Improvements in Mud Guards for Wheels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Mud Guards for Wheels.
1, JOHN GRORGE AULSBBROOK KITOHBN of 28, Rose Grove, Ardwick, Manchester
in the County of Lancaster, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to light folding and readily detachable mud
guards for the wheels of velocipedes and other light road carriages and consists in
the improved manner of construction of the framework of the guard by which an
inexpensive, compact and light folding mud-guard is obtained.
The frame of the guard is constructed of Ant link-work which is capable of being
rolled or folded up in one direction only. It is preferably formed straight so that
each link of the chain supports the other in one direction. The links are preferably
made of tempered anetal wire but may be made of stamped sheet metal.
Suitable clips and lugs are attached to the framework so made by which it is fixed
to the frame or body of the vehicle the disposition of the framework being such that
it supports itself above the wheel, when fixed at one end. The free end is then drawn
in by light wire or cord or held by stays attached to the frame of the machine so that
the framework of the guard is sprung round to follow the curvature of the wheel.
The framework is covered with glazed fabric, loather, indiarubber or any other
suitable material.
At present I prefer to make the links of tempered wire, each link having three
straight sides; the ends of the two parallol or approximately parallel sides are formed
to embrace the transverse side of the next link, and by a suitable arrangement of the
extremities of each link the sides of the next link shall rest upon them in one direction,
and so by bending the framework so formed in the direction in which it is rigid and
securing the ends a curve approximating to that of the wheel is readily obtained.
30 11
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.
I JOHN GEORGE AULSBBROOK KITOHEN of Albert Road, Alexandra Park,
Manchester, formerly of 28 Rose Grove, Ardwick, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Mechanician 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 light and readily detachable folding mudguards for the
wheels of velocipedes and other light road vehicles and consists in the improved
manner of construction of the framework of the guard, the object of this invention

page_text: being to reduce the weight and cost of manufacture of such guards and enable theu
to be folded up in a small space. The folding mudguards bitherto made have either
been composed of long sections and stays occupying a long space when folded up and
inconvenient to stow away in the cyclist's bag, and to put on or take off the machine
or where they have been formed of shorter sections hinged together so that they can
be folded or rolled up in one direction and are prevented from folding in the other
direction, the sections have been composed of many different parts and expensive to
make. These inconveniences are obviated by my improved inanner of constructing
the guard.
On the drawings appended hereunto :-
Figure 1 shows part of the framework of the improved mudguard, as seen from
its under side.
Figure 2 one of the sections or links detached,
Figure 8 a side view of the same,
Figure 4 an outline of the mudguard as applied to the rear wheel of a bicycle.
The frame of the guard is composed of links of wire preferably of tempered steel
of the shape shown, each link consisting of a wire a bent at each side at about a right
angle so as to form sides a'. The ends of each side are curled round the transverse
wire of the preceding liuk nearly twice round and the second curl a bent or opened
out with regard to the first curl a' so as to be at about a right angle thereto and seize
under the sides a' of the preceding link, which is thus prevented from being folded
apon the following link in this direction or upwards when the chain is in the position
shown on Figure 1, but can be folded in the opposite direction.
To the chain is attached a flexible cover rather wider than the chain made
preferably of enamelled fabric and cut diagonally so as to curve transversely when
stretched. Any other suitable material, such as leather or indiarubber, may be used.
The guard thus formed is attached to suitable clips c by means of which it is fixed
to the fork of a bicycle or other suitable part of the vehicle and the free ends of the
chain are drawn in by cords d or light wires or held by stays attached to the stationary
axle or other part of the frame of the machine, so that the framework of the guard
is sprung round to follow the curvature of the wheel, as shewn by Figure 3.
A guard thus formed can he readily detached and rolled up into a small compass in
the opposite direction to the curvature when fixed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inyen-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
The construction of mudguards for wheels, with frames composed of wire links
formed substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
R. J URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent."