Improvements in Pneumatic Handles for Velocipedes, Motor-cars, or other similar Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 15th May, 1900-Accepted, 16th June, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Handles for Velocipedes, Motor-cars,
or other similar Purposes.
I, HARRY ADRIAN TAYLOR STOAKES, of Ashford, Middlesex, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic handles for velocipedes
motor-cars and other similar purposes so designed that they may be shifted at
will to any position along the handle-bar, or be used as a terminal handle
thereto.
The handle consists of an outer case or cover; an inner concentric air chamber
composed of two or more tubes or cells fitted with an air valve; a lining tube,
and external ferrules or rings. The cover is made of leather or other suitable
material cut and sewn or cemented, or moulded to the required shape. The ends
of the cover may be formed with thickened rings, or they may be furnished with
metal rings secured thereto. The tubes forming the air chamber are placed
together side by side to form a circle and their ends joined by a piece of canvas,
tape or other material. The air valve is fitted to one of the tubes, and the air is
admitted to the others by means of holes pierced through their points of contact.
Or the separate cells of the air chamber may be constructed by means of webs
in which air inlets are formed at the ends of the chamber.
The air-valve is fitted with an air-tight cap for keeping out the dust and
acting as a locking-nut, and is also provided with a check valve kept in position
by means of a spring. The ends of the lining tube, between the air chamber
and handle-bar, are cemented to the ends of the outer case so as to be covered
by the end ferrules. The ferrules fit over the ends of the handle under the rings
or thickened ends of the case and close over the handle-bar and round the rings on
the inside of the handle with a beaded end, lifting up the canvas lining, the
said beaded ends being notched for this purpose. Thus the said handle may
be easily shifted along the handle-bar, the ends of the latter being closed by a
plug, when permanently fixing the handle to the end of the bar a metal or other
cap or plug is substituted for one of the ferrules. This cap is provided with
a beaded edge on its open end, and a ferrule is forced over the said beaded end.
The beaded end of the cap is pushed under the end of the handle, lifts the lining
and clenches behind the thickened end of the handle, the same as the other ferrule.
When the handle is of unusual length so that the bar may be upholstered or
padded, the outer case is shaped accordingly and ornamental rings are slipped
over the case at intervals previously to the case being bound over the rings at
the ends.
In the terminal handle the air chamber is formed of a hollow cross-shaped
piece of india-rubber, with the air valve fixed in the centre, and four blank ended
tubes joined to the open ends, it may also be provided with two or more radiating
The outer cover is formed with a rounded end, the other end being
wrapped round a metal ring. The radiating arms are brought together side by
side and the air chamber is inserted in the outer case, the valve being fixed in
arms.

page_text: the end. A blank ended canvas or other lining tube is placed inside the com-
posite tube and the open end brought over and cemented to the outside of the
outer case and the ferrule is forced under the ringed end of the latter.
The body of the air valve may consist of a short metal tube with a flange at
one end, the valve itself being formed of a pin the stem of which enters the tube,
and a washer is carried by the head so as to bear against the flange for closing
the valve. The said valve is kept up to its seat by means of an elastic clip con-
sisting of an india-rubber strip having circular ends provided with perforations
which are passed over the body of the valve for keeping the said strip in
position and causing the central part to bear against the head of the valve to
keep the latter in its closed position.
The body is formed with an external thread and upon it is screwed a dust
proof and air retaining cap or nut fitted with a washer. A thin nut is also
screwed upon the body part for fixing the valve to the inner tube of the handle.
When handles of a small size are required or of lesser length the handle bars
are shortened and special metal ends, brazed or otherwise fixed to the ends of
the bars.
The handles are secured to these ends and the latter are formed with a reduced
cross-section or recessed longitudinally to permit of a greater air-space inside
the handle and to prevent the latter from being pulled off.
J. B. FLEURET,
Agent for the Applicant,
5, Hatton Garden, Holborn Circus, London, E.C.
J. B. FLEURET,
Agent for the Applicant,
5, Hatton Garden, Holborn Circus, London, E.C.
Improvements in Pneumatic Handles for Velocipedes, Motor-cars,
or other similar Purposes.
I, HARRY ADRIAN TAYLOR STOAKES, of Ashford, Middlesex, Engincer, 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 relates to pneumatic handles applicable chiefly for velocipedes
and motor-cars and which are designed for use as a terminal handle to the
handle-bar, or arranged so as to be shifted at will to any position along the latter.
The terminal handle comprises an air cushion formed of a cross-shaped hollow
chamber of india-rubber with the air valve fixed in the centre and four close-
ended flattened tubes or extensions joined to the open ends or arms of the said
chamber. The flexible air chamber is folded round the end of the handle-bar
and along the same and is enclosed in an outer cover of leather, cloth, felt, or
other suitable material in the shape of a tube having a closed rounded outer
end, the inner end being wrapped round a metal ring. In conjunction with the
air chamber is a metal lining consisting of a tube having a closed rounded end
and formed with four or more longitudinal slots, the strips of metal removed
for the slots being cut off so as to form tongues at the inner end the said end
being folded over the outer cover to serve as a ferrule, and the tongues being
against the metal ring to hold the lining in position. The said metal lining
is provided with a canvas or linen cover.
The shifting or adjustable handle consists of an outer cover of leather or
other suitable material cut and sewn, or cemented, or moulded to the required
shape. The ends of the cover are formed with thickened rings, or are furnished
with metal rings secured thereto.

page_text: The air chamber or cushion formed of india-rubber is construced with separate
celis compartments formed by means of radial webs or divisions having holes
therein at the ends of the chamber for the passage or circulation of the air.
The chamber is provided with an air-valve fitted with an air-tight cap for keeping
cut the dust and acting as a locking nut.
The valve itself consists of a pin and a washer and is kept closed by means of
an elastic clip band. Ferrules fit over the ends of the handle and under the ring
or thickened ends of the cover and close over the handle-bar and round the said
rings, raising the notched ends of a canvas lining tube, lying between the air-
chamber and handle-bar. The handle may thus be easily shifted along the
handle-bar, the end of the latter being closed by a plug.
In the drawings as shown two arrangements of fixed and adjustable handles
according to my invention, like letters of reference corresponding to similar
parts in each of the views. Fig. 1 is a section of a fixed or terminal handle.
Fig. 2 is an end view of the flexible air chamber in extended position. Fig. 3, is
a plan of the metal lining tube. Fig. 4 is a section of the adjustable handle.
Fig. 5 is a plan of the same. Fig. 6 is a cross-section through the centre of the
air chamber In Figs. 1 to 3 a is the handle-bar and b is the air chamber which
is formed in the shape of a cross, as shown in Fig. 2, c being the flat tubes or
extensions joined at d to the open ends or arms of the chamber b. e is the outer
cover in the shape of a tube closed at its outer or rounded end and wrapped
around the ring at its inner end. f is the metal lining in the form of a tube
closed at its outer end and provided at its sides with the slots f¹, as shown in
Fig. 3. The inner end is folded over the end of the outer cover to which it is
cemented and acts as a ferrule to the same. The chamber is folded around
the end of the handle-bar, the tubes e extending along the lining f and being
enclosed in the outer cover to the end of which the lining is attached. is the
air valve fitted to the end of the air chamber 6 for filling the latter with air to
the required pressure.
In Figs. 4, and 6 is shown the arrangement of adjustable handle in which h
is the handle-bar closed at the end h¹. i are the separate cells or compartments
of the air chamber formed by the longitudinal radial ribs or divisions provided
with the holes at each end of the passage of air from one to another. " is the
air valve fitted to the centre of the lowest cell and constructed as shown of a
short metal tube forming the body screw-threaded externally and formed with
a flange is a dust-proof and air retaining cap fitted with a washer. The
inner edge of the cap is milled to take a grip on the outer cover of the handle.
The upper end of the tube is faced to receive a valve or washer m, a nut or
threaded washer n screwing on the lower end to clamp it to the chamber b.
The cap screws on to this end of the tube and acts as a nut for holding the valve
in position and clamping the air chamber and cover together.
The valve is kept in its closed position by means of a spring elastic band o
which is looped to the tube k and bears against the valve. is the outer cover
formed or moulded to the required shape with beaded ends or provided with
metal rings secured thereto. q is the lining between the air chamber and
handle-bar its ends being turned over the rings and the ends of the cover to
which they are cemented, the said ends being covered by the metal ferrules
which fit under the rings . The beaded edges of the ferrules are notched at l
so that they may be forced underneath the ends of the cover. By means of
this arrangement the handle may be easily shifted to any required position along
the handle-bar and kept in such position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
(1) In pneumatic handles for velocipedes and motor cars the combination with
the handle-bar of an elastic air-chamber composed of four or more cells or

page_text: compartments in communication with each other and with an air-valve, a metal
or canvas lining between the air chamber and the handle-bar and an outer cover
enclosing the air-chamber and connected to the aforesaid lining by means of
metal rings and ferrules mounted upon the handle-bar, substantially as described.
(2) The improved pneumatic handles for velocipedes and motor cars constructed
and arranged so as to be fixed to the ends of the handle-bar or to be shifted or
adjusted along the length of the same substantially as described.
J. B. FLEURET,
5, Hatton Garden, Holborn Circus, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.