Improvements in or relating to Gear Cases and the like for Velocipedes and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 7th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in or relating to Gear Cases and the like for
Velocipedes and the like.
I, THOMAS WILLIAMS, of Woodhouse Lane, Horschay, Shropshire, Grocer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to gear cases and the like for velocipedes and the like,
especially those gear cases which consist of a covering of leather, American cloth or
the like stretched over a light metal frame of channel section surrounding the gear.
The said cover is usually constructed in the form of a bag open along the undersido
and slit from the edges to apertures provided for the passage of the crank axle and
driving wheel axle, and in other ways adapted to fit the machine. Hitherto the
opening on the under side of the cover has been adapted to be closed by lacing a
cord or cords from side to side over hooks rivetted to the edges of the bag after the
manner of lacing the upper parts of some boots; the slits in the cover also are
usually adapted to be closed by lacing. The process of lacing involves the expen-
diture of a considerable amount of time and is frequently rendered still more
inconvenient by the hooks closing, breaking or becoming detached.
The object of my invention is to provide a leather or like gear case, the cover of
which can be readily attached and detached in a minimum of time, and it consists
principally in improved means for closing the opening along the underside of the
cover.
According to one method of carrying out my invention I construct the channel
section frame in three principal parts. One part comprises the top length and the
two curved portions which terminate respectively under the two chain wheels.
This part is adapted to be attached to the chain stay of the machine by the usual
brackets, the lower ends of the brackets extending approximately into a line con-
necting the two ends of the first part of the frame and being curved transversely
to such line. The second and third parts of the frame consist of two curved strips
which when placed together side by side constitute the bottom length of the frame.
The said second and third parts are adapted to be secured in or to the respectivo
edges of the underside of the cover. The respective ends of the first part of tha
frame, and the transversely curved lower ends of the bracket are each perforated
with a pair of holes. The second and third parts of the frame are constructed of a
suitable springy material and are provided with studs corresponding to the holes
above mentioned. In fitting the cover in position on the frame, the studs adapted
to engage with the holes in the ends of the brackets are positioned and then the
ends of the second and third parts of the frame are sprung within the ends of the
first part of the frame and the studs positioned in the holes therein, thus securing
the parts of the case together and putting a suitable tension on the cover. The slits
to the axle holes et cetera are preferably provided with overlapping strips and arg
closed by spring button or other suitable fastenings. The strips also cover the ends
of the first part of the case, and an overlapping strip may be attached to one edge
of the underside of the case so as to cover the abutting edges. By opening tha

page_text: fastenings of the slits and by springing out the second and third parts of the frame
the cover may be readily detached in a very short space of time.
According to another method of carrying out my invention I employ a channel
section frame of usual construction and preferably that type in which one end
is adjustable and detachable. The frame is provided with the usual attachmenti
brackets. In or to the respective edges of the underside of the cover I secure a
stiff spring wire or the like and the wires are preferably bent and continued up the
edges of the overlapping strips which are adapted to cover the slits to the axle holes.
The ends of the wire project from the strips and are adapted to engage in suitable
holes formed in the parts the strips overlap. These as well as the other slits in the
case may be closed by spring buttons or other convenient means. A few, say three,
perforations are made along the edges of the underside of the cover and these per-
forations are adapted to receive the ends of double hooked T pieces mounted on
springs along the lower strip of the frame. The cover is fitted over the frame in
the usual way and the ends of the wires are hooked into the holes under them; the
wired edges of the underside of the cover are then sprung under the hooks and are
thereby retained in position. By releasing the edges from the hooks and with-
drawing the ends of the wires from the holes, the cover may be easily and promptly
removed from the frame.
In both cases the curved end portions of the edges of the underside of the cover
may be sewn together as far as the slits to the axle holes; or instead of being sewn
they may be adapted to be closed by spring button or like devices, or by adaptions
of the means herein before described for closing the major part of the opening along
the said underside of the cover, or by other suitable means.
-
I do not confine myself to the use of the above described spring hooks for retaining
the wired edges, but may use equivalent means for readily securing and releasing
the said wired edges; and generally, I hold myself at liberty to make such further
modifications as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.
T
.
1
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry,
75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
49, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin Patent Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Gear Cases and the like for
Velocipedes and the like.
I, THOMAS WILLIAMS, of Woodhouse Lane, Horschay, Shropshire, Grocer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates to gear cases and the like for velocipedes, and the like.
especially those gear cases which consist of a cover of leather, American cloth or
the like stretched over a light metal frame of channel section surrounding the gear.
The said cover is usually constructed in the form of a bag open along the underside,
and slit from the edges to apertures provided for the passage of the crank axle and
driving wheel axle, and in other ways adapted to fit the machine. Hitherto the
opening on the underside of the cover has, been adapted to be closed by lacing
cord or cords from side to side over hooks rivetted to the edges of the bag after the
manner of lacing the upper parts of some boots; the slits in the cover also are
usually adapted to be closed by lacing: The process of lacing involves the expen-
a

page_text: diture of a considerable amount of time and is frequently rendered still more
inconvenient by the hooks closing, breaking or becoming detached.
The object of my invention is to provide a leather or like gear case the cover of
which can be readily attached and detached in a minimum of time, and it consists
principally in improved means for closing the opening along the underside of the
cover.
And in order that my invention may be properly understood I will describe the
same with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein,
Figure I is a general view of a gear case frame constructed according to one part
of my invention, for application to a rear driving safety bicycle, part of the said
frame being detached.
Figure II is a transverse section on the line II-II in Fig. I but with the covering
fitted to the frame and the detached part of the frame in place.
Figure III is a side elevation of a gear case constructed according to another part
of my invention.
Figure IV is a transverse section on the line IV-IV in Fig. III.
Figure is a general view of the rear end of a gear case constructed according to
my invention and showing certain details and a modification in construction.
Figures VI and VII show respectively end and side views of two spring-mounted
hooks suitable for use in connection with the gear case shown in Figs. III and IV.
Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the drawings. For con-
venience of illustration various scales are employed in the drawings.
According to the method of carrying out my invention illustrated by Figs. I
and II, I construct the channel section frame in three principal parts. The part 2
comprises the top length 3 and the two curved portions 4, 5 which terminate
respectively under the two chain wheels when the guard is in place on the machine;.
this part is adapted to be attached to the chain stay of the machine by the usual
brackets 6, 7. The lower ends of these brackets extend approximately into a line
connecting the two ends of the first part of the frame and are curved transversely
to such line as shown. The second and third parts of the frame consist of two
curved strips 8, 9 which when placed together side by side constitute the bottom
length of the frame. The said strips 8, 9 are adapted to be secured in or to the
respective edges of the underside of the cover 10 by sewing, rivetting or otherwise.
The respective ends of the part 2 of the frame and the transversely curved lower
ends of the brackets 6, 7 are each perforated with a pair of holes 11 and 12
respectively. The strips 8, 9 are constructed of strip steel or other suitable springy
material and are provided with studs 13 corresponding to the holes 11 and with
other studs 14 corresponding to the holes 12 respectively. In fitting the cover in
position on the frame, the studs 14 are engaged with the holes 12 in the ends of the
brackets 6, 7 and then the ends of the strips 8, 9 are sprung within the ends of
the part 2 of the frame, and the studs 13 positioned in the holes 11 therein, thus
securing the parts of the case together and putting a suitable tension on the cover.
Instead of the studs 13 and holes 11, the ends of the strips 8, 9 may be formed
into tongues adapted to be sprung into sockets formed at the ends of the first part
of the frame by folding in the edges thereof, or other equivalent devices may bo
employed. The slits 15 to the axle holes 16 et cetera are preferably provided, an
best seen in Fig. III, with overlapping strips 17 and are closed by spring buttons 18
or other suitable fastenings. The strips 17 also cover the ends of the first part of
the cover, and an overlapping strip 19 may be attached to one edge of the underside
of the case so as to cover the abutting edges. By opening the fastenings at the
slits and by springing out the parts 8, 9 of the frame the cover 10 may be readily
detached in a very short space of time.
According to the method of carrying out my invention illustrated by Figs. IIL
to VII, I employ a channel section frame of usual construction and preferably that
type in which one end (20) is adjustable and detachable. The frame is provided
with the usual attachment brackets 6, 7. In or to the respective edges of the
underside of the cover 10 I secure by sewing or otherwise a stiff spring wire or the

page_text: Like, 21 (hereinafter referred to as wire). The wires are preferably bent as shown
and continued up the edges of the overlapping strips 17 which are adapted to cover
the slits 15 to the axle holes 16. The ends 22 of the wire project from the strips 17
and are adapted to engage in suitable holes 23 formed in the parts of the cover
which the strips overlap (see Fig. V where the end 22 is ready to engage in the
hole 23). These, as well as the other slits in the case, may be closed by spring
buttons 18 or other convenient means. A few, say three, perforations 24 are made
along the edges of the underside of the cover and the portions of the wire thus
locally bared are adapted to receive the ends of double hooked T pieces 25 mounted
on springs 26 along the lower strips 89 of the frame. The cover 10 is fitted over,
the frame in the usual way and the ends 22 of the wires are hooked into the holes 23
under them; the wired edges of the underside of the cover are then sprung laterally
under the hooks 25 and are thereby retained in position. By raising the hooks
and releasing the edges of the cover therefrom, and by withdrawing the ends of the
wires from the holes 23, the cover may be easily and promptly removed from the
frame.
In both cases one or both of the curved end portions 27 of the edges of the under-
side of the cover may be sewn together as far as the slits to the axle holes as shown
in Fig. III. Or instead of being sewn, they may be adapted to be closed by spring
button or like devices, or by adaptions of the means hereinbefore described for
closing the major part of the opening along the said underside of the cover, as for
example shown in Fig. V, where the sewing is discontinued at or about the horizontal
lino and the edges of the lower, separated parts of the curved end portions are
provided with stiffening wires 21" and perforations which locally bare the said
wires in the manner herein before described; similarly spring hooks 25ª carried
by the end 20 of the frame are adapted to engage with the wires 21" at the bared
portions thereof and hold the said separated parts detachably together.
Figs. VI and VII show convenient forms of spring mounted looks but I do not
confine myself to the use of such hooks for retaining the wired edges of the cover,
but may use equivalent means for readily securing and releasing the said wired
edges and generally, I hold myself at liberty to make such modifier tions as fairly
fall within the scope of my invention; for instance the opening may be made along
the top instead of along the bottom of the cover.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim, is:-
1. In gear cases and the like having flexible covers stretched over skeleton frames,
the means therein described for closing the opening along the bottom or top of
the cover.
2. In gear cases and the like having flexible covers stretched over skeleton
frames, constructing such frames of three principal parts, two of which (the second
and third) are secured to the respective edges of the cover and adapted to be secured
to the first part and the carrying brackets by certain studs on the said second and
third parts being engaged with holes in the ends of the brackets and by certain
other studs on the said second and third parts being sprung into holes in the ends
of the first part whereby also the cover is secured to the frame and the opening
along the bottom or top thereof closed, substantially as set forth.
3. In gear cases constructed as described in claiming clause 2 hereof, the use
of an overlapping strip to cover the abutting edges of the cover substantially as
set forth.
4. In gear cases and the like having flexible covers stretched over skeleton frames,
securing a wire or the like to the edges of the cover and providing the frame with
spring hooks or the like adapted to detachably hold the wired edges of the cover,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In gear cases and the like having flexible covers stretched over skeleton frames,
and having wires or the like secured to the edges of the cover, adapting such wires

page_text: or the like to close the slits to the axle holes by the ends of the wires projecting from,
the covering strips and engaging in holes adapted to receive them in the under-
lying portions of the cover, substantially as herein described.
6. In gear cases of the kind referred to in the preceding claiming clauses, sewing
together the curved end portions of the edges of the cover as far as the slits to tha
axle holes.
7. In gear cases of the kind referred to in the preceding claiming clauses detach-
ably securing together the curved end portions of the edges of the cover adjacent
to the slits to the axle holes, by spring buttons or like devices, or by adaptions of
the means herein described for closing the opening along the bottom or top of the
cover..
8. The improved gear case or the like for velocipedes and the like, constructed
substantially as herein described and as illustrated by Figs. I and II of the accom-
panying drawings.
9. The improved gear case or the like for velocipedes and the like, constructed
substantially as herein described and as illustrated by Figs. III, IV, V, VI and VII
of the accompanying drawings.
c accompanying drawings.
Dated this 7th day of February 1898.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry,
75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.