An Improved Gear Case for Velocipedes.
Year: 1898

page_text: An Improved Gear Case for Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM FRANK RICHARDS, of 34, School Lane, Didsbury, near Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Gear Case Maker, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to an improved gear case for velocipedes, for enclosing
and protecting the driving chain as is well understood.
In a gear case constructed in accordance with my invention I provide a skeleton
metallic frame which is secured to the side stay of the bicycle by means of cross
stays.
Each end of the skeleton metallic frame is made readily removable, tongues
being formed on the rounded ends adapted to slide within suitable ways formed
in the skeleton frame.
I make the skeleton frame so as to be capable of being readily expanded or
contracted in width, that is from the top of the frame to the bottom. This I
effect by providing the frame, preferably the top, with suitable nuts within which
work screwed bolts each adapted to engage with one end of the two cross stays.
By operating the screwed bolts by means of suitable wing nuts projecting outside
the case the cross stays are advanced or retracted so as to expand or contract
the metallic frame as desired. Each removable end of the gear case is covered
with japanned leather or other suitable material. The intervening space is
covered with japanned leather or other suitable flexible material. This is formed
in one piece and folded over the top of the frame the ends being secured to the
bottom of the frame.
The meeting ends of the enclosing flap of leather or other material may be
provided with metallic or other clips to preserve them from injury.
When the enclosing case of leather is being secured to the gear case the wing
nuts are operated so as to decrease the width of the metallic frame. The central
cover can then be readily secured to the bottom of the case by suitable retaining
means such as studs or eyelets or the like. By operating the nuts so as to expand
the metallic frame the leather or other flexible case is put under tension and also
kept perfectly taut. To obtain access to the chain for any purpose, the frame is
again contracted when the front central portion of the gear case may be easily
disconnected and raised, disclosing the chain, or if desired the central cover,
together with the rounded ends of the case may be entirely removed.
The abutting ends of the three cover pieces of the gear case may be provided
with sockets into which may be forced suitable prongs adapted to draw the
abutting er.ds together and securely connect the same.
It will be seen therefore that the enclosing portion of my improved gear case
is readily removable when required or if desired the front central portion of the
cover may be easily raised so as to form a ready means of access to the driving
chain.

page_text: Moreover by means of the expandable frame the flexible cover can always be
readily tightened in case the same becomes slack after continued use.
Dated this 18th day of March 1898.
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 5, John Dalton Street, Manchester.
I, WILLIAM FRANK RICHARDS, of 34, School Lane, Didsbury, near Manchester,
in the County of Lancaster, Gear Case Maker, 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 and accompanying
drawings:
My said invention relates to an improved gear case for velocipedes for enclosing
and protecting the driving chain as is well understood.
The accompanying sheet of drawings, to which I will refer, clearly illustrates
my invention.
Fig. 1 shows in side view the skeleton frame of my improved gear case.
Fig. 2 is an end view of same.
Fig. 3 is a detail part drawn to an enlarged scale.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the gear case cover opened out.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the complete gear case.
Fig. 6 shows a modified method of securing the rounded
In a gear case constructed in accordance with my
skeleton metallic frame as shown in side view in Fig. 1.
the lower limb a of the frame, is provided with the usual
it is secured to the side stay of the bicycle.
ends of the gear case.
invention I provide a
One portion, preferably
cross stays bb by which
The skeleton frame is so arranged as to be readily expanded or contracted in
width, that is, from the top of the frame to the bottom. This I effect by pro-
viding the top portion with screwed bolts d engaging with nuts e formed on or
secured to the frame. The screwed bolts are provided at their projecting ends
with heads d so that the bolts can be readily revolved by means of a spanner
or the like. The other ends of the bolts d are reduced in diameter and engage
with circular recesses formed in the ends of the cross stays b. This is shown
to an enlarged scale in Fig. 3.
By revolving the screwed bolts as described the skeleton frame can be expanded
or contracted as desired. The skeleton frame is formed with rounded ends as
shown in Fig. 1 and I arrange to enclose the whole of the frame by means of a
cover of japanned leather or other suitable flexible material. The rounded ends
of the skeleton frame may telescope one limb within the other if desired.
A plan view of the cover is shown in Fig. 4. The meeting ends of the cover
are enclosed in metallic clips g to preserve the edges from injury and to stiffen
the same, or wires may be used for this purpose. The metallic clips are curved
round the rounded ends of the cover as shown in the Fig. 5, and the cover is
perforated and slit as usual to permit of the same being placed upon the crank
and back wheel axles.
4
I provide the meeting edges of the cover with holes or perforations h the said
perforations slipping over or engaging the studs or rings i carried by the skeleton
frame a so that the skeleton frame and the cover may be readily connected and
disconnected. The clips g bearing against the studs i, present a shoulder thereto, 5

page_text: so as to prevent their accidental disengagement from the perforations
cover f.
in the
In applying my improved gear case to a bicycle the metallic frame is secured
to the back stay by means of the clip brackets jj as usual, and the frame is
contracted in width. The cover f is then placed around the frame and secured
at the botton and round the ends as far as possible by means of the studs i and
eyes h, any remaining gaps being closed by lacing as shown in Fig. 5. By
operating the heads the screwed bolts d expand the frame and the leather or
other flexible case f is put under tension and also maintained perfectly taut.
When it is desired to obtain access to the chain for any purpose the frame is
contracted and the fastenings of the cover are released. The cover flap can then
be easily raised disclosing the chain, or the entire cover may be readily removed.
By means of the expandable frame and the securing studs and eyes h the
flexible cover can always be readily placed in position around the frame and as
easily removed. The cover moreover can be tightened by operating the screwed
bolts d at any time in case the same becomes slack after continued use.
As the gist of my invention consists in the employment of a frame capable of
being expanded and contracted to facilitate the placing in position of the cover
thereon and its removal therefrom I do not confine myself to the exact method
described of clothing such frame with a flexible covering as this may be varied.
For instance instead of forming the cover of one piece as described and rounding
the ends of the frame I might form the rounded ends of separate framework
provided with a flexible cover as shown in Fig. 6.
In this case the frame of the rounded ends are provided with projecting
tongues and the upper and lower limbs e and a are bent inwards at the edges
as shown in the sectional view Fig. 7 for the reception of the tongues k.
The meeting edges of the cover on the rounded ends and the body of the gear
case may be secured together by lacing, clips or any other convenient means at
present adopted in gear cases with removable ends.
The flexible cover is or may be provided with an aperture covered by means
of a sheet of celluloid to afford inspection of the driving chain.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1) A gear case for cycles consisting of a skeleton frame capable of being ex-
panded and contracted and clothed with a leather or similar flexible cover the
edges of the cover being stiffened with metallic clips or wires and fastened by
means of studs and eyes or the like in the manner and substantially as described
and illustrated.
2) In gear cases for cycles the employment of a skeleton frame capable of being
expanded and contracted in the manner, for the purposes and substantially as
described and shown.