Improvements in Elastic Tyres for Cycles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Elastic Tyres for Cycles.
I, HANS SCHNEPP, of 54, Göggingerstr., Augsburg, in the Empire of Germany,
Technician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The subject of this invention is a tyre for cycles, and similar vehicles, which has
for its object to supplant, or take the place of the present forming of pneumatic
tyres, which have so many disadvantages, which are impossible of removal.
The tyre consists of two concentric rings, connected with each other by means of
springs drawing them together. The springs are formed of pieces of india-rubber of
a hook-like form, and these pieces are placed cross-wise to each other.
The outer hoop or ring is formed by a tyre, the sectional form of which is
approximately lenticular, consisting of wood (or aluminium, celluloid, or papier
maché or some other light and firm substance). It is provided with holes, which are
placed obliquely towards each other, and through these the india-rubber springs pass.
The latter are best made of genuine para rubber; and they consist of a stem of a
hook-like shape, and placed in a slanting position, and of a "head-plate" rectangular
in plan; and they slightly overlap the edges of the hoop or ring, in order to obviate
The "head-plates
the possibility of the outer cover being damaged.
cover the
entire outer surface of the hoop; and the alternate stems of same slant in opposite
directions, so that they appear to be placed cross-wise to each other.
"
The
The inner ring serves to fasten the tyre on the rim, and has indentations on the
right and left, alternately corresponding to the rubber spring, into which the stems
of the springs fit. It consists of say four sectors, each of which, according to the size
and weight of the tyre, carries a number of, say 12 to 14 drawing-springs.
fastening of this ring is effected by means of screws between the spokes; and these
are screwed so tightly that the tension of the drawing-springs becomes a uniform one.
To this end it is convenient to pass the screws partly through oblong holes in the
ring.
The whole tyre is surrounded by an outer cover, the fastening of which can be
made by means of hook-shaped excrescences which are driven into the grooves of the
rim by the inner ring, when the screws are tightened. If the sides of the cover are
made of some elastic material, the hooks may be dispensed with, and the mantle may
When weight is
be fastened by hooking it into the inner edge of the inner ring.
placed on the wheel, the position of the hoop is raised, so that the rubber springs
lying in the top part are tightened. The tyre cannot move out of position sideways-
as when riding round a curve-owing to the springs being placed cross-wise.
The tyre has this special advantage, that it may be applied to the usual cycles
without greatly altering the wheel and the old tyre cover may even be used.
In a modified form, the tyre cover is dispensed with, and the "head-plates" are
made broader and provided with side pieces joined on, so that the plates keep in the
rim of their own accord. The plates are connected by means of an exchangeable tyre

page_text: ring of rubber, which is placed in an indentation or recess-say about 2 centimetres
wide in the head-plates.
Dated this 4th day of Januar 1900
in Plastic Tyres for Cycles.
I, HANS SCHNEPP, Technician, of Nr. 54, Gögginger-Strasse, Augsburg, Kingdom
of Bavaria, Germany, 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 subject of the invention is a tyre for cycles and similar vehicles, which has for
its subject to supplant, or take the place of the present forming of pneumatic tyres,
which have so many disadvantages, which are impossible of removal.
The tyre consists of two concentric rings, connected with each other by means of
springs drawing them together. The springs are formed of pieces of india-rubber of
hooklike form and these pieces are placed cross-wise to each other.
The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings of which
Fig. 1 shows a section through a tyre fixed on the wheel-rim, in
Fig. 2 the arrangement of the rubber springs is explained, and
Figs. 3 and 4 show the inner hoop or ring in plan and section on line x-x.
Fig. 5 shows a modification.
The outer hoop or ring (a) is formed by a tyre, the sectional form of which is
approximately lenticular, consisting of wood (or aluminium, celluloid, or papier maché
or some other light and firm substance). It is provided with holes, which are placed
obliquely towards each other, and through these the india-rubber springs (b) pass.
The latter are best made of genuine para rubber, and they consist of a stem of a
hooklike shape and placed in a slanting position, and of a "head-plate" rectangular
in plan; and they slightly overlap the edges of the hoop or ring (a), in order to
obviate the possibility of the outer cover being damaged. The "head-plates "cover
the entire outer surface of the hoop (a) and the stems of same alternately slant in
opposite directions, so that they appear to be placed cross-wise to each other.
The inner ring (c) serves to fasten the tyre on the rim (e) and has alternately on
the right and left indentations (d) corresponding to the rubber springs, into which
indentations the stems of the springs fit. The inner ring (c) consists of say four
sectors, each of which, according to the size and weight of the tyre, carries a number
of say 12 to 14 drawing springs. The fastening of this ring (c) is effected by means
of screws (f) between the spokes, and these are screwed so tightly that the tension of
the drawing springs becomes a uniform one. To this end it is convenient to pass the
screws (f) partly through oblong holes in the ring (c).
The whole tyre is surrounded by an outer cover (h), the fastening of which can be
made by means of hook-shaped excrescences (h¹) which are driven into the grooves of
the rim (e) by the inner ring, when the screws are tightened. If the sides of the
cover are made of some elastic material, the hooks (h¹) may be dispensed with, and
the mantle may be fastened by hooking it into the inner edge of the inner ring (c).
When weight is placed on the wheel, the position of the hoop (a) is raised, so that
the rubber springs lying in the top part are tightened. The tyre cannot move out
of position sideways-as when riding round a curve-owing to the springs being
placed cross-wise.

page_text: The tyre has this special advantage that it may be applied to the usual cycles
without greatly altering the wheel and the old tyre cover may then be used.
"
are
In a modified form the tyre cover is dispensed with, and the "head-plates
made broader and provided with side pieces (h¹) joined on so that the plates keep in
the rim of their own accord. The plates are connected by means of an exchangeable
tyre ring (L) of rubber, which is placed in an indentation or recess, say about two
centimetres wide, in the head plates.
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), A tyre for cycles, consisting of two hoops or rings (a and c) connected by means
of hook-shaped rubber springs (6) the rings being fastened to the rim (e) by means
of screws (f) connected with the inner ring (c) the whole being conveniently
surrounded by an outer cover (h).
2) In a tyre as claimed before the arrangement of the rubber springs (b) being
placed obliquely towards each other so as to prevent the tyre from moving out of
position sideways.
1
1000
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.