Improvements in Cycle Steering Locks.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycle Steering Locks.
I, ROBERT FREDERICK HALL, of The R. F. Hall Manufacturing Company
Limited, of Sampson Road North, Sparkbrook, in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturer, 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 pertains or relates to means for locking or securing the steering
post and parts carried by it, of safety and like cycles in a fixed or determined
position, according to the will or desire of the rider, and has for its object, a
simple and efficient means which can be applied to any machine, and be fitted
thereto as an attachment, which is capable of being easily fitted or removed.
My new or improved attachment consists essentially of a fitted spring metal
band, or an attached friction clutch, which, although carried by the socket or
hollow pillar, acts directly upon the steering post passing up the same.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in side elevation, the steering
or fore part of a safety cycle, provided with a friction lock constructed, arranged
and fitted according to one form of my invention.
Figure 2 represents upon an enlarged scale, the head, pillar and steering post of
a machine fitted with my improvements, and with that part of the pillar so fitted
shown in section.
Figure 3 represents a side elevation of a portion of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a back elevation of Figure 3, whilst Figure 5 is a like back elevation
as Figure 4, but with the pressure bearing-blocks removed, and showing the naked
gap wherein the said blocks are fitted.
Figure 6 represents a cross section of the said friction steering lock upon the
dotted lines A B Figure 2.
Figure 7 represents, a section, an end view and an inner side elevation of one
of the friction bearing-blocks.
Figure 8 represents a modification, showing additional friction blocks carried by
inner parts of the flexible steel band.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in Figures 1 to 8.
a is the hollow pillar or socket, a' the head, and the steering post working
axially and freely through the said pillar and head. c is a friction lock attach-
ment, consisting of a flexible metal band e³, circumferentially embracing the pillar
or socket a, and with the free or loose ends c³, fitted with an axial screw pin d,
having strung upon it, pressure bearing blocks e, whose inner and concave_faces e²,
pass through a hole or gap a³, cut within the rear part of the pillar a, and take
their bearings upon the outside and plain surface 2, of the steering post b, passing
up the said hollow pillar or socket.
The screw pin d, has upon its wormed end, a screw headed lever ff, whilst the
shank of the pin passes through plain holes é, made through the said free ends e³,
of the band clip c.
g is a washer, interposed between the screwed head, or the
screw box head of the lever, and the right hand side free end of the band clip.
By rotating the lever f, the screw box head travels along the wormed end, and
makes the terminal ends c³, of the band clip approach each other and be drawn
inwards by the impingement of the washer or screw box head upon the one side,
and the impingement of the head of the pin on the other side, so that as the lateral
impingement takes place, so the ends of the band are drawn inwards towards the
centre of the system, and by such drawing inwards, the faces e³, of the pressure
bearing blocks e, are made to forcibly impinge upon the naked outer surface of the

page_text: steering post, hence the frictional locking of the said post to the socket, or within
the pillar or head and the cognate parts of them.
By turning the lever more or less, a stiffness in working only may be imparted
to the steering post, instead of a lock or rigid fixing, so that the said attachment
may be utilized for preventing the too-free movement of the steering post within
its socket or pillar.
In the arrangement Figure 8, provided with supplementary friction bearing
blocks, c is the band, care inside pressure blocks, which pass through gaps or
openings a', made through the walls of the hollow pillow or socket a, and with their
bearing faces e, impinging upon the outside periphery or plain surface ³, of the
steering post b, so that as the band clip is drawn forward by the screwing up of
the lever, the said pressure blocks c, of the band, and also the frictional pressure
bearing blocks e, are forcibly pressed home, and the steering post made to work
stiffly or be retained in any locked position, so that a cyclist can leave the machine
against a wall or an erection without any liability of the same moving from its
resting position.
The pin d, is prevented from rotating by a small stud, upon the inner face of
the heading taking into a hole near one of the free ends of the band clip.
Figure 9 represents a modification.
In this arrangement, the head end of the pin has a square shoulder for preventing
the pins rotation, whilst frictional contact is obtained by or through a frictional
bearing block.
Figure 1 represents a further form of my invention. In this arrangement, the
impingement of the pressure block is performed through the instrumentality of
the worm upon the stem of the screw taking through a screwed hole in the pressure
bearing block.
a is the hollow pillar, with the gap a³, through its rear part. is the steering
post, c is a band clip, and d is a screw pin embracing or bridging the free ends of
the clip c, and taking through the screw hole e, of the pressure block e.
The turning of the lever f, traverses the pressure block, and thereby gives the
necessary impingement or frictional contact for stiffening or preventing the rotation
of the post within its socket or pillar.
Figure 11 represents a further modification of my invention. In this arrange-
ment, the necessary pressure upon the steering post is effected by inward extensions
of the free ends of the band clip.
a is the hollow pillar, the steering post and c the band clip, with inwardly
directed terminal ends c, and on the screw lever f, being screwed upon the end of
the pin d, the sides are drawn inwards, and the impingement of the terminal
ends, effected.
Figure 12 represents a modification of Figure 11. In this arrangement, the
band clip is jointed at back at cⓇ.
Figure 13 represents a further modified form of my invention.
a is the socket
or pillar, is the steering post, e is a band clip, with a solid lug c7, at one end
having a hole, through it, and with a screw pin c, at the other end, passing
through the said hole, and with a screw lever, taking upon the wormed end c
so that by turning the lever, the band is drawn in, and the pressure block clo,
which passes through a gap in the pillar, made to forcibly impress upon the inner
tube or pillar.
Figure 14 represents a detail modification of Figure 13, and Figure 15 is an
edge view of the she-end of the band.
a is the socket or pillar, the steering post, c the band clip, with a solid end c',
having a seated slot es, which semi-embraces or takes upon the screw end c, upon
which, the head f, of the screw lever f, takes, and with its inner end, taking
within a seating el, so that the attachment is made readily attachable and
detachable. The band c, as in Figure 8, carries studs c, which take through
coincident holes a', made through the sides of the pillar or socket a, and take their
bearings upon the periphery or outside walls of the post b, so that by turning the

page_text: handle f, the band is drawn tight to any extent upon the outer casing, and the
studs made to forcibly impress themselves against the post, hence a friction lock.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First-In cycle steering locks retaining, gripping or holding the steering post
within its pillar, or to its pillar or socket, or to the cognate parts of the said post
or inner tube, by or through the instrumentality of a band or friction clip, or
through the medium of a band clip having pressure bearing-blocks, or pressure
contacts, as described and set forth.
Secondly-A cycle friction-steering lock, for retaining, holding or locking the
steering post or inner tube to the pillar and cognate parts of the steering apparatus,
as set forth.
Thirdly: In a friction cycle-steering lock, effecting the stiffening, retention or
affixing of the steering post, by a band clip, having pressure bearing blocks,
passing through gaps or cut away parts of the hollow pillar or outer tube, as set
forth.
Fourthly-In a friction cycle-steering lock, effecting the stiffening, retention or
affixing of the steering post by a band clip, having pressure bearing blocks,
passing through gaps or cut away parts of the hollow pillar or outer tube, and with
the ends of the said band clip drawn together by a cross pin and screwing lever,
and which parts are constructed, arranged, fitted and provided as described and set
forth in Figures 1 to 8.
:
Fifthly In a friction cycle-steering lock, effecting the stiffening, retention or
affixing of the steering post by band clips, having the parts constructed, arranged,
fitted and provided as described and set forth in Figures 9 to 13.
Dated this
ML 1000
ROBERT FREDERICK HALL,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.