Improvements in Mud Guards for Cycles, Motor Cars, and other Road Vehicles, applicable also as Guards for Machinery generally.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 4th June, 1898
Improvements in Mud Guards for Cycles, Motor Cars, and other Road
Vehicles, applicable also as Guards for Machinery generally.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM MEADWAY, of 354, Bethnal Green Road, London, N.E.,
Sanitary Inspector, 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:-
This invention for "Improvements in mud guards for cycles, motor cars and
other road vehicles applicable also as guards for machinery generally
"has for
its object to provide an arrangement which is light, which can be taken off and
folded in a small space and which is free from noise and rattling, and consists
essentially in constructing the mud-guards of a pneumatic tube or tubes, caused
when inflated to follow the curve of the wheel and prevent mud splashes from
reaching the rider. The mudguards may be combined with dress guards for
ladies machines. The same or similar arrangement may be applied as a guard for
machinery generally.
Referring to the accompanying drawings Figs. 1 2 and 3 are cross sections show-
ing arrangements of pneumatic mudguard constructed according to this inven-
tion.
Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are sections showing various other arrangements of
the pneumatic tubes, the wheel rim however being omitted in each case.
Figs. 11, 12, and 13 are sections showing methods of constructing the pneumatic
tubes. Fig. 14 is a view showing a pneumatic framework for attaching to the
wheel.
A tube a adapted to be filled with air under pressure is constructed of non-elastic
material and is woven or otherwise formed so that the edge a¹ which is nearest to
the wheel is shorter than the outer edge a² so that when inflated the tube tends to
curve round and follow the curve of the wheel.
In the arrangement illustrated in Fig. 1 the tube a constructed as above described
is fitted to a band b of leather or other suitable material so as to make the guard
sufficiently wide for practical purposes. Instead of being applied to the tube a
at a¹ the band b may be applied at a².
In Fig. 2 two air tubes a are used and the band b is arranged between. Side
flaps b¹ are connected to the tubes a so as to more fully guard the wheel. Instead
of two separate tubes one tube only may be used doubled on itself and on the return
taking the place of the second tube.
In Fig. 3 instead of circular tubes, the air under pressure is contained between
the two portions a³ and at arranged so that when inflated the tendency will be to
assume a curved form, as described above in connection with the air tubes a and
suitable partitions or other staying devices c are arranged within in order to keep
the two parts a³ and a in position relative to one another. If partitions are used
communication must be made between the divisions.
Figs. 4 to 10 show various alternative arrangements, the construction being
indicated by the sections.

page_text: In Fig. 4 the band b is attached centrally to the tube a. In Fig. 5 the tubes a
are used attached together without a band b, while in Fig. 6 the band 6 is shown
applied between the two tubes a. It may also be arranged outside the outer tube
or inside the inner tube or in other ways as is deemed best for practical purposes.
In Fig. 7 a number of tubes a are connected together so as to form in section
when inflated a curve approximating to the shape of the tyre. The tubes being
connected restrain one another and keep the desired form. Instead of being
directly connected bands may be arranged between if desired.
In Fig. 8 three tubes a are shown connected by bands b² these being arranged so
that the guard more nearly approximates to the shape of the tyre. In these
arrangements instead of separate tubes one tube doubled on itself one or more
times may be used.
The arrangement shown in Fig. 9 is similar to that shown in Fig. 4 but provided
with side flaps b¹.
In Fig. 10 one air tube a is used and two bands 63, 6 are arranged to incline
downwards on either side and side flaps 65 are fitted so as to further approximate to
the shape of the wheel tyre.
Other arrangements similar to the above may be used, but the above will show
sufficiently the nature of this invention. Suitable stays may be used in connect-
ing together the air tubes and the bands may be of either hard and firm material
or of flexible material as is found most convenient. The mud-guards constructed
according to this invention are attached in the ordinary manner by means of rods
and other framework, and suitable valves are provided for inflating the air tubes.
Where more than one air tube is employed one valve is preferably connected to all
so that all are inflated simultaneously or the tubes may be connected one to
another.
Figs. 11, 12, and 13 show in section suitable constructions of the air tubes, which
are formed so as to follow the curve of the wheel as hereinbefore described but other
arrangements may also be used.
In Fig. 11 an inner tube as is arranged within a cover a which is closed after the
inner tube as is inserted by lacing as shown at d or by other suitable means.
In Fig. 11 the edges of the cover are shown overlapping but this is not absolutely
necessary. The edges may abut against one another and then be laced. In a
modification which possesses many advantages the outer tube or cover is not divided
at all but is in the form of a continuous tube. The inner air tube is inserted at the
end and drawn through the outer tube or is inserted through an opening formed
at any convenient place. The outer cover is free from projections and is less
likely to collect mud and dust. It is also neater in appearance.
In Figs. 12 and 13 there is no inner tube, the cover itself containing the air,
the thickened portions a, as being pressed together by the internal air pressure so
as to form a tight joint. The overlapping edges are secured together by lacing or
by hooks and eyes or by other suitable means. In a simple arrangement the edges
of the air tube are simply overlapped so as to form a tight joint.
For attaching the mudguards to the wheel pneumatic tubes may be used instead
of rods and other framework. As shown in Fig. 14 the tubes a of the mudguards
are supported by pneumatic tubes e. These are attached to a suitable fitting at f
whereby they are secured on the wheel spindle, or can be detached therefrom. On
inflating these tubes e and the mudguard a which are preferably all connected so
as to be inflated simultaneously, the tubes e will lengthen out and become stiff and
rigid and the tubes a assume their curved form the result being that a framework
carrying the mudguard and supporting it clear of the wheel is formed. When not
required the whole can be detached from the wheel spindle. Instead of arranging
the framework on the wheel spindle the tubes e may be connected to any other
suitable part of the frame.
Mudguards constructed in accordance with this invention when deflated occupy
a very small space and can be taken off and folded up. Also, as they are made of
soft material there is no noise or rattling. If desired the side flaps 6¹ can be

page_text: attached to the dress guard when used for ladies machines so as to combine the
mudguard and the dress guard.
Guards constructed according to this invention can be arranged for machinery
and may be made, so as to cover several wheels, the air tubes being constructed so
as to suitably curve according to circumstances.
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) A mudguard for cycles, motor cars, and other road vehicles applicable also
as a guard for machinery generally consisting of a tube or tubes adapted to be
filled with air under pressure, the said tube or tubes being arranged so that when
inflated they tend to follow the curve of the wheel substantially as described.
(2) A mudguard for cycles, motor cars, and other road vehicles applicable also as
a guard for machinery generally consisting of a tube or tubes adapted to be filled
with air under pressure, the said tube or tubes being so arranged that when inflated
they tend to follow the curve of the wheel, and of a band or bands of suitable
material attached to said tube or tubes so as to complete the construction of the
guard substantially as described.
(3) A mudguard for cycles, motor cars, and other road vehicles applicable also
as a guard for machinery generally consisting of tube or tubes adapted to be filled
with air under pressure, the said tube or tubes being constructed with their outer
periphery longer than the inner so that when inflated they tend to follow the curve
of the wheel, a band or bands of suitable material attached to said tube or tubes and
side flaps to complete the construction of the guard so as to approximate to the
shape of the wheel tyre substantially as described.
(4) A mudguard for cycles, motor cars, and other road vehicles applicable also as
a guard for machinery generally substantially as described with reference to Fig. 1
of the accompanying drawings.
(5) A mudguard for cycles, motor cars, and other road vehicles also as a guard
for machinery generally substantially as described with reference to Fig. 2 of
the accompanying drawings.
(6) A mudguard for cycles, motor cars, and other road vehicles applicable also
as a guard for machinery generally substantially as described with reference to
Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.
(7) A mudguard for cycles, motor cars, and other road vehicles applicable also
as a guard for machinery generally substantially as described with reference to
Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.
(8) A mudguard for cycles, motor cars, and other road vehicles applicable also
as a guard for machinery generally substantially as described with reference to
Fig. 5 or to Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.
(9) A mudguard for cycles, motor cars, and other road vehicles applicable also as
a guard for machinery generally substantially as described with reference to Fig. 7
of the accompanying drawings.
(10) A mudguard for cycles, motor cars, and other road vehicles applicable also
as a guard for machinery generally substantially as described with reference to
Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawings.
(11) A mudguard for cycles, motor cars, and other road vehicles applicable also
as a guard for machinery generally substantially as described with reference to
Fig. 9 of the accompanying drawings.
(12) A mudguard for cycles, motor cars, and other road vehicles applicable also
as a guard for machinery generally substantially as described with reference to
Fig. 10 of the accompanying drawings.
(13) A framework for attaching mudguards to cycles, motor cars, and other road
vehicles consisting of pneumatic tubes which when filled with air become stiff and

page_text: rigid so as to support the mudguard substantially as described with reference to
Fig. 14 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 5th day of February 1898.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.