Improved Mudguards for Velocipedes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Feb., 1892-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Mudguards for Velocipedes.
I, RICHARD MORRISS WOODHEAD Russell Street, Nottingham, Machinist do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is intended to provide an improved mudguard or shield for the
wheels of velocipedes, so constructed and arranged that it may be quickly removed,
folded, or otherwise compressed or stowed away whenever it is not actually required
to prevent the rider being splashed by mud and as mudguards are a hindrance
to propulsion, especially when running against the wind, an arrangement for readily
removing them or reducing their area whenever they are not really required for
the above purpose is an obvious advantage and convenience to the rider.
I carry out this invention by making a skeleton frame of wire, whalebone, or
other suitable material. On this frame a cover, made of leather, rubber or any
suitable textile material is stretched, hooked, or otherwise fastened, thereby
completing the mudguard for use. When not required the said cover may be
removed altogether or compressed and folded into a smaller compass, or it may be
wound on to a roller or rollers conveniently fitted to the frame.
Another way is to make the skeleton frame and cover so that it may be. closed or
expanded over the wheel as required.
Another improvement is in the method of attaching mudguards as they are at
present made. I do this by clipping or strapping them to bars fixed on the frame
of the machine, the fastening being so arranged that the entire mudguard may he
more readily removed or attached as required.
Dated this 19th day of June 1891.
RICHARD MORRISS WOODHEAD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Mudguards for Velocipedes.
I, RICHARD MORRISS WOODHEAD of Russell Street, Nottingham, in the County
of Notts, Engineer 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 consists of an improved mudguard or shield for the wheels of
velocipedes, so constructed and arranged that it may be quickly removed, folded,
or otherwise compressed or stowed away whenever it is not actually required to
prevent the rider being splashed by mud, and as mudguards are an hindrance to
propulsion, especially when running against the wind, an arrangement for readily
removing them or reducing their area whenever they are not really required for
the above purpose is an obvious advantage and convenience to the rider.
I carry out my invention by making a skeleton frame of wire whalebone or other
suitable material and on this frame a cover, made of leather, rubber or any suitable
textile material, is stretched, hooked, or otherwise fastened, thereby completing
the mudguard for use. When not required the said cover may be removed
altogether or compressed and folded into a smaller compass or wound on to a roller
or rollers conveniently fitted to the frame.
As a modification the skeleton frame and cover may be made so that they may
be closed or expanded over the wheel as required.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I append drawings hereto
which illustrate some methods of carrying my invention into practical effect.

page_text: '
Throughout the several views similar parts are marked with like letters of
reference.
Figures 1 and 2 Sheet No. 1 are views showing my improved mudguard applied
to the driving and steering wheels respectively. The frame A for carrying the
guard is made of wire, whalebone, cane, or other light material and it is adapted
to be fixed to the frame X of the machine at the points B, and to be clamped to
the frame X or to the fork X' adapted to carry the free end of the guard by
suitable clamp bolts B', B¹. The cover C consists of a strip or sleeve of any
light flexible and preferably waterproof fabric, and it is provided with one or more
hooks or their equivalents c and holes c', the former to enable one end to be
attached to the frame A at B, and the latter to enable the clamping bolts
at B, B, etc. to pass through it. Figures 3 and 4 Sheet No. 1 are views of the
guards for the driving and steering wheels respectively. The fork X' is preferably
so attached to the frame X of the machine that it can readily be removed with the
frame A, or it may be made as part of the said frame. Instead of removing the
frame A from the frame X. of the machine it may if desired be made to telescope
as shown by Figures 5 and 6 Sheet No. 1, the frame being made in two parts A
and A and the fork X being fulcrated at its point of attachment to the frame X
of the machine. This allows the back part of the frame A and if desired the cover
also, to be passed under or over the front part A' quite out of the way as shown
by Figure 6. A further modification of this folding frame is shown by Figures 7
and 8 Sheet No. 1. In this construction the frame A is made to fold or collapse
longitudinally so that when not in use it can be compressed into a small compass.
Figures 9 and 10 Sheet No. 1 are views in plan of this frame open and shut
respectively.
Instead of mounting the cover C on the frame A by means of hooks and holes
or their equivalents, it may be fitted with rings c or hooks e on each side as shown
by Figures 11 and 12 Sheet No. 2 for the purpose of its attachment to the frame A,
or the frame A may be provided with a series of cross bars a, a, etc., over and
under which the cover C may be laced as shown by Figure 13 Sheet No. 2. As
a further modification the cover C may be made of a series of transverse strips
mounted on longitudinal tapes or their equivalents as a Venetian blind as shown
by Figure 14 Sheet No. 2, so that it may be drawn up into a small space at one
end of the frame.
When the cover C is not intended to be removed from the frame of the machine
I prefer to mount it on a roller D preferably enclosed in a suitable case D' clipped
or otherwise fixed to any suitable part of the frame X of the machine, and adapted
to be operated either by a spring or by a key or its equivalent on the end of the
roller D as shown by Figures 15 and 16. Figures 17, 18, 19, and 20 Sheet No. 2
show another form my invention may assume. Figures 17 and 18 showing the guard
as applied to a driving wheel open and closed respectively, and Figures 19 and 20
showing the guard applied to a steering wheel open and closed respectively. In this
construction the cover C is carried by one or more forks X' fulcrated at or about the
centre of the wheel to which the guard is applied, the said cover being mounted
on one or more rollers D preferably enclosed in cases D' as hereinbefore described.
The forks X are provided with suitable catches or their equivalents so that they
may be readily fixed in the positions shown by Figures 17 and 19 to hold the
guards open, the spring operating the rollers D retaining them through the cover C
in the positions shown by Figures 18 and 20 when the guard is closed.
It will be seen that my improved mudguard can readily and easily be either
removed from the machine, or so folded or otherwise dealt with as to be out of the
way when not required for use.
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details of construction as herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings, but that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations
as may fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.
I am aware that the sheet metal mud guards as at present used, have been made

page_text: detachable from the frames of machines and also that leather and other pliable
material has been used for mud guards by being laced or otherwise attached to
the members of the frame of a machine and I do not therefore broadly claim such
as my invention, but
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 do
claim is :-
1. The improved mudguards for velocipedes, as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In a mudguard for the wheels of velocipedes, the combination of a detachable
skeleton frame, and of a detachable cover of any suitable textile or flexible material,
as set forth.
3. In a mudguard for the wheels of velocipedes, the combination of a folding
skeleton frame, and of a flexible cover adapted to roll or fold up, as set forth.
4. In a mudguard for the wheels of velocipedes, the combination of a detachable
or folding skeleton frame, and of a flexible cover adapted to be gathered run or
rolled up on the said frame, as set forth.
5. In a mudguard for the wheels of velocipedes, the combination of one or more
folding forks, and of a cover in one or more lengths each mounted on a roller or its
equivalent and so attached to the fork or forks that when the said forks are open
the cover is spread over the wheel, as set forth.
6. In a velocipede, mounting the flexible cover of a mudguard on a roller
preferably enclosed in a case adapted to be fixed to the frame of a machine the
said roller being operated either automatically by a spring to wind up the cover
or by a suitable key or handle, as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a velocipede, mounting the forks carrying the mudguard so that they may
readily be detached from the frame of the machine, are folded to lie alongside the
members of the said frame, as and for the purpose set forth.
8. The improved construction of mudguard for the wheels of velocipedes, as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 Sheet No. 1 of the
accompanying drawings.
9. The improved construction of mudguard for the wheels of velocipedes, as
herein before described and illustrated by Figures 5 and 6 Sheet No. 1 of the
accompanying drawings.
10. The improved construction of mud guard for the wheels of velocipedes, as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10 Sheet No. 1 of
the accompanying drawings.
11. The improved construction of mud guard for the wheels of velocipedes, as
herein before described and illustrated by Figure 14 Sheet No. 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
12. The improved construction of mud guard for the wheels of velocipedes, as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures 17, 18, 19, and 20 Sheet No. 2 of
the accompanying drawings.
Datad this 20th lor of Lanuary 1802
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, 70, Chancery Lane, London,
Agent for the Applicant.