Improvements relating to the Handle Bars and Steering Tubes of Safety Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th June, 1897--Accepted, 17th July, 1897
OVISIONAL ST
Certain Improvements relating to the Handle Bars and Steering Tubes
of Safety Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
1, ALFRED LITTLEHALES, of 67, Great Hampton Row, and of 257, Brearley Street,
both in the City of Birmingham, Enameller, do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention has reference to the handle bars and steering tubes of safety
bicycles and other front steering velocipedes. One object of this Invention is to
provide means whereby the handle bar can readily be removed from the steering
tube when required and be readily refixed to the steering tube either at right
angles to the plane of the steering wheel in the ordinary way ready for riding or
parallel with the plane of the steering wheel so as to occupy less space as when the
machine is not in use, or is packed for transit. Moreover, I provide means for
locking the steering tube to the fixed steering head when required said means being
operated by a part connected to the handle bar as hereinafter described.
In carrying out this Invention the handle bar is formed with a short tubular
stem which fits into and extends for a certain distance down the steering tube.
The said tubular stem of the handle bar is by preference so constructed that it
will not turn in the steering tube and so that it can be readily removed therefrom
and refixed therein either with the handle bar at right angles to the plane of the
steering wheel or with th handle bar parallel with the plane of the steering wheel.
This may be effected in various ways as for instance by making the tubular stem of
the handle bar with two or four longitudinal grooves which engage with corres-
ponding inward projections at the top of the steering pillar or in a collar fixed
thereto. The said tubular stem of the handle bar is made with one or more
(preferably two) spring catches which when the tubular stem of the handle bar has
been inserted and pressed down in the steering pillar as above described engage
with projections notches or holes in the steering pillar and thus lock the handle
bar therein. I prefer to use two of these spring catches on the tubular stem of
the handle bar and to make them as the ends of a U-shaped spring which is
arranged within the tubular stem of the handle har the said U-shaped spring having
one of the said catches at or near each end which project through holes in the
tubular stem and are also made with knobs or pushers by which the said spring
catches can be pressed inwardly to release them from the inner projections of the
steering tube and allow of the handle bar with its tubular stem being removed
when required.
In order to lock the steering tube to the steering pillar when desired I provide
within the steering tube which turns in the steering pillar a spring catch or
spring catches made with an upwardly projecting part or parts which will engage
with a hole or holes in the steering pillar. This spring catch or each of these
spring catches is made with an upward continuation bent inwardly and so arranged
that when the tubular stem of the handle bar is pressed home into the steering
tube, the end of the tubular stem acts upon the end of the spring and withdraws

page_text: the catch from the steering pillar so that the steering tube is then free to turn but
when the handle bar with the tubular stem is raised slightly then the end of the
tubular stem is free of the spring catch which now engages with the steering
pillar and thus locks the steering tube thereto.
The lower end of the tubular stem of the handle bar may be made with a cutaway
notch so arranged that when the said tubular stem is placed in the steering tube
with the handle bar parallel to the plane of the steering wheel this notch will
correspond with the spring catch in the steering tube so that the spring catch will
not then be operated by the tubular stem and the steering pillar will remain
locked to the steering tube thus preventing the steering wheel swivelling or
turning when the handle bar is parallel with the steering wheel and with the
frame of the machine.
The steering tube and the tubular stem of the handle bar may both be of the
ordinary round shape without the longitudinal grooves and the tubular stem of the
handle bar be secured in the steering tube by means of a friction clip or a set screw
or an outer spring catch or any other suitable means so as to lock the handle bar
either parallel with the plane of the steering wheel or at right angles thereto.
In order to facilitate the disconnecting of the brake rod from the brake lever
when removing the handle bar as above described I form the connecting pin to the
brake rod with a groove along each side in which I fix a small spring the ends of
which are so made that when the pin is in place the ends of the said spring lock
the same and by pressing the two ends of the spring towards each other the pin can
readily be withdrawn.
Dated this 12th day of August 1896
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY.
Agent for the Applicant.
Certain Improvements relating to the Handle Bars and Steering Tubes
of Safety Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
I, ALFRED LITTLEHALES, of 67, Great Hampton Row, and 257, Brearley Street,
both in the City of Birmingham, Enameller, 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 reference to the handle bars and steering tubes of safety
bicycles and other front steering velocipedes. One object of this Invention is to
provide means whereby the handle bar can readily be removed from the steering
tube when required and be readily refixed to the steering tube either at right
angles to the plane of the steering wheel in the ordinary way ready for riding or
parallel with the plane of the steering wheel so as to occupy less space as when the
machine is not in use, or is packed for transit. Moreover, I provide means for
locking the steering tube to the fixed steering head when required said means being
operated by a part connected to the handle bar as hereinafter described.
I will describe my Invention by referring to the accompanying drawings on
which Fig. 1 is a part sectional side elevation and Fig. 2 is a part sectional front
elevation of the steering head of a bicycle with my Invention applied, these views
also shewing a part of the steering handle; Fig. 3 shews how the spring catches
of the tubular stem of the steering handle have to be pushed in before removing
the steering handle from the steering tube; Fig. 4 shews part of the steering head
represented in Figs. 1 and 2 with the steering handle and its tubular stem removed
and the steering tube locked in the steering head; Fig. 5 shews a part of the

page_text: steering handle and its tubular stem removed from the steering head; Fig. 6 is
a separate view of the spring catch which connects the tubular stem of the handle
to the steering tube in the steering head: Fig. 8 shews separately a notched bush
forming a part of the said locking mechanism: Fig. 9 is a sectional side elevation;
Fig. 10 is a plan and Fig. 11 is a sectional front elevation of a part of the bicycle
head and steering handle illustrating a modification of my Invention: Fig. 11°
hews the steering handle and its tubular stem separately: Fig. 12 is a front view
of a part of the brake lever and brake rod of a safety bicycle illustrating a method
of constructing the joint pin with a spring catch in accordance with this Invention
so that the joint pin and joint can readily be disconnected to allow of the removal
of the brake lever with the steering handle har and its tubular socket; Fig. 13 is
a cross sectional elevation and Fig. 14 is a sectional plan of the said brake lever
and brake rod and joint pin: Fig. 15 shews the joint pin separately and Fig. 16
is a separate view of the spring catch part of the same; and Fig. 17 illustrates a
further slightly modified form of my Invention.
The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all the
Figures of the drawings.
In carrying out this Invention the handle bar A is formed with a short tubular
stem B which fits into and extends for a certain distance down the steering tube C
which as is well known turns in the steering head or steering post D and has the
steering fork sides el fixed to its lower end which carry the axle of the steering
wheel. I make the tubular stem B of the handle bar so that when pushed down
home into the steering tube it will not turn therein and so that it can readily be
removed from the steering tube and readily replaced therein either with the handle
bar A at right angles to the plane of the steering wheel or with the handle bar parallel
with the steering wheel. In the arrangement of my Invention shewn by Figs. 1
to 8 both inclusive the tubular stem B is prevented from turning in the steering
tube C by the lower part of the tubular stem B being made with vertical slots bl
which, when the tubular stem B has been inserted in the steering tube and pushed
home as far as it will go, engage with the cross pin G (see Figs. 1 and 2) fixed in
the steering tube C. In order to secure the tubular stem B in the steering tube C
the tubular stem B is made with two spring catches el e preferably fixed on or
formed with the U-shaped spring E shewn separately by Fig. 6 which is contained
in the tubular stem B the said catches ele projecting through side holes therein.
The spring E is continued above the catches el e and has two side pushers fi f
formed with it which project through holes in the sides of the tubular stem B
so that when these pushers are pushed inwardly as shown in Fig. 3 the catches ele
will also be pushed in within the contour of the tubular stem B. When the
tubular stem B is pressed down into the steering tube C as above described, the
spring catches el e, which are slightly inclined, are by the top of the steering
tube pressed inwardly so that as soon as the tubular stem B has been pressed
home the catches el will spring outwardly again and engage in corresponding
holes formed in the liner C of the steering tube C and thus secure the handle
bar in position connected to the steering tube C. To remove the steering handle A
with its tubular stem B from the steering tube C the knobs or pushers f f have
to be pressed inwardly as shewn in Fig. 3 so as to withdraw the spring catches el
free of the holes and allow of the handle bar with its tubular stem being
removed. The tubular stem B can be replaced either with the handle bar A at
right angles to the plane of the steering wheel, corresponding with the position
shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, ready for riding, or parallel with the plane of the steering
wheel the vertical slots b' in the lower end of the tubular stem B taking on to the
cross bar G as above described corresponding with either position. The liner C
is also made with two other holes eat right angle to the holes ele for the spring
catches el e to engage in to fix the steering handle A to the steering tube C parallel
with the plane of the steering wheel as stated above.
In order to lock the steering tube C to the steering pillar and prevent the same
from turning therein when the steering handle A and its tubular stem are removed

page_text: or when the steering handle A is fixed parallel with the steering wheel as when
the bicycle is propped
up against a wall, or to prevent the same from being ridden,
I provide within the steering tube C the two spring catches h¹ h preferably
formed on the bow spring H arranged to project through holes in the liner C
and in the steering tube C and engage in any two of a series of holes or notches
which are provided in a tubular ferrule I which is fixed in the tube D of the
bicycle head or these notches or holes may be made in the tube D of the bicycle
head itself. The said spring H is continued upwardly on each side h³ h beyond
the catches h¹ h and these parts h³ h are bent inwardly (see Figs. 2 and 7) and so
arranged that the tubular stem B when inserted in the steering tube acts upon the
ends h³h of the spring H and forces them together and withdraws the catches h¹ h
from the holes i in the ferrule I or in the steering head D as shewn in Figs. 1 and 2
so that the steering tube C is then free to turn but when the handle bar with the
tubular stem B is raised slightly or removed from the steering tube C then the
lower end of the tubular stem B'is free of the upper ends 3 h of the spring H so
that the spring catches ³ ³ will now spring outwardly again and engage with the
holes i in the ferrule I or in the tubular head D as shewn in Fig. 4 and thus lock the
steering tube in the cycle head. The ferrule I or the tube D of the steering head
is made with several of the notches ¹ for the spring catches h¹ h to engage with as
above described so as to lock the steering wheel in a plane with the back wheel or
slightly inclined thereto either to the right hand or to the left hand as when the
bicycle is leaning up against a wall. The two parts b' of the lower end of the tubular
stem B are shorter than the other two parts b so as not to act upon and withdraw
the catches h h when the tubular stem B is inserted in the steering tube C
parallel with the steering wheel which will thus remain locked.
The liner C may be made to slide up and down inside the steering tube C to
permit of the adjustment of the height of the handle bar and be locked at any
desired height by the usual split clip K at the top of the cycle head. In this case
the holes in the steering tube C must be slotted vertically to permit of the
sliding of the liner C as aforesaid.
Instead of making the tubular stem B with the notches b¹ to engage with the
cross pin G to prevent the stem B from turning in the steering tube C in com-
bination with the catches c' e as above described, I may employ other means for
this purpose in combination with the said catches for instance the tubular stem B
and interior of the steering tube C may be made square or of other shape than round
or as shewn by Figs. 9, 10, 11, and 11, the tubular stem B may. have one or more
vertical projecting ribs such as 1131 formed on it which engage in corresponding
notches or slots m¹ m³ m3 m in the collar M fixed on the top of the steering tube C
so that the stem B of the steering handle A may be inserted in the steering tube C
either at right angles to the steering wheel or parallel therewith and will by the
ribs and notches m¹ m³ m³ m be prevented from turning in the steering
tube C.
When the liner is extended above the top of the ball head clip K as in
Fig. 17, I prefer to cover the projecting ends of the catches ee by the short
tubular sleeve N which is fixed on the handle bar lug A and extends down over the
ends of the catches c¹ e.
In order to facilitate the disconnecting of the vertical brake rod 0 (see
Figs. 12 to 16) from the brake lever P when removing the handle bar as above
described, I form the joint, pin Q which connects together the brake rod 0 and
brake lever P, with a longitudinal groove q' in which I place a small spring R
which is of U-shape and has outwardly projecting inclined ends corresponding
with the end of the pin so that when the pin is in place the ends of the
spring R will engage with the side of the joint O and thus lock the pin Q in place.
To remove the pin Q the ends of the spring R have first to be pressed towards
each other to allow of the pin Q being withdrawn. The cross pins in the slot q
keeps the spring R in place therein.

page_text: 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:
1. In a safety bicycle or other front steering velocipede the employment of the
means for securing the removable tubular stem of the steering handle in the
steering tube constructed arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In a safety bicycle or other front steering velocipede providing a spring
catch or spring catches within the steering tube to engage in the steering head and
lock the steering tube thereto, in combination with the tubular stem of the
steering handle so arranged as to withdraw said catches and unlock the steering
tube when the tubular stem is inserted in the steering tube with the handle at
right angles to the plane of the steering wheel ready for riding and so that when the
said tubular stem is removed the said catch or catches lock the steering tube in
the cycle head, all substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
3. In a safety bicycle or other front steering velocipede providing a spring
catch or spring catches within the steering tube to engage in the steering head and
lock the steering tube thereto in combination with the tubular stem of the steering
handle so arranged as to withdraw said catches and unlock the steering tube when
the tubular stem is inserted in the steering tube with the handle at right angles
to the plane of the steering wheel ready for riding, but so as not to unlock the
steering tube when the tubular stem is inserted with the handle not in a position
for riding, and so that when the said tubular stem and handle are removed the
catch or catches lock the steering tube in the cycle head, all substantially as
hereinbefore set forth.
4. In a safety bicycle or other front steering velocipede the employment of the
means for securing the tubular stem of the handle bar in the steering tube either
with the handle at right angles to the plane of the steering wheel or parallel
therewith in combination with the means for locking the steering tube in the cycle
head, when the said tubular stem is withdrawn from the steering tube and for
unlocking the steering tube by the insertion of the tubular stem of the handle bar
in the right position for riding, all substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
5. In the tubular stem of the steering handle of a safety bicycle or other front
steering velocipede the employment of the spring E made with the catches el e
and pushers f f constructed arranged and operated substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings for the purpose of securing
the tubular stem of the steering handle in the steering tube as set forth.
6. In a safety bicycle or other front steering velocipede in which the steering
handle with its tubular stem and the brake lever are made removable from the
steering tube, the combination with the said brake lever and the brake rod jointed
thereto of the slotted joint pin Q having the spring R in the slot, said spring
having outwardly projecting inclined ends to secure the joint pin in the
joint and permit of the ready removal of the same, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of the accompanying
drawings.
יהנות
411 7
T
100
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.