Improvements in or relating to Cycle Mud Guards and Gear Cases.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 11th July, 1899 -Accepted, 30th Sept., 1899
Improvements in or relating to Cycle Mud Guards and Gear Cases.
We, THOMAS MORTON SCHOFIELD, of 113, Sussex Road, Southport, Engineer,
and GEORGE CRAVEN SCHOFIELD, of 45, Tithebarn Road, Southport, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of our said.invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates chiefly to mud-guards as used with cycles, and has for
its object to provide simple and efficient means whereby a mud-guard may be
expeditiously applied to, or removed from the wheel of a cycle, and a further
object is to produce a mud-guard, which when detached from the cycle will be
capable of lying in small compass, or of being readily stowed away.
To that end our invention consists essentially of one or more spring catches
or tongues on a mud-guard, and a corresponding number of sockets on the frame
of the cycle (or vice versa), for example, one on the bottom bracket, and one
between the forks or stays of the machine frame for the rear wheel of a safety.
bicycle, and one connected to the fork crown of the front wheel.
From each guard we extend a set of rods or wires towards the wheel axle, and
at their extremities provide them with sockets similar to those aforesaid, de-
signed to engage with spring tongues or catches mounted on the said axle, its
bracket, or the fork or frame of the machine.
Each socket as the mud-guard is applied to the wheel is adapted to engage
with the respective spring tongues or catches, and thus firmly hold the guard in
position, and to each socket is fitted a stud or button adapted, on pressure being
applied, to release the spring tongue, and allow the guard to be removed.
The form of catch we prefer to employ is of U formation with a slight snug
or detent designed to enter a slot of like proportions in the socket, and thereby
serve to hold the guard in a manner which prevents all rattling.
To further ensure against the guard rattling, we may line the socket, or cover
the spring catch, with india-rubber, also cover the edges of the guard with india-
rubber.
The guard may be of the ordinary shape and material and arched to the shape
of wheel, but we prefer to make it in flexible material, and in a normal condition
to lie straight, but when required for use be adapted to follow the curvature of
the wheel to which it is applied. By so making the guard and causing the
rods aforesaid to fold against the guard, it will be seen that when removed from
the cycle the guard may be readily stowed away, or hung up without occupying
such room.
In the case of mud-guards and dress-guards combined we connect the cords to
a quadrant arm or bracket fixed to the rods, or detachably affixed to the cycle

page_text: Our invention is also applicable to gear cases, the abutting edges or respective
halves being provided with spring catch or tongue, and sockets respectively.
Dated this 10th day of October 1898.
Improvements in or relating to Cycle Mud Guards and Gear Cases.
We, THOMAS MORTON SCHOFIELD, of 113, Sussex Road, Southport, Engineer,
and GEORGE CRAVEN SCHOFIELD, of 45, Tithebarn Road, Southport, 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: ----
Our invention relates chiefly to mud guards as used with bicycles and has for
its object to provide simple and efficient means whereby a mud guard may be
expeditiously applied to or removed from the wheels of a bicycle.
To this end our invention consists essentially of spring catches or tongues on
or connected with the mud-guard and a corresponding number of sockets on or
connected with the frame of the bicycle (or vice versa). Each catch or tongue
as the mud guard is applied to the wheel is adapted to engage with one of the
sockets, and firmly hold the mud guard in position. The form of catch we prefer
to employ is of U formation with a slight snug or detent designed to enter a
slot of like proportions in the socket.
In the case of mud-guards and dress-guards combined we connect the cords to
a quadrant arm or bracket fixed to stay rods, or detachably affixed to the cycle
frame.
To make our invention clear we have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings
in which
Fig. 1 illustrates a gents' safety bicycle with mud-guards shewn attached to
the machine in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 illustrates one form of
the spring catches separately.
Fig. 3 illustrates another form, and Figs. 4 and 5 shew the parts thereof
separately.
Fig. 6 illustrates one of the sockets with which the catches are designed to
engage in attaching the mud-guard to the bicycle.
Fig. 7 illustrates one arrangement for attaching the socket to the bicycle frame
or wheel forks.
Figs. 8 and 9 illustrate another arrangement for use chiefly where the socket
requires to lie between the forks of the back wheel.
Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate arrangements for attaching the socket to the wheel
axle, or to a pin or bolt.
Fig. 12 illustrates the attachment for the fork crown of the wheel.
Fig. 13 illustrates the arrangement we prefer to employ for mounting the
spring catch which engages with a socket near the axle when the mud-guard is
combined with a dress-guard.
Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate another way of fixing or mounting the socket, i.e.,
brazed or fixed in the frame of the machine.
Fig. 16 illustrates a catch and socket ready to engage, and Fig. 17 shews them
engaged, and in the position they occupy when attaching the mud guard to the

page_text: machine. Fig. 16 also shews the manner in which we provide for the proper
setting or adjustment of a catch in relation to its socket.
Figs. 18 and 19 illustrate modifications.
In accordance with our invention we apply spring catches (A) to the mud-
guard, and sockets (13) to the frame of the machine, but some or all of the sockets
may be on the mud guard, and some or all of the catches may be on the frame.
In Fig. 1 we shew for the rear wheel of a gents' bicycle a socket fastened to the
bottom bracket (C) of the machine, another socket secured between the forks (D)
and another carried by the wheel axle (E). The spring catches for engaging
with such sockets are on the mud-guard (F) and on the ends of the stay rods (G).
For the front wheel we shew one socket attached to the fork crown (H), and
another socket carried by the wheel axle (I). The spring catches are on the
mud-guard (J) and on the ends of stay rods (K).
Each socket is, by preference, of the form shewn in Fig. 6, slightly tapered
longitudinally and transversely and formed with a slot or opening (L) at or
near its wider end, and each spring catch is, by preference, in the form shewn
in Fig. 2, or Figs. 3, or the like. The catch shewn in Fig. 2 consists of a strip
of spring metal, bent U shape and provided with a snug or detent (M), which,
under the elasticity of the metal, is caused to project through the opening (L)
of the socket and thereby lock the catch in the socket. The catch shewn in
Fig. 3 is in two portions, one of which is formed with up-turned edges and is
an exact fit of the socket, whilst the other portion carries the detent (M), and
is of spring metal. The means we employ for holding or securing the sockets
(or catches) in position may vary. For the bottom bracket (C) we prefer the
arrangement shewn in Fig. 7. For the forks (D) we prefer the arrangement
shewn in Figs. and 9, which consists of a bridge and socket made all in one
piece, and so shaped as to afford an elastic support to the mud-guard. For the
axle (E), or (I) we prefer the socket to be made with a lug or "eye" (B*) as shewn
in Fig. 10, or a claw piece (B) secured to the frame by bolt and nut and as
shewn in Fig. 11.
In fixing the guards to the machine the spring catches are all carefully guided
into the sockets and a slight push causes them to become locked in position.
For releasing the catches we provide a stud, button or thumbpiece, which on
being depressed allows of the detent (M) being withdrawn from opening (L)
and of the mud-guard being quickly detached.
For humoring the adjustment of the spring catches in relation to the sockets,
we may provide a slot (A³) for each catch and secure the catch at any point
along such slot by a bolt which passes through the slot as shewn in Fig. 16.
In Figs. 14 and 15 we shew how the sockets may be embedded in the forks
of the machine frame and in such connection be adapted for receiving the spring
catches carried by the rods (G), or (K) as shewn by dotted lines in Fig. 1. An
opening is formed in the frame and a socket, open at both ends and provided
with opening (L), is brazed in it, or the frame itself is prepared to form a socket
in the course of manufacture.
To ensure against rattling we may line the socket or cover the catch with
india-rubber or the like, but in practise the taper fit of the lower portion is
sufficient. .
When applied to mud guards combined with dress guards, we employ a quad-
rant (N) carried by a stay rod (0) as shewn in Fig. 12, and pivot the spring
catch on a depending support (P) which allows the catch to readily alter its
position to suit the position of the socket.
This arrangement is preferred because it renders the mud and dress guard
self-contained, and permits of both being readily attached and detached without
the need of lacing or unlacing the dress-guard.
In lieu of the spring catch being on the tongue it may be in or on the socket
with a slot in the tongue as shewn in Figs. 18 and 19, but we prefer the form
aforesaid

page_text: Whilst chiefly described in relation to a safety bicycle it will be obvious that
our invention is equally applicable for use with the mud guards of tricycles and
other velocipedes and in any suitable relation to such mud guards; also for
use with gear cases (i.e., mud-guards for the chain or other gearing) for connect-
ing the parts thereof to each other as aforesaid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1: In means for attaching mud-guards to bicycles tricycles and the like,
sockets and spring-catches or tongues connected respectively to the machine
frame and to the mud guards, and adapted to engage with each other, substan-
tially as herein set forth and illustrated on the accompanying drawings.
2: Spring catches or tongues of the form herein described and mounted and
operating as and for the purposes set forth.
3: Sockets of the form herein described and shewn on the acompanying
drawings, mounted and operating as and for the purposes set forth.
4: In a mud and dress guard combined, the combination of a quadrant
bracket carried by stay rods, and a spring catch (or socket) pivotally attached
thereto, as and for the purposes set forth.
D
1
13 1
1000
THOMAS MORTON SCHOFIELD.
GEORGE CRAVEN SCHOFIELD.
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Patent Agents to the Applicants.