US674744A - Bicycle-fork. - Google Patents

Description

Patented May 2|, |90l.

J. J. SLEVIN.

BICYCLE FORK.

(Application Bled May 12, 1898. Renewed Oct. 17, 1900.)

(No Model.)

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y also lend an additional support to the ordi- UNrrr: STATES JAMES J. SLEYIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BICYCLE-FORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 674,744, dated May 21, 1901.`

Application filed May 12,1898. Renewed October I7, 1900. Serial No. 33,404. (No modem .T0 ctZZ whom. it may concern:

Beit known thatI, JAMEsJ. SLEVIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented anew and usefulImprovement in Bicycle-Forks, of which the following is a specication.

Bicycle-forks are usually made hollow or, in other words, of tubular construction, and it occasionally happens as the result of a fall or collision that said forks become dented, bent, or broken and cause inconvenience to the wheelman. This sometimes happens at a distance from home or from a shop where repairs can be made; and the object -of my invention is to lessen the risk of such difficulty and inconvenience.

In carrying out my invention I employ in connection with and in addition to the usual tubular bicycle-fork an auxiliary emergencyfork and fork-crown placed within and adjacent to the tubular fork, the lower ends of such auxiliary emergency-fork having openings or notches to receive the axle of the front wheel, and the upper end of the fork-crown having a stem to pass into the hollow steering post connected to the ordinary fork. This auxiliary emergency-fork is preferably solid and composed of spring-steel, and being connected at the top of the steering-post and at the fork ends to the axle of the wheel will if either or both the tubular-fork sides become accidentally broken or otherwise injured take the place of the same in supporting the rider and guiding the wheel and will nary fork, lessening the risk of accident.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation, partially in section, illustrating my improvement. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan at the line of Fig. l. Fig. 3 represents a vertical section of a mcdication, and Fig. dis a section at the line y y of Fig. 3.

The tubular front-fork sides are shown at d a', the fork-crown at b, the steering-post at c, and the handle-bar stem at CZ, the front hub at e, and the axle at f, the cones at g g', and the nuts at t' 2".. These parts are all of usual and well-known construction and do not require further description.

The auxiliary emergency-fork sides are shown at Z Z' and their fork-crown at m.

These sides are within, adjacent to, and extend throughout the length of the usual-fork sides ct a' and crown b of the bicycle. They are preferably solid and composed of springsteel, the crown part being thickest and the sides tapering toward the fork ends 3 4, which are each provided with an opening or a notch to receive the axle f of the front wheel.

The upper end of the fork-crown m is provided with a tubular head o to pass into the central opening of the fork-crown b or the base of the steering-post c. This head is supposed to fit tightly in place, so as not to turn or to be accidentally loosened or disconnected by the bending or breakage of either of the front-fork sides a a.

I prefer to make the fork-crown m with a direct connection to the handle-bar stem and to that end employ a stem r, having` a rectangular tenon on the upper end, the said stem passing upward through the steeringpost c, and I prefer to make the lower end of the handle-bar stem d with a plug` having a central rectangular opening for the rectangular tenon that iits and is received in the said rectangular opening in the plug at the lower end ot the handle-bar stem. The object of this is to form a more secure-and positive bearing for the auxiliary fork and connection therefrom to the handle-bar stem and independent of the frictional connection with the ba'se of the steering-post or the forkcrown b. With this construction a direct connection is eected between the axle of the front wheel and the handle-bar stem, so that the one part cannot turn without the other. Consequently if the usual collar employed for clamping the handle-bar stem to the steering-post should accidentally loosen or be neglected no harm can arise, as the cycle will still be under control ot' the handle-bars.

I prefer to make the auxiliary emergencyfork sides iit snugly along and against the inner surfaces of the ordinary-fork sides and to curve the lower endsof the auxiliary emergency-fork sides to assist this conditionand obviate any tendency to vibrate and cause a rattling noise.

(i, The emergency-fork and crown can be added IOO to cycles already in use and can be removed with facility after being in place, if necessary for any cause.

I am aware that bicycles have heretofore been made with two forks; but in this case a dierent obje-ct was sought and one fork; was pivotally connected to the front-wheel axle, and the steering-post of the bicycle was provided with a spring against which one fork bore, so that the forward part of the bicycle was provided with a spring-action to lessen the vibration incident to concussion in riding;

but said object and condition are totally different from my invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a bicycle, the combination with the steering-wheel, its axle, the front fork, the

crown and steering'- post, of an auxiliary emergency-fork within and adjacent to the usual fork and integral with a fork-crown and provided with a head adapted to pass forcibly into the usual fork-crown that is connected with the steering-post and with openings at the lower fork ends for connection to the axle of the front wheel, substantially as set forth.

2. In a bicycle, the combination with the front wheel, its axle, the front fork, the crown, the steering-post andthe handle-bar stem, of a plug in the lower part of the handle-bar stem having an opening therein, an auxiliary emergencyfork of metal and. a crown made integral therewith, a stem connected to the

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