Improvements in connection with Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1894-Accepted, 9th June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in connection with Pneumatic Tyres.
I, GEORGE LEISTER HOLLOWAY of 5 Herne Villas, Herne Hill, London S.E.
Commercial Traveller 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 has for its object to provide a band or shield of light and
inexpensive material, possessing qualifications or properties befitting its application
to, or use in connection with, or in lieu of, the outer cover or envelope of pneumatic
tyres, as used upon the wheels of bicycles, tricycles and similar manumotive machines,
for preventing puncture of the gas or air tube thereof, when the wheel encounters
sharp edged or pointed substances lying within its path or track, and which shall
also operate, to a great extent, in the prevention of lateral distortion of the tyre,
when the wheel is describing short or acute curves, without unduly lessening the
circumferential or longitudinal elasticity thereof.
For the purposes of my invention I employ the use of raw cow, ox, horse, buffalo
or other hide suitable for the purpose, which I immerse for a given length of time
in a solution of lime in water, such length of time being governed by the kind of
hide employed, that is to say, the hide of certain animals being thicker or more
tenacious than that of others, these may require to be steeped in the said solution
for a longer period before becoming saturated or before arriving at the condition
befitting them for the purposes of my invention.
The said hide when removed from the bath would be suitably treated for clearing
the hair or bristles therefrom, after which (according to the nature of the hide) the
same would be subjected to a process for shaving or splitting for reducing its
thickness to that required, and for removing superflous parts therefrom, and would
then be cut or otherwise rendered into strips, of a width approximating to that of the
exposed portion of the gas or air tubes generally, above the rim of the wheel, and
of such a length as to circumferentially surround the same, each end of said strip
being tapered or bevelled in order that these may overlap each other, and if
necessary, be stitched, cemented or otherwise joined together without adding to the
thickness of the strip.
One of said strips I may interpose loosely between the gas or air tube and the
outer cover or envelope of the tyre, or I may by the use of rubber solution or other
suitable cement attach the said strip to the canvas or other fabric surrounding and
forming the pocket of said tube, or that forming the lining of said outer cover or
envelope, in which cases I may line or cover the said strip with canvas or other
fabric, or rubber or rubber composition, or I may during the manufacture of the
said outer cover or envelope, mould or otherwise incorporate the said strip there-
with, so that the said strip may become part of, and be attachable and detachable
to and from the rim of the wheel with the said cover. Or I may, when the said
strips are abnormally thin, employ two of these connected to each other flatwise by
the means of stitching, or the use of suitable cement, or I may use such a duplex
strip of extra width, or a single strip of thicker hide of extra width, and form the
said outer cover or envelope thereof, and in the duplex strip, I may interpose
between the two thicknesses of hide a layer or strip of rubber or rubber composition
to assist resiliency, or line the thicker or single strip of hide with a layer of rubber
or canvas, or both, for the same purpose.
Whichever of the said methods of arranging and placing the said strip or strips
of hide I may employ, either would operate effectually in preventing puncture of
the gas or air tube under all ordinary circumstances during its use, and this without

page_text: materially adding to the weight of the wheel, for the reason that, if the said strip
or strips were interposed as stated between the air tube and the outer cover, the
latter may be reduced in thickness corresponding to the thickness of the strip or
strips, or if this or these be incorporated with the cover, as herein before provided,
the same would naturally displace so much of the cover, and by reason of the cross
sectional formation of the said strip or strips, when in use, being a greater or lesser
sector of a circle, coinciding with. that of the gas or air bag, this or these would
operate favorably in preventing lateral distortion of the tyre when the wheel was
describing a sharp curve.
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
In combination, the herein described method of treating raw hide, by immersing
the same in a solution of lime in water, and the employment of a strip or strips
thereof, interposed loosely between the gas or air tube and the outer cover or
envelope of a pneumatic tyre as used upon the wheels of bicycles tricycles and the
like, or attached to the canvas pocket of said gas or air tube, or the lining of the
outer cover or envelope, or moulded or otherwise incorporated integrally with the
said cover or envelope, or arranged to be used as an outer cover or envelope
substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
Dated this 5th day of May 1894.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.