Abstract: In a brake actuator for bicycles of the type housed within the bottom bracket of the bicycle, an actuating lever passing through the bottom bracket has a head housed within a slot within an annulus surrouding the pedal crankshaft of the bicycle within the bottom bracket. The annulus is provided with a torque spring providing a clutching action which tends to rotate the annulus with the crankshaft upon backpedalling. The lever acts upon bearing surfaces at opposite ends of the slot in the annulus, responsive to rotation of the latter, so as to exert a clamping action on the crankshaft between the lever and the annulus. The arrangement may be made sufficiently compact that it can be assembled into bicycles having small diameter bottom brackets. The slot and head of the lever are configured so that the lever head may be inserted through the bottom bracket and the slot from the outside, and then locked in place by insertion of the crankshaft.

Abstract: In a spring clutch arrangement for housing in the lower bracket of a bicycle in order to operate a bicycle brake, a conventional waisted pedal crankshaft is modified to provide a cylindrical surface which supports the clutch spring by application of a resin bonded material of high compressive strength and high coefficient of friction. A preferred material is an epoxy resin loaded with aluminum powder having a surface layer of alumina.

Abstract: A lost motion chain wheel assembly to prevent brake lock up in a bicycle having a pedal crank shaft operated brake, has a chain wheel center or spider fast to a pedal crank and providing an annular channel receiving the inner periphery of an annular chain wheel rim, the rim and the center being coupled by dogs within the channel forming projections into recesses in the internal periphery of the rim, and connected by a bias spring. The recesses have a greater peripheral extent than the projections so as to provide the desired lost motion, and both recesses and projections are inwardly inclined at their ends to provide abutting surfaces which cushion the impacts occurring at the ends of the relative travel of the parts. The center or spider and the rim may readily be adapted from parts of a conventional double chain wheel.

Abstract: In a crankshaft operated brake actuating device for bicycles, a brake operating lever extends through the lower bracket from a yoke contacting the crankshaft. A light weight spring clutch transmits torque from the crankshaft to the lever upon back pedalling, and reaction from the torque causes the lever to tilt and engage a strap clutch locking the lever to the crankshaft as the braking forces are increased.

Abstract: A pedal crankshaft operated actuator for a bicycle brake is formed by a yoke having a jaw engageable with one side of the crankshaft, a link pivotally connected to the yoke and having a jaw engageable with the other side of the crankshaft, and a pair of light spring coils surrounding the crankshaft and having a bight engaging the link outwardly of the jaw so that rotation of the crankshaft in a reverse direction locks the spring to the crankshaft and causes the jaws of the link and the yoke to seize the crankshaft. The link folds relative to the yoke to enable the assembly to be inserted into the pedal crankshaft housing, until a lever arm attached to the yoke drops through an aperture in the housing.

Abstract: A chainwheel is supported on a pedal crank in a bicycle, in which lost motion is provided about the axis of the crank in order to prevent lock up when using a pedal crankshaft operated brake, by supporting the inner periphery and one side of the chain wheel on a chain wheel carrier, and taking up play on the other side of the chain wheel by using a nut to deform a resilient washer into a cone to prevent movement of the chain wheel relative to the crank other than about its axis. The nut may be an inner race of a crankshaft bearing if the pedal crank is integral with a pedal crankshaft. A spring controlling relative movement of the chain wheel about the crank is made progressive by causing it to wrap onto a cylindrical surface concentric with the crankshaft axis.

Abstract: A bicycle braking system incorporates a pedal crankshaft operated brake actuator, a lost motion connection in the chain drive to the rear wheel of the bicycle, the lost motion being taken up by a highly progressive spring of sufficient strength to require a significant proportion of normal pedalling torque to overcome its action, and a brake incorporating a resilient stirrup supported at three points distributed around the rim of the rear wheel of the bicycle, the stirrup arms being subjected to a wedging action upon actuation of the brake causing brake shoes mounted on the stirrup to grip the rim of the wheel with a caliper action.

Abstract: A coaster brake for a bicycle has a brake operating lever consisting of a yoke and integral arm coupled to the pedal crankshaft of the bicycle by a self-acting unidirectional friction clutch, formed by a coil spring embracing the crankshaft. In order to facilitate its insertion into the crankshaft housing, the lever has no dimension greater than the internal diameter of the housing. The spring has two portions, one on either side of the yoke, the wire forming the part of each portion nearer the yoke being of greater cross section than the part further from the yoke. The lever moves a brake actuating rod or cable actuating a wheel brake which may be of several different types.

Abstract: A coaster brake for a bicycle has a brake operating lever consisting of a yoke and integral arm coupled to the pedal crankshaft of the bicycle by a self-acting unidirectional friction clutch, formed by a coil spring embracing the crankshaft. In order to facilitate its insertion into the crankshaft housing, the lever has no dimension greater than the internal diameter of the housing. The spring has two portions, one on either side of the yoke, the wire forming the part of each portion nearer the yoke being of greater cross section than the part further from the yoke. The lever moves a brake actuating rod or cable actuating a wheel brake which may be of several different types.