Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1897-Accepted, 18th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Brakes for Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
I, BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS, of 23, Southampton Buildings, in the
County of London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
(a communication to me from R. H. Wolff & Co. Limited, a Corporation existing
under the laws of the State of New York, and doing business at 118th Street and
Harlem River, in the City, County and State of New York, in the United States of
America, Manufacturers of Wire, Wire Springs, and Bicycles), and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
My invention has reference to improvements in brakes for bicycles and other
velocipedes, and has for its object to provide a brake-lever adapted to be attached
directly to the handle bar without the use of pins or pivots.
The nature of my invention will best be understood when described in connection
with the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 represents a plan or top view of a handle bar provided with my improved
brake lever.
Fig. 2 is a rear view partly in section.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale, of the locking lug for holding
the brake lever within the handle bar and for limiting its downward motion.
Fig. 4 is a bottom view of a portion of the handle bar.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken through the lower end of the brake plunger.
Fig. 6 is a section in the plane 6-6; Fig. 5, drawn on an enlarged scale.
Similar letters and numerals of reference designate corresponding parts through-
out the several views of the drawings.
Referring to the drawings, the letter a designates a tubular handle bar provided
with a post 1 fitted into the upper end of the fork stem or tube 6 and adapted to be
secured by a suitable clamp ; all as usual. Into the handle bar and to one side
of the post 1 are formed two diametrically opposite slots 2 and 3 adapted for the
passage of the brake lever d. Said lever has a handle 4 following substantially the
curvature of the handle bar and placed within reach of the hand, and formed with
an arm 5 which engages with its outer end the fork i of the brake rod e; and said
lever is also formed with an intermediate portion 6 at substantially right angles to
the other two portions. Said intermediate portion is provided with an off set or
shoulder 7 and with two bearing surfaces 8 and 9. The bearing surfaces 8 and 9
are adapted to contact respectively with the inner end of the slot 2 and with the
bottom of the tube in proximity to the outer end of the slot 3, while the shoulder
or off-set 7 forms a fulcrum about which the lever turns, and the use of a pivot is
dispensed with. The lower slot is made of a sufficient length to permit the lever
to be passed through the handle bar and said slot is partially closed by any suitable
device, such for instance, as the locking lug 10 made I shape in cross section with
a contracted neck 11 and with flanges 12 on opposite sides of said neck. The sides
of the slot 3 are notched, as at 13-13, to permit the passage of the flanges of the
ocking lug; said lug, after insertion, being slid toward the left of Fig. 4, to
ecure it in place. This locking lug prevents the lever from falling out of the
handle bar and also serves as a stop to limit the outward motion of said lever. The
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page_text: brake shoe J, of any usual construction, is attached to the lower end of the brake
plunger tube 17, which latter is prevented from turning by a longitudinal recess 14
formed in the same, and engaged by a projection 16 on a disc 15 secured in the
lower end of the fork stem. The fork. stem is secured in any usual well known
manner into the steering head tube g. The brake shoe J may be re-adjusted when
the handle bar is raised or lowered by turning the threaded brake rod e of the
plunger. A spring acting on the disc 15 and on the plunger head, normally
holds the brake from the tyre and the brake lever away from the handle. bar.
It will be noticed that when the arm of the brake lever is seated in the notch at
the upper end of the brake rod e, the latter is prevented from turning and conse-
quently the position of the brake shoe is immovably fixed with respect to the said
brake rod. In adjusting the brake to correspond to an adjustment in the height
of the handle bar, the brake lever is disengaged from the fork i of the brake rod
so that the latter may be turned.
h
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. A brake lever formed with a handle, an arm and with an intermediate portion
adapted to extend through the handle bar tube and provided with an off-set or
shoulder forming a bearing adapted to contact with the inner surface of the handle
bar and with bearing surfaces, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a handle bar having oppositely placed slots, of a brake
lever extending through said slots and provided with an off-set or shoulder form-
ing a fulcrum about which said lever turns and with two bearing surfaces engag-
ing the inner end of the upper slot and with the bottom of the handle bar tube,
and a brake placed in connection with the brake lever, substantially as described.
3. The combination with a handle bar having oppositely placed slots; of a brake
lever extending through said slots and provided with an off set or shoulder form-
ing a fulcrum about which said lever turns, and with two concentric bearing
surfaces engaging the inner end of the upper slot and with the bottom of the
handle bar tube, a locking lug partially closing the lower slot, and a brake placed
in connection with the brake lever, substantially as described.
4. In a velocipede, the combination of the handle bar, the steering head tube,
the fork stem or tube, an adjustable brake plunger provided with a longitudinal
recess, a disc fitted to the fork stem and provided with a projection engaging said
recess, a brake shoe attached to said plunger and a brake lever extending through
the handle bar and engaging the upper end of the brake plunger, substantially as
described.
5. The combination with a tubular handle bar having oppositely placed slots, of
a brake lever extending through said slots and provided with a shoulder or off
set forming a fulcrum, and with a concentric bearing surface adapted to engage
with the inner end of the upper slot, a locking lug partially closing the lower slot,
and a brake placed in connection with the brake lever, substantially as described.
6. In a velocipede, the combination of a tubular handle bar, a brake lever
passing through said handle-bar and having its fulcrum within the latter, a brake,
and a brake rod having its upper end forked for the reception of the arm of the
brake lever, substantially as described.