Improvements in and relating to the Mud Guards of Cycles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Jan.. 1893-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Mud Guards of Cycles.
I, ALEXANDER GOVAN, of 316 Great Eastern Road, Parkhead, Glasgow,
Lanarkshire, Power-loom Tenter, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in the mud-guards of bicycles and
tricycles, and comprises the constructing of them, so that they shall be portable,
detachable, and collapsible, and more convenient and useful than the fixed sheet
metal mud-guards heretofore in use.
The improvements essentially consist in constructing these mud-guards in the
form of a series of sectional or segmental parts jointed or connected together, and
so that when not required for use they can be portably detached from the cycle
and the parts folded over into small compass or made to slide telescopically, and be
stored in a bag on the cycle or in pocket of the rider ready for re-use when the
weather necessitates such, or be held on the cycle at its shortest length.
•
In applying these improvements under one arrangement I construct the mud-
guards in the form of a series of open rectangular links of sheet steel, or other
suitable metal. These links would consist of duplex parallel longitudinal rods or
wires jointed at their ends by eyes to transverse rods passing between the longi-
tudinal rods and held together by nuts or other fastenings at their ends. These
linked parts would be curved or bent to the contour of the rim of the cycle wheel
at the time of applying them to such, and the transverse rods would be formed
with flat projecting parts above to act as stop hinges and prevent the links being
bent or turned in the opposite direction. This linked guard frame would be
covered over with waterproof cloth or other suitable material to obstruct the
passage of mud rising on to the rider. The one end of the linked mud-guard
frame when applied to the front wheel of a bicycle would be attached to the front
fork, or when applied to the back wheel, to the stay which connects the saddle
pillar to back wheel, preferably by having the free ends of the links inserted through
duplex slots in a fixed plate or bracket; while the other end of the frame would be
connected by swivel joints to correspondingly shaped segmental radial links or
stay rails connected together by similar joints and secured by thumb screws or
bolts to links or brackets mounted on the spindle or hub of the wheel! When the
mud-guard is to be detached these thumb screws would be unscrewed and the links
detached from the wheel spindle bracket, and also from the fastening on the other
end of frame on the front fork, and the sectional parts be portably folded up for
being carried in a pouch on the cycle or pocket of the rider.
Instead of the stay
rails being made in sectional parts detachable from the cycle they may be formed
in one rigid piece and remain on the cycle, and the portable covered mud-guard
frame be secured to their ends, preferably by a duplex slotted fastening, in which
case these stay rails when detached from the mud-guards, would be swung round
and attached by a strap or otherwise to the front fork of the front wheel, or to
the fixed stay which connects saddle pillar to back wheel when applied to the
latter. The waterproof or covering material may extend beyond the portable
frame on the back wheel and be continued round the front of its rim and attached
by a strap or fastening to the saddle frame and to the stay frame in line of driving
gear.
Under another arrangement I make the guard frame in the form of a series of
flat spring plates which are jointed together and made to slide telescopically on each
other, being passed through guides and having stops at their extreme positions, and

page_text: either remain on the cycle at any of their, positions or be détached therefrom, and
the stay rails may also be made to slide telescopically.
Dated the 25th June 1892.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Mud Guards of Cycles.
I..ALEXANDER GOVAN, of 346 Great Eastern Road, Parkhead, Glasgow,
Lanarkshire, Power-loom Tenter, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in the mud-guards of bicycles and
tricycles, and it consists in constructing them so that they shall be detachable,
collapsible and portable and therefore more convenient and useful than the fixed
sheet metal mud-guards heretofore in use.
The improvements essentially consist in constructing these mud-guards in the
form of a series of sectional or segmental parts jointed or connected together, so
that when not required for use they can be detached from the cycle and folded
up into a small compass and be stored in a bag on the cycle or in the pocket of
the rider ready for re-use when the necessity for them arises.
In applying these improvements I construct the mud-guards in the form of a
series of open rectangular links of sheet steel, or other suitable metal. These
links consist of duplex parallel longitudinal rods or wires jointed at their ends by
eyes to transverse rods passing between the longitudinal rods and held together by
nuts or other fastenings at their ends. These linked parts are curved or bent to
the contour of the rim of the cycle wheel at the time of applying them to such,
and the transverse rods are formed with flat projecting parts above to act as stop
hinges and prevent the links being bent or turned in the opposite direction. This
linked guard frame is covered with waterproof cloth or other suitable material to
complete the guard. The one end of the linked mud-guard frame when applied to
the front wheel of a cycle is attached to the front fork, and when applied to the
rear wheel, to the stays which connect the saddle pillar to the axle of the rear
wheel or to any other convenient part of the main frame, preferably by having the
free ends of the end link of the frame inserted through duplex slots in a plate or
bracket fixed to the stays or other part of the main frame, while the other end of
the frame is connected by swivel joints to radial links or stays connected together
by similar joints and secured by thumb screws or nuts to brackets. mounted on the
axle of the wheel or on to the fork or frame adjacent thereto. When the mud-
guard is to be detached, these thumb screws or nuts are unscrewed and the links
detached from their supporting brackets or plates, allowing the sectional parts to
be folded up for being carried in a pouch on the cycle or in the pocket of the rider.
The waterproof or other covering material may extend beyond the portable frame
for a convenient distance and when so extended on a guard adapted for the rear
wheel it is continued round the front of the said wheel and attached by one or
more straps or fastenings to the frame of the machine.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will more particularly
describe it making reference to the accompanying drawings, in which
Figure 1 Sheet No. 1 is a broken view in side elevation showing the application
of my improved mud-guard to the front wheel of a cycle.
Figures 2 and 3 Sheet No. are broken views in side elevation and plan
respectively showing the construction of the open rectangular links forming the
frame of the guard.
Figures 4 and 5 Sheet No. 3 are broken views in side elevation and plan
respectively showing the bracket for carrying the mud-guard for the front wheel

page_text: OL cycle, gutes and are sinar views of the bracket for carrying the
guard for the rear wheel of a cycle.
Figures 8 and 9 Sheet No. 3 are broken views in side elevation and plan
respectively of the bracket for attaching the stays of the guard to the wheel axle,
aud Figures 10 and 11 Sheet No. 3 are broken views in side and front elevation
respectively showing a method of attaching the auxiliary stays to the framework
of the guard.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The frame of the guard consists of a series of open rectangular links A of steel
or other suitable metal. These links consist of duplex parallel longitudinal rods
or wires a, a, jointed at their ends by eyes a¹, a', to transverse rods a², a², the.ends
of which may either be recessed to receive the said eyes, or they may have collars
thercon against which the eyes of the rods or wires bear, the ends of the said
transverse rods being rivetted up against washers placed thereon, or the joints may
be made in any other suitable manner. The transverse rods a², a², are formed with
flat projecting parts a³ adapted to act as knuckle or stop hinges, the object being
to prevent the links from being turned with respect to each other in one direction
out of a straight line, so that when the frame of the guard is bent to follow the
contour of the wheel the said frame does not give at the hinges but is sprung
equally round the rectangular links forming the said frame. The frame A is
covered with waterproof cloth, or other suitable material to complete the guard,
the said covering being omitted in all the views of the drawings for the sake of
distinctness. The frame of the guard is attached at one end to the fork or frame
of the machine by means of a bracket B as illustrated by Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7
Sheet No. 3 of the accompanying drawings. These brackets B are provided with
duplex slots b, b, with which the free ends of the rods or wires a, d, forming the
sides of the end rectangular link A engage in the manner illustrated by the said
views, the said ends being kept firmly engaged with the slots in the bracket when
the frame of the guard is bent to follow the contour of the wheel. To the free end
of the rectangular link A forming the other end of the frame are pivottally
attached stays rods C, C, which are preferably formed in two parts hinged
together at or about the centre of their lengths as shown by Figure 1, Sheet No. I
of the accompanying drawings, the free ends of these stays being adapted to be
clamped to plates or brackets D, D, fixed to the axle of the wheel by means of fly
nuts d, d, or other suitable devices. To the stays C, C, are fulcrated-preferably
at the joints of the two lengths of each of the said stays-auxiliary stays C', C,
the ends of which are hooked to enable them to engage with the projections a³, a³,
as illustrated by Figures 10 and 11 Sheet No. 3 of the accompanying drawings.
As a modification the plates or brackets D, D, may be formed on or fixed to
the frame of the machine in close proximity to the wheel axle, and instead of the
stays C, C, being fixed to them by fly nuts, the ends of the stays may be formed
as hooks or their equivalents to engage with suitable holes or recesses in the
said plates or brackets or their equivalents.
The waterproof covering or other suitable material may extend any convenient
distance beyond the frame of the guard, and when the said extension is applied
to a guard for the rear wheel of a cycle it may be provided with suitable straps
or fastenings for its attachment to the frame of the machine forward of the said
wheel. As a modification the rectangular links A may be replaced by flat spring
plates thus dispensing with the fabric covering.
It will be seen that as the frame of this guard has to be bent or curved when
applying it to a wheel its clasticity suffices to render it rigid and keep it engaged
with the bracket supporting it. To detach the guard all that is necessary is
to unscrew the thumb nuts attaching the ends of the stays to the plates or
brackets carried by the axle of the wheel, when the top end of the frame of the
guard can be immediately released from the bracket carrying it. The auxiliary
stays Care then detached from the projections as, a³, thus allowing the rectangular
links A forming the frame to be folded one on to the other, and the stays to be

page_text: folded along side the links, so that the guard can be stored in a bag.on the cycle
or in the pocket of the rider ready for use when necessity arises.
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to, the precise
details of construction: as herein before described and shown, but that' hold myself.
at liberty to make such changes and alterations therein as fairly fall within the
spirit and scope of my invention.
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. The improved construction of mud-guard for the wheels of cycles, as herein-
before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. A mud-guard consisting of a series of links or their equivalents hinged or
pivotted together so that they can only be folded in one direction, and when
applied to a cycle are bent in the opposite direction to follow the contour of
the wheel, of a flexible cover fitting over the said links or their equivalents, and
of stays adapted to connect one or more of the links forming the frame of the
guard with the frame of the machine at or near the axle of the wheel the guard
is intended to cover, and so bend the frame of the guard to follow the contour
of the said wheel, as set forth.
3. In a mud-guard for the wheels of cycles, the combination of the links A. or
their equivalents, hinged or pivotted together by knuckle or stop hinges to form
the frame of the guard; of the stays C, C, adapted to connect the frame of the
guard with the frame of the machine; of the brackets B, B, or their equivalents
adapted to receive the one end of the frame of the guard; and of the brackets or
plates D, D, or their equivalents adapted to receive the ends of the stays C, C,
all combined, arranged, and operating as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 27th day of January 1893
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.