Improvements in Fastening Devices for the Tyres of Vehicle Wheels
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1897-Accepted, 5th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fastening Devices for the Tyres of Vehicle Wheels
I, HENRY GEORGE SWEENY, of No. 6435, Eggleston Avenue, in the City of
Chicago, in the County of Cook, State of Illinois, United States of America,
Machinist, 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 an improvement in the construction of fastening devices
whereby the sheaths of pneumatic tires are secured to the rims of bicycle and other
wheels. It consists of the novel devices and novel combinations of parts and
devices herein shown and described and specified in the claims.
In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which
similar letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several figures,
Fig. 1 is a partial longitudinal section of a sheath and rim with which my
fastening is employed, and showing the fastening as about to be tightened. Fig. 2
is a similar view showing the fastening as tightened and in its normal condition.
Fig. 3 is a cross section. Fig. 4 shows the keeper used in holding the tension.
Fig. 5 is a side view of the hand lever used in tightening. Fig. 6 is a perspective
view of the wire and tightener detached from the sheath, and Fig. 7 is a view
similar to Fig. 6 showing a modified construction.
In said drawing A represents the rim of the wheel, having an opening through
it at A, preferably protected by metal plates A2 and A³, one upon the inside and
the other upon the outside. B is the sheath of the pneumatic tire acting as a pro-
tector for the air tube customarily employed with such sheaths. I have not shown
the air tube as its construction and mode of use are both well known. Along both
edges of the sheath a continuous attaching wire C is arranged, and secured to the
sheath either by passing it through longitudinal openings in the sheath edges,
which is the method shown, or in some other suitable manner which will enable
it to ensure the retention of the edges of the sheath within the hollow of the rim A.
The wire C is provided with a releasable fastening, adapted to be released when-
ever the sheath needs to be opened up or removed for any cause, such as the repair
of a puncture, and this releasable fastening consists essentially of a tightener
adapted to be operated through the opening A, and acting when drawn out through
said opening to create the necessary tension. This tightener is shown at D, and
is made in curved form to adapt it to be drawn through the opening. The ends C¹
of the wire are joined to one end of the tightener by a pivot or flexible joint, to
permit the necessary changes in position by the tightener. This joint is preferably
formed by uniting said ends of the wire by a staple C2 and turnbuckles C³, and
passing the staple through an opening in the tightener as illustrated. The other
end of the tightener is passed through the loop C formed by doubling the wire C
upon itself, and consequently is free to slide through said loop whenever the wire
is tightened or loosened. The tightener is also adapted to be engaged at the end
which projects through the opening so it may be actuated by a lever F or other
suitable tool, and I prefer to provide it with a forked end spanned by a cross
bar E for this purpose. The lever may be made with a hook F1 at its end, adapted
to engage said cross bar E, and also with a fulcrum. F2 which will set against the
rim as seen at Fig. 1.

page_text: The parts are shown at Fig. 1 with the wire C loosened and the lever in position
ready to actuate the tightener in tightening the wire. At the close of the opera-
tion the tightener and wire will be in the position shown at Fig. 2. Tension
is obtained upon the wire by drawing the tightener into the opening A¹, this
operation causing the ends of the wire to move together to the extent necessary.
To maintain the tension a keeper G, preferably forked so it may pass to either
side of the tightener, and having a roughened surface G', adapted to engage the
shoulders E upon the sides of the tightener, is positioned as shown between the
inner surface of the wood rim and the shoulders. I prefer that the shoulders E¹
be sharp or pointed at the center as shown, so they may prevent the keeper falling
out or becoming lost.
.
My invention is very quickly and easily operated, and is so little noticed that
it does not disfigure the wheel. The tightener constitutes in reality an extension
of one end of the wire, and consequently when the user draws the tightener out
of the opening A¹ he is in effect drawing upon said end of the wire.
At the same
time in this operation he draws also upon the other end, as will be evident
from a comparison of Figs. 1 and 2.
In the modification shown at Fig. 7, the wire C extends around one side only
of the sheath, and is provided with a tightener which operates upon it independently
of the wire which holds the other side of the sheath. No turnbuckle is necessary
in either construction, and none is shown in this modification, but they are con-
venient as a means of adjusting the wire to the proper length.
The plate A2 is sunken in the rim so as to be flush with the wood, and it forms
the washer for two adjacent spokes G2 as seen. It needs no attachment to the rim
except such as is afforded by the spokes and their nipples.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1st. The combination with the rim having an opening through it, the tire sheath
and the attaching wire, of a tightener movable longitudinally through said open-
ing in the rim and having a flexible attachment to one end of the wire and a sliding
attachment to the other end thereof, and a removable keeper engaging the pro
jecting end of the tightener and retaining the tension upon the wire, substantially
as specified.
2nd. The combination with the rim having an opening through it, the sheath
and the attaching wire, of a curved tightener or take up attached to the wire and
adapted to engage and be drawn through the rim by a detached hand lever, and a
keeper engaging the end so drawn through, substantially as specified.
3rd. The combination with the rim having an opening through it, the sheath
and the attaching wire, of a curved tightener or take up flexibly joined to one end
of the wire and sidingly attached to the other end thereof, said tightener being
also adapted to be engaged by a hand lever and drawn longitudinally through said
opening, and means engaging the end so drawn through and serving to retain the
tension, substantially as specified.
4th. The combination with the tire sheath, of a wire C doubled upon itself and
attached to both edges of the sheath, and a curved tightener adapted to drawn
through the rim, said tightener being flexibly attached to one end of the doubled
wire, and having a sliding attachment to the other end, substantially as specified.
Doted this 11th day of October 1907
HENRY G. SWEENEY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.