Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 18th Nov.,
1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
I, PETER GENDRON, residing at 1413 Walnut Street, in the City of Toledo,
County of Lucas and State of Ohio, 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:-
The invention relates to improvements in bicycle wheels, the invention consists
in the peculiar construction of the rim of a wheel adapted to receive a pneumatic
tiré, and further in the peculiar construction of the tire whereby the tire may be
secured to the rim without the use of cement and at the same time be prevented
from moving longitudinally or "creeping" as it is called.
In the previous state of the art attempts have been made to overcome this
objection by producing upon the inner face of the tire projections or apertures
adapted to engage with apertures or projections on the rim. These constructions
require that the tire be molded with these projections or apertures therein and in
putting the tire upon the rim that the projections and apertures be registered one
with the other.
My invention specifically consists in producing sharp points or pins upon the
inner face of the rim adapted to be forced into the body of the tire by puncturing
the surface of the same, so that any ordinary tire may be used in connection with
such a rim and the "creeping" effectually prevented.
My invention further specifically consists in the construction of the sheath or
cover of the tire, made in the shape of a split tube, the edges of which are laced
together within the rim with a bridge strip at the joint to form a perfectly even
bearing for the inflatable tube within at all points, all as more fully hereinafter
'described.
In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a cross section through a tire and rim embodying my
invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation through a portion of a wheel tire and rim, showing
the same construction.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line X X in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a cross section through a rim without the tire, showing a slightly
modified form of construction.
Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view thereof, and Fig. 6 is a similar cross section
to Fig. 4 showing a still further modification.
A is the rim of the wheel, provided with the marginal flanges B. This rim on
the tread portion is provided with a series of points, projections or pins C, preferably
arranged on opposite sides and preferably formed by striking up sections of the
tread of the rim, as plainly shown in Fig. 1. These projections may be formed
upon a separate plate or strip D, secured in the rim between the flanges, as shown
in Figs. 4 and 5, or they may be formed up on washers E, surrounding the spoke
nipples F as shown in Fig. 6.
The construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is that which I preferably employ in
constructing new bicycles. Fig. 4 shows a construction by which my anti-creeping
feature may be applied to bicycles already manufactured."
It is evident in placing a tire upon a rim thus constructed, that the points will be
forced, in use, or by the expansion of the inflatable tube, into the body of the rim
and prevent its longitudinal movement.
It is also evident that after a short use the rubber of which the tire sheath is
made will adhere to these points or pins, and thus prevent their accidental
displacement.

page_text: This advantage is absent in all constructions in which the rubber is formed to
engage apertures in the rim, or the rim is provided with projections adapted to
engage indentations in the tire. The tire consists of the inflatable tube G and the
outer sheath H made of suitable material to resist wear. This sheath is formed in
the shape of a split tube having the ribs or enlargements I at the meeting edges of
the sheath; these ribs or enlargements being of a shape to fit nicely within the
rim.
These ribs are provided with a series of complementary lateral apertures J, the
intervening lugs H being formed with rounded shoulders K.
L are lacing cords adapted to be laced through the apertures J of the ribs, as
plainly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The outer faces of the ribs between the apertures
are grooved, as shown at M to form overhanging lips N and entirely enclose the
lacing, as plainly shown in Fig. 1.
I believe I am the first to form lacing apertures laterally through the ribs on the
meeting edges of a split tube for a bicycle tire.
In order to present an unbroken tube within the shaft or cover H against which
the expansible tube G may bear, it is necessary to bridge the slot between the
meeting edges of the sheath, and this I accomplish by means of a bridge strip O,
préferably of rubber, canvas or other similar material, and preferably secured at one
end as at P, to the inner face of one edge of the sheath, extending across the joint,
and having its opposite edge resting upon the inner face of the other edge of the
sheath as plainly shown in Fig. 1. This may be made of light material and in such
a way as to practically present no ridge or corner into which the inflatable tire can
be forced. The object of this is to prevent any part of the inflatable tube being
expanded to a greater extent than any other part, and so that it shall have a
smooth backing against which the air pressure can force it without unduly straining
it at any point. This enables me to construct the inner tube of exceeding light
material without danger of bursting even at points which may be weak.
A tire thus constructed is placed within the rim, by first inserting the inflatable
tube into the sheath, closing the sheath with the bridge strip in position, lacing the
edges of the tire together as described and then stretching the tire sufficiently to
engage it into the rim, and then inflating the tire.
By having the lacing cord entirely enclosed in the groove of the ribs, prevents
wear of the same by friction in use and presents a more symmetrical appearance of
the exterior.
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 :
1. The herein described means of preventing "creeping" of a pneumatic tire
upon wheel rims.
2. The herein described improvement in pneumatic tires.
PETER GENDRON.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.