Improved Skirt-guard for Cycles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improved Skirt-guard for Cycles.
I, Lady MARGARET HAMILTON-RUSSELL, 45, Gloucester Place, Portman Square,
London, W., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A narrow semi-circular metal frame, strung across with cord, to be fastened
on to and below, the stay of the mud-guard on both sides of the back wheel
of a lady's bicycle, for the purpose of keeping the skirt of the rider from
catching in and going round with, the wheel. It is practically an extension
or addition to the ordinary present dress-guard, but with the difference of being
semicircular in shape instead of straight.
1, Lady MARGARET HAMILTON-RUSSELL, 45, Gloucester Place, Portman Square,
London, W., no occupation, 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 skirt guards for cycles, its object being to provide
means for preventing the rider's skirt from being caught between the usual
skirt guard and the wheel. As hitherto constructed the skirt guard has been
in the shape of a segment of a circle and has extended forward on each side
of the wheel between the rear mud-guard stay and the forks or chain stays
of the bicycle frame. It has been found, however, with this construction that
the rider's skirt is apt to be carried round by the wheel between it and the
guard.
According to the present invention an attachment in the form of a detachable
skirt guard is provided, preferably though not necessarily of an approximately
semi-circular shape, the straight side of the semicircle coinciding with the edge
of the usual guard along the mud-guard stay. One of these attachments is
used upon each side of the bicycle.
The space enclosed by the attachment may be wholly or partially covered
over with cord, netting, wire, perforated sheet metal or other material.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is an elevation of a lady's bicycle to which this invention is applied,

page_text: A is the ordinary skirt guard outlined by the back mud-guard stay B, the
gear-case and the mud-guard D.
The attachment E comprises a frame-work across which cords F are
stretched the straight edge F coinciding with the mud-guard stay B. One
end of E is detachably secured in place by means of a screw clamp or the like 13
formed upon it receiving and gripping the mud-guard stay B, the other end
being engaged by the back wheel spindle which enters a hole in the
attachment E.
The straight bar F may be dispensed with if desired as the stay of the other
guard will serve in its place; or the strength of the frame F may be sufficient
without it.
This improved dress guard can be used with or without the usual guard A,
and can be attached or detached at pleasure.
By the application of this invention a longer skirt can be worn than is
otherwise possible with safety.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The detachable skirt-guard substantially as described.
2. The combination with the ordinary bicycle skirt-guard of an attachment
such as E substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1900.
BOLLT, WADE & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicant.