GB2153314A - Stay for fixing cycle mudguard - Google Patents

Abstract

A cycle mudguard stay comprises a U-shaped length of stiff wire rod of which the limbs 2 are bridged by a clamp 4 which when unclamped is slidable longitudinally of the limbs towards and away from the bight end of the "U". The bight end is shaped to form an eye 3 for receiving a screw by which the stay is fixed to the cycle frame. The clamp 4 is fixed to a strap 5 which is shaped to bridge the cycle wheel and is attached to the mudguard 7. The ends of the stay remote from the eye 3 are held together by a removable cap 8. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Stay for fixing cycle mudguard It is usual for a mudguard of a bicycle, moped or other cycle (hereinafter called a "cycle") to be fixed directly to the frame of the cycle at at least one first position and indirectly at at least one second position by a pair of stays, positioned one at each side of the mudguard, and fixed at one end of each stay to the mudguard and at the other end of each stay to the cycle frame at or near to the axle of the wheel.

According to the invention, a stay for fixing a mudguard to a cycle at the or each said second position of fixing comprises a substantially U-shaped length of stiff wire rod of which the limbs are bridged by a clamp which when unclamped is slidable longitudinally of the limbs towards and away from the bight end of the "U" and which has screw means whereby the clamp is clamped to the limbs in a position to which it has been set, the bight end of the "U" forming a location point for rceiving screw means by which the stay is fixed to the cycle frame and the clamp also being secured to a strap shaped to bridge the periphery of the wheel and tyre of the cycle and to be attached to the mudguard at the aforesaid second position.

The wire rod may be springy and the limbs when released from the clamp will spring apart by the resilience of the rod to a V-shape which is divergent in a direction away from the bight.

The bight is preferably formed by bending the wire rod into a loop which extends laterally outwardly from each of the limbs at the bight end to form the location point as an "eye" through which the screw means is passed.

The slidable clamp which bridges the limbs of the "U" may comprise a pair of clamping members of which at least one has a pair of parallel grooves each shaped to receive slidably the limbs therein and screw means by which the two clamping members can be clamped together or released. One of the clamping members may be one end of the strap to which the mudguard is to be attached.

The outer ends of the limbs may be fitted with a removable cap which acts to hold the outer ends at a distance apart such that at least a major portion of each of the limbs will be parallel to each other and to close the "U". The cap also prevents the outer ends of the limbs from causing damage or injury.

The clamp or at least the clamping member, other than the strap, and the removable end cap may be made of metal or a synthetic plastics material. The material used for these parts may have a distinctive colour.

The invention also includes the combination of a pair of mudguard stays, as set out hereinbefore, together with the strap which is to be connected between the stays and to which the mudguard is to be attached.

By way of example, one embodiment of mudguard stay in accordance with the invention is now described.

The stay is constructed from springy wire rod, e.g., stainless steel or plated steel, which is bent to a V-shape and is formed with a curved eye open to the interior of the V at the bight end. The purpose of the eye is to receive screw means by which two stays are attached one at each side of the wheel of a cycle to the frame thereof. The position of attachment may be at or adjacent the wheel axle or another position, for example, a location on the respective fork. The screw means may be the axle rod and wheel locking nut or it may be a separate nut and bolt or screw engaging the location on the frame or a bracket fixed or attached to the frame.

The limbs of the stay are laterally pulled towards each other to be substantially parallel, i.e., to a U-shape by a clamp, which when released is slidable along the parallel limbs, and also by a removable end cap having a pair of spaced holes therein into each of which the free ends of the limbs are inserted.

The end cap has a curved outer end and therefore prevents the ends of the limbs which would otherwise be free from causing injury or damage.

The clamp consists of one clamping part which has a pair of parallel grooves therein in which the limbs are located and are held parallel by the grooves and one end of a sheet metal strap which extends laterally of the stay.

The other end of the strap is similarly cooperable with a grooved clamping part on another identical stay. The ends of the strap and the respective clamping parts are clamped together by screw means passing through the strap end and the clamping part to grip the limbs of the respective stay therebetween after the clamping parts and strap have been slid longitudinally of the stays to the position required, as hereinafter explained. The screw means on each clamp may be a separate nut and a separate bolt or a screw engageable in a thread in one of the parts, for example, this may be in a nut brazed, welded or otherwise permanently secured to the strap. The bolt or screw may have a spanner-engaging head, a screw-driver slot, or a socket for receiving a complementarily-shaped key.

The strap is shaped to be placed inside a mudguard and may be secured thereto by screw means, rivetting or by the mudguard being clipped onto the strap.

In use, one stay is secured at each side of the wheel and the strap is positioned and clamped therebetween to extend across the wheel and tyre and thus to support the mudguard.

The slidable adjustment of the mudguard strap with respect to the stays enables the curvature of the mudguard to be set correctly with respect to the circumference of the tyre and for the radial spacing between the tyre and the mudguard to be adjusted.

A stay as described in this example is now illustrated in the accompanying perspective drawing. In this drawing, the stay is shown by arrow 1. The limbs of the stay are indicated at 2. The eye for receiving the screw means by which the stay is fixed to the cycle frame is shown at 3. The slidable clamping part is shown at 4 and this is secured and clamped to the strap 5 by a screw 6. The strap 5 is rivetted or otherwise secured to the mudguard indicated at 7. The ends of the limbs are closed by the removable cap 8.

Claims (8)

1. A stay for fixing a mudguard to a cycle as herein defined, the stay comprising a substantially U-shaped length of stiff wire rod of which the limbs are bridged by a clamp which when unclamped is slidable longitudinally of the limbs towards and away from the bight end of the "U" and which has screw means whereby the clamp is clamped to the limbs in a position to which it has been set, the bight end of the "U" forming a location point for receiving screw means by which the stay is fixed to the cycle frame and the clamp also being secured to a strap shaped to bridge the periphery of the wheel and tyre of the cycle and to be attached to the mudguard.

2. A stay as claimed in Claim 1 which the wire rod is springy, whereby the limbs when released from the clamp will spring apart by the resilience of the rod to a V-shape which is divergent in a direction away from the bight.

3. A stay as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the bight is formed by bending the wire rod into a loop which extends laterally outwardly from each of the limbs at the bight end to form the location point as an "eye" through which the screw means is passed.

4. A stay as claimed in any preceding claim in which the slidable clamp which bridges the limbs of the "U" comprises a pair of parallel grooves each shaped to receive slidably the limbs therein and screw means by which the two clamping members can be clamped together or released.

5. A stay as claimed in Claim 4 in which one of the clamping members is one end of the strap to which the mudguard is to be attached.

6. A stay as claimed in any preceding claim in which the outer ends of the limbs are fitted with a removable cap which acts to hold the outer ends at a distance apart such that at least a major portion of each of the limbs will be parallel to each other and to close the "U".

7. The combination of a pair of mudguard stays as claimed in any preceding claim and the strap which is to be connected between the stays and to which the mudguard is to be attached.

8. A stay for fixing a mudguard to a cycle, as herein defined, the stay being constructed and arranged substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawing.