Improvements in and connected with Mudguards for Cycles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 10th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Feb., 1895
Improvements in and connected with Mudguards for Cycles.
We, HENRY DAVIS, Surgeon, and PATRICK BYRNE, Merchant, both of Tuam,
County of Galway, Ireland, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improvement in flexible mudguards and to a method
of adjusting same to the wheels of bicycles and tricycles.
The invention refers particularly to firstly, a frame for the support of the
mudguard secondly, special fittings for securing the frame to the machine; and
thirdly, a flexible mudguard.
According to the first part the frame for the rear mudguard consists of a narrow
band of flexible steel or other metal of suitable length, perforated at one end with
a hole to receive a bolt, the other end is turned into a loop and is perforated in two
places so that the perforations shall be opposite to each other in the loop. The
frame for the front mudguard consists also of a narrow band of flexible steel or
other metal perforated at one end to receive a bolt, and bent at the other end into
a sharp turn affecting only the extreme end.
According to the second part the frames above mentioned may be secured to the
machine after the manner of the ordinary metal mudguards or they may be secured
by means of the following bereindescribed special fittings. A terminal stay for
both frames alike consists of one piece of wire suitably bent transversely over the
wheel, the centre being flattened and perforated to receive a bolt, the ends are also
flattened and turned into a ring, or joined to a flat piece of metal with a circular
perforation for fitting on the axle at each side of the wheel, where they are firmly
held in position by the binding nuts. The special fastening for the central brace
of the machine consists of an elliptical piece of tin or other flexible metal of suitable
size perforated at each end and having two transverse slots equidistant from the
perforations, of suitable width to admit the steel frame. It is bent round the
central hrace so that the steel frame shall be held between the brace and the trans-
verse bar of the fastening. A bolt is passed through the perforations of the
fastening and firmly tightened. The special fastening for the lower brace consists
in the loop turned on the end of the steel frame which is caught round the brace
and secured by a bolt passing through the perforations. The special fastening for
securing the short frame under the fork consists of two bolts and two pieces of tin
or other flexible metal in the shape of a rectangular bridge of suitable size with a
slot in the transverse portion of suitable width to admit the steel frame, the arms
of the bridge are perforated at the ends and are bent at right angles to the
transverse portion. The perforated end of the steel frame is passed through the
slots in the fastenings as they lie back to back, the perpendicular arms being on
the same side of the frame as the turned extremity of the frame hereinbefore
described, the fastenings are then moved along the frame until they are caught at
the turned extremity, they are then flattened out at a suitable distance apart and
pressed down, and in this position are placed in the fork under the crown of the
machine, the perpendicular arms passing up at each side of the shoulder over which
they are suitably bent and bolted tightly to each other. The ends of the frames
are then bolted to the terminal stays above described.
According to the third part strips of waterproof fabric or leather or other
flexible material of suitable breadth and the length of the supporting frames, have

page_text: attached to them transversely at regular distances, thin pieces of ribbon steel the
'breadth of the fabric, and between these, at regular distances, transverse loops of
narrow tape or other fastening material of suitable width to admit the steel frames;
and at each end an eye or button: hole or loop, is secured. The strips are then
threaded on to the steel frames taking care that the fastening for the central brace
shall be threaded on also in its proper distance from each end. The frames are
then secured to the machine as hereinbefore described. When in use the flexible
guard is drawn out to its extreme length along the frame and fastened at both ends.
When not in use, the guard for the front wheel is gathered up to the fork and there
secured; the guard for the rear wheel is gathered. from both ends and secured over
the centre brace.
The object of this invention is to provide an efficient set of mudguards which can
be readily adjusted for use, and readily secured-in a position where they will offer
no obstruction to the wind when not required.
The mudguards and frames above described are modified for adjustment to the
rear wheels of tricycles in the following manner viz.:-Three pieces of wire suitable
length and suitably. bent to form a curve over the wheel, are flattened and
perforated at one end where they are bolted at a suitable distance apart to a hand-
of flexible steel, the other ends are flattened and turned at right angles and.clasped
in the special fastening. The special fastening consists in a band of tin or other
flexible metal perforated at each corner and having two opposite rows of three
equidistant longitudinal slots near the centre. The turned ends of the wire are
passed through the slots in the fastening which is then bent round the transverse
supporting bar of the machine above the axle, and secured and firmly tightened by
two bolts passing through the opposite perforations. A flexible guard similar in
texture and make to the strips above described of the shape included between the
lateral wire stays and the steel band, and having its transverse ribs of ribbon steel
converging and extending to the apex, is threaded on to the steel band as herein-
before described and secured at the ends and at the apex and sides by ordinary
fastenings.
Dated this 27th day of August 1894.
FREDERIC PRINCE,
Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements-in and connected with Mudguards for Cycles.
We, HENRY DAVIS, Surgeon, and PATRICK BYRNE, Merchant, both of Tuam,
County of Galway, Ireland, 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 improvement in flexible mudguards, and to a method
of adjusting same to the wheels of bicycles and tricycles.
The invention refers particularly to, firstly, a frame for the support of the
mudguard; secondly to special fittings for securing the frame to the machine; and
thirdly; to a flexible mudguard.
In order that our invention may be readily understood and carried into practical
effect, we will proceed to describe the same by reference to Figures 1 to 14 of
the accompanying drawings (hereafter separately referred to). Similar letters of
reference refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawings.
Figure 1, is a side elevation of a bicycle shewing our invention applied.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the frame for the rear mudguard, shewing same
detached.

page_text: Figure 4, a rear fixing device, both shewn detached.
Figure 5, is a perspective view shewing a wire hook or clasp. Figure 5A,
shewing the application of same.
Figure 6, shews in perspective, the front mudguard frame detached.
Figure 7, being a perspective view of fixing devices; and
Figure 8, illustrating the application of same for securing the frame (Figure 6).
Figure 9, shews the flexible cover, detached.
Figure 10, a longitudinal section of same; and
Figure 11, a plan of the underside of the same cover.
Figure 12, is a diagram side view of a guard suitable for a tricycle wheel.
Figures 13 and 14, being respectively elevation and plan of a clip for same.
According to the first part of our invention, the frame for the rear mudguard,
consists of a narrow band A, of flexible steel or other metal or celluloid, or flattened
tubing the band A, is suitably bent or curved as shewn, and one end A¹, Fig. 2, is
turned into a loop, being perforated in two places to receive a bolt A. The
opposite extremity of the band is perforated for bolting it to its supporting stays.
The frame of the front mudguard, Fig. 6, is composed of a band B, of like
material to the band A, is perforated at one end B', the other end being cut plain
or abruptly bent at B3. Instead of the materials described, either or both of the
bands A, B, may be composed of two parallel wires suitably curved and held at a
proper distance apart.
The frames as above described may be secured to the machines in the manner
common for fixing the usual metal mudguards, or according to the second part of
our invention, they may be secured by means of the special fastenings now to be
described. The fastening for the rear band A, for its attachment to the central
brace C, of the machine, see Fig. 1, is composed of an approximately elliptical
piece D, of tin or the like, as is shewn at Figure 3, perforated at each end, and
having two transverse slots D', (equidistant from the perforations) of such width
as to admit the band A. After the band A, has been passed through the slots D',
the piece D, is bent upwards as shewn at Figure 3, around the central brace C, and
secured by a bolt passing through the end perforations. The special fastening for
securing the band A, to the lower brace E, is formed by the loop A', passing
round the brace and held by the bolt A³, see Fig. 1. The rear lower end of the
band A, is bolted to the ordinary transverse stay F, and the band B, to the like
stay F. The special fastening for securing the band B, under the front fork is
composed of two pieces BB, B, see Fig. 7, each formed with a slot as shewn, the
vertical arms being perforated. The band B, is passed through the slots as. at
Fig. 7, and placed under the crown of the fork as shewn at Fig. 8. The vertical
arms are then bent over and bolted tightly to each other. When parallel wires
are employed, perforations at a proper distance apart are made in the fastenings
instead of slots.
According to the third part of our invention, and as shewn at Figs. 9, 10, and 11,
we provide strips G, single, or double sewn or solutioned together of waterproof,
leather, rubber, or other flexible material, having attached or inserted at suitable
distances transverse bands G¹, of whalebone or ribbon steel. On the under side,
the strips G, have loops G, of wire or the like, of a width to admit the bands A,
or B, readily. The strips G, are then threaded on the frames A or B, taking care
that the fastening D, on the band A, for the central brace C, shall be threaded on
also in its proper distance from each end. The frames are then secured to the
machine as herein before described. When in use, the flexible strip or guard G, for
the rear frame A, is drawn out to its extreme length along the frame and fastened
at both ends by hooking the terminal transverse loop G³, over the turned extremity
of an oblong piece of tin, or other metal H, Figs. 2 and 4, slotted down the centre
for adjustment and securing on the bolt between the frame A, and the mudguard
stay F, or the strip G may be held by means of an eyelet or button hole or loop
attached to the mudguard. When not in use, the guard G, for the front wheel is

page_text: gathered up to the fork as shewn at Fig. 1, and there secured by means of a suitable
loop passing round the frame B, and secured at each end upon a button attached to
the upper surface of the flexible guard, or the latter may be held in place when
folded, by means of a wire, hook or clasp J, Figs. 5 and 54, with an elongated
central shank bent at right angles and again bent abruptly upon itself as is shewn
applied to a band B, at Fig. 5. The upper end of the clasp J, is passed through a
perforation in the upper surface of the mudguard as at Fig. 9, allowing the shank
to be drawn out or pushed back at will. When the guard G, is folded the clasp .J
is adjusted to the frame A, or B, in the manner shewn at Fig. 54. The guard for
the rear wheel is gathered from both ends and secured by two such clasps J, at
about the central brace.
The object of this invention is thus attained, and we are enabled to supply an
efficient set of attached mudguards which can be readily adjusted for use and
readily secured in a position where they will offer no obstruction to the wind when
not required.
The mudguards and frames above described are modified for adjustment to the
rear wheels of tricycles in the following manner :-Two or more stays F, F, F,
Fig. 12, suitably bent over the wheel and of suitable length, are bolted at one end
to a frame of similar material to those herein before described. The other ends
are bent at right angles and clasped in the special fastening shewn at Figs. 13
and 14, round the transverse supporting bar K, of the machine, above the
axle L.
The special fastening consists of two semi-circular bands or castings M, with
projecting perforated lips for bolting to each other, the concavity of one being
grooved transversely for lodgment of the bent ends of the stays F, and the edge of
one side being notched at the termination of the grooves for lodgment of the
shafts F.
A flexible guard similar to those above described, is threaded on to the frame
before bolting same to the stays the remainder of the space included between the
converging stays is filled up with a continuation of the same material as that
forming the mudguard, or with an open-meshed netting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. The special arrangements of frames A and B, for supporting flexible
mudguards, constructed and acting substantially as and for the purposes
described with special reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 6, of the accompanying
drawings.
2. The fittings for securing the frames to the machine, constructed, applied and
arranged substantially as described and shewn with special reference to Figs. 2, 3, 7,
and 8, of the accompanying drawings.
3. The arrangement of flexible mudguard, herein before described and illustrated
with special reference to Figs. 9, 10, and 11, of the accompanying drawings.
FREDERIC PRINCE,
37, Cursitor Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicants.