An Improved Lamp Bracket for Bicycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 5th June, 1897
CUMI LELE
TUATION.
An Improved Lamp Bracket for Bicycles and other Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM CLIFFORD HOMAN, of Meriden, County of New Haven, State of
Connecticut, U.S.A., Machinist, 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 to improvements in lamp brackets or supports, particularly
useful for the purpose of connecting a lamp to the frame of a bicycle or other
vehicle, and consists primarily in improving the clamping members of said
bracket.
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and effective means for
accomplishing the desired end, which means may be easily and quickly attached to
the vehicle at desirable points, and by which means the lamp may be readily
adjusted at any desired angle.
My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the forward portion of a bicycle, showing a lamp and
bracket support in one of the operative positions, the clamping members being
illustrated in a position to engage a rounded portion of the bicycle frame.
Fig. 2 is a relatively enlarged plan view of the bracket support shown in Fig. 1,
the clamping members of said bracket being illustrated in a position adapted to
engage an angular portion of the bicycle frame, such as for instance, the fork of a
bicycle frame.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 2.
Similar letters refer to similar parts.
A is the front frame tube or head of a bicycle frame. This head portion, as
illustrated, presents a rounded surface. B B are blades of the front fork of a
bicycle. Each of these blades, as illustrated, has a somewhat angular surface.
The clamping members of the lamp bracket illustrated are adapted to engage
either the said rounded surface of the head portion A or the somewhat angular
surface of the fork blades B B. D is a lamp. E is a rearward projection from
said lamp, said projection affording one of the means for adjustably connecting said
lamp to the clamping members of the bracket. F F are the main clamping
members of my improved bracket. The clamping members FF are pivotally
mounted at one end of the bracket. The opposite ends of the said clamping
members F F are provided on their inner faces with curved or rounded depressions,
corresponding substantially to a curved or rounded portion of the frame to which
it is desired to attach said bracket, such as for instance, the tubular head portion A
of a bicycle. G is a suitable bolt for operating said clamping members FF. Glis
an adjusting nut, for drawing the clamping members into close engagement with
the desired portion of the bicycle frame. The bolt G is provided with a suitable
head; the bead shown being formed by upsetting one end of said bolt and forming
substantially an eye. H is the bolt which forms the pivotal connection for the
ends of the clamping arms F F. This bolt is provided with a suitable adjusting
nut H. Pivotally mounted upon said bolt H is an arm 1. One of the lateral
faces of said arm I is preferably roughened or knurled, as shown at 11. Against
the surface of the said arm I the extension E from the lamp is adapted to bear
when in operative position; the surfaces of the said extension E are also preferably
roughened or knurled. J is a bolt and J' is a nut thereon, by means of which the
parts I E may be fixedly held in firm engagement.
The device thus far described is especially adapted to be attached to a rounded

page_text: portion of the frame of a bicycle or other vehicle. In the position shown in Fig. 1,
the clamping members project laterally from the head A, and in order that the
rays of light from the said lamp may be projected into the path of travel of said
vehicle, the pivotally supported arm I is turned at a suitable angle to said clamping
arm, as shown, and then set by means of the nut H. To this arm I is attached
the lamp D, the vertical adjustment of the lamp being readily permitted by
loosening the nut J' and tipping the lamp into the desired position where it may be
set by tightening the nut J'.
When it is desired to attach the device to an angular body, such as for instance,
one of the front fork blades B, I make use of supplemental clamping arms K K,
suitably mounted on the free extremities of the clamping members F F, so that
when said supplemental arms K K are set in the position indicated in Fig. 2, the
bracket may be securely attached to an angular body.
The supplemental arms K K are provided with angular recesses or depressions,
as shown, so that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, the inside of
the fork blade B is engaged by the clamping members F F as shown, and the
outside of the said fork blade is engaged by that portion of the supplemental
arms K K inside the circle determined by the rounded depressions in the clamping
arms FF. By preference these supplemental arms K K are pivotally connected
as at L L, and are provided with a suitable stop to engage them in either of the
positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2. One means for checking said supplemental
clamping arms in the position shown in Fig. 2 comprises a connection K, Figures 1
and 2, between each set of. arms K K, the inner edge of which connection bears
against the inner face of the clamping arm F. One means for holding the
supplemental arms K K in the position shown in Fig. 1 comprises one or more
ears K 2 on each set of supplemental arms K K. When the parts are in the
position shown in Fig. 1, the tube A projects into the arc in which the
projections K 2 must necessarily move in order to permit the said supplemental
arms K to be turned in one direction, while the connection K' resting against
the outer surface of the clamping members F F prevents said arms from turning
in the other direction. By these means the supplemental clamping arms K K are
securely held in either of the positions illustrated and prevented from rattling,
which is an undesirable feature which must be guarded against in devices of this
character.
M M are slots in the opposite sides of the clamping members F F; these slots
are of sufficient width to admit the bolt G to be shifted from the position indicated
in Fig. 1 to the postion indicated in Figs. 2 and 3; one of the advantages of the
shifting of the bolt being the desirability of having the means by which the
clamping members are drawn together as near the body, to which the clamping
members are adapted to be attached, as possible. Suitable depressions N N may
be provided in opposite sides of either or both of the slots M, as a means for
preventing the bolt G and nut G₁ from accidentally slipping in said slot.
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 lamp bracket for the purpose described, main clamping arms baving
depressions adapted to engage the vehicle frame, supplemental arms on said
clamping arms provided with suitable depressions, said supplemental arms being
adapted to be turned so as to project into the space between the depressions in the
main arms.
2. In a lamp bracket for the purpose described, main clamping arms provided
with curved depressions adapted to engage rounded surfaces, supplemental arms at
the extremities of said main clamping arms, angular depressions in said supple-
mental arms adapted to engage the surfaces of angular bodies when said
supplemental arms are turned to project into the space between the curved
depression in the main clamping arms.

page_text: 3. In a lamp bracket for the purpose described, main clamping arins provided
toward one end with curved depressions, supplemental arms pivoted to said main
clamping arms, angular depressions in said supplemental arms, which, when the
latter are turned so as to project into the space between the depressions in the main
arms, are presented for engagement with surfaces of angular bodies, and means for
drawing together said clamping members.
4. In a lamp bracket for the purpose described, main clamping arms, supple-
mental clamping arms pivotally connected thereto, connections K¹ between each set
of supplemental clamping arms, said main clamping arm and supplemental clamping
arm co-operating to engage an angular body, when the latter are turned so as to
project into the space between said main clamping arms.
5. In a lamp bracket, for the purpose described, main clamping arms, supple-
mental clamping arms pivotally connected thereto, connections K between each
set of supplemental arms and ears K 2, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
6. In a lamp bracket for the purpose described, main clamping arms, and
supplemental internally acting clamping arms pivoted thereto, means for operating
said clamping members and an extension I, pivotally mounted on the bolt H, and
means for adjustably holding said extension I in the desired position.
7. In a lamp bracket for the purpose described, main clamping arms pivotally
connected at H, supplemental clamping arms pivotally connected at the free ends
of said main clamping arms, depressions in said supplemental clamping arms, said
clamping members co-operating to engage either rounded or angular surfaces,
means for drawing said clamping members toward each other, and means for
attaching said bracket to the body of a lamp, substantially as described.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.