Improvements in Sprocket Wheel and Chain Guards for Bicycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Sprocket Wheel and Chain Guards for Bicycles.
I, WILLIAM C. HUMPHREY, of Jamestown, in the County of Stutsman, and
State of North Dakota, one of the United States of America, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to bo
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to certain new and useful attachments for bicycles, and
especially to a covering or sprocket or chain guard, which may be easily and
quickly applied to any ordinary construction of bicycle, and portions detached
when it is desired to lubricate, examine or clean the various parts which are thus
protected.
In carrying out my invention I provide a framework which is designed to be
rigidly held to the frame of the bicycle by suitable brackets and clamps, with
the necessary screws or bolts, and the provision of metallic (or leather) enclosing
members at each end, which are secured to the framework of the guard, and about
a portion of each sprocket wheel. About the frame is secured a covering of any
suitable material, so as to exclude dust, rain, and mud from the sprocket wheels
and chain, which will prevent a great deal of wear and friction on the said parts
of the propelling mechanism of the bicycle, also saving the lubricating material,
and not necessitating as frequent cleaning of the parts within, as would be the
case were no guard employed.
While in the present instance I have shown my guard adapted to be applied
to the common construction of frame of bicycle, by slight variations in the con-
struction of the adjusting means, the guard may be applied to the wheel of a lady's
bicycle, thus serving-besides the function of a guard to exclude dirt, etc.-as
a dress guard.
To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain, the same consists
further in the novel construction, combination and adaptation of the parts as will
be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically defined in the appended
claims.
I clearly illustrate my invention in the accompanying drawings, which, with
the letters of reference, marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in
which drawings similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the
several views in which,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved guard with one side covering
removed to better illustrate the interior construction.
Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the guard on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 1.
Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A-A
designates the upper and lower strips of the frame of the guard, and these strips
are made of any suitable material, as of wood, and having secured at their ends
the curved steel strips B-B, which are secured by screws or other means to the
ends of the said strips, and the said steel strips are about the same width as the
strips A-A, or alightly narrower.
Mounted over the ends of the frame and covering the steel strips forming the

page_text: curved ends, are the circular enclosures D and E, each being slotted and cut away
to allow the casings to fit over the sprocket wheels and hubs thereof. Secured
between the strips A, near the narrow end of the guard, is secured the bracket C,
having formed near its middle portion an eye C having an adjustable piece C",
which is used with the necessary screws when it is desired to attach the guard to
the frame of the bicycle.
Near the other end of the guard, opposite the edges of the casing E, is secured
the strip G, the upper end of which may extend above the upper strip A, if
desired, so as to allow the said strip G, to be clamped or otherwise secured to the
frame of the bicycle. At the middle portion of the strip G, is a groove H, which
forms, with the detachable clamp or bracket K, a bearing by which the large end
of the guard may be secured to the frame of the bioyclo. The two brackets, one
near the narrow and the other near the wide end of the guard, are not in the same
plane, but in parallel planes, the bracket near the narrow end of the guard being
adapted to turn slightly on its pivotal screws, so as to bring the eyes in each
bracket in alignment, to adapt the guard to be readily applied to the frame of
the bicycle.
The sides of the guard may be covered with leather, or any suitable material,
and thin steel or wood strips may be employed, if desired, which are provided
with apertures through which screws may be passed, the said strips being attached
over or near the edges of the leather, or other covering, or in a hem of said cover-
ing.
would say that the guard may be made or used without the curved steel band
to connect the strips A-A at the small sprocket wheel, and the rear wheel of
bicycle can thus be more conveniently removed if necessary for repair of wheel
or tire.
Bent wood may be used for main part of frame in place of the wood strips and
curved steel connection, if deemed desirable.
Various other changes as to details of construction may vary without departing
from the spirit of my invention, which consists essentially in the construction
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
I am aware that it is common, or not unusual, to construct guards for bicycles
in which the sprocket wheels and the chains are mostly or entirely enclosed in a
casing the parts of which are detachable, the said guard being supported on the
frame of the bicycle, and I do not make a broad claim for such a construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
A guard for sprocket wheels and chains for bicycles, comprising in combination,
the strips A-A, the recessed, metallic cap D fitted over the rear ends of the said
strips, the band B secured in recessed portions at the forward ends of said strips
and connecting the same, the recessed metallic cap E fitted over the said connecting
band B and secured thereto, a leather covering for the space between the said
and the bracket G secured to the strips on the outside of the said covering, the
removable plate K, secured to the said bracket, and the bracket C between angled
ends, secured to the inner face of the said strips A-A, all'substantially as shown
and described.
Doted this 20th Jan AT
100%
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