Improvements relating to Cycle and like Gear Cases.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Cycle and like Gear Cases.
We, EDWARD WHITEHOUSE, Boot Manufacturer, of 133, Angelina Street,
Birmingham, and ARTHUR EDWARD BECK, Manufacturer, of The Aston Tube
Works, Plume Street, Aston, near Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows;-
This invention consists of improvements relating to cases for covering the
chain or other gearing of cycles, motor cars and the like.
In such gear cases as at present constructed considerable difficulty is experienced
in attaching and detaching the flexible cover of the case, and also in keeping the
cover taut upon the metal frame or body of the case. The object of our invention
is to provide such means of securing the case cover as shall permit of ready attach-
ment and detachment and also of the tightening or adjustment of the cover when
required.
In the application of our invention we employ a metallic frame or case body
of the usual configuration but we preferably form in the upper side of the
frame a groove or semi-circular recess constituting a bed or seating for an india-
rubber tube closed at one end and fitted at the opposite end with a check or non-
return valve. The canvas or other material from which the case cover is made is placed
over the frame or body in the ordinary manner and on its upper side the hereinbefore
described rubber tube is interposed between it and the top of the frame. The
longitudinal edges of the cover are arranged to meet on the underside of the frame
or body as usual but instead of securing such edges together by the ordinary
lacing we employ studs, hooks, or like fastening appliances for such purpose.
After the longitudinal edges have been fastened, we inflate the said rubber tube
by means of an ordinary pneumatic pump or inflator until the cover is drawn
tightly and evenly over its frame or body. As the cover becomes stretched and
thus slackens through service or from exposure to the weather, we can readily
tighten the same by a further inflation of the tube.
We do not limit ourselves to any particular arrangement or disposition of the
rubber tube or other inflatable part upon the gear case, but make such modifica-
tions in the construction and disposition of such part as may be required.

page_text: Improvements relating to Cycle and like Gear Cases.
We, EDWARD WHITEHOUSE, Boot Manufacturer, of 133, Angelina Street
Birmingham, and ARTHUR EDWARD BECK, Manufacturer, of The Aston Tube
Works, Plume Street, Aston, near Birmingham, 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;-
i-
This invention consists of improvements relating to cases for covering the
chain or other gearing of cycles, motor cars and the like.
In such gear cases as at present constructed considerable difficulty is experienced
in attaching and detaching the flexible, cover or case, and also in keeping the
cover taut upon the metal frame or body of the case. The object of our invention
is to provide such means of securing the case cover as shall permit of ready attach-
ment and detachment and also of the tightening or adjustment of the cover when
required.
In the application of our invention we employ a metallic frame or case body
of the usual configuration but we preferably form in the upper side of the
frame a groove or semi-circular recess constituting a bed or seating for an india-
rubber tube closed at one end and fitted at the opposite end with a check or non-
return valve. The canvas or other material from which the case cover is made is placed
over the frame or body in the ordinary manner and on its upper side the hereinbefore
described rubber tube is interposed between it and the top of the frame. The
longitudinal edges of the cover are arranged to meet on the under side of the frame
or body as usual but instead of securing such edges together by the ordinary
lacing, we employ studs, hooks, or like fastening appliances for such purpose.
After the longitudinal edges have been fastened, we inflate the said rubber tube
by means of an ordinary pneumatic pump or inflator until the cover is drawn
tightly and evenly over its frame or body. As the cover becomes stretched and
thus slackens through service or from exposure to the weather, we can readily
tighten the same by a further inflation of the tube.
We do not limit ourselves to any particular arrangement or disposition of the
rubber tube or other inflatable part upon the gear case but make such modifica-
tions in the construction and disposition of such part as may be required.
In the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings we illustrate a cycle gear
case constructed in accordance with our invention.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the gear case and Figure 2 a sectional end elevation
on the line a b Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the frame or body of the case alone, or without
the flexible cover and the pneumatic tube.
The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.
The metallic frame or case body we form in any convenient manner from a steel
or other strip of half-round or other suitable section, making the outer surface
of the upper portion A of a concave configuration and the outer surface of the
lower portion A¹ of a convex configuration as shown at Figure 2. Between the
said upper portion A of the frame and the top of the flexible cover B we interpose
the rubber air tube C, and after the longitudinal edges of the cover which meet
beneath the lower portion A¹ of the frame have been secured by the fastening
studs 1), we inflate the tube C by means of an ordinary pneumatic pump or inflator
which is connected with the screwed projection E from a non-return valve fitted
to one end of the pneumatic tube C. By the inflation of the tube C the cover B
is drawn taut around the frame or body of the case.
We make the flexible cover B of canvas or other suitable material and pre-
ferably fit it with a central strip of celluloid as F in any ordinary manner.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is;-
1. In cycle and like gear cases the use of an inflatable part, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
2. In a cycle or like gear case the combination of a frame or body part and a
flexible cover with a rubber air tube fitted with a non-return valve, substantially
as described.
3. The improved cycle gear case constructed and arranged substantially as and
for the purposes described and as illustrated.
Dated this 16th day of June 1898
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., &
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.