Improved Mudguard for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 20th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan., 1898
PROVIDIUNAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Mudguard for Cycles and other Vehicles.
I, JOHN JAMES MILNER, of 31, Walter Street, Hightown, Manchester, in the County
of Lancashire, Electrician, hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention is especially designed for use on bicycles and tricycles, it may be
used however for other vehicles, and its object is to devise a means of preventing
mud or dirt flying from the wheels to the clothes of the rider or riders thereof.
The mudguard may be constructed as follows:-
Upon a strip of celluloid, or any springy metallic substance, of any suitable
breadth or length, coiled or otherwise, or any light waterproof material, is fastened
(with cement or any suitable means) one or more airtight tubes (of any desired
shape).
(
Attached to and running the whole length of each tube is a suitable coiled spring
(if celluloid, or other material of a sufficiently springy nature be used, a coiled spring
may probably be unnecessary) and where more than one tube is used they are
preferably connected by a short cross tube, to which will be fitted a valve suitable
for the inlet and outlet of air.
Where one tube only is used a similar valve will also be requisite.
For attaching the mudguard in position.
Upon a plate of steel or other metal will be fitted two sliding hooks or clips held
together by a suitable spiral spring, or
A metallic plate having two screw or spring clips (in one or more pieces), or a
spring wire clip may be used.
It is obvious that the structural details may be altered to circumstances.
The working of this invention may be described as follows:-
When it is desired to use the mudguard, air is forced through the valve into the
tube or tubes which will have the effect of unwinding the coiled springs, (celluloid
or other springy material), attached thereto, forming an arch or half circle over the
wheel, sufficient air being introduced to ensure the necessary rigidity.
When deflated (by simply pressing the valve) the mudguard will coil up to its
original position.
גנית
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1001
I, JOHN JAMES MILNER, of 31, Walter Street, Hightown, Manchester, Electrician,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to
[Price 8d.]

page_text: be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention consists in an improved mudguard designed mainly for use on
cycles, but capable of use on other vehicles.
The mudguard which constitutes this invention consists, under one arrangement,
of a tube of india-rubber or other air-tight material, extended upon a strip of
celluloid or other suitably flexible and resilient material. The tube is held to the
base of celluloid or other suitable material by bands of india-rubber situated at
intervals apart. In the tube is a spring which, when the tube is deflated, rolls both
it and its base into a spiral roll or spool, which is the normal condition. By inflation
of the tube through a suitable valve, the tube is uncoiled and, together with the
base to which it is, as aforesaid, secured, is extended over the wheel of the machine
to its position as a mudguard.
According to a modification, a forked air tube is employed, or two separate air
tubes placed parallel to one another and connected by a web of india-rubber or other
suitable waterproof material, such, for instance, as is used for mackintoshes. Inflation
and deflation of the forked tube, or two separate tubes, are effected through a suitable
valve. The action of the mudguard is the same as that above described.
Referring to the drawings accompanying this specification, Fig. 1 is a side view of
my pneumatic mudguard as inflated and extended behind the front wheel of a
bicycle. Fig. 2 is a rear view of Fig. 1. The tube a, which is of india-rubber or
other suitable air-tight material, and is furnished with a valve a¹ for inflation and
deflation, is held upon a strip of celluloid or other suitable flexible resilient
material, by bands c of india-rubber situated at intervals apart. Embedded in that
part of the tube a which lies next to the base b is a flat spring which is shown in
dotted lines at Fig. 2 and is indicated by the letter d. The spring is preferably
tapered as to width towards its tail from a short distance back. The spring tends
constantly to coil up and is only prevented from coiling by the pressure of air by
which the tube a is inflated. The head of the base or foundation b is rivetted or
bolted to a plate e of aluminium or other light metal placed below it. At Fig. 3 is
shown, at an enlarged scale, the mudguard as deflated and coiled up by the spring
contained in the tube a. The base or foundation b is wrapped up in the coils. The
mudguard is brought to this position by deflation of the tube a by opening the
valve a¹.
Attachment of the guard to a bicycle is effected by a spring clip f, of wire,
shown in plan at an enlarged scale at Fig. 4. This clip bas an eye f¹ through which
is passed a pin f extending through the plate e which, being above the clip, is
diagrammatically indicated by dotted lines at Fig. 4. Towards the head thereof, the
tube is laced to the plate e. The claws of the clip, after having been pressed towards
one another to allow the clip to pass the limbs of the front fork of the machine, are
permitted to re-act and so to bind on the said limbs.
At Fig. 5 is shown in side view and at Fig. 6 in plan, my improved mudguard as
adapted for the rear wheel of a bicycle. In this arrangement the spring d of the
guard coils from both ends inwards towards the point of attachment, carrying with
it the base b. Thus two coils are formed, as shown, at an enlarged scale, at Fig. 7.
The clip for attaching the mudguard to the machine frame is shown at an enlarged
scale at Fig. 8. The claws of the clip, after having been drawn apart to pass the
limbs of the sloping back fork of the machine, are allowed to re-act and thus to bind
on the outer face of the limbs of the fork.
At Fig. 9 is shown in side view and at Fig. 10 in rear view, a modified arrangement
of my mudguard as designed for the front wheel of a cycle. According to this
arrangement the pneumatic tube g is forked and each limb of the fork contains a
spring for coiling. The limbs are arranged parallel to one another and are sewn
or otherwise securely attached to a web h of india-rubber or mackintosh cloth or the
like which is kept extended laterally by transverse strips of cane, whale-bone or other
suitable substance. Inflation and deflation of the tube g are effected through the
valve. When the tube g is deflated it is coiled up by the action of the springs,

page_text: into the position shown at an enlarged scale at Fig. 11. The springs within the
tubes gare shown in dotted lines at Fig. 10 and are indicated by the reference
letter. The dotted lines shown in Fig. 9 represent the web h. Attachment of
the mudguard to the machine is made by the spring clip k, shown at an enlarged
scale at Fig. 12. The clip is bolted to the plate of aluminium or other light metal,
to which the tubes y are, towards their heads, secured by lacing. The plate 1, with
lacing holes, is shown in dotted lines at Fig. 12. At Fig. 13 is shown in side view
and at Fig. 14 in plan, the double pneumatic tube arrangement as adapted for the
rear wheel of a cycle. In this arrangement two separate tubes m are employed and
are sewn or otherwise secured to a web n of india-rubber or mackintosh cloth or
like material. Each contains a spring for coiling from both ends inwards towards
the spring clip o by which the guard is clipped on to the frame of the machine.
The springs are shown in dotted lines at Fig. 14 and are indicated by the reference
letter p. Inflation and deflation of the tubes m are effected through the valve o in
the duct which communicates with both tubes. At Fig. 15 is shown this last
described arrangement of mudguard as deflated and coiled. Fig. 16 is an enlarged
plan of the clip o: the plate s to which the guard is laced is shown in dotted lines.
The various arrangements of mudguards above described may be fitted with side
arms or supports to guide the guards to assume the proper curved position in
extending over the wheels; such guides being suitably pivotted so as to move out
and home with the mudguard. At Fig. 17 is shown in side view and at Fig. 18 in
end view, side arms t for the said purpose. The arms are pivotted to a spring
clip which binds upon the frame of the machine and is shown at an enlarged
scale at Figs. 19 and 20. A spindle vis secured to the mudguard and as the
mudguard is inflated the side arms t move to the extended position shown in firm
lines at Fig. 17. As the mudguard is deflated, the arms t move up under the recoil
of the spring in the mudguard tubes to the position shown in dotted lines at
Fig. 17.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. A pneumatic mudguard for the front wheels of bicycles and other vehicles,
consisting of a strip of celluloid or other suitable flexible substance having attached
thereto an air-tight flexible tube provided with a valve for inflation and deflation;
said tube containing a coiling spring so arranged that when the tube is inflated
the mudguard is extended against the resistance of the spring, and when the tube is
deflated the mudguard is coiled up by the spring, substantially as hereinabove
described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
2. A pneumatic mudguard for the rear wheels of bicycles and other vehicles,
consisting of a strip of celluloid or other suitable flexible substance having attached
thereto an air-tight flexible tube provided with a valve for inflation and deflation;
said tube containing a spring coiling from both ends inwards and so arranged that
the act of inflating the tube causes the spring to uncoil and spread the guard, and
the act of deflating enables the spring to coil and roll up the mudguard from
opposite ends, substantially as herein before described with reference to Figs. 5 to 8
inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
3. A pneumatic mudguard for the front wheels of bicycles and other vehicles,
consisting of a strip, band or web of india-rubber, mackintosh cloth or the like,
having attached thereto a forked flexible air-tight tube provided with a valve for
inflation and deflation; each limb of the said tube containing a coiling spring so
arranged that by inflating the tube the mudguard is extended against the resistance
of the springs, and by deflating the tube and thus allowing the spring to act the
mudguard is rolled up into a coil, substantially as hereinabove described with
reference to Figs. 9 to 12 inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
4. A pneumatic mudguard for the rear wheels of bicycles and other vehicles,
consisting of a strip, band or web of india-rubber, mackintosh cloth or the like,

page_text: having attached thereto a pair of flexible air-tight tubes situated parallel to one
another, one at each side of the said strip, band or web, and communicating
with a common duct provided with a valve for inflation and deflation; each tube
containing a spring coiling from both ends inwards and so arranged that the act of
inflating the tube causes the springs to uncoil and spread the guard, and the act 5
of deflating enables the springs to coil and roll up the mudguard from opposite
ends, substantially as hereinabove described with reference to Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive
of the accompanying drawings.
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