Improvements in or relating to Gear Cases, Chain Guards, and the like for Velocipedes and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 8th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 6th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Gear Cases, Chain Guards, and the
like for Velocipedes and the like.
I, CALEB THOMAS COOPER of 34 Ford Street, Coventry in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to those gear cases, chain guards and the like for
velocipedes and the like, in which the frame of the case or guard is constructed
of channel or other section material in two portions. The frame is made to follow
the contour of the chain or other gear; and in or about a line drawn vertically
through the rear axle it is divided forming two portions which are united by
sliding joints to allow of variation in the length of the frame to accommodate the
adjustment of the chain or other gear.
Hitherto these sliding joints have been constructed with the two portions of the
frame overlapping; one overlapping portion, the inner, has been considerably
reduced in width to form a tongue; and the other overlapping portion, the outer,
has had its edges or sides slit and turned over inwards to form a sleeve for the
tongued portion to slide in. The turning in of the edges of the outer portion to
form the sleeve reduces the width of the outer portion at this part to nearly the
narrowness of the tongue. A recess is thus formed in each edge of the frame or
guard at the joints, causing an untidy appearance which it is the principal object
of my invention to overcome.
According to my invention I form the tongue on the inner portion, as above
mentioned and preferably "set" it down or in to the extent of the thickness of
the outer portion, so that the joint may be flush exteriorly when finished. But
instead of slitting and turning in the edges of the outer overlapping portion I.
press or otherwise form out of the material of such overlapping portion two or
more opposing ears. These ears have their free ends directed towards the
centre of the material; the roots of the ears are arranged parallel to the edges of
such material and at a distance apart corresponding to the width of the tongue of
the inner portion of the material. The ears are set down to a depth corresponding
to the thickness of the tongue and form a sleeve adapted to receive the said tongue
with more or less freedom as desired. The corners at the free end of the tongue
are preferably taken off to facilitate its introduction into the said sleeve. The
ears may be of semicircular or other contour and there may be one, two or more
at each side of each joint.
It will be obvious that according to this construction the width of the frame is.
maintained throughout and the unsightly recesses at the joints are avoided and that
a very firm & simple joint is obtained.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18 Hertford Street, Coventry, Patent Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Gear Cases, Chain Guards, and the
like for Velocipedes and the like.
I, CALEB THOMAS COOPER of 34 Ford Street, Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained!
in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to those gear cases, chain guards and the like for
velocipedes and the like, in which the frame of the case or guard is constructed
of channel or other section material in two portions. The frame is made to follow
the contour of the chain or other gear; and in or about a line drawn vertically
through the rear axle it is divided, forming two portions which are united by
sliding joints to allow of variation in the length of the frame to accommodate the
adjustment of the chain or other gear.
Hitherto these sliding joints have been constructed with the two portions of the
frame overlapping; one overlapping portion, the inner, has been considerably
reduced in width to form a tongue; and the other overlapping portion, the outer,
bas had its edges or sides slit and turned over inwards to form a sleeve for the
tongued portion to slide in. The turning in of the edges of the outer portion to
form the sleeve reduces the width of the outer portion at this part to nearly the
narrowness of the tongue. A recess is thus formed in each edge of the frame or
guard at the joints, causing an untidy appearance which it is the principal object
of my invention to overcome.
According to my invention I forin the sliding joints in the manner shown in
Figures II to V, of the accompanying drawings, in which corresponding parts
are marked with the same reference numerals where shown.
Figure I is a plan of a sliding joint as usually constructed at the present
time.
Figure II is a plan of a sliding joint constructed according to my invention.
Figure III is a side view of the same with the parts separated.
Figure IV is an end view of the outer part of the joint.
Figure V is a side view on a reduced scale of a gear case or chain guard frame
constructed with sliding joints according to my invention.
In carrying out my invention I form the tongue 2. on the inner portion 3 as
above mentioned, and preferably "set" it down or in to the extent of the thickness
of the outer portion 4, as shown in Figure III, so that the joint may be flush
exteriorly when finished. But instead of slitting and turning in the edges 5 of
the outer overlapping portion 4, as shown in Figure I, I press or otherwise form
out of the material of such overlapping portion 4, two or more opposing ears 6.
These ears have their free ends directed towards the centre line of the material;
the roots of the ears are arranged parallel to the edges of such material and at a
distance apart corresponding to the width of the tongue 2. of the inner portion of
the material. The ears 6 are set down to a depth corresponding to the thickness
of the tongue 2, as shown in Figure IV and form a sleeve adapted to receive the
said tongue with more or less freedom as desired. The corners at the free end of
the tongue are preferably taken off as shown to facilitate the introduction of the
said tongue into the said sleeve. The ears may be semi-circular as shown or of
other suitable contour and there may be one, two or more at each side of each
joint.
It will be obvious that according to this construction the width of the frame is
maintained throughout, the unsightly recesses at the joints are avoided, and that a
very firm and simple joint is obtained.

page_text: I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details
described herein or shown in the accompanying drawings, but reserve the right of
including such variations and modifications as fairly fall within the scope of my
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In gear cases, chain guards and the like, having frames of the kind herein
referred to, forming one end of one part of the frame into a tongue of reduced
with, and forming out of the corresponding end of the other part of the frame two.
or more opposing ears which together constitute a sleeve adapted to receive the
said tongue and thus form a sliding joint, substantially as and for the purpose set.
forth.
2. The improved sliding joint for the frames of gear cases, chain guards and the
like, whereby the width of such frames is maintained throughout, substantially as.
herein described and illustrated.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry, 75 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
49 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, Patent Agent for the Applicant.