Untitled record

Application filed November 29, 1890. Serial No. 372,994. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Seth A. Brown, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Buffalo, in the county of Erie and 5 State of New York, have invented an Improved Lock or Latch for the Steering-Gear of Bicycles, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

io My invention has for its object the locking of the steering-gear of bicycles, so as to prevent the front-wheel fork or frame from turning while the machine is at rest, and to provide a device that will automatically be held 15 unlocked. It can be applied to bicycles without altering them.

It consists, mainly, of a spring plate or strip of elastic metal, provided with one or more holes at one end to receive fastening screws 20 or bolts, whereby it is rigidly attached to one member of the steering joint or pivot, and provided at the other end with a suitable means for engaging or locking with a pin or catch attached to the other member of the 25 joint. The locking device here adopted is a slot at one end of the strip engaging with a pin. The plate or strip is automatically kept out of contact with the pin or fastening.

The lock can be applied either to socket30 bearing machines or to that style where the steering-pivot is placed outside and back of the .front-wheel fork or frame. It can be slightly varied in form to suit different styles of machines.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 show the device applied to the former style; Figs. 4, 5, and 6 as applied to the latter style. Fig. 1 is a front view of the device placed on the side of the head or socket.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the spring-plate; Fig. 3, a side view showing the plate in its normal position.

Theplate Aisfastened to the head or socket Β by the screws a a, passing through the holes 45 e e. A pin lo is placed in the stem C, inclining slightly downward, as shown in Fig. 3. This engages with the notch f at the end of the plate or strip. One side of this notch is slightly longer than the other. Normally the 50 spring-strip A is out of contact with the pin b, as shown in Fig. 3, allowing the stem C to move freely. To lock the device, the springstrip is pressed inwardly close against the stem, which is swung around until the pin comes in contact with the notch. The long 55 side of the notch prevents it from passing by without catching. The plate or strip A is now released, and the pressure forces the notch in close contact with the pin, thus forming a secure fastening. The plate can be se- 60 cured to the stem and the pin be inserted in the socket without changing the principle of the device.

Fig. 4 shows a top view of the device applied to a back-pivoted machine. Fig. 5 is 65 an enlarged view of the plate A; Fig. 6, a side view of the lock and a portion of the steering-gear.

The plate A has a hole e to receive the bolt I, and is secured to the front-wheel frame- 70 work by the nut II. The end at i has a curved recess to fit the tube or stem E,thus preventing the plate from turning, and serving the purpose of a second bolt or screw. In this instance the end of the plate or strip is notched, 75 as previously shown, but may be of any suitable form. A pin b is secured to the mainframe bar F. When the lock is not in. use, the spring-strip A rests above the pin b, being bent downward, as shown. To lock the 80 steering-gear, the strip is pressed downward. The front-wheel fork is swung around until the notch and pin are in line. The springplate is then released, and the pressure thereby exerted forces it against the pin, thus form- 85 ing a lock or latch.

I do not confine myself to the notch-and-pin form of clutch; but other forms maybe used, as may hereinafter be suggested.

The method of securing the spring strip or 90 lock to back-pivoted machines by means of the pivot-bolt I and nut H, in combination with the curved recessed strip, is also applicable to other forms of lock.

The lock, as shown and described, is very 95 cheap and simple in construction. It is operated very easily and quickly, is free from some objectionable features of other locks, and can be applied to almost every style of Safety bicycle in use. _IOq