Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM CORNER, Junior, Fern Lea, 26, Victoria Crescent, Eccles, in the
County of Lancaster, Stationer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to improvements in velocipedes, and refers parti-
cularly to improvements in the handle bars, locking arrangements for the steering
wheel, and brakes for bicycles.
Under my invention I provide means whereby the handle bar of a bicycle may,
when not in use, be turned parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bicycle and
thus enable it to be stowed away in a smaller compass, than is at present the
case.
In carrying my invention into effect instead of forming the handle bar stem in
one with the handle bar as at present I form the handle bar and stem separate.
The stem is secured to the fork tube in the usual manner and is provided with
a liner tube or bearing fitting within a short socket formed on the handle bar.
A ring is provided to turn loose upon the liner and this ring being secured to the
socket of the handle bar enables the handle bar to be turned in any direction.
A tube provided with squared bolts to fit squared recesses formed, one in a collar
carried by the handle bar socket and the other in the liner tube, locks the bar
and stem together.
Suppose it be desired to turn the handle bar, say out of its usual position when
riding, to a right angle with such position, the tube is pulled upwards against
the action of a spring, thereby withdrawing the squared heads from the recesses
and enabling the handle bar to be turned upon the liner tube carried by the
handle bar stem. When the knob is released the spring will then return the
bolts into position and secure the handle bar.
We do not confine ourselves however to this exact arrangement for turning the
handle bar. To secure the bell or the like to the handle bar I may drill holes in
the bar and braize or otherwise secure therein cross tubes carrying spring clips in
their interior. The bell or other article to be carried on the handle bar is pro-
vided with a hook or the like which is slipped within the cross tube and retained
in position by means of the spring clip.
To effect the locking of the steering apparatus, the tube which operates the lock-
ing of the handle bar is formed with a squared extension capable of sliding within
a square recess cut in a disc cam carried by the fork tube. The cam when revolved
is capable of advancing and retracting a bolt passing through a slot in the fork tube.
A spring may be employed to assist the action of the cam. Several corresponding
slots are cut in the ball head of the bicycle frame. To operate the steering lock,
the tube is pulled out by means of the knob to withdraw the squared bolts from
their recesses.
The tube may then be turned on its axis revolving the cam so as to advance the
bolt into one of the recesses of the ball head thus locking the fork tube securely.

page_text: A spindle passing down the centre of the tube carries at the lower end a brake
block adapted to act upon the tyre of the front wheel. The end of the spindle pro-
trudes beyond the knob upon the end of the tube. By depressing the spindle
the brake block is brought to bear upon the tyre. A spring returns the brake to
its normal position when released. For the purpose of operating the brake spindle
a lever may be applied to the handle bar to operate the brake, or a screw may be
employed for the same purpose.
}
Where the brake is dispensed with the square bolts governing the action of the
handle and steering locks may be carried by a solid spindle instead of a hollow
tube. A lock may also be provided to prevent the withdrawal of the tube, so that
the handle bar and steering lock cannot be tampered with.'
I, WILLIAM CORNER, Junior, Fern Lea, 26, Victoria Crescent, Eccles, in the
County of Lancaster, Stationer, 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 and accompanying drawings:-
My said invention relates to improvements in velocipedes, and refers particu-
larly to improvements in the handle bars, locking arrangement for the steering
wheel and brakes for bicycles.
'
In order that my invention may be fully understood I have attached hereto a
sheet of explanatory drawings to which I will refer.
Fig. 1 represents a portion of a bicycle handle bar, fork tube and fork with, my
invention applied.
Fig. 2 is a similar view in section with the handle bar turned to a right angle
to the position it occupies in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the handle bar stem.
Fig. 4 is a separate view of the brake and locking arrangement.
Fig. 5 is a view of the lower part of the brake rod, brake and locking arrange-
ment at right angles to Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a plan of Fig. 5 of the line A B.
Figs. 7 to 12 are detail views.
Under my invention I provide means whereby the handle bar of a bicycle may,
when not in use, be turned parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bicycle and
thus enable it to be stowed away in a smaller compass than is at present the case.
Instead of forming the handle bar stem in one with the handle bar as at present
I form the handle bar and stem separate and connect them together in such
manner that the handle bar is capable of being turned upon the stem. This
arrangement is shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings but will be more readily
understood from the sectional view Fig. 3. The detached stem a of the handle
bar is secured to the fork tube c in the usual manner.
The handle bar is provided with a pendent tube b¹ upon which is mounted a
screw threaded sleeve 62 within which the tube 71 is capable of being easily re-
volved. The sleeve 62 is maintained in position upon the tube by a tubular
stop 63 firmly sweated, brazed or otherwise secured to the end of the tube b¹,

page_text: The screwed tube 63 is screwed within the handle bar stem a as shown in Figs. 2
and 3 the handle bar b being thus capable of being freely turned within the
screwed tube b².
Within the hollow fork tube and handle bar stem of the bicycle is disposed a
5 brake rod d. The upper portion of this brake rod d is formed plain and is
provided with square bolts d'd¹¹ the lower portion being formed with a screw
thread, a part of the screw thread being cut away to form a flat as shown in
Figs. 5 and 7. In the handle bar are two square recesses ee another square
recess el being formed within a disc or plate e secured within the stem a (see
Figs. 2, 3 and 9).
In the position shown in Fig. 1 the bolts d' occupy the square recesses e e e¹
and the handle bar b is thus securely locked to the stem a in the proper position
for riding. When it is desired to turn the handle bar so that it may assume a
position parallel with the longitudinal axis of the bicycle, for instance when
stowing away the bicycle, the brake rod d is raised by means of the protruding
head against the action of the spring d³ until the bolts d' are withdrawn from
the recesses e eel as shown in Fig. 2. The handle bar b is thus unlocked from
the stem a and can be turned at a right angle. The brake rod d is then released
and the bolts again occupy their respective square recesses, and again lock
the handle bar to the stem a.
I will now describe the arrangement for locking the steering wheel of the
bicycle. Surrounding the lower portion of the brake rod d is a casing f which
is secured within the fork tube by means of screws f¹. The casing f is formed
with a recess to receive a bolt g which is more clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 8.
The bolt g is formed with a tubular collar gl surrounding a cam h formed on the
brake rod d. The cam h is shown more clearly in the detached view Fig. 10.
Normally the bolt is withdrawn within the casing f by the cam h as shown in
the plan view Fig. 6 and the steering wheel is unlocked.
When it is desired to lock the steering wheel the brake rod d is raised to
release the bolts d from their recesses as shown in Fig. 2. The brake rod d is
then turned on its axis through half a revolution thus reversing the position
of the cam h. This position of the cam h is shown in Figs. 7 and 8. On releasing
the brake rod d the descending cam h thrusts out the bolt g through its recess in
the casing and into corresponding recesses formed in the fork tube c and ball
head i (shown in dotted lines) thus locking the steering wheel. This position of
the cam and bolt f is shown in Fig. 8 which is a sectional plan view of Fig. 7
through the line CD.
$
The spiral spring on the lower end of the brake rod d is confined between
two loose collars the upward movement of the collar j being limited by fixed
stops kk secured to the casing f the lower loose collar j¹ resting on the fixed
ring secured to the end of the casing f. The normal position of the brake,
brake rod and spring is indicated in Fig. 5. When raising the brake rod to
operate the locking arrangement as shown in Fig. 7 the spring is compressed
between the loose collars jj the lower collar being raised by means of the
fixed collar on the end of the brake rod d, the fixed collar sliding through
the fixed ring 1.
When riding, the brake rod may be depressed to put on the brake when re-
quired, a fixed abutment m on the brake rod depressing the loose collar j and thus
compressing the spring which would return the brake to its normal position
when the downward thrust on the brake rod was released. The brake rod d may
be actuated by means of a suitable lever the end of which would be formed with
an eye through which would pass the pin n formed on the top of the brake rod
(see Fig. 1), a split pin or the like retaining the end of the brake lever in
position.. Thus the brake rod d can be freely turned when required without
Interference from the brake lever.
In addition to locking the steering wheel, it may also be prevented from

page_text: revolving by depressing the brake rod until the brake block o is jambed upon the
tyre and in this position the brake rod can be secured to maintain the brake
block upon the tyre by means of a suitable lock 21 secured to the handle bar b
as shown in Fig. 1.
To adjust the brake rod to the required length I make the lower portion
hollow to allow the screwed part to slide freely therein. A coupling is provided
to connect the two parts. This coupling consists of two boxes 2, the box
sliding within the box p. As shown in Fig. 7 the box q is formed with a screw
thread which is caused to engage with the thread of the brake rod d by the action
of a compressed spring . By sliding the box g in the direction of the arrow
I is
Fig. 7 the spring is further compressed and the screw thread in the box
disengaged from the thread on the brake rod and the brake rod being thus re-
leased, may be freely slid within the hollow lower portion of the brake rod. When
q is re-
the required adjustment is obtained the pressure on the sliding inner box
leased and the spring returns the box to its normal position thus locking the
sliding rod. Instead of this arrangement I may employ a plain rod sliding within
the lower tubular portion of the brake rod and retained in the required position
therein by means of a pinching screw.
The handle bar may be cut as shown in the sectional view, Fig. 12 and a
thimble or cross tube s secured therein by brazing or otherwise. This tube would
serve to carry luggage or a bell which could be retained in position by a suitable
spring clip or hook.
If desired the brake block may be dispensed with, and the locking arrangement
for the steering wheel and the method of turning the handle bar parallel with the
longitudinal axis of the bicycle may be used in combination or each of the two
latter methods may be used separately.
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
I claim is:
1) The improved method of mounting the handle bars of cycles so that they
may, when required, be turned parallel with the longitudinal axis of the cycle,
consisting in forming the handle bar stem separate and providing a sleeve secured
to the handle bar and stem within which sleeve the handle bar is capable of being
freely revolved, the handle bar being locked and unlocked by means of a sliding
rod carrying locking bolts engaging with square recesses carried by the handle
bar and stem in the manner and substantially as described and illustrated.
2) The improved locking arrangement for the steering wheels of cycles con-
sisting of the bolt g actuated by means of the cam h formed on the sliding rod d
the sliding rod d being locked in position by means of bolts formed thereon en-
gaging with suitable recesses, in the manner and substantially as described and
illustrated.
3) The general arrangement construction and combination of parts comprising
my improvements in velocipedes consisting of a brake rod provided with bolts
engaging with recesses in the fork tube and handle bar stem, the method of
mounting the handle so that it may be turned parallel with the longitudinal axis
of the bicycle, and the means for locking the steering wheel, the handle bar and
arrangements for locking the steering wheel being locked in position by means of
the bolts formed on the brake rod all substantially as described and illustrated.
1
حامد
1900
Dated this 8th xlay
a 1000
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON &.Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 5, John Dalton Street, Manchester.