Improvements in Pneumatic Tires.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 18th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1996
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Pneumatic Tires.
I, FRANK LEVI WOODHOUSE, resident of Waupun, in the County of Fond
du Lac, and State of Wisconsin, United States of America, Teacher, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to flexible and tubular tires for bicycles and similar
vehicles, and the object thereof, is to provide a tire of this class, which is retained
in proper and operative form, by means of a spiral spring located therein; and
with this and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction,
combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described.
In the practice of my invention, I provide a heavy, flexible rubber tube, within
which is placed. a thin, flexible and elastic rubber tube, and within the tube, is
placed a canvas tube, and within this inner canvas tube, is placed a spiral spring,
which is substantially tubular in form, but which is provided at its outer perimeter
with a flat portion, and in the normal position of the parts, the canvas tube, bears
upon this flat portion, and the rubber tubes are extended or inflated, and an annular
spaces thus formed between the outer portion of the tube, and the inner
portion of the adjacent rubber tube, and by means of this arrangement, the.
tubes are adapted to, yield at this point, to a greater extent than would otherwise
be possibi..
If prefe. red, my improved tire may be used without being inflated, the spring
serving to maintain the tire in its proper position, and to give elasticity thereto;
but said tire may also be inflated with air in the usual manuer, if desired, and by
the usual means, and in this event both the air and the spring serves to give
elasticity to the tire, and to maintain it in the proper form.
The tire is secured to the rim, of the wheel in the usual or in any desired manner,
and it will thus be seen that I provide an effective tire of this class, which is
simple, in construction and operation, and which combines the merits of the ordinary
tire, with those of tubular tires with which are combined spiral springs, which are
usually adapted to take the place of compressed air.
The outer tube may be made heavy as desired, or as is practicable, and it will
thus be seen that I provide an effective tire which is simple in construction and
operation, and well adapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended.
The tube may be made of canvas, in order to give strength to the tire, or of.
canvas and rubber, and 1 may also employ.a single tube tire, or the inner tube
may be done away with entirely, and the canvas tube containing the spiral spring
may be inserted immediately within the outer tube, thus lessening the weight of
the tire while the effective working of the spring is not interfered with, but the
spring will retain the tire in its proper form, this spring constructed as described,
and provided with a flat outer portion, being just as applicable to a single tube
tire as to a two tube, or double tire.
Dated this 4th day of February 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Pneumatic Tires.
I, FRANK LEVI WOODHOUSE, a citizen of the United States, residing at the
Town of Waupun, County of Fond du Lac, and State, of Wisconsin, United
States of America, Teacher, 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 flexible and tubular tires for: bicycles and similar
vehicles; and the object thereof, is to provide a tire.of.this class, which is retained
in proper and operative form, by means of a spiral spring located therein;
and with this and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction,
combination and: arrangement of parts hereinafter:described and claimed.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms, a part, in. which::
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a part. of the tire. made according to my
invention.; and,
Fig. 2, a transverse section thereof.
In the practice of my invention, I provide a heavy, flexible rubber tube A,
within which is placed. a thin, flexible and elastic, rubber tube. B; and within the
tube B; is placed a canvas tube C, and within this inner canvas tube C, is placed
a spiral spring D, which is substantially tubular in form, but which is provided at
its outer perimeter with a flat. portiou. C', as. clearly shown in. Figs.. 1 and 2, and
in the normal position of the parts, the canvas tube C, bears. upon this flat portion,
and. the. rubber tubes A, and B, are extended. or inflated as shown in Fig. 2, and
an annular space E, is thus formed between the.outer portion of the canvas tube C,
and the inner portion of the adjacent rubber tube B, and by means of this
arrangement, the tubes A, and B, are adapted to. yield at this point, to a greater
extent than would otherwise be possible.
If preferred, my improved tire, may be. used without being inflated, the spring D,
serving to maintain the tire in its.proper position, and to give elasticity thereto.;
but said tire may also be inflated with air in: the usualimanner, if desired, and by
the usual means, and in this event both. the air and the. spring serves to give
elasticity to. the tire, and to, maintain it in the proper form.
:
The tire is secured to the rim F, of the wheel in the usual' or in any desired
manner, and. it will thus be seen that. I provide an effective tire of this class, which
is simple in construction and operation, and which combines the merits of the
ordinary tire, with those of tubular tires with. which, are combined spiral springs,
which are usually adapted to take the place of compressed air.
The outer tube A, may be made, heavy as desired, or as is practicable, and it
will thus be seen that. I provide: an. effective tire which is simple in construction
and operation, and well adapted. to accomplish the result for which it is intended.
The tube. B, may be made of canvas, in order to give strength to the tire, or of
canvas and rubber, and I may also employ.a., single tube tire, or the inner tube B
may be done away with entirely, and the canvas tube C, containing the spiral
spring D, may be inserted immediately within the outer tube A, thus lessening the
weight of the tire while the effective working of the spring is not interfered with,
but the spring D, will retain the tire in its proper form, this spring constructed
as shown and described, and provided with a flat outer portion, being just as
applicable to a single tube tire as to a two tube or double tire.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A tubular flexible tire, composed of an outer flexible tube and inner and
lighter flexible tube, and a tube placed within said inner flexible tube in which
is placed a spiral spring, substantially as shown and described.
2. A tubular tire for bicycles and other vehicles, comprising a heavy, outer
flexible rubber tube, a thin flexible and elastic rubber tube arranged within said
outer tube, a canvas tube arranged within said inner tube, and a flat spiral
spring arranged within said canvas tube, said parts being constructed, combined
and arranged, substantially as shown and described.
3. A tubular tire for bicycles and other vehicles, comprising a heavy, outer,
flexible rubber tube, a thin flexible and elastic rubber tube arranged within said
outer tube, a canvas tube arranged within said inner tube canvas tube, and said
spiral spring being provided on its outer perimeter with a flattened surface,
substantially as shown and described.
4. A tubular tire for bicycles and other vehicles, comprising a flexible tube in
which is placed a spiral spring, which is provided with a flat perimeter or surface,
substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 18th day of September 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.