US623379A

US623379A - Bicycle

Info

Publication number: US623379A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1899-04-18
Anticipated expiration: 1916-04-18

Description

Patented Apr. 18, I899. S. NEFZGER.

BICYCLE.

(Application filed May 14. 1898.)

-il||l||ll (No Model.)

"L lllll UNTTED STATES PATENT EEicE.

SIMON NEFZGER, OF LIMA, lOlVA.

BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent N0. 623,379, dated April 18, 189 9. 'Application filed May 14, 1898. Serial No. 680,736. (No model.)

To all whom it may Gun/06777,:

Be it known that I, SIMON NEFZGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lima, in the county of Fayette and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Bicycle, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to bicycles and vehicles or machines of like nature mounted upon two wheels having a tandem arrangement, the purpose being to so mount the pilot-wheel whereby the steering of the machine is rendered comparatively easy and may be effected without any special care on the part of the rider.

Theinvention also has for its object to comblue with the stem of the steering-wheel a steadying-bar which is at all times under the control of the rider to prevent the turning aside of the pilot-wheel in the event of its striking a rock or obstruction in the path of the machine.

A further purpose of the invention is to provide a support for the steadying-bar to prevent its inner end from bending downward when subjected to pressure from above.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side View of a bicycle constructed in accordance withand embodying the essentials of the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the forward portion of the machine-frame, showing the steadying-bar and the support or rest therefor. Fig. 3 is a detail-view of the front fork. Fig. 4 is a detail section of the upper forward portion of the machine-frame.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The machine-frame comprises an upper reach-bar 1, a lower reach-bar 2, the diagonal 0r seat-post tube 3, rear fork 4, backstays 5,

The front fork 9 has its end portions curved rearwardly, so as to throw the axis of the pilot-wheel 8 in the rear of the vertical axis of the fork-stem 10, whereby the pilot-wheel drags and tends to remain parallel with the line of motion of the machine, thereby obviating especial care on the part of the rider to steer the machine in a direct course. The head-tube 6 is perpendicular, and the forkstem 10, being mounted'therein, has a vertical arrangement. Hence by curving the ends of the fork sides rearwardly the major part of the pilot-wheel comes in the rear of the vertical axis of the front fork, thereby resulting in keeping the steering-wheel in the line of motion of the machine.

A steadying-bar 11 is applied to the upper end of the fork-stem 10 and extends rearwardly within convenient reach of the rider. The rear portion of the steadying-bar is divided or split andthe separated parts are spread, as shown at 12, and connected by means of a curved hand-bar 13, formed on the arc of a circle having the fork-stem 10 as an axis. A support 14, consisting of an-u'pright bar, connects the reach-bars 1 and 2 about midway of their ends and forms a rest for the hand-bar 13, which moves thereon when steering the machine. likewise provides means for sustaining the rear end of the steadying-bar 11 against downward pressure upon the handbar.

The steadying-bar and its rest are adjustable vertically to accommodate their position to the convenience and comfort of the rider. A post 15 is applied to or formed with the steadying-bar and is adjustable in the forkstem 10 and adapted to be secured therein at the located position by any of the ways common for securing hand-bars when moved up or down to the required position.

The upright bar 14: is tubular, and a stem 16 is adjustable therein, being secured at the required elevation by a binding-screw 17 or This support 14 in any manner found most advantageous. An open ring or band 18 is formed with or applied to the upper end of the stem 16 and embraces the hand-bar 18, the parts being disposed so that under normal conditions the hand-bar will not touch any portion of the the open ring or band, thereby permitting free movement of the hand bar, so that the machine may be self-steering. The distance between the inner walls of the open ring or band and the hand-bar is comparatively slight, so that either an upward pull upon the hand-bar or a downward pressure thereon will bring it in contact with the ring or band, thereby preventing straining or injury to the bar.

The seat 19 is capable of vertical adjustment and of being moved forward and rear-' Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a bicycle or like road-machine, the combination with the front fork, a rearwardlyextending steadying-bar having connection at its front end with the said fork, and a handbar attached to the rear end of the steadyingbar and formed on the arc of a circle having the axis of the fork-stem for its center, of a rest applied to the machine-frame and having a portion encircling the hand-bar and normally out of contact therewith to admit of the self-steering of the wheel and adapted to come in contact with the hand-bar and brace it on the application of upward or downward pressure upon the said hand-bar, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bicycleor like machine, the combination with the front fork; a rearwardly-extending steadying-bar adjustable vertically with reference to the, fork-stem and having direct connection therewith at its forward end, and having its rear end portion spread, and a hand-bar secured to the rear terminals of the separated parts of the steadyingbar and curved on the arc of a circle having the axis of the fork-stem for its center, of an upright bar forming a part of the machineframe and bracing it, a stem having adjustable connection with the upright bar, and a rest at the upper end of said bar consisting of an open ring or band encircling the handbar and normally out of contact therewith and adapted to engage with and brace said hand-bar on the application of upward or downward pressure to the hand-bar, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.