Improvements in Gear Cases for Bicycles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1898-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1898
Improvements in Gear Cases for Bicycles.
I, JOHN WILLIAM FULFORD, of the City of Utica, County of Oneida, and State
of New York, U.S.A., Manufacturer, do hereby declare that the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement: —
Bicycle gear cases, in order to meet with public approval and come into general
use, must necessarily be so constructed as to be adapted to use with various con-
structions of wheels, as made by the several manufacturers, and adapted to be
readily placed on and removed from the wheel and adjusted by an unskilled person,
and at the same time afford a casing which is dust-tight and strongly built.
Through this invention, such a gear case is provided, not only having these
advantages, but others which will hereafter appear.
Referring to the drawings forming a part hereof, Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of
my improved bicycle gear case in connection with portions of a bicycle frame, and
in position for use.
Fig. 2 shows a main portion of the case with the detachable portions removed.
Fig. 3 shows a rear end closure.
Fig. 4 shows a perspective of the removable lower tubular side.
Figs. 5 and 6 show sliding covers adapted to fill the slot on either side of the
rear axle and hub.
Fig. 7 shows a sliding cover adapted to close the slot opening below the pedal
shaft at the forward end of the device.
Fig. 8 shows end closure for the larger or forward end of the case.
Fig. 9 shows a vertical section of a portion of the rear hub and bearing, in-
cluding the rear driving sprocket and showing the case in position thereon.
Fig. 10 shows on an enlarged scale a section taken on line CD of Fig. 2.
Fig. 11 shows a section on an enlarged scale on line A-B of Fig. 2 with the
slides in position therein.
Fig. 12 shows a cross section of the case at the forward end in connection with
the crank shaft and forward driving sprocket, and portions of the bicycle frame.
Referring to the reference letters and figures in a more particular description
of the device, 1 indicates the upper tubular portion of the case adapted to afford
a passage for the sprocket chain, and having rigidly secured at one end the en-
largement 2, adapted to afford a housing for the driving sprocket, and on the other
end a smaller housing 3 adapted to receive the rear wheel sprocket. Between
the lower portions of the enlargements or housings, 2 and 3, there is secured a
removable portion 4 of the case. This portion is adapted to afford a passage
for the sprocket chain, and is provided with a cut away portion in its upper wall,
as shown at a and b, at either end whereby the same may be slipped from the
lower side onto the projecting walls 2 and 3. The lower corners of these walls,
as shown, are received in the cut away portions, and the tube 4 is secured in place

page_text: by the screws 5 and 6 passing transversely through the case and tube above the
line of travel of the lower portion of the sprocket chain. The housing portion 2
is provided in its opposite walls with corresponding vertical slots 7, rounded at
their upper ends to fit the shaft and bearing. This enables the front end to be
placed over the crank shaft in applying the case to a bicycle, and the lower
portion of the slot below the crank shaft 8 is closed by the removable slide 9,
running in ways as shown particularly in Fig. 11. Of course it will be under-
stood that the slide 9 is provided on each side of the housing 2 in the corre-
sponding slots 7. The slides 9 are each secured in position and from dropping
out of position by a set screw 11, which when tightened clamps the two parts of
the slide guide or way, and binds the slide. The screw also passes through the
cut-away portion 12 on the side of the slide, and prevents the same from being
entirely removed until the screw has been entirely removed. The end of the
housing 2, which is otherwise open, is closed by the curved end piece or closure 10,
which is secured by the screw 13 on the upper side and a screw 14 on the under
side. The closure or covering piece 10 is applied after the slides 9 are in position,
and also serves to prevent the slides from being lost or dropped out. The length
of the slide, however, is such as to allow of some adjustment when the closure 10
is applied, as will be seen by the partially dotted outline in Fig. 1. The corre
sponding slots 15, in the rear housing 3 are adapted to receive the rear shaft 16
and a portion of the rear hub; that is, the slot on one side may be narrow, as
shown in Fig. 9, to receive the stationary or fixed portion 16 of the rear shaft
while the other side of the housing may be cut out in an enlarged slot to receive
the end of the wheel hub 18. In the construction, as shown in Fig. 9, 17 indicates
the rear sprocket which is secured on the end of the hub 18. The slots 15 being
in a horizontal position as shown, permit the lateral adjustment of the rear shaft 16,
whereby the tension of the chain may be regulated. The slots 15 on each side
of the rear shaft are closed by sliding plates 19 and 20. These plates are mounted
in slides or ways, as shown in cross section in Fig. 10, and the rear slide 20 is
secured by the binding action of the set screw 21. This set screw also passes
through the cut way portion 22 in the side of the slide, preventing it being
entirely removed until the screw 21 has been entirely removed. The slides 19
and 20 are of less total length, including shaft 16, than the length of the slot 15,
whereby provision is made for the adjustment of the tension of the chain.
The end of the housing 3 which is otherwise open, is closed by a curved,
flanged cover or closure 23. This cover or closure is secured in position by a
screw 24 at its upper end, and a screw 25 at its lower end. The arrangement of
the slides 20 is such that some movement is allowed between their ends and the
closure 23, as shown by partially dotted outlines in Fig. 1. The rear end of
the case is supported and held by resting on the stationary shaft 16, as shown
in Fig. 9. The forward portion of the case is supported by one or more pro-
jecting ears 26, secured on the inner side of the housing 2 and secured to the
frame enlargement 27, which receives the crank shaft and bearings.
In applying the case to a bicycle, the lower tube 4 is removed together with
the end closures 10 and 23 and the slides 9 and 20. The sprocket chain is also
separated and one end is passed through the upper tubular portion 1 of the case.
The case is then brought into position on the bicycle, and the rear wheel shaft
being passed into the slot 15 and the driving shaft 8 being passed in through
the slot 7. The chain is then passed around the forward sprocket, which may
be readily done when the closure 10 is removed, and thence through the tubular
portion 4 before it is brought into position. The tubular portion 4 is then placed
in position on the main body of the device, and the end of the chain passes on
to the rear sprocket where the two ends may be brought together at the end of
the slot 15 and the connecting screw or pin replaced in position in the chain.
The slides 9 and 20 are then placed and secured, and the closures 10 and 23
placed in position and secured. The screws which secure the removable tube 4,
are then placed in position also when the device is completely applied.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
First. In a bicycle gear case the combination of the tubular portion 1, having
the fixed housing 2 and 3, with the removable tubular portion 4, constructed and
arranged to take a position between the housings 2 and 3, substantially as set
forth.
Second. The combination in a bicycle gear case of the tubular portion 1 hav-
ing fixed housings 2 and 3, the removable tubular portion 4 and the end closures 10
and 23, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination in a case for enclosing a bicycle chain and sprockets,
of the tubular portion 1, having fixed housings 2 and 3, the vertical slots and
closing slides 9 in the housing 2, the horizontal slots and closing slides in the
housing 3, the removable tubular portion 4 and the end closures 10 and 23,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of August 1898
JOHN WILLIAM FULFORD,
By Herbert Haddan & Co.,
Agents for Applicant.