An Improved Rim-brake for Cycles.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Rim-brake for Cycles.
I, FRED HEAP, of No. 1, Cunliffe Road, Ilkley, in the West Riding of
the County of York, Cycle Dealer & Maker, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved brake for cycles to be applied to the
metal rims of the wheels of cycles, & has for its object the construction of a
simple form of brake which does not consist of complicated mechanism & is
very sensitive in its action & which can be manufactured much more cheaply
than heretofore existing rim-brakes.
دو
My said invention consists in attaching a pair of leather blocks (or similar
substance on & near the ends of two short metal arms pivotally attached to the
rear of clips fixed on the front forks of the cycle & extending in a forward
direction. The ends of the said arms are connected to each other by a "horse-
shoe shaped piece of metal which spans the tyre & prevents the splaying of the
arms holding the leather blocks. A light chain or adjustable wire rod is attached
to the top of the said "horseshoe" shaped piece of metal & extends to the
centre of the handlebar of cycle, where it is attached by any suitable clip. This
chain or rod may be pulled by having a split (or other) ring suitably placed in
order that the rider may insert one or more fingers to pull the chain & so apply
the brake, or an alternate method may be used by fixing a lever handle on the
handlebar & attaching the same to the chain so as to give an upward pull to the
chain. Small springs may or may not be used to pull down the blocks & arms
when not in contact with the rims.
An Improved Rim-brake for Cycles.
I, FRED HEAP, of No. 1, Cunliffe Road, Ilkley, in the West Riding of
York, Cycle Dealer and Maker, 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:
-
The present invention relates to a new or improved form of brake for cycles
so constructed and arranged as to be applied to the wheel rims of such vehicles,
and has for its object the production of a simple form of brake, easily applied,
sensitive in its action and cheaply manufactured,

page_text: In the accompanying drawing which illustrates one form my invention
may assume.
Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of a brake constructed according to
the present invention and shown as fitted to the front or steering wheel of a cycle
and Figure 2 is a view in side elevation thereof.
Throughout both views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
Two levers or arms A, one on each side of the fork X are hinged or pivotted
thereto. This is preferably accomplished by fixing on each side of the fork X a
clip or clamp B and pivotting or hinging each lever or arm A to the rear screw or
bolt connecting and fixing the two parts of the clip or clamp together. These
levers or arms A extend in a forward direction and carry at their forward ends
blocks a of leather, fibre or other suitable material adapted to engage with the
inner sides of the rim Y of the wheel.
A connecting piece C, preferably of a horseshoe shape as shown is attached
to the forward or free ends of the levers or arms A so as to connect them
together and prevent them from splaying apart on bringing the blocks a into
engagement with the rim Y. To the upper end of the piece C is secured one
end of a chain D or its equivalent, preferably adjustable in length, its free end
being fixed to a clamp or clip carried by the handle bar Z. To enable this
chain D to be easily drawn up to apply the brake it is furnished near its upper
end with a ring adapted to be engaged by one or more fingers of the rider.
As an alternative device for applying the brake, a rod or wire operated by a lever
on the handle bar may be used.
To ensure the brake blocks a falling free of the rim after the tension on the
chain or its equivalent has been removed tension springs 61 are preferably inter-
posed between the levers or arms A and the clips or clamps B. One part of one
of the clips or clamps B may also advantageously be provided with an extension ba
"to form a lamp bracket.
It will be understood that although my invention has been described and shown.
as applied to the rim, of the front or steering wheel, it may with slight alteration
or modification be applied to the rim of the rear or driving wheel of a cycle.
It will be seen in the present invention that by making the levers or arms
carrying the brake blocks or their equivalents in separate parts and afterwards
connecting them to one another by means of the single horse shoe-shaped connect-
ing piece a convenient and ready means is provided for fitting and adjusting
'the brake to the wheel.
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) A rim brake for cycles consisting essentially of two arms or levers each
carrying a brake block or its equivalent and each hinged or pivotted to one of the
forks, and of a horse-shoe shaped connecting piece attached to the free ends of
the said levers, as set forth.
(2) A rim brake for cycles constructed and arranged substantially as herein-
before described and shown.