An Improved Attachment for Bicycles and the like to Protect the Legs of the Rider from Rain
Year: 1897

page_text: "An Improved Attachment for Bicycles and the like to Protect the
Legs of the Rider from Rain."
I, WILLIAM EARDLEY NORTON, of St. Andrew's Road, Surbiton, Surrey, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
:―
This Invention relates to an accessory or attachment applicable' to bicycles and the
Hike and serving to protect the knees and adjacent part of the cyclist's legs from the
rain when the cyclist is riding and without in any way impeding or inconveniencing
his movements.
means of
To this end, the device consists of an apron which may be made of any suitable
water-proof material and of any desired size, and which is adapted with means of
securing it, along its top edge, to the cycle handle bar, and along its bottom edge, to a
stretcher applied to the crown of the steering-wheel-fork, and with
stiffening it along its side edges, and whereby it is caused to be maintained in a
stretched condition immediately in front of the cycle-head and of the handle-bar-stein,
by which its central part is also supported, in such a position as will cause the rain
beating against it to be shed forwardly, so as to attain the stated object of the
Invention.
The stretcher may consist of a lath or piece of wood or a rod of metal removably
applicable to a supporting bracket or carrier, which may consist of a bent rod or tube
of metal formed with extensions adapted to fit into the usual openings of the
steering-wheel-fork to which the lower bracket of a front brake is applied, and with
a forward and upward extension adapted to carry the stretcher-holder, which may
consist of a metal piece having forward extensions formed with opposite holes
serving to rigidly support the stretcher when passed therethrough in parallel relation
to the cycle handle-bar, and to permit of its being readily withdrawn when required.
When the apron is in position, the stretcher engages with loops or tabs or straps and
buckles or other convenient fastening means applied to its lower edge, while the
handle-bar engages with straps and buckles or other convenient fastening means
applied to its upper edge, and whereby, as aforesaid, the apron is caused to be
stretched taut between such parts in a plane immediately in advance of and in
parallel relation to the inclination of the cycle-head and handle-bar-stem, in which
plane the central part of the apron is further supported by the cycle-head and
handle-bar-stem, while its side edges are supported by the stiffening means applied
thereto, and it is so caused to be effective in attaining the desired object of the
Invention.
The apron may be stiffened along its side edges by strips of cane, whalebone or by
wire or the like inserted at its edges, and around which it may be rolled when not in
The apron is made with with an opening to accommodate the lamp bracket.
To accommodate altered positions of the handle-bar, the stretcher-holder may be
adjustably applied to its carrier. The bracket serving to support the stretcher-holder
use.

page_text: may be applied to its carrying part of the cycle in any other convenient manner
than that herein before described.
Dated this 27th day of August. 1897.
DAY, DAVIES, & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents. 321. High Holborn. London. W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
"An Improved Attachment for Bicycles and the like to Protect the
Legs of the Rider from Rain."
I, WILLIAM EARDLEY NORTON, of St Andrew's Road, Surbiton, Surrey, Engineer,
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 an accessory or attachment applicable to bicycles and the
like and serving to protect the knees and adjacent parts of the cyclist's legs from the
rain when the cyclist is riding and without in any way impeding or inconveniencing
his pedalling or steering movements.
On the accompanying drawings;
Fig. 1, represents an inside view of the improved attachment fully disten ded.
Fig. 2, represents, in perspective, sufficient of a cycle frame to show the method of
applying the carrier attachment thereto. And Fig. 3, is a general view.
To the end aforesaid, the device consists of an apron a, which may be made of any
suitable waterproof material and of any desired size, and which is adapted, along its
top edge, with hook and eyed or buckled straps u³, or other convenient means of
readily securing it to the cycle handle-bar b, and, along its bottom edge, with loops a²,
straps and buckles or other convenient means of readily securing it to a stretcher c,
applied to the crown of the cycle steering-wheel-fork e, and, along its side edges, with
means a³, hereinafter further referred to, of stiffening it, and whereby it is caused to
be maintained in a stretched condition immediately in front of the cycle-head", and
handle-bar-stein 61, by which its central part is also supported, in such a position as
will cause the rain beating against it to be shed forwardly, so as to attain the stated
object of the Invention.
The stretcher c, may consist of a lath or piece of wood or a rod of metal, and is
removably applicable to a supporting bracket or carrier d. The carrier may consist
of a metal piece d, having forward extensions d¹, formed with opposite holes d²,
serving to rigidly support the stretcher when passed therethrough in parallel relation
to the cycle-handle-bar, and to permit of its being readily withdrawn when required,
and depending extensions d³, rearwardly bent and adapted to fit into or to pass
through the usual openings e¹, in the crown of the steering-wheel-fork to which the
lower bracket of a front brake is applied, and to be removably secured in position,
either by their frictional holding in such openings, or by being passed therethrough
and secured by nuts g, and clips g', or in any other convenient manner, suitable to the
make of the cycle-frame to which the appliance is to be adapted.
When the apron is in position, the stretcher engages with the fastening. means a²,
applied to its lower edge, while the handle-bar engages with the fastening means a¹,
applied to its upper edge, and whereby, as aforesaid, the apron is caused to be
stretched taut between such parts in a plane immediately in advance of and in parallel
relation to the inclination of the cycle-head f, and handle-bar-stem 61, in which plane
the central part of the apron is further supported by the cycle-head and handle-bar-

page_text: stem, while its side edges are supported by the stiffening means a³, applied thereto,
and it is so caused to be effective in attaining the desired object of the Invention.
The stiffening means a³, may consist of strips of cane or whalebone or of wire or
the like inserted at its edges and around which it may be rolled when not in use.
The apron is made with an opening at, to accommodate the lamp-bracket.
To accommodate altered positions of the handle-bar, the stretcher carrier d, may
be adjustably applied to its carrying part d³.
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 :-
An attachment for bicycles and the like to protect the legs of the rider from rain,
consisting of a water-proof apron adapted with means of securing it, along its top
edge, to the cycle handle-bar, and, along its bottom edge, to a stretcher, and with
means of stiffening it, along its side edges, and of a stretcher carrier applied to the
crown or adjacent part of the steering-wheel-fork, and whereby the apron is caused
to be maintained in a stretched condition immediately in front of the cycle-head and
handle-bar-stem in such position as will cause rain beating against it to be shed
forwardly, as set forth.
DAY DAVIES & HUNT.
Chartered Patent Agents, 321. High Holborn. London. W.C.
Agents for the Applicant.