Improvements in Mudguards for Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mudguards for Cycles.
We WILHELM TOEBE of No. 41 Wörtherstrasse, Berlin N. Cycle Dealer,
and CARL TOEBE of No. 98 Mühlenstrasse, Neustrelitz, Meklenburg Germany,
Post Office Assistant, 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 said invention relates to improvements in mudguards for cycles.
In one form of our said invention a continuous flexible band web or ribbon
which serves to catch the mud extends over both wheels of a bicycle.
In another form of our said invention a separate flexible band or ribbon is
provided for each wheel. The latter construction presents the advantages that a
less length of band or ribbon is needed that the guard may be more tightly
stretched on the front wheel and that splashing of the chain and driver when
turning is avoided. Hereinafter the said flexible band ribbon or webbing is
referred to as the guard.
The main rods or supports which carry the guard hold by their spring and are
provided with an accessory rib or ribs for securing the guard in the desired position.
The main rod is provided with one or more spirals which take on the ends of the
axles and is also formed with hooked ends which engage with the framework of
the machine at the ends of the lower or upper fork. By preference we attach the
guard supports to the ends of the lower fork of a bicycle since this method of
attachment permits the appliance to be used on all forms of bicycles and permits
any desired adjustment of the chain irrespective of the tension of the mudguard.
Holes are formed in the guard to permit of the engagement therewith of the
accessory rib.
In the case of the single guard it runs as usual in mudguards of this type round
the crank shaft and from here over the top of the front wheel to the top of the
frout fork where it is suitably secured. When not in use the supports are folded
together the guard is rolled up and the whole remains resting on the axles and may
be secured in any suitable way to the back fork.
In the case of a separate guard for each wheel the support and guard 'of the
front wheel may be removed when not in use and be sprung on to the axle of the
back wheel and be tied up along with the support and guard of the back wheel..
Great advantages of our said invention as compared with those hitherto used are
that the mudguards when not in use are carried on the cycle itself, thus giving 'no
trouble to the rider in carrying them and they are easily and quickly set in their
proper position and are not liable to derangement by collision in mounting the cycle
and remain perfectly taut, when in use.
In order to more clearly describe our said invention reference is hereinafter made
to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is an enlarged perspective view of a mudguard and supports as 'used when
a single continuous mudguard extends over both wheels.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same when folded together.
Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the same in use on a bicycle.
Fig. 4 is an elevation showing the same when folded up against the rear fork' of
a. bicycle.
Fig. 5 shows the attachment of the same when in use to the ends of the upper
fork.
.
Fig. 6 shows the application when in use of a separate guard to each wheel.

page_text: Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view showing the attachment of the main rods of the
support to the nuts or axle of the front wheel of a bicycle.
Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively elevation and plan of a modification in the attach-
ment to the front wheel.
Fig. 10 illustrates a similar modification as applied to the front wheel.
Referring first to the form shown in Fig. 3 the guard a which is stretched over
both wheels is secured on a roller & carried by the main spring rods e of the support
and runs from there over an accessory rib or strut d (hinged at d' to the main rod c)
to a guide vand thence round the crank bracket m to the top t of the front fork
where it is secured. The spiral turns z' (Fig. 1) are slipped or sprung on to the
projecting ends of the axle of the rear wheel and the hooked ends e' of the spirals
take against the ends of the lower fork tubes B (Fig. 3). The hereinbefore
mentioned accessory ribs d engage by means of a stud (Figs. 1 and 3) with holes &
in the guard a. This not only enables them to be fixed where desired but enables
the guard a to be stretched more tightly. The stretching takes place automatically
as a consequence of the resiliency of the spring rods c.
In Figs. 1 and 2 are shown perspective drawings to a larger scale of the guard
and holder as open in use and as closed. Spring books A are provided into which
the accessory ribs d d are snapped when the guard is not in use. The guard a
being rolled up the whole is secured in any convenient way at the top & (Fig. 4)
to the top fork A. The lower end of the device rests with the spiral turns on the
projections from the axle.
The modification shown in Fig. 5 only differs from the construction above
described in that the booked ends e engage with the upper fork A instead of with
the lower fork B and this construction is only set forth for use in cases where
owing to peculiarities of build of any particular cycle it is not convenient to cause
the hooks to engage with the lower fork B. When not in use this form of our said
invention is carried in a similar way to that already described.
In the form of our said invention illustrated in Fig. 6, with a separate guard for
each wheel there is only a difference in the ends of the main spring rod e to adapt
the support to the front wheel. In this form the guard of the back wheel only
extends as far as the crank bracket or bearing to which it is secured. The shape
of the end of the main rod to adapt it to this form is illustrated in Fig. 7. It is
not a complete spiral but has only about three quarters of a turn at the place where
it is sprung on the nuts n of the axle. A continuation of the spring rod c is formed
as a hook e which clips the front fork as clearly shown in Fig. 7. The guard a
is held and stretched in a similar way to that described with reference to the back
wheel. The back wheel guard thus extends from 6 to i and over to m while the
front wheel guard extends from 6 over i to t. For purpose of transport on the
cycle itself when not in use the two guards and their supports are rolled up and
folded together and the front guard having been removed from the wheel is sprung
on to the projections of the axle of the back wheel against the fork of which both
guards are secured without inconvenience to the rider and in such a position that
the rider may mount without touching the guards.
In the forms so far described the lower end of the main rod itself is bent to form
the parts which secure the support to the cycle. Instead of forming such engaging
parts in one piece with the main rod the construction shown in Figs. 8 9 and 10
may be adopted. In this case the spirals or rings Z are replaced by metal plates v
the ends of which are formed with sockets into which are respectively secured
the main rod c and the hook s which as before engage with the frame or fork as
already described. The metal plates v are perforated in order to slip over the ends
of the axle or the nuts.
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. The spring support having curls or spirals Z engaging with projections from

page_text: the axle hooks c' engaging with the forks and the hinged accessory ribs d engaging
by means of a studi with holes k in a rollable flexible guard the whole combination
constituting a collapsable mudguard for a cycle which when not in use is carried
against the rear fork substantially as set forth and shown.
2. A modification for the front wheel of the mudguard set forth in the first
claiming clause consisting of a rollable guard in combination with a spring support o
formed at its lower end as shown in Fig. 7 for the purpose of taking over or on to
the nuts of the axle and clipping the front forks (while permitting the whole to be
folded removed and attached over the rear wheel for the purpose of transit) and
hinged accessory ribs d substantially as set forth and shown."
3. In a mudguard support for a bicycle a metal plate adapted to fit on a
projection from the axle and having sockets vinto which are secured a hook s
engaging with the frame or fork and a rod c carrying the mudguard substantially
as set forth and shown.
Dated this 6th day of July 1896
E. T. WHITELOW, A.M. Inst. C.E.,
70 Deansgate, Manchester, Agent for the Applicants.