Improvements in Awnings or Weather Screens for Cycles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Mar., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Awnings or Weather Screens for Cycles.
I, IDA ARENS, of No. 165, Kurfürsten Strasse, Berlin, in the Empire of Germany,
Spinster, 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 :-
The present invention relates to improvements in awnings or weather screens for
cycles, which serve for the protection of the cyclist from sun and rain and which are
suitably attached to the cycle. These improvements have for their purpose by a
special arrangement of the component parts of the screen to render the latter collap-
sible so that it may easily be carried by the cycle. A weather screen constructed
according to the present invention is attached to the cycle in a very simple manner
and, being constructed of very light material, it does not impede the progress of the
cyclist.
With these ends in view the invention consists in certain novel features of con-
struction and arrangements of parts which will be described more fully hereinafter
and the essential elements of which are recited in the appended claims.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the weather screen attached to the cycle.
Fig. 2 shows the screen when collapsed,
Fig. 3 illustrates a section on line A-B of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 shows a detail of the device.
To the handle bar a of the cycle at either side thereof a collar d is attached by
means of clamping rings e in connection with fixing screws /. The collar dis
rotatably pivoted in the ring c. The collar d is split and may be tightened
or loosened by means of a fixing screw penetrating two projections of the
collar at either side of the gap. A tube f fits into the collar d and may be
fixed therein by the screw as above set out. A rod is movable in the tube f
and can be fixed therein by an adjusting screw g. The top end of the rod is pro-
vided with a lateral pin with a head adapted to fit into a suitably shaped hole / in
the supporting bars of the weather screen and to be retained therein by suitable
means such for instance as a slotted metal band covering the hole but permitting
the head of the latter on pushing the pin i to enter the hole. By exercising a
certain force the pin head can be separated from the hole, the head in separating
from the hole pushing aside the two parts of the slotted metal band which, after the
insertion of the pin into the hole, gripped behind the head of the pin.
The weather screen is composed of a collapsible metal framing. The transverse
bars m m of this frame are hinged together at n, thus permitting them to be folded
together and to be opened out to an obtuse angle as indicated in Fig. 1, the
extremities of m m being suitably tapered at n for this purpose. Each of the bars m
is centrally divided, the two parts produced being hinged together at q to permit
folding together of these two parts. The bars m are of [section, although this is not
absolutely necessary, to ensure rigidity of the frame.
A number of thin boards or slats of wood or other suitable light material are
guided by suitable studs in the groove in the bars m. These slats o are arranged and
fitted in a manner similar to the well known Venetian blinds, for which purpose they

page_text: are centrally provided with a hole for the passage of a cord p which is secured to the
end bars at either side and runs over a guide roller at the inner portion of the
bars m projecting downwards, so that by pulling this cord p the slats of each half of
the frame together with the end bars can be gathered together.
A second cord 8 likewise running over the guide roller r and connected to each of
the slats of the respective half of the frame serves for varying the angle of the boards
in the usual manner. The outer extremity of the cord 8 is in connection with a
spring which is tensioned by pulling the cord 8. This spring is in connection with
the supporting or end bars at either side of the frame. The bars are detachably
secured to the bars m by suitable means. It is obvious that these supporting bars
must not be rotatable when fixed in position to ensure the tensioning of the spring t
by pulling the cord 8. A ratchet wheel and pawl u is in connection with the spring t
to retain the respective angular position of the slats o. By releasing the pawl from
the ratchet wheel the slats by virtue of the tension of the spring t will return to their
former position ready to be angularly varied again.
The operation of the device is as follows:-Supposing the screen to be attached to
the handle bar a but in its collapsed condition as shown in Fig. 2 the bars m are
opened out around their hinges n and q. Thereupon the slats o and end bars & which
were gathered together in the inner parts of the bars m are pulled out so that the
studs at either end of the boards o travel down the groove in the outer parts of the
bars m and the end bars are secured at the extremities of the rails m.
In this manner the roof-like screen is built up. Thereupon the tubes f are fixed in
their sockets at the required height, the rods are pulled out of the tubes f to the
required extent and fixed in the desired position, the pins i with their heads are
pressed into the holes in the side bars whereupon the screen is in its operative
position. If required the angle of the slats o can thereupon be regulated as
described above.
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 collapsible screen for protecting cyclists from sun and rain comprising in
combination a metal frame built up of sections hinged together, a Venetian blind
arrangement with means for varying the angle of the blind slats collapsible in said
frame, adjustable rods detachably in connection with the side bars of the screen, guide
tubes adjustable in sockets and means for securing the sockets to the handle bar,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2.) In a collapsible screen for protecting cyclists from sun and rain a frame
adjustably and detachably secured to the handle bar composed of a number of metal
bars collapsible by means of hinges, said metal bars adapted to receive a Venetian
blind between them, the slats composing the Venetian blind adapted to be gathered
and to be varied in their angular position in regard to the frame, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
B. REICHHOLD,
International Patent Office, 24, Luisen Strasse, Berlin, N.W., Germany,
Agent for the Applicant.