Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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WHAT I CLAIM AS MY INVENTION:
(1) In a cycle which includes a rear axle, a rear
wheel journalled for rotation thereon, a pair of upper wheel
forks extending upwardly from the axle and a saddle secured
to the upper ends of the wheel forks; a retractable mud guard
assembly for shielding the upper part of a wheel of said cycle,
said mud guard assembly comprising in combination a strip of
flexible synthetic plastic, means to secure same to the cycle
in alignment with the wheel to be shielded, means to extend
and retract said strip from an extended shielding position to
a stored rolled position and vice versa, at least one strut
component detachably secured by the lower end thereof to adja-
cent the axle of the wheel to be shielded, said strut being
movable from a stored position to an extended position and
vice versa and means on the distal end of said strip to de-
tachably secure said distal end to the other end of said strut
when said strut is in the extended position.
(2) The invention according to Claim 1 which in-
cludes means to secure said strip by one end thereof under-
neath the saddle of the cycle.
(3) The invention according to Claim 1 in which said
means to detachably secure said strut by the lower end thereof
includes a bracket secured to the axle, said bracket including
means to pivot said strut by the lower end thereof and retaining
means to detachably hold said strut in the extended position.
(4) The invention according to Claim 2 in which said
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means to detachably secure said strut by the lower end thereof
includes a bracket secured to the axle, said bracket including
means to pivot said strut by the lower end thereof and retain-
ing means to detachably hold said strut in the extended posi-
tion.
(5) The invention according to Claim 3 in which said
retaining means to detachably hold said strut in the extended
position includes a hooked portion on the distal end of said
bracket under which said strut engages when in the extended
position.
(6) The invention according to Claim 4 in which said
retaining means to detachably hold said strut in the extended
position includes a hooked portion on the distal end of said
bracket under which said strut engages when in the extended
position.
(7) The invention according to Claim 1 which includes
clip means securable upon the upper wheel fork of the associated
cycle to detachably hold said strut in the stored position,
said clip means including a spring clip secured to said upper
wheel fork under the saddle of the cycle, said strut being de-
tachably clipped into said spring clip adjacent the upper end
of said strut, to hold said strut in position substantially
along the side of said upper wheel fork.
(8) The invention according to Claim 2 which includes
clip means securable upon the upper wheel fork of the associated
cycle to detachably hold said strut in the stored position,
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said clip means including a spring clip secured to said upper
wheel fork under the saddle of the cycle, said strut being de-
tachably clipped into said spring clip adjacent the upper end
of said strut, to hold said strut in position substantially
along the side of said upper wheel fork.
(9) The invention according to Claim 3 which includes
clip means securable upon the upper wheel fork of the associated
cycle to detachably hold said strut in the stored position,
said clip means including a spring clip secured to said upper
wheel fork under the saddle of the cycle, said strut being de-
tachably clipped into said spring clip adjacent the upper end
of said strut, to hold said strut in position substantially
along the side of said upper wheel fork.
(10) The invention according to Claim 4 which includes
clip means securable upon the upper wheel fork of the associated
cycle to detachably hold said strut in the stored position,
said clip means including a spring clip secured to said upper
wheel fork under the saddle of the cycle, said strut being de-
tachably clipped into said spring clip adjacent the upper end
of said strut, to hold said strut in position substantially
along the side of said upper wheel fork.
(11) The invention according to Claim 5 which in-
cludes clip means securable upon the upper wheel fork of the
associated cycle to detachably hold said strut in the stored
position, said clip means including a spring clip secured to
said upper wheel fork under the saddle of the cycle, said strut
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being detachably clipped into said spring clip adjacent
the upper end of said strut, to hold said strut in position
substantially along the side of said upper wheel fork.
(12) The invention according to Claim 6 which in-
cludes clip means securable upon the upper wheel fork of the
associated cycle to detachably hold said strut in the stored
position, said clip means including a spring clip secured to
said upper wheel fork under the saddle of the cycle, said strut
being detachably clipped into said spring clip adjacent the
upper end of said strut, to hold said strut in position sub-
stantially along the side of said upper wheel fork.
(13) The invention according to Claim 1 in which
said means on the distal end of said strip to detachably se-
cure said distal end to the other end of said strut includes
an aperture formed through said strip adjacent the distal end
thereof, a resilient tip on said other end of said strut, said
tip including a conical outer end portion and an annular groove
formed around said tip spaced from the distal end thereof,
said conical outer end portion frictionally engaging through
the aperture in said strip whereby the edge of the material
forming said strip and defining said aperture, seats within
said annular groove.
(14) The invention according to Claim 2 in which
said means on the distal end of said strip to detachably se-
cure said distal end to the other end of said strut includes
an aperture formed through said strip adjacent the distal end
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thereof, a resilient tip on said other end of said strut,
said tip including a conical outer end portion and an annu-
lar groove formed around said tip spaced from the distal end
thereof, said conical outer end portion frictionally engaging
through the aperture in said strip whereby the edge of the
material forming said strip and defining said aperture, seats
within said annular groove.
(15) The invention according to Claim 3 in which
said means on the distal end of said strip to detachably se-
cure said distal end to the other end of said strut includes
an aperture formed through said strip adjacent the distal end
thereof, a resilient tip on said other end of said strut,
said tip including a conical outer end portion and an annu-
lar groove formed around said tip spaced from the distal end
thereof, said conical outer end portion frictionally engaging
through the aperture in said strip whereby the edge of the
material forming said strip and defining said aperture, seats
within said annular groove.
(16) The invention according to Claim 4 in which
said means on the distal end of said strip to detachably se-
cure said distal end to the other end of said strut includes
an aperture formed through said strip adjacent the distal end
thereof, a resilient tip on said other end of said strut,
said tip including a conical outer end portion and an annu-
lar groove formed around said tip spaced from the distal end
thereof, said conical outer end portion frictionally engaging
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through the aperture in said strip whereby the edge of the
material forming said strip and defining said aperture, seats
within said annular groove.
(17) The invention according to Claim 5 in which
said means on the distal end of said strip to detachably se-
cure said distal end to the other end of said strut includes
an aperture formed through said strip adjacent the distal end
thereof, a resilient tip on said other end of said strut,
said tip including a conical outer end portion and an annu-
lar groove formed around said tip spaced from the distal end
thereof, said conical outer end portion frictionally engaging
through the aperture in said strip whereby the edge of the
material forming said strip and defining said aperture, seats
within said annular groove.
(18) The invention according to Claim 6 in which
said means on the distal end of said strip to detachably se-
cure said distal end to the other end of said strut includes
an aperture formed through said strip adjacent the distal end
thereof, a resilient tip on said other end of said strut,
said tip including a conical outer end portion and an annu-
lar groove formed around said tip spaced from the distal end
thereof, said conical outer end portion frictionally engaging
through the aperture in said strip whereby the edge of the
material forming said strip and defining said aperture, seats
within said annular groove.
(19) The invention according to Claim 7 in which
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said means on the distal end of said strip to detachably se-
cure said distal end to the other end of said strut includes
an aperture formed through said strip adjacent the distal end
thereof, a resilient tip on said other end of said strut,
said tip including a conical outer end portion and an annu-
lar groove formed around said tip spaced from the distal end
thereof, said conical outer end portion frictionally engaging
through the aperture in said strip whereby the edge of the
material forming said strip and defining said aperture, seats
within said annular groove.
(20) The invention according to Claim 8 in which
said means on the distal end of said strip to detachably se-
cure said distal end to the other end of said strut includes
an aperture formed through said strip adjacent the distal end
thereof, a resilient tip on said other end of said strut,
said tip including a conical outer end portion and an annu-
lar groove formed around said tip spaced from the distal end
thereof, said conical outer end portion frictionally engaging
through the aperture in said strip whereby the edge of the
material forming said strip and defining said aperture, seats
within said annular groove.
(21) The invention according to Claim 9 in which
said means on the distal end of said strip to detachably se-
cure said distal end to the other end of said strut includes
an aperture formed through said strip adjacent the distal end
thereof, a resilient tip on said other end of said strut,
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said tip including a conical outer end portion and an annu-
lar groove formed around said tip spaced from the distal end
thereof, said conical outer end portion frictionally engaging
through the aperture in said strip whereby the edge of the
material forming said strip and defining said aperture, seats
within said annular groove.
(22) The invention according to Claim 10 in which
said means on the distal end of said strip to detachably se-
cure said distal end to the other end of said strut includes
an aperture formed through said strip adjacent the distal end
thereof, a resilient tip on said other end of said strut,
said tip including a conical outer end portion and an annu-
lar groove formed around said tip spaced from the distal end
thereof, said conical outer end portion frictionally engaging
through the aperture in said strip whereby the edge of the
material forming said strip and defining said aperture, seats
within said annular groove.
(23) The invention according to Claim 11 in which
said means on the distal end of said strip to detachably se-
cure said distal end to the other end of said strut includes
an aperture formed through said strip adjacent the distal end
thereof, a resilient tip on said other end of said strut,
said tip including a conical outer end portion and an annu-
lar groove formed around said tip spaced from the distal end
thereof, said conical outer end portion frictionally engaging
through the aperture in said strip whereby the edge of the
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material forming said strip and defining said aperture, seats
within said annular groove.
(24) The invention according to Claim 12 in which
said means on the distal end of said strip to detachably se-
cure said distal end to the other end of said strut includes
an aperture formed through said strip adjacent the distal end
thereof, a resilient tip on said other end of said strut,
said tip including a conical outer end portion and an annu-
lar groove formed around said tip spaced from the distal end
thereof, said conical outer end portion frictionally engaging
through the aperture in said strip whereby the edge of the
material forming said strip and defining said aperture, seats
within said annular groove.
(25) The invention according to Claims 1, 2 or 3
in which said strip is detachably securable to the cycle by
one end thereof, said means to extend and retract said strip
including said strip being formed in a rolled configuration
with the synthetic plastic forming said strip, having an in-
herent memory returning said strip to the rolled configura-
tion when the distal end thereof is released, said strip be-
ing unrolled from said one end and supplying tension to said
strut when attached thereto.
(26) The invention according to Claims 4, 5 or 6
in which said strip is detachably securable to the cycle by one
end thereof, said means to extend and retract said strip in-
cluding said strip being formed in a rolled configuration with
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the synthetic plastic forming said strip, having an inherent
memory returning said strip to the rolled configuration when
the distal end thereof is released, said strip being unrolled
from said one end and supplying tension to said strut when at-
tached thereto.
(27) The invention according to Claims 7, 8 or 9
in which said strip is detachably securable to the cycle by one
end thereof, said means to extend and retract said strip in-
cluding said strip being formed in a rolled configuration with
the synthetic plastic forming said strip, having an inherent
memory returning said strip to the rolled configuration when
the distal end thereof is released, said strip being unrolled
from said one end and supplying tension to said strut when at-
tached thereto.
(28) The invention according to Claims 10, 11 or 12
in which said strip is detachably securable to the cycle by one
end thereof, said means to extend and retract said strip in-
cluding said strip being formed in a rolled configuration with
the synthetic plastic forming said strip, having an inherent
memory returning said strip to the rolled configuration when
the distal end thereof is released, said strip being unrolled
from said one end and supplying tension to said strut when at-
tached thereto.
(29) The invention according to Claims 13, 14 or 15
in which said strip is detachably securable to the cycle by one
end thereof, said means to extend and retract said strip in-
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cluding said strip being formed in a rolled configuration with
the synthetic plastic forming said strip, having an inherent
memory returning said strip to the rolled configuration when
the distal end thereof is released, said strip being unrolled
from said one end and supplying tension to said strut when at-
tached thereto.
(30) The invention according to Claims 16, 17 or 18
in which said strip is detachably securable to the cycle by one
end thereof, said means to extend and retract said strip in-
cluding said strip being formed in a rolled configuration with
the synthetic plastic forming said strip, having an inherent
memory returning said strip to the rolled configuration when
the distal end thereof is released, said strip being unrolled
from said one end and supplying tension to said strut when at-
tached thereto.
(31) The invention according to Claims 19, 20 or 21
in which said strip is detachably securable to the cycle by one
end thereof, said means to extend and retract said strip in-
cluding said strip being formed in a rolled configuration with
the synthetic plastic forming said strip, having an inherent
memory returning said strip to the rolled configuration when
the distal end thereof is released, said strip being unrolled
from said one end and supplying tension to said strut when at-
tached thereto.
(32) The invention according to Claims 22, 23 or 24
in which said strip is detachably securable to the cycle by one
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end thereof, said means to extend and retract said strip in-
cluding said strip being formed in a rolled configuration with
the synthetic plastic forming said strip, having an inherent
memory returning said strip to the rolled configuration when
the distal end thereof is released, said strip being unrolled
from said one end and supplying tension to said strut when at-
tached thereto.