Improvements in the Handle Bars of Cycles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Apr.. 1889
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Jan., 1890-Accepted, 8th Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in the Handle Bars of Cycles.
L. JOHN THOMAS WHITE of 61 Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton, in the County of
Stafford, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
:-
This invention relates to the formation of the handle bars of cycles so as to minimise
the vibration to the hands of the rider arising from roughness or unevenness of the
road over which the cycles travel.
I effect this by making portions of the handle-bar flat that is broud and thin, say
about one inch broad by about one eighth of an inch thick, more or less to cause
it to spring sufficiently to prevent the usual effect of the said vibration upon the
hands.
1 further increase the elasticity of the spring when desirable by introducing curves,
or otherwise lengthening the spring parts.
I arrange the Hat portions at such an angle as to cause the spring to act in the
direction from whence the vibrations como whilst retaining all rigidity in the direction
of the pull of the rider.
Dato this 2nd day of Annil 1980
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
A gents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Handle Bars of Cycles.
I, JOHN THOMAS WHITE, of 614 Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton, in the
County of Stafford, 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:-
This invention relates to the formation of the handle bars of cycles so as to minimise
the vibration to the hands of the rider arising from the roughness or unevenness of
the road over which the cycles run. Many devices have been used for lessening this
vibration, such as springs around the steering spindles, spring spokes to the wheels,
hinged forks with spring attachments, and hinged handle bars with spring attachments,
but such are more or less costly in manufacture, cumbrous in use, unsightly, and not
in all cases effective.
The purpose is effected according to this invention by forming the handle bar, or
the portion thereof on each side of the centre, as a spring so that the vibration of the
steering spindle or other part to which the handle bar is fixed will be neutralized or
largely so by the elasticity of the bar. The bar is preferably formed in one
unjointed length, but when formed as a spring on each side of the centre only each
side may, if desired, be fixed separately to the head. The bar is preferably of steel
which may be tempered, if desired, to increase the elasticity of the part or parts
formed to act as a spring or springs.
Referring now to the accompanying drawings, figure 1 is a front elevation of a
handle bar carried in the upper end of a steering spindle or other pillar. The greater
portion of one side of the handle bar is broken away for convenience of illustration.
Figure 2 is a plan of figure 1; and figure 3 is a section taken on line of figure 1,
looking towards the steering spindle or other pillar. The portion a a of the "handle
bar extending on each side of the centre from near to the connection of the bar
with the steering spindle or other pillar to a point which is near to the handle (or part
which is grasped by the hand) is formed of a flat shape in section, being about say of
an inch broad by ths of an inch thick, or one inch broad by gth of an inch thick,

page_text: but the sectional dimensions may of course be varied according to the degree of
elasticity desired, and the flat portions may be thicker, if preferred, at their inner
than at their outer ends, and the elasticity of the bar may be increased, if desired, by
lengthening such flat portions. The bar is, of course, fixed to the steering spindle
or other pillar on which it is mounted so that the plane of the flat portions is in such
position, or approximately so, in relation to the steering spindle or other pillar, as will
be readily understood, as to minimise the vibration upon the hands; and in order that
the position of the bar may be adjusted to give the best combined results in this
respect and in respect of facility in steering (when the bar is used as a steering bar)
and rendering it sufficiently rigid in the direction in which it is moved in steering
(or otherwise in the direction in which the pulling strains act upon it) the bar is
mounted upon the steering spindle or other pillar in such manner that it may be
readily turned axially therein so as to adjust the position of the plane of the flat
portions of the bar in relation to the steering spindle or other pillar. For this purpose
the portion of the handle bar which is connected direct with the upper end of the
steering spindle or other pillar, or mounting thereon, is formed cylindrical in shape
and is held in position by means of a clip or cap e fixed at one end to the mounting or
upper end of the spindle or pillar d by bolts e e, or in other convenient manner, and
drawn up at its other end towards such mounting or upper end of the spindle or pillar
by means of a screw by which it is firmly tightened also against the portion of the
handle bar. It is preferred to roughen the exterior of the portion of the handle bar
and the interior of the parts by which it is gripped so that it shall not be liable to slip
when in use. When it is desired to turn the handle bar to any degree the screw fis
slackened back so that the part & may be sufficiently loose within the part by which
it is carried to be capable of being turned as required. This method of carrying the
handle bar admits also of its being readily replaced by one of a different strength or
pattern, if desired. The flat shape of the bar may be continued through the central
portion so as to form the main length of the bar as a long flat spring if desired, (or
so as to form a sufficient length of the middle of the bar as a flat spring) the centre
being carried by a mounting of suitable shape, as will he readily understand, but in
this case the bar cannot, of course, be so conveniently adjusted as to the position of
the plane of its flat in relation to the steering spindle or other pillar. A handle
bar constructed in this manner is as neat (or neater) in appearance as the usual
construction of bar, and, but little if any more expensive in manufacture.
b
The elasticity of the spring portions of the handle bar may be increased, if desired,
by forming them of a curved shape in elevation or by introducing curves therein as
seen in elevation.
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. A handle bar for a cycle which, or a portion or portions of which, is or are
constructed as a spring or springs, substantially as described for the purpose set
forth.
2. A handle bar for a cycle of which a portion thereof on each side of the centre is
formed as a spring, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
3. A handle bar of a cycle of which the main length, or a sufficient length of the
central portion thereof, or of which a portion on each side of the centre, is formed as
a flat spring, substantially as described for the purpose set forth.
4. A spring handle bar for a cycle, substantially as described and shewn by the
drawings berewith, for the purpose set forth.
Dated the 1st day of January 1890.
STEPHE
NS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.