Improvements in Rims for Wheels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 12th Feb.,
1898
Improvements in Rims for Wheels.
I, FERDINAND WILLIAM STARR, of 171, South Factory Street, Springfield, in the
County of Clarke, and State of Ohio, United States of America, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention relates primarily to concave-convex wooden rims, such as are
commonly used for bicycles, though its scope is not intended to be limited thereto,
and it has for its object the application to the concavity of the rim of one or more
encircling metal bands which serve the double purpose of reinforcing the wooden
rim and affording seats or bearings for suspension spokes, or for the outer ends of
thust spokes where nipples are not used.
The novelty of my invention will be hereinafter set forth and specifically pointed
out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing:-
Figure 1, is a perspective view of a portion of a rim embodying my invention,
under one form.
Figure 2, is a corresponding view showing another form.
Figure 3, is a corresponding view showing a modification of the means for
uniting the metal band and wooden rim.
Figures 4, and 5, are transverse sections of the rim showing further modifications
in the manner of applying the band.
Figure 6, is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 5.
Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10 are details of portions of the different bands before the
same are applied to the rims.
The same letters of reference are used to indicate identical parts in all the figures.
The great desideratum in the manufacture of rims of the class heretofore particu-
larly referred to, is to combine extreme lightness with great strength, and
particularly to prevent the rim splitting longitudinally and prevent the separation
of its joint or joints, and I propose to accomplish these results in the following
manner:-
In all the figures, A, represents the usual concave-convex wooden rim, preferably
in one piece, though not necessarily so, without laminations. Into the concaved
periphery of this rim, I press down firmly so as to adhere snugly to the surface of
the wood at all points, a metal strip or band which entirely encircles the rim and
may have its meeting edges brased or otherwise suitably firmly united. The edges
of this band, on both sides, are bent substantially at right angles and are serrated
to form teeth, which, when the band is pressed down on the wood, enter the same
and become clinched therein.
Referring to Fig. 1, B, represents the metal strip, portions of which are shown
in Figs. 9 and 10 where, a, represents the teeth or serrations, the teeth of Fig. 10
being arrow-head shaped. Under this form of construction, the band does not fill

page_text: the entire surface concavity of the rim, but even under this form the rim is very
strongly reinforced against splitting, and against separating the joint and to further
reinforce it and to afford bearings for the outer ends of the spokes, or for spoke
nipples, where the latter are used, I make perforations, b, through the band and rim
in such manner that the metal is spun or swaged down partially in the perforations
through the rim as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The band is not only held and securely
locked to the wood in close contact by its serrated edges, but also by the spun-down
portions at the spoke holes, and by a further spun-down portion at the perfora-
tions, c, Fig. 4, for the tire-inflating tube or valve.
As another embodiment of my invention, as seen in Fig. 2; the band may be made
wider so as to fill the entire surface concavity of the rim with the serrations turned
down over its outer edges and bent inward to enter and clinch in the wood. Or again,
as a slight modification of this form, as seen in Fig. 4, the metal in the band over-
lapping the outer edges, need only be serrated, at the edges as at d, where in enters
and clinches in the wood.
Again, as shown in Fig. 5, two serrated bands, side by side may be employed,
nearly filling the entire surface concavity of the rim and with the spun down' spoke
perforations in them set staggering, as shown in Fig. 6.
Again, where the band does not fill the entire concavity, or even when it reaches
over the wooden rim edges as seen in Figs. 7 and 8, the serrations may be formed
so as to alternately enter the wood in four circumferential rows out of alignment.
As still another method of uniting the band to the rim, reference is made to Fig. 3
where the lateral serrations are dispensed with and the band is punctured as by a
center punch to cause small teeth or projections on its under surface to enter the
wood all around and in close proximity to each other, as seen at e. The lateral
teeth are, however, preferred in conjunction with said punctures.
As seen in Figs. 1 and 3, where the bands do not fill the entire concavity of the
rim, the latter may be gained or mortised out to let the band in flush, so that the
ordinary pneumatic tires used with these rims may have a firm and uniform bearing
in the concavity, or the band or bands may be bodily pressed in flush with the
surface of the rim.
The teeth of the serrations have chisel-shaped or sharpened edges, as shown, so
as to easily penetrate the wood without splitting it and become clinched therein..
A rim constructed as above described, will be found to contain great lightness
and strength, and it is easily and cheaply constructed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A wheel rim composed of a wooden or its equivalent portion, having an
exterior concave periphery, and a metal band seated in said periphery and secured
to the wood by integral indentations, substantially as described.
2. A wheel rim composed of a wooden or its equivalent portion, having an
exterior concave periphery, and an encircling metal band seated flush in said
periphery, substantially as described.
3. A wheel rim composed of a wooden or its equivalent portion having an
exterior concave periphery, and a metal band seated in said periphery with per-
forations therethrough spun into the wood, substantially as described.
4. A wheel rim composed of a wooden or its equivalent portion, having an
exterior concave periphery, and a metal band with serrated edges seated therein,
substantially as described.
5. A. wheel rim composed of a wooden or its equivalent portion, having an
exterior concave periphery, and a metal band with serrated edges seated, therein
with the serrations embedded in the wood and with perforations through said band
spun or swaged into the wood, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
6. A wheel rim composed of a wooden or its equivalent portion, having an
exterior concave wooden periphery, and a metal band with arrow-head serrated

page_text: edges seated therein with the serrations embedded in the wood and with perforations
through said band spun or swaged into the wood, substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of September 1897.
FERDINAND W. STARR.
By Herbert Haddan & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.O., London, Agents to Applicant.