Improvements in Forks, Steering Posts and Handle-bars for Velocipedes.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Forks, Steering Posts and Handle-bars for
Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM DUNLOP, of Baillieston, Lanarkshire, Cycle Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in velocipedes and refers more particu-
larly to a novel construction of the front forks, whereby greater rigidity and
strength may be obtained ensuring safety in riding, as the front forks is usually
one of the weakest parts in the modern safety bicycle as at present constructed.
In carrying my invention into practical effect, I provide a double pair of forks,
bne pair arranged mainly in the ordinary manner and with the second pair
arranged in front of the first mentioned forks, and having its lower extremities
turned in so as to engage with the hub of the front wheel, the arms of the said
front forks running upwards in a direction parallel to the first mentioned pair
of forks. I further provide a crown plate or crown plates having a pair of
perforations arranged to the rear and designed to receive the back pair of forks,
and a pair of perforations towards the front designed to receive the first pair of
forks, while between each pair of perforations a tubular stem projects in an
upward direction, the rear stem being arranged in such a manner as to turn
freely in the ball head of the machine in the usual manner, while I provide a
clamp designed to secure the extremities of these upwardly projecting stems,
the rear engagement part of which turns upon ball bearings and operates with
the ball head of the machine.
I further provide an improved form of handle bar comprising a U-shaped
portion, the arms of which are designed to enter and be secured within the
upwardly projecting tubular stems of the forks, while to this U-shaped portion
is secured a lateral tube on each side furnished with suitable handle-bar extre-
mities or "grips" by means of which the forks of the machine may be turned to
the right or left as required.

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in velocipedes, and refers more
particularly to a novel construction of the front forks, and the arrangement of
the handle-bars, the object of this invention being to obtain greater rigidity
and strength which ensures speed and safety in riding, and to suitably strengthen
what is probably the weakest part in the modern safety bicycle, viz. the front
forks.
In order that this invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed to
describe same with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a side eleva-
tion partly in section of the front part of a safety bicycle as constructed according
to this invention.
In carrying this invention into practical effect, I provide a double pair of
forks a b, the pair a being arranged mainly in the ordinary manner, while in
front of the first pair a. the second pair are arranged. The extremities a! b¹
of the forks a b curve- towards each other and are united..as shown, while..the
arms of each pair of forks run parallel in an upward direction and are brazed or
suitably secured to crown plates which are furnished towards the rear with
'two holes or perforations designed take the forks, and with two holes or per-
forations towards the front designed to receive the forks b. Between each pair
of forks a and b a tubular stem d d projects in an upward direction, the
stem d being arranged within the head of the frame of the machine in the
ordinary manner, so as to be free to turn upon ball bearings of suitable. form;
while a connecting clamp secures the upper extremities of the stems'd d³,
so that they are rigidly secured and turn together.
4013
The connecting clamp consists of a connecting bar or piece furnished at one
extremity with a clamping ring designed to slip over the upper extremity
of the stem where it is secured in place by the nut 2 against the collar 4,
the other extremity of the connecting piece being furnished with a clamping
ring h³ designed to embrace the upper extremity of the stem d. This clamping
ring carries the adjustable cone w of the upper ball bearing arranged in the
tubular head of the machine and is adjusted by the nut w which screws on to
the stem d, while. the clamping rings are finally secured in place for
gripping the handle bar connection by a suitable bolt being passed through the
lugs u
The handle bar connection consists of two parallel tubes n n' united by a cross
connecting tube n² and adapted to slide within the fork stems d d and to be
secured at the required height by the clamping ends h³ and h¹ of the connecting
bar or piece h as aforesaid. The handle bar p which may be of any require 1
shape or form is united to the cross tube 2 by the lug or connection p', or the 4
tubes n, n¹, n², may be replaced by a single tube bent to U-shaped form so
that the arms may be contained within the tubular stems & d', while the handle
bars would be suitably secured to the top of this U-shaped piece.
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 4
I claim is
1/. In connection with velocipedes, the employment of two pairs of forks such
asb, the lower extremities a¹ of which curve towards each other and are
united and adapted to receive the axle of the front wheel, and arranged in con-
nection with crown plates c, and upwardly projecting tubular stems such as d d 5
one of which is arranged to turn upon ball bearings in the tubular head of the
machine; in combination with an uniting and clamping piece such as h having
at one end a clamping ring such as and at the other a clamping ring such as h
carrying the adjustable cone of the ball bearing, and the handle bar connection
.consisting of the parallel tubes n, n¹ the connecting tube and n², the whole

page_text: combined and arranged substantially as herein described and shown with
reference to the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes specified.
2/. The improvements in front forks and steering posts for velocipedes, con-
sisting in the arrangement of two pairs of forks such as a bhaving their lower
extremities b₁ curving towards each other and united as shown, and secured
at their upper extremities to crown plates such as c, in combination with two
tubular stems such as dd, one projecting in an upward direction between
each pair of forks and united at their upper extremities by a connecting and
clamping piece such as h, substantially as set forth.
3/. The combination with forks and steering posts such as above claimed of a
connecting and clamping piece such as h furnished at one extremity with a
clamping ring such as h¹ and at the other extremity with a clamping ring such
ash carrying the adjustable cone w of the upper ball bearing of the head of
the machine, substantially as set forth.
4/. The improvements in handle-bars for velocipedes consisting in the arrange-
ment of two parallel arms or stems such as n n¹ united by a cross connecting tube
such as n or of a single tube bent to an approximately U-shaped form, and to
the upper part of which the handle bars proper are secured, the whole designed
to be employed in connection with an improved construction of forks and steering
post, such as above claimed, substantially as set forth.
1 11.
1 AT
1000
F. G. CASSELL,
(Of Cassell & Co.),
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicant.