Improvements in Tires for Bicycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date f Application, 9th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 10th Jan., 1891 -
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tires for Bicycles and other Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM RICHWINE of No. 811 Arch Street Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United
States of America Salesman, 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 consists of a tire formed of a tube, and elastic balls which are
seated in an elastic bed in the said tube and thereby prevented from displacement,
the combined action of the parts producing a highly elastic, easy riding and
durable tire.
Provision is made for access to the interior of the tube and other features are
presented, as will be hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 represents a transverse section of a tire embodying my invention.
Figure 2 represents a partial side elevation and partial longitudinal section
thereof.
Figure 3 represents a longitudinal section at a right angle to that shown in Figure 2.
Figure 4 represents a view taken on the inner periphery of the tire.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.
A designates a tube constituting the tire proper, the same being formed of suitable
fabric, such as rubber cloth, which is bent into shape, and has its ends brought
together at the inner periphery of the tube, and retained in closed or approximately
closed position by means of lacings B which are passed around studs or pins C on the
tube on opposite sides of the ends of said tube.
D designates a bed of rubber or other elastic material which occupies a portion
of the tube A and provided with pockets or depressions in which are seated the
rubber balls E, which as will be seen are arranged side by side throughout the tube,
and are solid or hollow as desired.
F designates a rim or plate of metal or other rigid material which is located within
the tube A at the inner periphery thereof and having secured to it the spokes G
of the wheel of which the tire constitutes a part, said spokes passing from said rim
through the opening formed by the ends of the tube, as will be most plainly seen in
Figure 4.
Interposed between the rim F and the balls E is a piece or strip H of felt or
other fabric or soft material forming a cushion and preventing contact of the balls
and rim.
It will be seen that the balls are held in position within the tube owing to the
pockets of the seat and thus prevented from shifting and as said balls and seat are
elastic in their nature, the tire will be found to be of a highly elastic nature and its
riding qualities consequently of a superior order.
Access is had to the balls for removal of the same or other purposes by loosening
the lacing and separating the tube when the balls and bed may be displaced, the same
being true of the spokes, rim and continuous cushion it being also evident that when
the bed etc. is placed within the tube the latter may be closed around the same, and
secured by the lacing B the parts thus being retained in position and the structure
of the tube preserved.
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 :-
First. A tire consisting of a tube with a pocketed bed and balls therein said balls
resting in said bed substantially as described.

page_text: Second. A tire having a divided tube of flexible or elastic material, with means for
lacing or connecting the ends of the same substantially as described.
Third. A tire consisting of a tube with balls, and a spoke attaching rim therein,
said rim being located between the balls and inner periphery of the tube substantially
as described.
Fourth. A tire consisting of a tube with a pocketed bed, balls in said bed and a
spoke attaching rim therein, substantially as described.
Fifth. A tire consisting of a tube with balls, a spoke-attaching rim and a cushion
therein, the latter being between said balls and rin, substantially as described.
Sixth. A tire consisting of a tube with a pocketed bed, balls on said bed, and a
spoke-attaching rim said tube being divided and provided with means for closing the
same, substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of December 1890.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.