Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application (in Unlied Kingdom), 30th June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 29th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 7th May, 1898
I, JOSEPH MAGNAT, of 2, Place Victor Hugo, Grenoble (Isere), in the Republic
of France, Clock and Watch-maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
-
It is a well-known fact that, whereas many cyclists realise the desirability of
machines fitted with brakes, they prefer, nevertheless, to do without, sooner than
employ one of the usual construction, which, by reason of its peculiar lever
arrangement, is unsightly in appearance, while, at turnings, it is apt to prove
obstructive and inconvenient.
Now the novel brake forming the subject of this invention, is free from either
of these main defeots, for it is arranged within the "head" of the handle-bar rod
and is almost completely concealed from view in front by that portion of it which
projects from the rear; so that it imparts to the cycle the appearance, whilst leaving
it free from the inconveniences, of a racing machine.
The brake mainly consists of a T-shaped lever, the lower arm of which terminates
in an eccentric curved piece, pivotted in the vertical handle-bar tube or "head.".
This eccentric is held in a raised position by the pressure which the head of a metal
rod exercises upon it through the medium of a spring, the said rod acting as a
piston and having the brake-shoe fitted to its lower end. In order to enable the
cyclist to arrange the brake on a convenient level, according as the handle-bar
is placed higher or lower, this part is made in the form of two telescoping tubes,
which, after being adjusted to the desired length, are fixed together by means of
either a pin or a readily removable screw, engaging the upper opening of one of the
tubes, A, and passing right across the other tube, through the pair of the perfora-
tions formed on opposite sides thereof, in two vertical rows which correspond to
the given adjustment. And lest any inconvenience should be experienced in
fitting the brake in its place on the desired level, to accommodate it to the position
of the handle-bar, there is provided a small nut, screwed on to the tube and as far
down as to be situated just below the pin, which nut prevents the spring from
expanding and keeps its pressure uniform whatever the height to which the handle-
bar may have been raised.
It will therefore be understood that the cyclist (who in most cases will prefer
to keep down the handle-bar close to the head-tube or rod) need merely press
upon the two thumb-pieces of the brake lever without being obliged to alter the

page_text: position of his hands upon the handle-bar, in order gradually to depress the piston
and, in so doing, to compress the spring; thereby forcing the brake-shoe into con-
tact with the tyre of the steering wheel.
This brake may be arranged either at the back or at the front of the machine at
will; or, indeed, it might be disposed transversely by means of two eccentric levers,
arranged symmetrically, so as jointly to act upon the brake-shoc carrying piston.
Dated this 30th day of June 1897.
.
improvements in Brakes for Velocipedes.
I, JOSEPH MAGNAT, of 2, Place Victor Hugo, Grenoble (Isere), in the Republic
of France, Clock and Watch-maker, do hereby declare the nature of this inventon
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
It is a well-known fact that, whereas many cyclists realise the desirability of
machines fitted with brakes, they prefer, nevertheless, to do without, sooner than
employ one of the usual construction, which, by reason of its peculiar lever
arrangement, is unsightly in appearance, while, in turning corners, it is apt to prove
obstructive and inconvenient.
2
Now the novel brake forming the subject of this invention is free from either
of these main defects; for it is arranged within the "head" or steering post and
is almost completely concealed from view in front, so that it imparts to the cycle
the appearance whilst leaving it free from the inconveniences,-of a racing 2
machine.
In the accompanying drawing..
Figure is a sectional side elevation of the improved brake-arrangement; and
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the brake-operating lover.
The brake mainly consists of a T-shaped lever L, the lower arm of which as 3
shown in Figure 1 terminates in an eccentric curved piece pivoted at L¹ in the
vertical handle bar tube or "head" D. This eccentric is held in a raised position
by. the pressure which the head B' of a metal rod A B exercises upon it through
the medium of a spring Rothe said rod A B acting as a piston and having the brake-
shoe fitted to its lower end. In order to enable the cyclist to arrange the brake at 35
a convenient level, according as the handle-bar is placed higher or lower, this
rod A B is made in the form of two telescoping tubes A and B, which, after being
adjusted to the desired length are fixed together by means of either a pin, such
as G, or. n readily removable screw, engaging the upper opening of one of the
tubes A and passing right across the other tube, B, through the pair of perfora- 40
tions a formed on opposite sides thereof, in two vertical rows which correspond
to the given adjustment. And lest any inconvenience should be experienced
in fitting the brake in its place on the desired level, to accommodate it to the position
of the handle-bar, there is provided a small nut C, screwed on to the tube A and
as far down as to be situated just below the pin G, which nut prevents the spring 45
from expanding and keeps its pressure uniform whatever the height to which
the handle-bar may have been raised.
It will therefore be understood that the cyclist (who in most cases will prefer
to keep down the handle-bar close to. the head-tube or rod) need merely press upon
the two thumb pieces L" L" of the brake lever L with his thumbs, without being 50

page_text: obliged to alter the position of his hands upon the handle-bar, in order gradually
to depress the piston A B and, in so doing, to compress the spring; thereby forcing
the brake-shoe into contact with the tyre of the steering wheel.
This brake may be arranged either at the back or at the front of the machine
at will; or, indeed, it might be disposed transversely by means of two eccentric
levers, arranged symmetrically, so as jointly to act upon the brake-shoe carrying
piston.
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. An improved cycle-brake as hercinabove described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing, characterized by the employment of an eccentric of any
suitable shape which, on being depressed, acts by pressure upon the brake-shoe
carrying rod arranged within the head or steering tube, substantially as set forth..
2. The provision of a double tube A B, one of which is adapted to slide piston-
like within the other; a spring R; a nut C; a pin G; and series of perforations a
provided in the upper or inner tube B, for the purpose of enabling the position of
the brake to be adjusted so as to accommodate the situation or level of the handle-
bar.
Dit 1
1
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.
Agents for the Applicant.