Improvements in Adjustable Handle-bars for Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1896
TCommunicated from abroad by JAMES EDGAR LEE, of No. 3030 South 41st
Avenue, Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of Illinois, United
States of America, Gentleman.]
Improvements in Adjustable Handle-bars for Velocipedes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
My invention relates more particularly to that type of adjustable handle bars
in which the handle portions may be raised and lowered independently of the
stem, for providing the rider with a handle bar possessing various degrees of
"drop" or elevation and my invention has for its primary object to provide
improved and simple ineans whereby the position of the handles or grips may be
varied at will by the rider without dismounting from the machine.
More specifically stated the object of my invention is to provide a two-part
handle bar, in which each part is hinged, with means for simultaneously raising
and lowering the outer or free ends of such parts or members and which means
shall also constitute a lock for continually holding the parts or members at any
adjustment at which they may be set.
With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of novelty in
the construction, combination and arrangement of parts by which the said objects
and certain other objects hereinafter appearing, are attained, all as fully described
with reference to the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in
the claims.
In the said drawings,
.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of a handle bar constructed according to my
invention, various adjustments of the device being illustrated in dotted lines.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the device in side elevation.
Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view, the ends of the handle bar being broken
away.
Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 4-4, Figure 3, and
Figure 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5, Figure 4.
In carrying out my invention I provide the handle bar stem 1 on each side with
a pair of ears 2 which constitute one member of a hinge or joint and between
which is arranged a hub 3' formed on the inner end of each section or member 4 of
the handle bar and constituting the other member of such hinge or joint. These
members 2 and 3 of the joint are firmly pivoted together by a pivot 4 which
passes through them and thus hinges each of the members 4 of the handle bar on
a transverse borizontal axis which permits each member to be oscillated up and
down in the manner indicated by dotted lines in Figures 1 and 2. In order that
the pivot 5 may not clamp the parts 2-3 together with too great pressure, such
pivot is formed with a shoulder 6 which comes against the side of the hub 3 and a
shoulder 7 which bears against the inner face of one of the ears 2 thus preventing
he pin from pulling the other member 2 towards its companion member beyond a

page_text: certain limit, while the extremity of the pin 5 is screw threaded and receives a
nut 8 which may be embedded in the ear 2 as clearly shown in Figure 5.
Each of the hubs 3 is provided with a toothed segment 9 which are opposed to
each other and arranged at a slight distance apart as shown in Figure 4 and
located between and engaging with both of these segments is a worm or screw 10
which has its lower end stepped in a suitable bearing or socket in the upper end of
the stem and its upper end journalled in a cap 11 which is secured to a cylindrical
neck 12 formed on or otherwise secured to the upper portion of the stem 1 and
constituting a housing for enclosing the upper end of the screw or worm 10. The
upper extremity 13 of the worm shaft is reduced so as to form a shoulder as shown
in Figure 4 which abuts against the under side of the cap 11 and thus holds the
worm against upward movement and this upper extremity 13 where it projects
through the cap 11 is provided with a hand wheel 14 keyed thereto so that the
rider may by the use of one hand rotate the wheel in either direction and thus
raise and lower the members of the handle bar to suit his pleasure, it being under-
stood that while the segments 9 are capable of being readily rotated for raising
and lowering the members of the handle bar, by means of the worm 10, yet such
worm is incapable of rotation by means of the segments 9 and consequently the
worm while forming means for adjusting the bar to its various positions at the
same time constitutes a lock for holding it at any adjustment to which it might
be set.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A handle bar for velocipedes having the means substantially as described
whereby the position of the handles or grips may be altered by the rider while on
the velocipede in the manner described and shown.
2. A handle bar for velocipedes having the means substantially as described
and shown whereby both handles or grips may be simultaneously adjusted by
the manipulation of a worm or equivalent device, substantially as set forth and
shown.
3. A handle bar for velocipedes having in combination two hinged members
each provided at its hinged end with a toothed segment, and a worm arranged
between and engaging with both of said segments for raising and lowering said
members, substantially as set forth.
4. A handle har for velocipedes having in combination the handle bar stem 1
provided on each side with a pair of ears 2, a section of handle bar having the
hub 3 pivoted between each pair of said ears and each of said hubs being provided
with a toothed segment and said segments being located at a distance apart, a
worm having one end journalled in said stem 1, engaging with both of said
segments, the cylindrical neck 12 and cap 11 enclosing and holding said worm, and
the wheel 14 for rotating said worm, substantially as set forth.
Dads: 1 of Novembar 1806
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.