Improved Mudguard for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 5th July, 1894-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Mudguard for Cycles and other Vehicles.
BENJAMIN HOBBS 4 Garrick Street Covent Garden London W.C. Tailor do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a mudguard for velocipedes and light
vehicles (and particularly for the use of cyclists) of such a nature that it shall be
of little weight, capable of being removed from the vehicle and folded up into so
small a packet that it can be easily carried in the pocket readily attached to or
removed from the machine and capable in some cases of being firmly secured in
position at one point only.
In carrying out my invention I provide a thin cover or guard of any light and
flexible material such as linen, cotton, silk, canvas, or other textile fabric, although
thin leather, waterproof material, or the like may be used, and I prefer to use a
material such as canvas or silk, and I cut from this and on the bias a strip of the
length and width required for iny guard allowing for stitching. I then mark a line
down the centre of this strip. I prepare a template or block of cardboard or
suitable material corresponding in width to half the desired size of the guard and
cut to the segment of a circle larger than the desired shape of the guard and I find
that for say a 30 inch wheel a radius of about 28 inches would suffice for the
outer edge and say 25 for the inner or thereabouts; (or I may strike a portion of
the edge lines of the template from a different centre so as to slightly raise the
centre portion of the template if desired so as to make better work in stitching.
The ends of the template are cut as radiating from the centre.
I then sew a piece
of tape say inch wide down the centre line of the strip of canvas and loosely so
that the length may be a trifle more than the length of the canvas.
The centre line of the canvas is now placed on the outer edge of the template
and the canvas doubled over each side so as to cover the template and basted down
thereto the ends being cut to the shape. The edges of the canvas are then sewn
up, a piece of tailor's tape being inserted and the material slightly gathered in
the sewing so that the shape shall correspond with the template.
After the canvas is removed from template I sew transversely across the strip
and at intervals of say about 2 inches pieces of tape about inch in width and
these are sewn at their edges so as to form pockets in which I place thin pieces of
flat steel or other resilient material.
To the centre of the transverse resilient spring at one end of the canvas strip, I
secure a small metal socket or thimble and at the opposite end I fit a small piece of
tube upon a corresponding flat piece of steel or resilient material provided with
slots for the purpose of attaching it to buttons placed conveniently on the machine
or vehicle and over which it is sprung when ready for use. Down the centre tape
and line I secure at intervals, say at each cross tape a small ring or loop.
I now provide a light metal rod or rib corresponding or nearly so to the length
of the centre tape, and on this being passed through the tube at one end of canvas
strip, through the rings on centre tape, and into socket at other end, the centre tape
may be stretched along said metal rod by pulling the end spring containing small
tube along to the extremity or thereabouts of the rod, a suitable catch, screwed
head, or retaining device on the latter preventing the return of the small tube and
keeping the centre tape stretched to its full length.
To effect this it will have been found necessary to slightly bend the metal rod,
the transverse resilient springs likewise becoming bowed or bent and the complete
guard brought into proper shape. For it will be seen that the centre of canvas

page_text: strip (cut on the bias) will become stretched (together with the centre tape) to a
greater length than the sides thereof to which are sewn tapes of less length and
the tension of the latter therefore tends to keep the mudguard in an arched
position.
In making mudguards for the rear wheels of velocipedes or where a greater
length is required, I provide a longer strip of canvas or the like and tapes and a
greater number of transverse springs, the central rod or rib being made in two (or
more) portions for convenience of transport united by a telescopic or other joint.
The rear mudguard of a safety bicycle may be further supported by a tie rod
connecting it to a suitable point under the saddle, the rear forks also reducing to a
minimum the amount of side swing.
Dated this 21st dow of March 1801
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
32, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Mudguard for Cycles and other Vehicles.
I BENJAMIN HOBBS of 4 Garrick Street Covent Garden W.C. Tailor 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide a mudguard for velocipedes and light
vehicles (and particularly for the use of cyclists) of such a nature that it shall be
of little weight capable of being removed from the vehicle and folded up into so
small a packet that it can be easily carried and readily attached to or removed from
the machine and which shall nevertheless preserve a circular or arched shape both
longitudinally and transversely, when in use according to the shape or curvature
of the wheel.
In describing my invention I shall refer to the accompanying sheet of drawings
whereon
Figure 1. represents a flat strip or template for shaping the canvas or other
material.
Figure 2. is a plan of the underside of the mudguard when ready to be folded or
rolled up after withdrawal of the rib or rod shewn by Figure 4.
Figure 3 is a side view of the mudguard when ready for use, & Figure 3^ a cross
section of same.
Figure 5 shews a method of jointing the rod when it is too long for conveniently
carrying when not in use such as would be required for the rear mudguard of a rear
driving safety bicycle.
Figures 6 & 7 are details of such a mudguard &
Figure 8 shows a mode of attachment.
In carrying out my invention I provide a thin cover or guard of any light and
flexible material such as linen cotton silk canvas or other textile fabric although
thin leather, waterproof material or the like may be used and I prefer to use a
material such as canvas or silk and I cut from this and on the bias (see Fig. 6) a
strip of the length and width required for my guard allowing for stitching and I
mark a line down the centre of this strip 1 prepare a template or block (Fig. 1) of
cardboard or suitable material corresponding in width to half the desired size of
the guard and cut to the segment of an inch larger than the desired curve of the
guard when completed and distended the centre portion being struck from a nearer
centre so as to be slightly raised or of sharper curvature than the two ends I find
that for a 30 inch wheel a mudguard say 24 inches in length and suitable for the
front wheel of a safety bicycle may be conveniently made as follows. The template

page_text: is prepared by marking upon a flat surface such as cardboard the segment of a
circle a a a Fig. 1 56 inches in diameter and 24 inches long. Inside this line and
equidistant 2 inches therefrom is drawn another segment bbb the ends of the
From points at
segments being joined by lines c c radiating from the center.
distances of about th of the length from each end are drawn two other segments x y z
the centre portions of which are * inch higher than or distant from the original
curve (shewn by dotted lines) the flat cardboard or other material being then cut
along the firm lines x y x, by b and the two ends.cc. This now represents the
template and is equivalent to half the width of the guard I then sew to the strip
of canvas along its centre line a piece of tape d Fig. 2 say inch wide and loosely
so that the length may be a trifle more (say ths inch) than the normal length of
the canvas The centre line of the canvas is now placed on the outer curved
edge a y a of the template Figure 1 and the canvas doubled over so as to cover
both sides of the template and basted down thereto or held temporarily in
position.
It will now be found that the edges of the canvas are slightly longer than the
inner edge of the template. In order to reduce them to the proper length I sew
or attach upon each side a piece of stay tape or other inelastic material of the
exact length of said inner edge slightly drawing in or gathering the canvas for this
purpose.
At the
After the canvas is removed from the template I sew transversely across the
strip pieces of tape e Fig. 2 at equal distances apart about inch wide and sewn at
their edges so as to form pockets in which I place thin pieces of flat spring steel
whalebone or other resilient material. I provide a small metal socket attached
by soldering or other means to the flat spring e' at one end of the canvas.
other end I provide a transverse resilient spring 9 to which the canvas may be
secured by overlapping and stitching as shewn at h and by small wires i passing
through the turned up ends of said spring and prevented from escaping by screwed
heads or the like, the other ends being bent up and sewn or otherwise attached
to the canvas, other meaus of attachment may be used The end spring g contains
two holes of the shape shewn for passing over projections attached to the fork of
the wheel and thereby holding the guard in place. In the centre of the spring g
I fix a small metal tube m the projecting portion being threaded to engage with cap
or milled head p. The tapes I may be provided at their centres with small rings n
or instead of these rings I may form a pocket or equivalent down the centre line of
the canvas.
The rigid portion or backbone of the guard consists of a resilient metal rod o
(Fig. 4) which may be of a shape such as an umbrella rib (or whalebone in some
cases may be used) and is of a length at least equal to or not less than the central
tape d when fully stretched.
In order to bring the mudguard into shape the rod o is passed through the
tube m and rings n in succession or through the pocket or equivalent. therefor) and
inserted io the socket f at the other end of the canvas. Pressure is then
continued on its outer end until the centre tape d which has hitherto been loose
becomes stretched to its full length necessitating the stretching of the canvas along
its centre line while the edges remain constant in length. In this manner a bowed
shape is given to the canvas longitudinally and at the same time the springs and
canvas become arched transversely a correct shape of mudguard being thus
produced. The rib o is prevented from springing out by means of the cap p which
is passed over its end and then screwed up a small projection or piece of solder
near its end may serve to temporarily hold it in the tube m while the cap p is being
screwed up and thus save unnecessary strain upon the fingers Any other suitable
catch or retaining device may be used for holding the rib or rod o in position.
When making a mudguard for the rear wheel of a safety bicycle or where one
of considerable length is required I provide a longer strip of canvas and corre-
spondingly larger number of cross tapes and springs and I prefer to make the rod
or rib in two portions see Fig. 5 for convenience of carrying when not in use the

page_text: ends telescoping one into the other by means of a socket portion
otherwise attached to one of the ends.
soldered or
The guard may be held in position at one end r by means of a clip or clips
grasping a convenient portion of the framework or by passing the cap p through a
hole provided for the purpose or other means may be employed. The forks Fig. 8
also serves to steady the guard and reduce vibration its arms passing through
holes (Fig. 6) in the canvas which is further provided with button holed flaps such
as u for passing over buttons v so as not to weaken or destroy the arch of the
mudguard.
Near the top of the mudguard I provide a stay or tie rod w capable of being
secured to a clip or boss on the seat pillar and pivoted at the other end to a sliding
piece upon the rib o a hole being made in the canvas for allowing said rod w to
pass through.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same may be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. A detachable and portable mudguard for the wheels of velocipedes or other
vehicles consisting of a strip of canvas silk or other suitable material cut on the
bias having a tape or the like sewn down its centre and provided with a flexible
rod or backbone and having transverse pockets in which pieces of flat spring metal
or other resilient material are placed substantially as herein before described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. For use in forming correctly a canvas or like mudguard a template or block
such as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by Figure 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. The mudguard for the wheels of velocipedes constructed and arranged
substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1894
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
32, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.