Improvements in Hand-grips.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1898-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hand-grips.
I, FRANKLIN TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at
923, Jefferson Street, in the City of Wilmington, in the County of Newcastle, and
State of Delaware, one of the United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in adjustable hand-grips to be used
wherever it is sought to provide a firm hand hold of tough, cheap, durable and
simple material and has for its object to provide a grip made in one piece, of easy
application, of little cost and very light and strong.
This object I accomplish in the manner and by the means hereinafter more fully
described and pointed out in detail in the claims, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings in which like letters of reference indicate like parts in all
the figures:
Figure 1 is a view in perspective of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional view of same.
Fig. 3 is a detail view of the disk with which one end may be closed, detached.
My improved vulcanized fibre hand-grip may be used for many purposes and is
very durable, does not deteriorate rapidly from friction, wear and tear, and is not
breakable by a fall, blow or jar.
In making articles of vulcanized fibre it has been usual to have the blanks cut
out of a piece of fibre of suitable size and then turned down to the desired shape.
In turning the blanks the cuttings are lost as there is no known use to which they
may be put. This adds to the cost of the article so made. Then if there is any
cutting except parallel with, or right across, the fibre as the blank was built up,
it leaves a portion unsupported except by its lateral connection with its own layers
of fibre and hence is easily crushed, or broken. Turning also has the effect of
leaving the more exposed parts such as ends, or edges, especially if the articles taper
towards the ends, or edges, the weakest instead of as they should be the strongest
parts:
My invention consists of a vulcanized fibre hand-grip, A, exteriorly and interiorly
gradually diminishing in diameter from its middle towards each end. The hand-
grip is made of vulcanized fibre in any desired color and is adapted to fit tightly on
the part desired and to be held in place by frictional resistance. A little cement
may be used, if desired.
I have discovered that a piece of dry vulcanized fibre tubing subjected to endwise
pressure will expand regularly and uniformly from the ends towards the centre and
will retain its shape when the pressure is removed.
In making the hand-grip, I first make a vulcanized fibre tube, by the well known
methods of manufacture. The tube should be of greater inside diameter than is
required at the points of contact of the hand-grip, with the handle-bar or handle,
on which it is to be fitted; and the outside diameter of the tube smaller than the

page_text: greatest outside diameter of the hand-grip when finished. I now cut a piece of the
tube of proper length and, just as it is without treatment of any sort except that it
may be either hot or cold, upset it in a die, the whole pressure being directed end-
wise. This causes the material to pack somewhat all along the piece used but
especially about the ends while it assumes the desired form, the middle part ex-
panding slightly both exteriorly and interiorly. while the ends slightly contract.
The hand-grip, thus made, has the ends exteriorly and interiorly reduced in
diameter so as to fit tightly on whatever they are put, said ends being at the same
time compressed, hardened and strengthened. The middle of the hand-grip is ex-
panded giving the desired shape to the outside and, because of the air space left
inside about the handle-bar, or handle, a slight elasticity. By this means less
material is used, the product is lighter, stronger and tougher than if cut from
heavier tubing, solid blocks or molded in the usual way....
If desired, the hand-grip, may be covered with a thin coating of cork, rubber
or other elastic material.
For bicycles, and when desired, one end of the hand-grip may be closed.. by a
disk, B, of vulcanized fibre of the same diameter as the interior diameter of the
end of the hand-grip to the closed. The disk is forced into the end of the hand-
grip which is then crimped down on it preventing any movement of said disk; B.
To still further increase its rigidity, a recess, a, may be made in the end of the
hand-grip to receive said disk, B.
:
I do not confine myself to vulcanized fibre in producing my improved hand-
grip, A, but other materials possessing like attributes are to be considered as obvious
substitutes and included in the use of the words "vulcanized fibre in this
specification.
1
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"
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A hand grip formed of a single seamless piece of dry vulcanized fibre tubing
by endwise pressure, substantially as shown and described.
2. A hand grip formed of a single seamless piece of dry vulcanized fibre tubing
by endwise pressure, said grip having ends relatively harder than the central
portion, substantially as shown and described.
3. A compressed molded hand grip made of dry vulcanized fibre tubing and
formed under endwise pressure, substantially as shown and described.
4. The compressed, seamless, homogeneous, curved hand grip formed of dry
vulcanized fibre, of greater compactness at its ends than elsewhere, substantially as
shown and described.
i'
5. A hand grip, the interior and exterior diameters of which diminish from the
centre both ways, formed under endwise pressure from a piece of seamless dry
vulcanized fibre tubing, substantially as shown and described.
6. The process herein described of making articles of dry vulcanized fibre tubing
consisting in expanding the central body of such articles by contracting their ends
under endwise pressure, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 21st day of November 1898.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents, 18, Buckingliam Street, Strand, W.C., London.