Photo from the collection of Rustybicycle. If you think you know what this is, post your answer in ‘comments’ section– the answer will be posted there on Tuesday!
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Its a quick release hub retention device
from the patent – inventor is Frank P. Brilando for Schwinn Bicycle on 10/28/1976
Open-ended slots in lower ends of bicycle front fork legs receive front wheel axle in usual manner, but to prevent accidental separation of wheel from fork even if regular retaining means on axle became loose, safety means are provided comprising a pair of longitudinally flexible clips mounted at lower ends on axle with retainer means formed integrally therewith at upper ends, and receiver means adjacent lower end of each front fork leg for cooperatively receiving such retainer means, manual flexing of clips being required to effect disengagement of wheel axle from fork.
Open-ended slots in lower ends of bicycle front fork legs receive front wheel axle in usual manner, but to prevent accidental separation of wheel from fork even if regular retaining means on axle became loose, safety means are provided comprising a pair of longitudinally flexible clips mounted at lower ends on axle with retainer means formed integrally therewith at upper ends, and receiver means adjacent lower end of each front fork leg for cooperatively receiving such retainer means, manual flexing of clips being required to effect disengagement of wheel axle from fork.
Issued August 1, 1978
Patent Number 4,103,922
These handle pieces of metal can stock on Schwinn’s road on touring bike in in the mid-late 80’s. My 1986 Prelude had them! There would be 2 of these and the left end pictured above would be mounted onto the front wheel axle (between the cone nut and locknut). The was a little tab on the inner leg of the fork that the hole in the right side of the picture would just clip into. The arms are not flat and the slight bend acted like a spring keeping it clipped in and from rattling.
They did work but I never saw another company embrace this safety item and I think Schwinn stopped using them a few year later.
Well every one before me got this one right. As for “Brandon’s” comment;
http://www.google.com/patents/about/4103922_Quick_release_hub_retention_devi.html?id=JrIuAAAAEBAJ
Funny, I still see bikes come in the shop with these sometimes. Usually one or both is missing (I guess it was a little too complicated for people that don’t even know how to use a skewer!).
Other irony here is that this system worked even if the skewer were to split apart (potentially), where a “lawyer tab” would not!
