Improvements in Brakes for Oyeles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 4th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1889
Improvements in Brakes for Oyeles.
THOMAS SLACK, Cycle Manufacturer, Wellington Machine Works, Stockport,
Cheshire, and THOMAS WHITAKER, Cycle Works Manager, 5, Church Street,
Heaton Norris, Stockport, Cheshire, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of brakes for cycles,
whereby the brake is applied by pulling the handle bar over with a slight move-
ment of the wrists, this actuates a lever connecting the handle bar and brake
rod and thus applies the brake, dispensing altogether with the usual brake lever
which is usually fastened to the handle bar with a clip.
In cycles constructed on the ordinary plans generally employed, the handle
bar is made a fixture to the cycle by locking with a small bolt the stem of the
handle bar which passes down the ball head stem tube. The movement of the
brake rod which actuates the brake on the wheel is obtained by a separate lever
moving on a fixed centre in a clip fastened to one side of the handle bar, the
brake being applied by pressing this brake lever with the hand to the handle of
the handle bar.
In cycles constructed in accordance with this invention the handle bar in
addition to the ordinary uses for which it is generally employed also takes the
place of the brake lever which is entirely dispensed with. The handle bar is
constructed with a lug in the form of a short lever, one end of this lever being a
fixture to the handle bar and the other end connected with the brake rod, the
handle bar and stem tube being connected by means of a stud or bolt making a
joint and forming a fulcrum on which the handle bar can be levered over by a
slight movement of the wrists of the rider, this movement actuates the end of
the small lever connected with the brake rod and thus applies the brake. The
stem tube is fastened to the cycle by the ordinary means generally employed in
the construction of cycles.
1517
Than 1908
Improvements in Brakes for Cycles,
We, THOMAS SLACK, Cycle Manufacturer, Wellington Works, Stockport
Cheshire, and THOMAS WHITAKER, Cycle Works Manager, 5, Church Street,
5 Heaton Norris, Stockport, aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
Dim 271

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention for improvements in or connected with brakes for cycles has for
its object an improved method of combining the steering handle bar and the
lever for applying the brake.
In brakes for cycles constructed on the ordinary plans generally employed, the
brake is applied by a separate lever working on a fixed centre in a clip attached to
the handle bar, the brake being applied to the cycle or vehicle by pressing this
brake lever, with the hand, to the handle bar.
In brakes and handle bars constructed in accordance with this invention the
handle bar in addition to the ordinary uses for which it is generally employed,
viz., steering the cycle also takes the place of the brake lever for the hand, which
is entirely dispensed with.
In the accompanying drawings of handle bars and brake levers constructed in
accordance with this invention, A is a handle bar to which is secured a small
lever B, the stem C is separate from the handle bar and has a knuckle joint
between which the lever B works on a pin D. The brake is applied by the rider
twisting the wrists and moving the handle grips E, in the direction indicated by
the arrows on the drawings, so that the handle bar rotates slightly on the pin D
and with it the lever B moves in an upward direction, thus lifting the brake rod
and applying the brake. The handle bar A is shaped in such a manner, as shown
in Figure 2, with relation to the position of the handle grips and the fulcrum on
which it will rotate slightly, that the weight of the rider applied through the
arms to the handle grips does not accidentally apply the brake to the cycle or
vehicle when not wanted, as the rider's weight so applied to the handle grips,
rests on a dead centre through the centre of the pin D. The rider cannot
accidentally apply the brake to the cycle or vehicle by pulling upwards on the
handle grips E, as the pull upwards on the handle grips E does not move the
lever B because the lever B fits against the knuckle joint C at the point F and
forms a stop. The handle bar can be flat in the horizontal plane as shown in
Figures 1 and 2, or dropped shape as in Fig. 4, or upturned shape as in Fig 5, or
it can be made as a plain straight bar as in Fig. 6, in any of which cases the
rider's weight leaning on the handle grips E does not move the lever B and
accidentally apply the brake to the cycle or vehicle, as the pressure so applied to
the handle bar A is pressing against the pin D which is a dead centre for such
pressure, and the pull upwards on the handle grips E does not move the lever B
and accidentally apply the brake to the cycle or vehicle, because of the stop at F,
and also because this pull upwards is against a dead centre, the only way to apply
the brake to the cycle or vehicle is by twisting the handle bar grips E so that it
causes the handle bar A to rotate slightly on pin D and lifts the lever B, this
lifts the brake rod and applies the brake.
We also desire to have it known that we do not limit ourselves to the exact
details of construction herein before described but hold ourselves at liberty to make
such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of our
invention, for instance the handle bar (a) can he attached to the lever Bas shown
in Figures 7 and 8. dispensing with the knuckle joint and pin D and altering the
shape of the lever B to the form as shown in Figures 7 and 8, A being the handle
bar with lever B attached, the stem C being made with a hinge top with an
opening to allow the lever B to work upwards, the handle bar A made so that
it will rotate slightly in the hinged top stem C so as to lift the lever B and thus
apply the brake to the cycle or vehicle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is :-
Any form of steering handle bar for a cycle, which is made so as to rotate by

page_text: moving the handle bar grips as shown, and which movement applies the brake,
the handle bar being fixed automatically against the rider's weight leaning on
the handle grips or bar, or against the pull of the rider on the handle grips,
without the aid of springs or catches.
Dam: down At 1900