Improvements in Rims for Bicycle and other Wheels.
Year: 1894

page_text: WALT DIE DIUITIATION.
Improvements in Rims for Bicycle and other Wheels.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM MARBLE, of Plymouth, in the County of Marshall in
the State of Indiana, 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:-
Wooden rims are now extensively used upon the wheels of bicycles and are
proving themselves to be superior in most respects to the metal rims. In some
cases however they split, generally along their central plane. This splitting may
be due to imperfect drying or other imperfection of the wood, but it is generally
caused by the weakening of the rim along its central line by the borings made to
receive the spokes, these borings being numerous and all located nearly in the same
plane. To strengthen the rims and prevent their splitting is my object in the
present invention, and I accomplish this result by inserting pins transversely
through the rim at suitable intervals, and preferably between each pair of spokes.
These pins are of wood and are cemented or glued and then driven tightly into
transverse openings formed in the body of the rim and are of such dimension and
so located in the rim that only the ends of the pins are exposed. The pins are an
effectual guard against any longitudinal splitting of the rims.
In the accompanying drawing I show at Figure 1 an elevation of a bicycle
wheel embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation, and Fig. 3 is a
partial plan of my improved rim both enlarged from Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a transverse
section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.
In the drawing A represents the rim of the wheel which is preferably made in
one piece of wood, the ends of which are joined together by interfitting tongues a
as illustrated. Bare the spokes and 6 are the openings in the rim through which
the spokes are inserted. Intermediate of these spoke openings are inserted
transverse pins C passing from side to side of the rim, the openings through which
the pins are inserted being so located between the inner and outer surfaces of the
rim as to prevent any exposure of the pins except at their ends. These pins are
of course driven in tightly so that they cannot work out or become loose, and are
cemented or glued.
I prefer also to insert one of these pins through the interfitting tongues a at the
joint between the ends of the rim, as illustrated, as I thereby prevent any tendency
upon the part of the tongues to draw apart if such tendency should manifest itself.
This pin does not however interfere with the abutting of the ends closely together
nor with the natural action of the joint when the ends are forced toward each other
while in use.
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. The wood rim provided with pins inserted transversely through its body,
enbetantially as crocified
•

page_text: 2. The wood rim having its ends joined by interfitting tongues and also having
a pin inserted transversely through said tongue, substantially as specified.
Plymouth. Indiana. June 28th A.D. 1894.
GEORGE WILLIAM MARBLE.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.