Improvements in or relating to Handle Bars for Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Handle Bars for Cycles.
I, RICHARD HENRY MATHER of Windsor, in the County of Hartford and State of
Connecticut, U.S.A., Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-.
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My said invention has for its object the production of a light, cheap, and efficient
elastic handle for bicycle bars. In order that my said invention and the manner of
performing the same may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of
explanatory drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my handle together with one end of a bicycle handle.
bar to which said handle is applied.
Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section of my said handle with the end of the
bicycle bar in elevation.
Figure 3 is a detached side elevation of one of the caps for my handle, and-
Figure 4 is a side elevation of one end of my handle before the said cap is
applied.
A designates one end of the handle bar which may be of any ordinary construction
but which I prefer to make of metal so that it may be quite rigid, the desired
elasticity to avoid jarring the hands being provided for in the elastic handle.
5 designates a tube which may be called my handle core the interior being of a.
size to fit the end of the handle bar. The grasping surface of the handle is mainly
composed of a spiral spring 6 the end coils of which are made to fit the tube
closely while the middle coils are of a larger diameter and normally out of contact
with the tube to permit a degree of elasticity. I prefer to make this spring of
aluminum slightly alloyed to give it the proper elasticity. A four per cent. alloy
composed of copper, nickel, zinc, chromium and manganese, as in the nickel made
by the Pittsburg Reduction Company, and known in the trade as XE is found to-
give very good results. The spring should be wound separately from the tube
and the two first coils at each end should be so small as to hug the tube firmly
when the latter is inserted therein. The ends of the tube are rolled over outwardly
as shown at 7. This can readily be done with a proper tool or tools after the
spring and tube are assembled.
I finish the end of the handle with the caps 8 which are made of sheet metal
with swaged or spun threads to fit the end coils of the handle spring upon which
they are firmly screwed. Instead of leaving the edge of these caps square across
I cut or trim them on a spiral to correspond with the coils of the spring and thread
of the caps and then when said spiral edge nearly encircles the cap, cut the edge
transversely across one thread as best shown in Fig. 3 at 9, see also 9 Fig. 1.
The caps may be made small and slightly tapering so that when they are forced on
they may assist in binding the end coils of the handle spring upon the tube. One
cap, the left hand cap in Figs. 1 and 2, will have a hole cut in its end to admit the
handle bar and the other cap has a closed end.
If desired the spaces near the ends of the handle, other than that required for the
handle bar, may be filled with any proper cement. The handle spring may be finished
in any desired manner as for example oxidized or etched to produce a dead or frosted
surface and give the handle a pleasant feel. The caps may be made of brass,.

page_text: aluminum or other metal of the same color and finish as the spring or of a different
color and finish as ornamental as may be desired.
As before stated the middle coils of the handle spring are of larger diameter than
the tube and they may. be deflected laterally until stopped by contact with the tube.
The size of said coils relatively to the tube should not be so great as to exceed the
limit of elasticity of the metal employed. The elastic handles will relieve the riders
hands from jar in the ordinary use of the machine but when great pressure is put
upon the handles the handle springs come to a bearing on the tube and for the time
being give the force and feel of a rigid handle and bar provided the bar itself is
sufficiently rigid. Thus the rider has a handle bar that is elastic under a certain
degree of pressure but which under sufficient pressure to seat the spring on the tube
is rigid and unyielding.
Having thus particularly described my said invention and the manner of performing
the same, what I claim as the invention secured to me by Letters Patent is-
The herein described handle for bicycle bars comprising the tubular core, the
spring with the end coils firmly secured to said core while the middle coils are out of
contact therewith and the screw caps covering the ends of the said spring and tube as
herein before described.
In witness whereof I, the said Richard Henry Mather, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 12th day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and ninety-six.
Witness-
JAMES SHEPARD.
RICHARD HENRY MATHER.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.