Improvements in Mudguards for Bicycles or like Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: TRUVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mudguards for Bicycles or like Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM OSWALD ROWBOTILAM, of Besthorpe, in the County of Nottingham,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to improvements in folding and detachable mud-guards
for bicycles and like vehicles. In carrying out my invention I form the mud-
guards, which may be composed of thin steel metal or other suitable material,
preferably straight and build them up of preferably three longitudinal strips or
members placed side by side, the contiguous edges of which are hinged together.
Each strip or member is approximately semi-circular in cross section the radius
of the semi-circle being adjusted so that the middle strip may be placed on a
member of the frame of the bicycle, and the outer strips folded over the said
member of the frame; and one over the other.
The guard for the front wheel is built up in the manner described and extends
from the bottom bracket to the steering fork crown, the middle strip fits on the
lower front stay of the bicycle frame and is held in position by preferably spring
clips which grip the stay or the strip itself may form a clip."
When the guard is not required it may be removed, or the outer strips folded
over the stay as previously described.
A guard of similar construction to that described is placed on the main
diagonal or seat stay, and this may be secured by clips in the same manner and
be removed or folded on the stay.
A third guard to extend over the back wheel may be of similar construction
to those described, and the end of this may be secured by clips to the main
diagonal stay and supported by a clip or bracket on the back legs or stays of
the bicycle framing.
This guard may be removed and folded on the upper stay of the framing, or
it may be folded over or under the guard on the diagonal stay. In the latter
case the clip which secures it to the diagonal stay is made to slide down the said
stay.
In the case of those mud-guards which fit on a member of the framing when
in use, clips to fit on the frame may be substituted for the middle strip, and the
outer strips be hinged to these clips.
If preferred the guard over the back wheel may be formed by a band of
flexible material, which may be rolled up, and also removed if desired. One end
of this band is connected to the main diagonal or seat stay, or to the top of the
guard thereon, and its rear end is supported by the upper ends of two arms
or stays, the lower ends of which are pivotted in plates, fixed on the back
wheel axle, or to clips secured on the back legs or stays of the framing.
The flexible band is held in tension by springs on the arms or stays, and the

page_text: latter may be removed with the mud-guard or be folded on the back legs of
the frame.
Dated this 22nd day of Fahrua 1897
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, WILLIAM OSWALD ROWBOTILAM, of Besthorpe, in the County of Nottingham,
Gentleman, 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 folding and detachable mud-guards
for bicycles and like vehicles. In carrying out my invention I form the mud-
guards, which may be composed of thin sheet metal or other suitable material,
preferably straight and build them up of preferably three longitudinal strips or
members placed side by side, the contiguous edges of which are hinged together.
Each strip or member is approximately semi-circular in cross section the radius
of the semi-circle being adjusted so that the middle strip may be placed on a
member of the frame of the bicycle, and the outer strips folded over the said
member of the frame; and one over the other.
The guard for the front wheel is built up in the manner described and extends
from the bottom bracket to the steering fork crown, the middle strip fits on the
lower front stay of the bicycle frame and is held in position by preferably spring
clips which grip the stay or the middle strip itself may form a clip.
When the guard is not required it may be removed, or the outer strips folded
over the stay as previously described.
A guard of similar construction to that described is placed on the main
diagonal or seat stay, and this may be secured by clips in the same manner and
be removed or folded on the stay.
A third guard to extend over the back wheel may be of similar construction
to those described, and the end of this may be secured by clips to the main
diagonal stay and supported by a clip or bracket on the back legs or stays of
the bicycle framing.
This guard may be removed and folded on the upper stay of the framing, or
it may be folded over or under the guard on the diagonal stay. In the latter
case the clip which secures it to the diagonal stay is made to slide down the said
stay.
In the case of those mud-guards which fit on a member of the framing when
in use, clips to fit on the frame may be substituted for the middle strip, and the
outer strips be hinged to these clips.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 illustrates one construction of improved mud-guard, according to
this invention, open, and viewed from the under side.
Figure 2 is an end view of the same, engaged with one of the tubular members
of the cycle-frame, which is seen in section beneath it.
Figure 3 is an end view showing the mudguard closed.
Figure 4 illustrates in perspective an alternative construction of mudguard
according to this invention, open, and fixed upon the diagonal front stay of
a cycle.
In Figures 1, 2, & 3, A, B, C are strips of metal hinged or jointed as at B¹

page_text: so that the outer members A and C form side wings which may be folded over
each other as illustrated in Figure 3. Each strip or member is in cross section,
given a circular curve, so that when closed the cross section of the complete mud-
guard approaches to a circle. The strip B forming the middle member is pre-
ferably made of steel or some other springy material so that it will form a spring
clip upon the frame-tubing of the cycle, such clips being preferably lined with
cloth, felt, or some other suitable material, so that the enamelling of the frame
is not injured by them. When the open mud guard is not required, the outer
members or wings may be folded over each other, (as in Figure 3) the mud-
guard thus appearing merely as a tube encasing the particular part of the cycle
frame on which it is mounted.
In the alternative construction of mud guard shown in Figure 4, part of the
central member is cut away, leaving only two short strips B hinged at B' as in
the construction hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1, 2, & 3.
These strips form the clips which attach the guard to the frame. The mud-
guards may be cut away as at I), Figure 4, in order to give clearance for the
chain wheel.
It is obvious that mud guards, according to this invention may be of any
suitable material; for instance they may be of celluloid or other non-metallic
substance, or the outer members may be of non-metallic material, and the clips
of metal.
Again the mud guards need not comprise three members only, but may be
made of any suitable number, hinged or jointed in a similar manner to that
hereinbefore described.
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 longitudinally hinged or jointed mudguard.
2. A hinged or jointed mudguard which, when not required for use, closes on
to the frame-tube of a cycle.
3. A mudguard in three portions or sections such as A, B, C, whereof the
two outside portions operate as mud-guards and the central portion as a clip to
hold the guard on to the frame-tube of the cycle or vehicle.
4. The combination with a clip to engage a frame-tube of a cycle of side wings
such as A or C to serve as mud-guards, substantially as described.
5. The complete mudguard substantially as described or illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1897.
OSWALD ROWBOTHAM,
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.