Year: 1897

page_text: CHARLES SMITH, 4, Harman Street, Kingsland Road, N., London, Sheet Metal
Worker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The gear case is a detachable case. The construction of the case is this every
part of it is kept together by 3 hinges that is to say that when the case is open
nothing is parted it is fixed at the back of the case with a metal clip which fits over
the stay betwin the chain at each end of the case a half circle falls down on an
hinge and the front of the case from centre to centre that is from the small chain
wheel to the large chain wheel which joins the half circle spoke of that also falls down
on hinge leaving the whole of the chain exposed to view without taking any parts of
the gear case away this is done by undoing 3 screws on the top bead of the gear case
you have no nead. to take the case off to see the chain if it is required to take the
case off you.undo. the 2 screws on the clip round the tube runing through the case
and when the case is off not one of the parts are seperate it is perfectaly dust proff
and does not hold oil.
Dated this First day of November 1897.
I, CHARLES SMITH, of 4, Harman Street, Kingsland Road, London, N.E., Sheet
Metal Worker, 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:-
My invention relates to the gear cases ordinarily used for enclosing the chain
wheels and chain of bicycles and other velocipedes, and it has for its object a novel
method of construction of such gear cases, so that the different parts are connected
together by hinges, and whilst they can be readily opened when required to afford
access to the chain-wheels and chain which they contain, the parts remain attached
together so that none of them can be mislaid or lost.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention, and represents an
improved gear case applicable to an ordinary bicycle, Figure 1 being a side view of
the case closed, Figure 2 showing it opened, and Figure 3 being an end view of
Figure 1.
The inner side, a (Figure 2), of the case, which is made of the proper size and
shape for the bicycle to which it is to be applied, is provided with flanges b, b¹, at its
top and bottom edges, semicircular in cross section. To the lower flange 61 is hinged

page_text: at c the outer side or cover, d, of the case, which is held in place when closed (as
shown in Figure 1) by a fastening e fixed in position by a screw f, or equivalent
means. To the ends of the lower semicircular flange bare hinged at g, g₁ respectively,
two hollows ends h, h¹, semicircular or nearly so in side view, which when closed, as
shown in Figure 1, serve to complete the gear case and contain the chain' wheels
round which the driving chain of the machine passes. The edges of the hollow
ends are curved to correspond with the curved flanges b, 61, against which they fit
when closed, and they are held by fastenings i, il, and screws k, k¹, resembling those
already described. Overlapping guiding pieces are provided upon the straight
edges of the hollow semicircular ends h, h¹, which fit over the corresponding edges 1
of the sides a and d, and retain them accurately in their places, and at the same time
exclude all dust.
The back a of the gear case is provided with openings or recesses (which may have
strengthening flanges) at m, to allow the passage of the bars which form part of the
frame of the bicycle, against one of which bars the back of the case is fixed by
means of a clip n passing over the bar and screwed against the back of the case by
screws 0. Instead of one such clip, two or more may be used, and the case may be
fixed to any other suitable part of the velocipede. A central opening at p allows the
passage of the pedal axle, and the opening at the back fits round the driving.axle
inside the corresponding chain wheel, whilst the recesses and openings u fit round
and enclose the lower end of the framing which carries the axle of the driving
wheel.
The opening in the back a is preferably extended horizontally. backward, as
shown in Figure 2, and is closed by a sliding cover 8. When this cover is drawn
completely back, and the clip n removed, and the end h¹ opened, the entire gear 2
case can be moved forward and the case removed from the bicycle without difficulty,
or without disconnecting any of the parts. When the cover is pushed back,, dust is
excluded from the case. Sliding cases of the like kind may be used to exclude dust
and dirt from other parts of the case.
<!
I fix or solder projecting ribs or wires as at t, round the edges of the parts of the 3
gear case, to stiffen and strengthen it.
Either of the chain wheels may be exposed, by unfastening and dropping one of
the hollow semicircular ends h, h¹, as shown in Figure 2; and by also dropping the
front d, the whole of the gear is exposed for repairs or cleaning. When closed the
gear case is dust and dirt proof, and at the same time simple, cheap, and 3
effective.
It may be made of any suitable sufficiently light and strong metal or material,
and as ornamental as desired.
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 4
I claim is —
:-
1. A gear case for velocipedes, having the front and ends hinged to the back,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose described and illustrated.
2. In combination with the gear case described and claimed in Claim 1, guiding
pieces 1, 1, recesses m, u, and sliding covers & for excluding dust, substantially as
described and illustrated.
3. The method of fixing the gear case described and claimed in Claim 1, to the
frame of the velocipede, by means of one or more clips n, passing over a part of
the frame which passes through the inside of the gear case, and attached inside
to the back of the case by screws o, substantially as described and illustrated.
1
.
T
1000
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 & 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant: