FR2665416A1 - Device for personal protection of a user of a two-wheeled means of transport - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for the personal protection of the user of a two-wheeled means of transport, such as a bike of the all-terrain type, and intended to protect the user against splashes of mud or liquid thrown up by the rotation of the wheel or wheels during use over wet or muddy ground, and the device is characterised in that it consists of a small plate (3) provided with removable means for securing to a fixed element (1, 11) of the frame of the cycle, the small plate being positioned transversely with respect to the path of the said splashes, the small plate thus constituting a removable mudguard and being installed in the event of muddy or wet courses and capable of being removed in the case of courses over dry ground.

Description

The present invention relates to a device intended to allow the personal protection of the user of a means of locomotion on two wheels, against projections of mud or liquid caused by the rotation of one or both wheels of the cycle or motorcycle used.

The invention relates more particularly to cycles or motorcycles of the all-terrain type "which are precisely intended to roll under hostile or difficult conditions, in particular, after bad weather, on an earth soil which is consequently made muddy.

These conditions are favorable for entraining particles of mud with the wheel, these particles then being projected by centrifugal force and consequently reaching the user's back from the rear wheel or the legs and the front part of the body from the front wheel.

Bikes or motorcycles of the "all terrain" type generally do not have mud flaps, in particular with regard to non-motorized cycles, this with the aim of lightening on the one hand and due to the abundance of projections precisely. which would quickly accumulate between the mudguard and the wheel and would require close maintenance, or would then risk braking the rotation of the wheel.

 It is the same, moreover, for so-called "racing" cycles which do not include a mudguard, again for reasons of lightening, but which have the drawback, when used in the rain or in the ground or on a wet road, to cause projections received by the user, all the more abundant as the centrifugal force is high, that is to say that the cycle speed is itself important.

The invention aims to remedy this drawback and makes it possible to set up, only when necessary, and when the need arises, a removable device constituting personal protection of the user's body against splashing mud. from both the rear wheel and the front wheel and from a cycle not fitted with a fixed mudguard.

To this end, the invention relates to a device for the personal protection of the user of a means of locomotion on two wheels, such as a bicycle of the all-terrain type, and aiming to protect the user against the projection of mud or liquid driven by the rotation of the wheel (s) in use on wet or muddy ground, and the device is characterized in that it consists of a plate provided with removable securing means on a fixed element of the frame of the cycle, the plate being positioned transversely with respect to the path of said projections, the plate thus constituting a removable mudguard and being put in place in the event of travel on a muddy or wet environment and being able to be removed in the event of travel on dry ground.

The invention also relates to the application of a device as above specified for equipping the rear wheel with a cycle and it is then characterized in that the plate has an elongated shape, slightly curved and it comprises at least at one end a removable fixing device on the saddle support rod, the plate being disposed in a substantially horizontal position above the rear wheel, the concave part being oriented towards said wheel.

In the context of this application, provision has been made for the fixing device to consist of a clamp with two branches, of spacing adjustable by the play of a screw operated by an external wheel accessible to the user, the spacing and the bringing together of the two branches of the clamp making it possible to block the latter on the seat post of the saddle.

The invention also relates to the application of a device as above specified for the protection of the front wheel and it consists of a plate of rectangular shape comprising fixing means capable of being put in place. removably against the frame tube located in the immediate vicinity of the front wheel, the plate being arranged perpendicular to the direction of travel.

In this case, the fixing means may consist of two clamps integral with the wafer substantially along its median axis, the two clamps being spaced apart elastically and thus being able to be engaged and to take hold on the carrier tube.

According to another characteristic, each plate is made of molded synthetic material.

And the plate is preferably made of semi-rigid material therefore making it possible to respond elastically to deformations, the plate regaining its shape and thus being able to withstand impacts.

According to a variant, the plate includes signaling accessories such as devices of the reflector type.

As a variant, the invention relates to an embodiment in which the removable fixing means consist of at least one and preferably of two straps mounted integral with the wafer, the straps being associated with pressure fastening means of the type known under the commercial brand Velcro, and the straps are capable of closing in on themselves after having imprisoned the part of the cycle on which the pads are mounted removably.

Thus, in the context of the application of the device to a removable mudguard to equip the rear wheel, the plate has at one end a strap which can be closed on itself by means of the Velcro type and capable of trapping the rod of the saddle, a second strap disposed substantially at the level of the lower part of the saddle being capable of trapping one and preferably two bars integral with the saddle, the loop being closed on itself to secure the rear mudguard plate on the one hand on the saddle carrying rod and on the other hand on the underside of the saddle.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows and which is given in relation to a few examples presented without limitation and showing embodiments of wafers according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a removable mudguard according to the invention installed above the rear wheel.

Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of a removable mudguard according to the invention also installed above the rear wheel.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment of a removable mudguard in place facing the front wheel.

Figure 4 shows a detailed view of the mudguard of the
Figure 3.

According to Figure 1, there is shown the upper rear part of an "all terrain" type cycle.

And according to the invention, we see that is attached to the rod 1, saddle support, a removable mudguard 2 formed of a plate 3 mounted and removably secured to the rod 1 via a clamp 4.

This clamp is formed in a known manner of two twin jaws which are capable of being moved apart and brought closer together by a screwing assembly itself operated externally by a knurled button or, as in the context of FIG. 1 by a lever 5.

It can be seen that under these conditions the removable mudguard 2 can be easily installed by a simple and rapid maneuver when the user wishes to carry out a course on the cycle by taking muddy or soggy paths.

The representation of Figure 2 shows a variant in which the rear removable mudguard 2 'is also secured to the rod 1 by means of a strap closed on itself around the rod 1, the strap 6 comprising self-locking means of the type consisting of loops known under the trademark Velcro.

The plate 3 'thus comprises a first means of attachment to the rod 1 consisting of the strap 6 and a second consisting of a second strap 7 which can pass under the side members 8 of the saddle frame 9 to ensure a second point of solidarity; the straps 6 and 7 can be easily put in place and closed on themselves by simple pressure, consequently ensuring easy fixing of the removable mudguard plate at two points.

Figures 3 and 4 show an application of the invention to the production of a removable mudguard plate intended to protect the user from projections coming from the front wheel.

This plate 10 can be mounted on the front face of the tube ll belonging to the cycle and the securing means may be either loops provided with Velcro as previously described and which may, coming from the plate, cross by passing behind the rod 11, either elastic clips forming clips respectively 12 and 12 'which are easily engaged by simple pressure on the tube.

We see that the invention thus allows the owner and the practitioner of all-terrain cycle to spare himself during races in wet period in bad weather or on soggy paths, to practice this sport without necessarily suffering the inconvenience of mud projections , earth or liquid loaded on various parts of the body.

Furthermore, the pads of the invention being removable will only be put in place when it is necessary to provide this protection, thus avoiding unnecessary overloading of the machine.

In addition, the removable mudguards being by definition easily removable can be cleaned after a period of use by simple passage under a water jet possibly accompanied by rapid brushing, which is not the case as we know fixed mudguards.

As explained above, the removable rear mudguard, in particular the rear mudguard, but also the one assigned to the front wheel, may include accessory signaling means, for example reflector systems which, during use, can supplement the safety of the vehicle. 'user.

The plates will preferably be made of semi-rigid synthetic material. They can therefore lend themselves to deformation in the event of an impact linked for example to a fall, without risking being damaged, the flexible material lending itself to deformation in order to then return to its initial configuration.

Claims (10)

1 - Device for the personal protection of the user of a means of locomotion on two wheels, such as an all-terrain type bicycle, and aiming to protect the user against the projection of mud or liquid caused by the rotation of the wheel or wheels in use on wet or muddy ground, and the device is characterized in that it consists of a plate (3) provided with removable securing means on a fixed element (1, 11) of the part of the cycle, the plate being positioned transversely to the path of said projections, the plate thus constituting a removable mudguard and being put in place in the event of a muddy or wet course and being able to be removed in the event of a course in the field dry. 2 - Device according to claim 1 above to equip the rear wheel with a cycle and the device is characterized in that the plate (2 1) has an elongated shape, slightly curved and it comprises at least one end of the removable fixing members on the saddle support rod (1), the plate being disposed in a substantially horizontal position above the rear wheel, the concave part being oriented towards said wheel. 3 - Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the fixing members consist of a clamp (4) with two branches, of spacing adjustable by the play of a screw operated by an external wheel accessible to the user , the spacing and the bringing together of the two branches of the clamp making it possible to block the latter on the seat post of the saddle. 4 - Device according to claim 1 and for the protection of the front wheel and characterized in that it consists of a rectangular plate (10) having fixing means (12, 12 ') capable of being removably placed against the tube (11) of the frame located in the immediate vicinity of the front wheel, the plate being arranged perpendicular to the direction of travel. 5 - Device according to claim 4, and characterized in that the fixing means may consist of two clamps integral with the plate substantially along its median axis, the two clamps being spaced apart elastically and thus being able to be engaged and to make taken on the carrier tube. 6 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, and characterized in that each plate is made of molded synthetic material. 7 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, and characterized in that the plate is preferably made of semi-rigid material therefore allowing to respond elastically to deformations, the plate regaining its shape and thus being able to resist shocks. 8 - Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, and characterized in that the plate includes signaling accessories such as devices of the reflector type. 9 - Device according to one of claims 1, 2 or 4 above, and characterized in that the removable fixing means consist of at least one and preferably two straps mounted integral with the plate, the straps being associated with means for securing by pressures of the type known under the trademark Velcro, and the straps are capable of closing in on themselves after having trapped the part of the cycle on which the plates are mounted in a removable manner. 10 - Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the plate comprises at one end a strap (6) reclosable on itself by means of the Velcro type and suitable for trapping the rod (1) of the saddle, a second strap (7) disposed substantially at the level of the lower part of the saddle being capable of trapping one and preferably two bars or longitudinal members (8) integral with the saddle, the loop being closed on itself to ensure the joining of the guard plate - rear mud on the one hand on the seat post and on the other hand on the underside of the saddle.