Improvements in and relating to Steering Mechanism for Bicycles and like Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Steering Mechanism for Bicycles
and like Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM CLINTON BRANDENBURG, of Sykesville, in the County of Carroll and
State of Maryland, one of the United States of America, 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:
The object of my invention is to provide means for guiding the bicycle which
shall embody the elements of strength, durability and adjustability, and, inci-
dentally, to provide a device which may be manufactured at comparatively small
cost.
Figure 1 is a view of so much of a bicycle as will be necessary to the illustration
of my invention;
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the steering wheel, and Figure 3 a detail view,
partly in section.
As shown in the drawings, I provide, instead of the handle-bar heretofore
used, a hand wheel, as A. This wheel is made elliptical in form, and such form
is a material feature of my present invention, as, when racing, the rider is greatly
aided in the application of power by grasping the hand-wheel close to the front
post. When, however, the rider is in an upright position the hands must be
placed further apart. To obtain the first position, the rider merely turns the
wheel A with its major diameter extending the length of the machine, the wheel
being readily turned, upon the change of position.
Secured in the hand wheel A and made in one piece therewith, in order to give
the greatest possible strength to the parts, is a shaft or post B. Said post may
be given any desired form in cross-section as in experience it may be found most
expedient. The front fork of the machine is passed up through the frame in
the old and well-known manner, (see Figure 3). The cylindrical tube C which
forms the upper portion of the front fork will be formed to receive said post B
and will agree with the form of B, whether the same be round or square in cross-
section. Portion B of the elliptical wheel A is adapted to be entered into the
hollow tube Cafter the same shall have been passed upward into and through
the frame D, freedom of vertical movement being allowed post B in the tube.
Tube C is perforated above the upper bearing-box to receive a set-screw E, the
purpose of which is to securely hold post B and wheel A in any position of ad-
justment desired by the person using the same.
It will be readily seen that by my improved construction great strength is
obtained at a point of weakness of parts heretofore developed. The parts A and B
of my device being made in one piece, this acknowledged weakness is entirely
overcome and the confidence of the rider is at once obtained. Being simple in
construction, the device may be manufactured at little cost, and may be attached
to any bicycle with but slight change in the existing parts.
It is to be understood that my improved elliptically shaped steering wheel

page_text: admits of being horizontally adjusted in the steering head of the bicycle, so as
to provide a handle bar of different widths in its different positions of adjustment,
it being understood that the rim of the wheel as well as the connecting spokes
are shaped to provide gripping surfaces for the hands of the rider. For the pur-
pose of fast riding the wheel is adjusted so that its minor axis will be at or
about right angles to the plane of the steering wheel, thus bringing the narrower
breadth of the ellipse as well as the shorter spokes into position for use, enabling
the rider to bend forward and bring his hands close together as he grasps the
steering wheel or the spokes. For ordinary riding, the wheel is adjusted so
that its major axis will be at or about right angles to the arms of the rider, thus
bringing the greatest width of the ellipse and the longer spokes into position,
which accordingly brings the hands of the rider further apart and enables him
to assume an upright position. It will be seen that in either position of the
elliptical wheel several gripping surfaces will be provided for use, thus allowing
the rider to readily change his position at will, thereby preventing to a great
extent the fatigue incident to remaining in the same posture for a considerable
length of time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what matter the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:.
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1. In a bicycle, the combination with the steering head, of a handle post
rotatably mounted therein and means for securing said post in a fixed position,
and an elliptical shaped steering wheel fixed upon the handle post, and providing
a continuous gripping surface for the hands of the rider, said wheel being ad-
justably mounted so as to present either the major or the minor diameter of the
ellipse in a line with the rider.
2. A handle-bar for bicycles or like vehicles consisting of an elliptical shaped
wheel, the rim of which provides a continuous gripping surface for the hands of
the rider, so arranged that a handle-bar of different widths will be provided.
3. A handle bar for bicycles or like vehicles, consisting of an elliptical shaped
wheel rim forming a continuous gripping surface, and two pairs of spokes
radiating from the center of the ellipse and connecting the said rim at the major
and minor axis respectively so as to provide two sets of gripping surfaces, the
one set being wider than the other.
Data hia Wanth law of
انسجد
1900