Mudguards for Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 9th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 11th May, 1897
Mudguards for Bicycles.
We EDWIN HODGSON of Number 4 Worsley Grove Stockport Road, Levens-
hulme in the Parish of Manchester in the County of Lancaster Mercantile Clerk
and EDWIN HODGSON (nephew of the above named Edwin Hodgson) of Number 6
New Street Miles Platting in the Parish of Manchester aforesaid Mechanic do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The mudguard for the front wheel of the bicycle consists of:-
1st. A tin bobbin which is fastened on to a spindle running through the entire
length of the said bobbin.
2ndly. A frame made of flat wrought iron. The ends of this frame are bent up
at right angles so as to form bearings for the spindle with tin bobbin attached
thereto. A hole is drilled in each end of this frame through which the ends of
the said spindle with tin bobbin attached thereto pass. In the bottom of this
frame is drilled a hole for use in fixing a pair of V clamps to the mudguard frame.
The clamps in turn secure the mudguard itself to the lower backbone of the
bicycle.
3rdly. A drum in which to fix a clock spring. After the said clock spring is
fixed a flat disc is fastened on to the end of the said drum for the purpose of
keeping the said clock spring in position.
4thly. A clock spring which is fixed in the said drum. It is by means of this
clock spring that the canvas of the mudguard when not in use is wound up
automatically on to the said tin bobbin. One end of this spring is passed through
a slot made in the top of the said drum whilst the other end is fastened on to a pin
inserted in the end of the said spindle.
thly. A pair of V clamps in the top of which is fastened a screw and on top of
this screw is a circular milled nut. The said V clamps are fastened together by
means of two screws. In order to couple the pair of V clamps to frame of
mudguard the screw fixed in the top of the said V clamps is passed through the
hole made in bottom of mudguard frame and then the circular milled nut is
screwed on portion of screw which projects through the hole in the bottom of the
said mudguard frame.
MUDGUARD FOR BACK WHEEL OF BICYCLE.
The only difference between the front and back wheel mudguards is in the
length of the mudguard frame and tin bobbin, in the width of the canvas of the
mudguard and in the method of clamping to bicycle. The clamping of the mud-
guard to the back wheel of bicycle is effected by means of two screws a flat wrought
iron clamp and nuts for the two screws. The two screws are fastened into the
bottom of the mudguard frame.
The back wheel of the bicycle is fitted with two mudguard stays (one flat and
the other round). Pear-shaped pieces of flat wrought iron on which these stays are
loosely rivetted are fixed on the rear hub spindles of the bicycle. The said stays
are rivetted on to the upper part of the said pear-shaped pieces of flat wrought
iron. Before rivetting the flat stay is placed first on the said rivet and the round
stay next to it. These mudguard stays whilst keeping the canvas of the mudguard

page_text: which goes over the top of the back wheel clear of the wheel make the said
mudguard follow the curve of the wheel. On the sides of this flat wrought iron
mudguard stay are screwed two holders which at the bottom end are semicircular
in shape. These holders are placed against the back fork of the bicycle.
POSITIONS OF THE SAID MUDGUARDS ON THE BICYCLE.
The front wheel mudguard is fastened on to the lower backbone of the bicycle
by means of the pair of V clamps aforesaid and the back wheel mudguard is.
fastened to the back fork of the bicycle by means of the flat wrought iron clamp.
before mentioned.
When the front wheel mudguard is not in use the cyclist by slackening the 1
circular milled nut is enabled to turn this mudguard so as to make it follow the
direction of the lower backbone of the bicycle. When this is done and the nut is
tightened the mudguard is not only out of danger but it is practically out of
sight.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE METHOD OF OPENING AND HOLDING OPEN THE
SAID MUDGUARDS.
MUDGUARD FOR FRONT WHEEL.
Unwind canvas from tin bobbin tie the short end of the said canvas by means of
the lace provided for the purpose to the bottom head cup of the bicycle and tie
the lace placed about the centre of the long length of the canvas to the lower
backbone of the bicycle.
MUDGUARD FOR BACK WHEEL.
The canvas for this mudguard is in two lengths. The end of one of these
lengths is fastened permanently to the top of the flat wrought iron mudguard stay
whilst the end of the other length of canvas is passed over the bridges of the
bicycle and then fastened to the bottom of the diagonal or down tube by means of
a lace in the end of the said canvas of the mudguard.
Dated this Eighth day of May One thousand eight hundred and ninety-six.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Mudguards for Bicycles.
We EDWIN HODGSON of Number 4 Worsley Grove Stockport Road,
Levenshulme, in the Parish of Manchester in the County of Lancaster Mercantile
Clerk and EDWIN HODGSON (nephew of the above named Edwin Hodgson) of
Number 6 New Street Miles Platting in the Parish of Mauchester aforesaid
Mechanic do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be per ormed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention consists of
1. A bobbin made of tin or other light and suitable material. This bobbin is
soldered on to a spindle which runs through the middle of the said bobbin. The

page_text: ends of this spindle are made to project a little way beyond the ends of the said
bobbin. One end of the mudguard is fastened to this bobbin. The mudguards
will be made of waterproof or other suitable material.
2. A frame or bracket made of flat wrought iron. This frame or bracket
consists of bottom and two sides. In each of the sides a hole is bored for the
purpose of forming bearings in which the spindle with bobbin soldered thereon
revolves.
3. A circular box the bottom of which is fitted against one side of the said frame
or bracket. A hole is bored through the centre of this box and through this hole
one end of the spindle aforesaid passes. This circular box is closed by means of a
lid which will be screwed on top of the said box. This method of closing the box
gives every facility for cleaning (if and when necessary) the clock spring which
will work in the said box and it will also keep the said circular box practically
dust-proof.
4. A clock spring which works in the aforesaid circular box. One end of the
said clock spring will be fastened to a pin inserted in the end of the spindle inside
the said circular box whilst the other end of the said clock spring will be hooked
on to a small lip or catch provided for this purpose inside the said circular box.
5. Two stays one round and the other flat. On top of the flat stay is fastened
the other end of the mudguard. When the mudguard is extended the round stay is
used for holding the mudguard from the wheel of the bicycle. This round stay
will be placed at a point midway between the bobbin soldered on to the spindle
aforesaid and the extreme end of the mudguard. By means of these stays the
mudguards are made to follow the direction of the wheels of the bicycle. These
stays can he of any convenient length or shape and will be fitted loosely on to
rivets fastened in and near the centre of pear shaped pieces of flat wrought iron.
Holes will be bored in the ends of these pear shaped pieces of flat wrought iron so
that they may be placed on the ends of the hub spindles of the front and back
wheels of the bicycle. These pear shaped pieces of flat wrought iron will be made
with a lip on one side of and near to the top thereof. The sides of these flat stays
will be pressed under these lips so as to keep the mudguards perfectly rigid when
in use.
6. Methods of clamping the mudguards to the bicycle.
The clamping of the mudguards to the bicycle may be effected either (1) by
making two slots in the bottom of the said frame or bracket through which slots
are passed two pieces of wire hooked at one end and straight at the other. The
straight ends are screwed for the purpose of screwing thereon a round nut
which nut will be milled on the edge and square on the face so as to enable the
cyclist to fasten the mudguards to the bicycle either by hand or by means
of a small key provided for the purpose. The hooked ends of the wire will
be flattened so as not to damage the parts of the bicycle round which they are
placed. Or (2) by means of two straight screws fastened in the bottom of the
frame or bracket over which screws a flat wrought iron clamp is passed holes having
been previously made in the clamp for the purpose. Nuts are provided for
clamping the mudguards to the bicycle. Whichever method of clamping is
adopted the mudguards will be clamped to the crown head or top of the front fork
and to the top of the back fork of the bicycle.
The mudguard for the back wheel of the bicycle will be in two lengths one end
of each length being fastened to the bobbin aforesaid. The length of mudguard
taking the direction of the diagonal or down tube of the bicycle will be provided
with eyelet holes and laces in the middle and at the end respectively for fastening
the other end of this length of mudguard to the middle of the diagonal or down
tube and round the bottom of the pedal bracket of the bicycle. The other length
of mudguard which passes over the top of the back wheel will be fastened to the
top of the flat stay aforesaid. When it is desired to close the front wheel
mudguard press each of the flat stays from under the lips on the pear shaped pieces
of flat wrought iron and the mudguard will close automatically by means of the

page_text: clock spring aforesaid. In closing the back wheel mudguard first untie the laces
which fasten the length of mudguard to the diagonal or down tube and round the
bottom of the pedal bracket of the bicycle then press from under the lips
aforesaid the sides of the flat stays and this mudguard will also close automatically.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a front elevation with straight clamping arrangement of our mudguards
for bicycles.
Figs. 2 & 3 are end elevations of the same.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of our mudguards for bicycles with hooked clamping
arrangement.
Fig. 5 shews the alteration made in the bottom portion of mudguard frame when
the hooked clamping arrangement is adopted.
.
Figs. 6 & 7 are the front and side elevations respectively of flat mudguard stay.
Figs. 8 & 9 are the front and side elevations respectively of round mudguard
stav.
Figs. 10 & 11 are the front and back elevations respectively of pear-shaped
pieces of flat wrought iron to which the flat and round stays are loosely
rivetted up.
Fig. 12 is a full length elevation of rivet for rivetting up flat and round stays to
the pear-shaped pieces of flat wrought iron.
A is bobbin on which the material of the mudguard is rolled one end of the said
material being fastened to the said bobbin.
B is spindle on which the said bobbin A is soldered.
C is frame in which the said bobbin A revolves.
D is circular box for holding clock spring K.
E is lid which is screwed on top of the said circular box D.
Fare screws which are fastened in the bottom of the mudguard frame C when
the mudguard is fixed to the bicycle by means of the flat wrought iron clamp G.
G is flat wrought iron clamp for clamping mudguard to bicycle.
Hare nuts for fastening mudguard to bicycle when the flat wrought iron clamp G
is used.
I is pin for securing one end of the said clock spring K to the end of spindle B.
J is lip soldered on to the inside of the circular box D to which lip the other end
of the clock spring K is fastened.
K is clock spring by means of which the material of the mudguard is rolled
automatically on to the said bobbin A.
L are nuts (part square and part milled) for fastening mudguard to bicycle when
the two pieces of wire hooked at one end and straight at the other M are used.
M are the two pieces of wire hooked at one end and straight at the other for
clamping mudguard to bicycle.
N shews the bottom of mudguard frame C with slots O therein when the hooked
clamping arrangement is adopted.
O are the slots through which the two pieces of wire hooked at one end and
straight at the other pass.
P is flat stay to the top of which the other end of the material of the mudguard
is fastened.
Qare holes in the ends of flat and round stays for rivetting up to pear-shaped
pieces of flat wrought iron.
R is a round stay for holding the material of mudguard when open from the
bicycle wheel.
S are pear-shaped pieces of flat wrought iron to which the mudguard stays (flat
and round) are loosely rivetted up.
T are front and back views of lips on pear-shaped pieces of flat wrought iron.
U are small holes in pear-shaped pieces of flat wrought iron through which holes
the end of rivet W passes.
Vare holes bored in the ends of the pear-shaped pieces of flat wrought iron for
placing same on the hub spindles of the bicycle."

page_text: W is rivet for loosely rivetting up flat and round stays to pear-shaped pieces of
flat wrought iron.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven--
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In mudguards automatically rolled on to bobbins by means of clock springs
which work inside circular boxes fitted against one side of frames or brackets and
in which frames or brackets the bobbins aforesaid which are soldered on to spindles
revolve.
2. In round and flat stays loosely rivetted on and near to the centre of pear-
shaped pieces of flat wrought iron a lip being made on one side of and near to the
top of these pear shaped pieces of flat wrought iron.
3. In clamps hooked at one end and straight at the other and in straight clamps.
both sorts of clamps being provided with nuts for clamping the mudguards to the-
bicycle.
EDWIN HODGSON.
EDWIN HODGSON...