventing or reducing
vibration of the handles same may be raised or lowered (i.e. adjusted vertically)
and thus rock the aforesaid crank arm on the handle-bar and thereby cause the
handle-ends of the handle-bars to be raised or lowered.
The means illustrated in the drawings have been found advantageous for raising
and lowering the handles according to the present invention, or we may use the
following means:-
The aforesaid descending rod (jointed to the aforesaid crank) is screw-threaded
and screws through or into a revolvable sleeve or nut (with a milled edge on the
exterior of the latter or provided with other suitable means to revolve same) such
sleeve or nut which may be termed the female screw being journalled or held in
any suitable manner-but so as to be free to revolve-in a collar or bearing adapted
to receive same such collar or bearing being rigidly fixed formed or mounted on or
to the head or steering post (below the point where the handle-bars are hinged
thereto as aforesaid) in any suitable manner.
Thus by revolving the female screw aforesaid thereby the descending rod is
raised or lowered.
Or the parts may be arranged vice versa i.e. a male screw held in said collar or
bearing but free to be revolved therein such screw screwing into a female screw or
socket jointed to the aforesaid crank arm or extension.

page_text: Or instead of the foregoing the said collar or bearing may be suitably connected
to said crank arm and arranged to be adjusted vertically upon or with respect to
the head or steering post.
Thus it will be seen that the handle-bar socket (i.e. at the point where said bars
meet over the steering post or head) is rocked or revolved at this point in manner
aforesaid and thereby the handles or handle-bar ends are raised or lowered.
A spring or elastic pad or cushion of any suitable character may be introduced
in combination with the said means of adjustment for example as illustrated in the
drawing or in any other suitable manner.
Thus it will be seen that means are provided to adjust the handles as aforesaid
and at the same time a cushioning action on the handle is provided.
Any suitable brake lever or brake-operating mechanism may be used in conjune-
tion with the foregoing adjustable handle-bar and such brake or brake-operating
mechanism arranged or constructed in any suitable manner so as to be adapted for
use with such handle-bars i.e. to adapt itself to the varying positions of the handle-
bars for instance with the ordinary lever brake at present well-known and in
common use in order that the adjustment of the handle-bars may take place
without affecting or being affected by the brake or brake-operating mechanism we
fix a universal joint or equivalent at the end of the brake arm or lever into which
the downward rod of the brake works by means of a joint or socket fixed in the
same.
In this way the brake lever will be adjusted to any angle to suit the adjustment
of the handle-bars.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 is a plan of the handle-bars of a cycle showing means of adjusting sanie
and to prevent or reduce vibration according to the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow 2 Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side view i.e. looking in the direction of the arrow 3 Fig. 1.
a a are the handle-bars of the ordinary or any suitable curved form which are
brazed or otherwise suitably and rigidly fixed to the socket b which latter is pro-
vided with three downwardly projecting lugs 616363.
c is the block or head-end of the head or steering post d said block being pro-
vided with two upwardly extending lugs and which latter fit between the
lugs and are there hinged or pivotted by means of the hinge pin or bolt e.
f is a crank or crank-like arm extending rigidly from the said socket band
pivotted to the forked upper ends g¹ g¹ of the vertical rod or connection g.
This rod g is provided with notches or holes g down one side thereof into which
enters the end of the set screw or locking device this latter being provided with
the arms by which said screw h can be firmly screwed against or into the said
rod g.
is a collar or mount clipped brazed or otherwise rigidly secured to the head
post. d and having the forked arms rigidly extending therefrom.
In these forked arms is pivotted the socket j (see Fig. 2) by means of the
trunnions on said socket so that the latter can pivot or turn on the axis j¹.
This socket has a flange at its lower end.
This socket at its upper end is provided with a flange or disc k to support the
cushion x.
is a similar disc carried or formed on the socket m the latter being provided
with an extension m¹ through which the set screw h works.
This disc has a downwardly extending sleeve /* thereon which passes through
the cushion and right down through the socket j and is secured in position by the
lock nut (or lock nuts) a washer *** of soft material being inserted between the
nut and the flange ** to prevent rattle.
is the india-rubber or other suitable elastic pad or cushion between the discs
and k.
Or a coiled spring may be used in the place of the rubber cushion.
Thus it will readily be seen that vertical adjustment of the handles can be

page_text: obtained by unscrewing the screw h by means of the arms h¹ (or equivalent) so that
the rod g is released from the screw h and thereupon the handle z can be raised
or lowered to any desired extent within the limits of the mechanism i.e. from about
the lowermost position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3
to the upper-
most position indicated in dotted lines in such figure and when the desired
adjustment has been obtained thereupon the screw h is tightly screwed again into
engagement with the rod g and thus the handles are firmly fixed in position.
The elastic pad or cushion being interposed between the discs k and and the
lower end of the rod g (i.e. that part of the rod g which is below the point where
the screw h nips or engages said rod) passing freely through the disc l, cushion x,
disc and socket j-thus vibration on the handles is very greatly reduced by the
interposition of this cushion r.
It will be obvious that any suitable equivalent mechanism or means may be used.
instead of the set screw h for attaching and releasing the rod g to or from the disc
for instance the rod g may be screw-threaded and a revolving collar or nut carried
on the disc screwed on said rod and thereby raise or lower the latter or we may
use the modified arrangement shown in Figs. 4 to 6.
Fig. 4 being a local view in elevation; Fig. 5 a vertical sectional view, and Fig. 6
a cross sectional view (on line 6-6 Fig. 4) of such modified arrangement.
In this case the rod g is provided with a series of notches 9 with which an
enlargement o on a horizontal spring-mounted rod p is adapted to engage. This
rod is adapted to slide in bearings or supports p₁ fixed on the disc a spring r
being arranged between one of the bearings p¹ and the enlargement o in such wise
as to normally keep said enlargement pressed into engagement, with one of the
notches as shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6.
By pressing endwise on the knob 7* on said rod p thereby the enlargement o
is moved clear of the rod g and notches thereon and consequently such rod can now
be raised or lowered to the desired extent and then said locking piece o on the rod p
will be moved back into engagement with one of the notches g* and consequently
such rod will now be again firmly locked and held in the desired position.
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. In cycles connecting the handle-bars with the steering post by means of a
hinge in combination and acting in conjunction with a support fixed on the said
steering post and extending therefrom and an adjustable rigid connection between
said support on the steering post and a crank extension on said movable handle-
bars whereby the latter can be adjusted and a spring or elastic cushion interposed
between said connection and said support whereby vibration of the handles is
obviated or reduced substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore
set forth.
2. The herein-described improvements in or relating to the handle-bars of cycles
he several parts being combined arranged and operating substantially as and for
he purposes specified and illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 11th day of December 1897
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.