Fabric protective cover for a drive mechanism of a bicycle

• US 5,018,564 A
• Filed: 03/26/1990
• Issued: 05/28/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gregory V. Anglin, Robert W. Richmond
• Original Assignee: Gregory V. Anglin, Robert W. Richmond
• Inventors: Richmond, Robert W., Anglin, Gregory V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weaver, Sue A.
• Application Number:
  US07/499,190
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• Field of Search: 150/166, 150/167, 150/154, 206/335, 474/146, 280/152.2, 280/160.1
• US Class Current: 150/167
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 13/04 completely enclosing the chain drive or the like

Abstract

A fabric is cut, sewn, and furnished with Velcro or other hook and loop fastener portions to become a cover to be removably positioned about a drive mechanism of a bicycle to protect this drive mechanism from the accumulation of dirt. A back elevational side of this fabric cover has spaced circular cuts with access cuts to these spaced circular cuts, thereby forming an access flap. These cuts accommodate the fitting of this back elevational side about both the rear axle and the pedal axle, and alongside the drive chain and the sprocket of a bicycle. After the fitting of this back elevational side about a rear axle and a pedal axle, Velcro fastener portions are used to keep the access cuts closed together when this cover is in use. A front side, which is continuous throughout, is thereafter secured to the back elevational side, where not previously initially sewn together to make this cover, by using components of Velcro fasteners. Preferably a Velcro strap is used to keep a rear bicycle wheel from rotating, as this Velcro strap of this cover is passed around a spoke of a bicycle wheel.

Claims

1. A full fabric material cover for the drive mechanism of a bicycle to protect the drive mechanism from dirt during storage of a bicycle or during transport of a bicycle, such as when a bicycle is carried on a bicycle rack in turn mounted on a vehicle, having the integral arrangement of such cover, comprising:

a) a back elevational side of this cover having a lower edge, an essentially fully openable top edge, a front edge, and a back edge;

a rear opening to fit about a rear axle of a bicycle, inside of rear gears and a drive chain;

a front opening to fit about a pedal axle, inside of a right side pedal, sprocket, and drive chain;

a vertical cut extending through and from the top edge of this back elevational side down to this rear opening;

an essentially vertical cut extending through and from the top edge of this back elevational side down to this front opening;

a flap thereby formed by these respective vertical cuts, which commences in the fabric material that extends between the rear opening and front opening and extends up to the essentially fully openable top edge of this back elevational side;

b) a front elevational side of this cover, having a lower edge, an essentially fully openable top edge, a front edge, and a back edge, and arranged to be continuous throughout, extending longitudinally from a rear axle location of a bicycle to the sprocket end location, and extending vertically from the lower edge to the essentially fully openable top edge; and

having both the back edge and the front edge and the lower edge respectively commonly formed with the back edge and front edge and the lower edge of the back elevational side of this cover;

c) respective joinable hook and loop fastener portions secured to respective sides of the vertical cut of the back elevational side, which provides access to reach a rear axle of a bicycle;

d) respective joinable hook and loop fastener portions secured to respective sides of the essentially vertical cut, which provides access to reach a pedal axle of a bicycle; and

e) respective joinable hook and loop fastener portions secured to a respective side of the essentially fully openable top edge portions of both the front elevational side, and the back elevational side, the latter including open top edge portions, which are on the flap formed in the back elevational side.

2. A full fabric material cover for the drive mechanism of a bicycle, as claimed in claim 1, having a means adapted to hold a rear wheel of a bicycle in a non-rotative position relative to this fabric material cover, when this cover is being used to protect the drive mechanism, from the otherwise accumulation of dirt.

3. A full fabric material cover for drive mechanism of a bicycle, as claimed in claim 1, having a hook and loop fastener to be placed about a spoke of a rear wheel of a bicycle, to hold a rear wheel of a bicycle in a non-rotative position relative to this fabric material cover when this cover is being used to protect the drive mechanism, from the otherwise accumulation of dirt.