Improvements in or connected with Mud-guards for Velocipedes and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 29th Dec., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Mud-guards for Velocipedes and
the like.
I, JOHN FLETCHER of Gill House Ulverston Lancashire, Gentleman, 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 improvements in or connected with mud-guards for
velocipedes and the like and refers more particularly to flexible mud-guards which
are usually constructed of leather or the like, the object being to provide a means
for stiffening or strengthening them as would be effected by the use of a central rib
but yet at the same time to retain their flexibility so as to allow of them being
rolled up and occupying but little space when not required for use.
In carrying my invention into practical effect I provide the mud-guard with an
air tube running centrally along the length of same which is closed at one end and
furnished with a suitable inflating valve at the other. This air tube is enclosed
between the material of the mud-guard, and a covering strip or band attached to
the said mud-guard by means of stitches, india-rubber solution, or in any other
convenient manner, so that upon inflating the tube by means of a pump such as
used for pneumatic tyres it forms a strengthening or supporting rib extending the
whole length of the inud-guard so that it may curve properly and keep its position
over the wheel of the machine. The said air tube may in some cases be provided with
a covering or casing of canvas if desired, or such canvas can be embodied in the
rubber during the course of manufacture in a similar manner to many pneumatic
tyres.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood I will now proceed to
describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a plan of a mud-guard, such as used for the back wheel of a velocipede,
fitted with my improvements, Fig. 2 being a cross section on line 2 of Fig. 1 at
an enlarged scale."
According to my invention the mud-guard is furnished with an air tube a running
centrally along the whole length of same, which is closed at one end and furnished
with a suitable inflating valve v at the other.
The air tube a is enclosed between the mud-guard m and a covering trip or
bands of canvas or other suitable material attached to the mud-guard by means of
stitches, india-rubber solution, or in any other convenient manner.
The mud-guards are attached to the machine as heretofore and upon inflating the
air tube they are caused to stand well away from the wheels of the machine, thus
preventing them touching or coming into contact with the said wheels which
frequently occurs with those which are unsupported, while when not required for
use they can be deflated and folded up so as to occupy but little space.
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 I
claim is :-
1. The improvements in or connected with mud-guards substantially as herein
1

page_text: 2. In flexible nud-guards the application of an air tube such as a substantially
as herein described and shown and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 24th day of November 1894.
F. G. CASSELL,
Of Cassell & Co.,
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicant.