WO2016024091A1

WO2016024091A1 - Mudguard

Info

Publication number: WO2016024091A1
Application number: PCT/GB2015/052265
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alun Pearson
Original assignee: Alun Pearson
Priority date: 2014-08-14
Filing date: 2015-08-05
Publication date: 2016-02-18
Also published as: GB201414432D0; GB2529225A

Abstract

A cycle mudguard (1) comprises a bracket (1b) and a deflector (1a) extending from the bracket. The bracket includes a front member (1d) and a rear member (1c) and the deflector (1a) extends from the front member. The bracket further comprises at least one element extending from one of the front and rear members towards the other thereof, the front and rear members and the at least one element are configured to engage with a brace (7) of a cycle fork set for attachment of the mudguard thereto.

Description

Mudguard

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to mudguards and in particular to mudguards for bicycles having their front wheels suspended on suspension struts.

Background of the Invention

When bicycles are ridden in wet road or track conditions water and/ or mud is picked up by the wheels and released from the wheels due to centripetal forces. This is a well understood problem. In the case of bicycles where the front wheel is attached to front forks that are fixed, that is the length of the forks is fixed, a mud guard may be attached to the forks. Such mudguards are fixed to the crown of the forks and lie in a fixed position relative to the wheel. Such mudguards are relatively efficient in capturing and deflecting water and/or mud as it is released from the bicycle's tyres and thereby preventing the water and/or mud from being deposited on the rider of the bicycle.

Bicycles that are adapted for riding off road are typically provided with front forks which are configured to absorb shock loads. Such forks comprise upper and lower telescoping tubes. The upper tubes are joined together by the crown and the lower tubes are joined together by a brace.

The style of mudguard used with fixed forks is not suitable for off road use as their size and proximity to the wheel are such that the mudguards would tend to become blocked with mud.

Various different devices have been used to counter the effects of water and/or mud or other debris lifted by the cycle's tyres from the surface traversed by the cycle (such materials hereinafter shall be referred to collectively as mudspray in a non-limiting sense). For example, it is common to provide a mudguard fixed to the down tube of the bicycle frame. Such a mudguard is useful in catching the mud spray emanating from a certain part of the wheel. However, because of the position of such a mudguard relative to the wheel a significant amount of mudspray cannot be caught by such mudguards. One of the problems posed by mudspray in relation to off-road cycling is that the mudspray interferes with the riders vision. This can be particularly problematic for individuals who would normally wear spectacles.

Another problem, particularly in conditions where the mudspray is thick is that the space between the brace and the crown can become blocked with mud and other debris entrained with the mud.

It is also known in off road bicycles to attach a relatively small mudguard to the underside of the brace. Whilst these types of mudguard function to a certain extent they occupy the space between the underside of the brace and the tyre and reduce the clearance therebetween. This can result in the space becoming blocked particularly when the mudspray is thick.

Another solution to prevent mud spray leaving the tyre and travelling forward of the rider and also to prevent a build up of mud and debris between the brace and the crown is to fit a piece of neoprene between the brace and crown. The neoprene flexes as the lower tube moves with respect to the upper tube.

However, none of the present solutions provide a good solution to keeping mudspray out of the vision of the rider of an off-road bicycle.

Summary of the Invention

According to the invention there is provided, a cycle mudguard comprising a bracket and a deflector extending from the bracket, wherein the bracket includes a front member and a rear member and wherein the deflector extends from the front member, the bracket further comprising at least one element extending from one of the front and rear members towards the other thereof, the front and rear members and the at least one element are configured to engage with a brace of a cycle fork set for attachment of the mudguard thereto.

The front and rear members may be joined together and may be joined together at an apex.

The at least one element may comprise a ledge. Preferably, the at least one element extends in a substantially perpendicular direction to the front or rear wall. The front and rear members may be joined together so as to permit movement of the respective front and rear members towards and away from each other.

The bracket and/ or deflector may be formed of a resilient material. The bracket and deflector may be formed of a single piece element and the single piece element is formed as a plastics moulding.

It is preferred that at least one of the front and rear members extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the deflector.

It is preferred that at least one of the front and rear members is curved.

At least one of the front and rear members may be flat.

Advantageously, the cycle mudguard further comprises securing means configured to secure the bracket to the brace of the fork set.

Advantageously, the securing means includes at least one element configured to draw the front and rear members together. The securing means preferably includes an elongate flexible element. Preferably, at least one of the front and rear members include at least one opening and the flexible element engages with the openings.

Preferably, the cycle mudguard comprises at least one opening in the rear member, the at least one opening situated proximate and above the at least one element.

Preferably, the cycle mudguard further comprises at least one opening situated below the at least one element.

It is preferred that the cycle mudguard comprises a further flexible element, the further flexible element in use engaging with the or each opening and passing around the brace. Advantageously, the elongate flexible element is a zip tie.

Brief Description of the Drawings

In the Drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of a mudguard of the invention and which are by way of example: Figure 1 is side view of a mudguard;

Figure 2 is a front view of the mudguard illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front view of the mudguard illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 mounted on a bicycle;

Figure 4 is a side view of the mudguard mounted on a bicycle as shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the mudguard; and

Figure 6 is a front view of the mudguard illustrated in Figure 5.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

Referring first to Figures 3 and 4, there is shown a mudguard 1 attached to a bicycle 2 which includes a set of forks 3 which comprises an upper set of tubes 4 joined together by a crown 5 and a lower set of tubes 6 joined together by a brace 7.

The upper and lower tube sets 4, 6 are slidably mounted within one another and are biased apart as shown in Figures 3 and 4. As the bicycle is ridden along over rough ground the lower tube set 6 moves up and down on the upper tube set 4. Hence, the space between the upper and lower tube sets 4, 6 reduces and increases.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, the mudguard 1 comprises a deflector la which in use extends forwards of the forks. The mudguard 1 includes a bracket lb which comprises a rear wall lc and a front wall Id which join at an apex le. In the illustrated embodiment a ledge member If extends forwards from the rear wall lc. As can be seen in Figure 4 the ledge member If sits on top of the brace 7.

The rear wall lc as shown in the drawings is curved. However, the rear wall lc may extend in a straight line to the apex le, for example from the free end thereof, the ledge If or another point.

As can be seen best from Figures 3 and 4, the rear wall lc of bracket lb prevents mud spray being thrown through the space between the crown 5 and the brace 7. The bracket lb also allows the lower tube set 6 to move with respect to the upper tube set 4. The height of the bracket lb may differ for different models of fork set, which typically provide for different extents of travel between the upper and lower tube sets 4, 6.

In this embodiment, the rear wall lc is provided with two sets of two apertures lg and lh and a third set of apertures lh'. The upper set of apertures lg in the rear wall lc are substantially aligned with a corresponding set of apertures lg' in the front wall Id. In the illustrated embodiment the apertures lh are rectangular or oval rather than round. This ensures that the zip tie 10 lies in the correct orientation. The third set of apertures lh' is not essential and may be round or another shape. For example, Figure 2 shows two configurations of aperture lh', one round and the other U shaped with the open part of the U situated in the free end of the rear wall lc.

The mudguard 1 is formed of a flexible material (in the illustrated embodiment the material is a plastic). To mount the mudguard 1 on the forks 3 the underside of the ledge If is brought to rest on the upper surface of the substantially horizontal (with the bicycle standing upright) part of the brace 7. The bracket lb is then secured in position on the brace 7. In the illustrated embodiment this is achieved by passing a flexible tie 10 through each of the holes lh, passing the flexible tie around the brace 7 and pulling the tie tight. The flexible tie 10 is preferably a zip tie of some description. Two ties 10 may be used, one for each of the holes lh. The ledge If may include openings, preferably in the form of grooves in the free edge thereof, for receiving the flexible tie 10. Similarly, the free end of the rear wall lc may include grooves for receiving the flexible tie 10.

In the illustrated embodiment securing of the mudguard to the brace 7 is enhanced by a further tie 11 that passes through the substantially aligned holes lg, lg' and is then pulled tight. The tie 11 serves two functions. First, it reduces vibration of the mudguard and hence movement of the parts la and Id about the apex le with respect to the rear wall lc. Second, the tie 11 pulls the front and rear walls Id, lc together so that the lower part of the front wall Id rests against the front face of the brace 7.

The embodiment illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 includes a second ledge lj extending forward from the rear wall lc. The function of the second ledge lj is to prevent the front wall Id meeting the rear wall lc when a flexible tie is passed through the openings lg, lg' in the same manner as shown in Figure 4. In use, the rear wall lc and the deflector la of the mudguard 1 lie in the path of mud spray that otherwise might find its way into the riders area of vision.

One skilled in the art will understand that mudspray the leaves the tyre 20 when the wheel 15 is rotating does so tangentially to the surface of the tyre. One skilled in the art will also appreciate that only mudspray leaving part of the wheel would present a significant risk of entering the eyes of the cycle rider. Any mudspray thrown backward or downward does not present a risk for example.

The mudguard of the invention therefore presents a practical solution to capturing mudspray that may find its way into the eyes of a cycle rider.

Claims

1. A cycle mudguard comprising a bracket and a deflector extending from the bracket, wherein the bracket includes a front member and a rear member and wherein the deflector extends from the front member, the bracket further comprising at least one element extending from one of the front and rear members towards the other thereof, the front and rear members and the at least one element are configured to engage with a brace of a cycle fork set for attachment of the mudguard thereto.

2. A cycle mudguard according to Claim 1, wherein the front and rear members are joined together.

3. A cycle mudguard according to Claim 2, wherein the front and rear members are joined together at an apex.

4. A cycle mudguard according to any preceding claim, comprising two elements, either one of the two elements extending from one or other of the front and rear members towards the other thereof, the two elements spaced apart along the longitudinal direction of the bracket

5. A cycle mudguard according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one element comprises a ledge.

6. A cycle mudguard according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one element extends in a substantially perpendicular direction to the front or rear wall.

7. A cycle mudguard according to any of Claims 2 to 6, wherein the front and rear members are joined together so as to permit movement of the respective front and rear members towards and away from each other.

8. A cycle mudguard according to Claim 7, wherein the bracket is formed of a resilient material.

9. A cycle mudguard according to Claim 8, wherein the deflector is formed of a resilient material.

10. A cycle mudguard according to Claim 8, wherein the bracket and deflector are formed of a single piece element.

11. A cycle mudguard according to Claim 10, wherein the single piece element is formed as a plastics moulding.

12. A cycle mudguard according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the front and rear members extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the longitudinal axis of the deflector.

13. A cycle mudguard according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the front and rear members is curved.

14. A cycle mudguard according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one of the front and rear members is flat.

15. A cycle mudguard according to any preceding claim, further comprising securing means configured to secure the bracket to the brace of the fork set.

16. A cycle mudguard according to Claim 15, wherein the securing means includes at least one element configured to draw the front and rear members together.

17. A cycle mudguard according to Claim 16, wherein the securing means includes an elongate flexible element.

18. A cycle mudguard according to Claim 17, wherein at least one of the front and rear members include at least one opening and the flexible element engages with the openings.

19. A cycle mudguard according to Claim 18 when dependent on Claim 4 or any claim dependent

thereon, comprising at least one opening in the rear member, the at least one opening situated proximate and above the at least one element.

20. A cycle mudguard according to Claim 19, further comprising at least one opening situated below the at least one element.

21. A cycle mudguard according Claim 19 or 20, comprising a further flexible element, the further flexible element in use engaging with the or each opening and passing around the brace.

22. A cycle mudguard according to any of Claims 17 to 21, wherein the elongate flexible element is a zip tie. A cycle mudguard according to substantially as shown in, and as described with reference to, the drawings.