Improvements in or relating to Wheels.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1895-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Wheels.
A communication by FRANCIS JOSEPH FREESE, of Lowell, in the State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, but temporarily residing at 38° Park
Avenue, in the City of Montreal, in the District of Montreal and Province of
Quebec, Canada, Manager.
I, GEORGE CECIL DYMOND M. Inst. M.E., of The Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street, Manchester,
both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick and 21 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
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 relates to wheels having a tread cushioned by a number of
independent elastic cushions and has for its object to produce a lighter and more
easily constructed tread than those hitherto produced.
For full comprehension however of the invention, reference must be had to the
annexed drawings, forming a part of this Specification, in which like symbols indicate
corresponding parts and wherein―
Figure 1, is a side elevation of a portion of a bicycle wheel partly broken away
having a tread constructed according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a plan view of a part of the tread seen from the inner periphery side,
the enclosing casing being cut away; and
Figure 3 a transverse sectional view of the tread on line xa, Figure 1.
V
The construction of the improved cushioned tread as shown is composed of a
number of short coiled springs a (although tubular rubber sections could be used)
arranged radially of the wheel axis and confined between an outer tyre which may
be of vulcanised rubber if desired, and an inner thin metal bearing plate c carrying
a number of tubular sections d also radially arranged and entering the central
openings of the springs to hold them in place and act as guides.
The bearing plate c, is perforated to receive the tubular sections d and these
being of thinner metal than the plate, the latter is lightened by the construction
and remains just as strong owing to the cylindrical form of the sections.
The sections are preferably flanged as at e, and can have a screw threaded
connection with the bearing plate as shown at f, or be simply soldered in place.
To cover up the parts it is preferred to use a flexible cover strip g of rubber
which passes over the outer tyre b, to which it is cemented, up the sides of the
tread and folded in over the inner plate c, where the two ends can be connected in
any desired way either by cementing as shown, lacing or otherwise.
The connection between the spokes and the tread form no part of the invention
and bicycle spokes have simply been shown passing through apertures formed in
the inner bearing plate and secured by nuts j, other forms of connection determined
by different requirements being left to those skilled in the art.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A wheel tread formed of an outer continuous tyre and inner continuous bearing

page_text: plate, coiled springs arranged radially of the wheel axis between them and radial
tubular guides carried by said inner plate and located centrally of said springs.
2. A wheel tread formed of an outer continuous tyre, an inner continuous bearing
plate, perforated and carrying tubular sections fitted in said perforations that
project within the tread, and coiled springs arranged between said tyre and plate
and fitting over said tubular sections."
3. A wheel tread formed of an outer continuous tyre, an inner continuous bearing
plate perforated and carrying tubular sections fitted in said perforations that project
within the tread, coiled springs arranged between said tyre and plate and fitting
over said tubular section and a cover for the whole.
4. In a wheel tread, the combination of an outer continuous tyre, an inner
continuous thin bearing plate having screw threaded perforations: therein, tubular
sections screw threaded to take into said screw threaded perforations and adapted
to project radially of the wheel axis into the space between said tyre and bearing
plate, coiled springs encircling said tubular sections and having their ends bearing
upon both tyre and bearing plate and a cover for the whole as set forth.
5. A wheel tread formed of an outer continuous tyre, an inner continuous metal
bearing plate having circular sections of metal removed from the centre thereof to
form openings therein; guides in the form of sections of metal tubes formed of a
less thickness of metal than said bearing plate, rigidly fitted or connected to the
edges of the openings in said plates leaving the central spaces: thereof open, and
projecting radially outward within the tread; coiled springs arranged between said
tyre, and plate and encircling, said guide and a cover for the whole.
Dated this 13th-day of July 1895.