An Improved Bicycle Tire Plug.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1898-Accepted, 31st Aug.,
1899
An Improved Bicycle Tire Plug.
We, OWEN FRANK O'NEILL, Jeweller, of 2454, Germantown Avenue, and
WILLIAM HENRY DOEBELE, Jeweller, of 722, Chestnut Street, both in the City
of Philadelphia, l'ennsylvania, in the United States of America, 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:--
This invention has reference to plugs for pneumatic wheel tires and consists
of features fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawing
forming part thereof.
The object of this invention is to provide a plug for tires of the class described
that will thoroughly and effectually repair any punctures they may by accident
receive and particularly punctures of large size.
It consists of a pneumatic plug formed from two parts. The one having a thin
flexible rubber diaphragm or disc on which is integrally carried a laterally pro-
jecting stem or plug. Fixed to this diaphragm by vulcanization or any effectual
means is a second disc heavier and more rigid in its structure. These two discs
are only united in the manner described, towards their respective circumferences
to be more particularly described hereinafter.
In the drawings like parts are referred to by marks or figures of a corresponding
kind in the different views. (1) Fig. 1, is a vertical longitudinal section through
a tire having a puncture therein repaired by our plug, being a section on line C, C,
of Fig. 8. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the plug stem and its integral
diaphragm being a section on line h, h of Fig. 5. Fig. 3 is a plan of our heavy
disc. Fig. 4, is a bottom plan of our two discs united. Fig. 5 is a plan of our
disc carrying the plug. Fig. 6 is a section on line i, i of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a side
elevation of our two discs united. Fig. S is the top plan of a wheel tire, showing
the puncture with our plug in position and indicating by dotted lines the position
relatively to the discs. Fig. 9 is a transverse section through a tire, being a
section through the line J, of Fig. 8.
A, is the tire. E, represents a punctured hole therein, Figs. 1, 8 and 9. B, is
a round stem carrying a thin flexible diaphragm or disc C. This disc and stem
are preferably of rubber of fine quality whereby the disc is rendered exceedingly
flexibly and can thus adapt itself to a broken and ragged edge. These parts can
be made of many different sizes and the comparative size shown in the drawing
would be an extremely large size. ], is also a disc, made preferably of rubber,
but of more body in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 6. e¹, e, are a series of holes
carried by the disc D; these holes are air inlet passages and their function will
be presently explained. The discs D), and C, are firmly united at their circum-
ferences by vulcanization or an effectual means. The dotted lines m in Fig. 1
and 3, indicate the inner circumference of the line of the vulcanization of the
two said discs, making them or their contact faces from m to the outer circum-
ference substantially one solid integral mass. The inner centerward faces of the
discs C and D are disconnected, as shown in Fig. 1 and indicated in Fig. 3. C,
Fig. 1 only, indicates a layer of cement intervening between the discs C and

page_text: the inner face of the tire at the point of mend; this cement will, of course, extend
partly up through the rupture shown in Figs. 1, 9 and 8.
Now, it is a well known fact that plugs for bicycle or other pneumatic tires
where a stem is used having integral therewith, a thick and rigid disc will not
make an effectual and air-tight repair. This is because the necessity of having
this disc of strong and unyielding character, or rather that the necessity for
strength makes such a demand for heavy body that it becomes thereby unyield-
ing and will not adapt itself, therefore, to the irregularities of a broken edge or
ragged section occasioned by the puncture. By reason of this inadaption on the
part of these former heavy discs if the cement failed (as it nearly always does)
to thoroughly close all the minute air outlet between the inner portion of the
tire and the rupture, the said rupture would leak. This is the defect which our
invention overcomes. The disc is thin, strong but very flexible. The disc is
cemented to the inner surface of the pneumatic tire. The disc D is more rigid and
much heavier in body. The holes e¹, el, permit the air to pass therethrough and
press upon the flexible disc C, whereby and thereby this disc will adapt itself to
inequalities of the edges of a puncture, and the pressure thus exerted will pre-
vent the egress of the compressed air within the tire. The disc C, therefore is
the disc which co-acting with the cement seals securely the rupture and acts
absolutely against leakage, and the disc D backs, strengthens and reinforces disc C.
In Fig. 1, we show the discs aforementioned as slightly separated and indicate the
passage betwen them by f. This is to make clear the vulcanized union of the discs
and the part that is not so united. m³, Fig. 1 indicates that portion of the plug
which is removed after same is set.
We do not confine ourselves to the specific structure set out, but could make
modifications without departing from the spirit of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner, the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A plug for a pneumatic tire consisting of a plug, a thin flexible disc integral
therewith, a secondary disc of heavier body, said latter disc having air inlet holes
and the said two discs being united by vulcanization or other means near their
circumferences.
to
2. A plug for a pneumatic tire consisting of a stem or plug, a thin flexible
integral plate carried thereby, a secondary plate heavier in body than
said former plate, said latter plate having holes permitting air
pass therethrough, said two plate united near their circumferences, whereby
the said latter heavy plate relieves the former lighter one from undue tension,
thus strengthening the plug as a unit whereby the said light plug pneumatically
assists in sealing the puncture.