Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Light Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 9th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAI. SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Light Vehicles.
We, PIERRE ALPHONSE LAFOND, of Saint Quentin, Aisne, France, Insurance
Agent, and FRANÇOIS ADOLPHE DEVILLERS, of Guiscard, Oise, France, Com-
mercial Representative, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
One of the principal inconveniences felt by cyclists is the fatigue caused by the
vibration incident to the constructions of velocipedes hitherto adopted. Even when
pneumatic tyres are employed, it has been found that vibration is not entirely
suppressed and although less violent, the vibration is still a cause of fatigue and
discomfort. Moreover such tyres do not last long. This invention has for object
to so construct wheels for velocipedes and other light vehicles as to obviate or
mitigate vibration without sacrificing strength and consists in forming the spokes of
the wheel of rubber under tension; said spokes being wholly of rubber, from the
nave of the wheel to the rim, or partly of rubber and partly of metal. In carrying
out this invention various constructions may be employed.
The inter-
In one arrangement between the nave and the ordinary rim a second rim is
arranged concentrically at a suitable distance from the ordinary rim.
mediate rim is connected to the nave by any suitable number of ordinary steel
spokes. The two rims are connected together by solid or hollow pieces of rubber
of suitable dimensions, stretched from rim to rim and arranged in line with the
above mentioned metal spokes.
This arrangement may be modified by forming the intermediate rim hollow and
connecting it to the outer rim by special rubber bands arranged to embrace the
hollow intermediate rim between the ends of the steel spokes the ends of the rubber
band being provided with small connections or attachments by means of which they
can be attached to hooks fixed to the, rim. Each of these attachments may be
formed of a metal stirrup, the ends of which are connected together by a rivet
passed through a stay or distance piece which keeps the legs of the stirrup apart
and bears against the rubber.
The placing into position of the elastic insertion is simple:-The intermediate
rim has placed round it the rubber band and the latter is stretched until the two
attachments can be hooked on to the hook of the outer rim.
According to another arrangement the spokes are formed entirely of rubber and
are stretched from the nave to the rim. The nave may in this case be of a length
slightly greater than usual with the object of enabling the rubber spokes to be
more readily fixed in position, and of facilitating the movements of the steering
fork. These spokes, as in the proceeding arrangement, are formed of solid or
hollow rubber of any suitable diameter.
In another arrangement the spokes of the wheel are formed partly of rubber and
partly of metal; the rubber parts of the spokes are fixed to the rim of the wheel
and are stretched to the ends of the steel parts of the spokes which parts are fixed
to the nave. This arrangement may be reversed, that is to say the rubber parts of
the spokes may be fixed to the nave and the metallic parts to the rim.
It will be understood that any kinds of tyres may be used as desired, such for
example as simple metal rims, or rims provided with hollow or solid rubber tyres.
Dated this 9th day of April 1892.
P. A. LAFOND,
By L. W., per F. B.
F. A. DEVILLERS,
By L. W., per F. B.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Light Vehicles.
We,
PIERRE ALPHONSE LAFOND, of Saint Quentin Aisne. France, Insurance
Agent, and FRANÇOIS ADOLPHE DEVILLERS, of Guiscard, Oise, France, Com-
mercial Representative, 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:-
One of the principal inconveniences felt by cyclists is the fatigue caused by the
vibration incident to the constructions of velocipedes hitherto adopted. Even when
pneumatic tyres are employed, it has been found that vibration is not entirely
suppressed and although less violent, the vibration is still a cause of fatigue and
discomfort. Moreover such tyres do not last long. This invention has for object
to so construct wheels for velocipedes and other light vehicles as to obviate or
mitigate vibration without sacrificing strength and consists in forming the spokes of
the wheel of rubber under tension; said spokes being wholly of rubber, from the
nave of the wheel to the rim, or partly of rubber and partly of metal. In carrying
out this invention various constructions may be employed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are illustrations of three forms of wheel constructed according
to this invention.
Fig. 4 shows the modification which we prefer to adopt.
Figs. 5 to 10 are detail views hereinafter referred to.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 between the nave a and the ordinary rim b
a second rim b' is arranged concentrically at a suitable distance from the ordinary
rim. The intermediate rim 6' is connected to the nave by any suitable number of
ordinary steel spokes The two rims and are connected together by solid or
bollow pieces of india rubber d of suitable dimensions, stretched from rim to rim
and arranged in line with the above mentioned metal spokes.
C.
This arrangement may be modified as shown in Fig. 4 by forming the inter-
mediate rim & hollow and connecting it to the outer rim by special india rubber
bands d arranged between the ends of the steel spokes to embrace the hollow
intermediate rim as shown more clearly in Figs. 5 and 6 the ends of the india
rubber band d being provided with small connections or attachments e e¹ by means
of which they can be attached to hooks f fixed to the rim b. Each of these attach-
ments may be formed of a metal stirrup and the band d before being placed in
position being of ring form, as shown more clearly in Figs. 7 and 8 which are
sections at right angles to each other. The ends of each attachment are connected
together by a bar or rivet g passed through a hollow stay or distance piece / which
keeps the legs of the stirrup apart and bears against the rubber.
The placing into position of the elastic insertion or band d is effected merely by
flattening the said band and passing it round the rim b', afterwards stretching it till
the two attachments e e' can be hooked on to the corresponding hook f of the outer
rim b.
Instead of the band d being of ring shape it may be formed of solid rubber as in
Figs. 9 and 10, each of which shows a side and an edge view, of different forms of
such a band, o, o, being perforations for the passage of the parts g and h of the
stirrups.
According to the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 the spokes d are formed entirely
of india rubber and are stretched from the nave a to the rim b. The nave may in
this case be of a length slightly greater than usual with the object of enabling the
india rubber spokes to be more readily fixed in position, and of facilitating the
movements of the steering fork. These spokes, as in the preceding arrangement
may be made of solid or hollow india rubber of any suitable diameter.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 the spokes of the wheel are formed partly of

page_text: india rubber and partly of metal. The india rubber parts d of the spokes are
secured to the rim b of the wheel and are stretched to the outer ends of the steel
parts c of the spokes which parts are fixed, at their inner ends to the nave a.
arrangement may be reversed, that is to say the rubber parts of the spokes may be
fixed to the nave and the metallic parts to the rim.
This
It will be understood that any kinds of tyres may be used as desired, such for
example as simple metal rims, or rims provided with hollow or solid india rubber
tyres.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what inanner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A wheel for a velocipede, or other light vehicle, having its spokes or parts
thereof composed of india rubber under tension, and either solid or hollow, the
tension of the india rubber being effected by suitable tightening devices as set
forth.
2. A wheel for a velocipede, or other light vehicle, having an intermediate rim,
located between the hub and the outer rim, the two rims being connected by
spokes d composed of india rubber under tension and arranged as prolongations of
the ordinary metal spokes c, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings annexed.
3. A wheel for a velocipede or other light vehicle, having its spokes from the
hub to the rim entirely of india rubber under tension, as shown in Fig. 2 of
the drawings annexed.
4. A wheel for a velocipede or other light vehicle, having its spokes partly of
metal, and partly of india rubber, the said india rubber portions being in tension
and placed either next to the rim as in Fig. 3, or next the hub.
5. A wheel for a velocipede, or other light vehicle, having an intermediate rim b¹
connected to the hub a by metal spokes, and to the main rim 6 by pieces d of india
rubber in tension, the said pieces of india rubber being formed either of tubular or
annular bands (Figs. 7 and 8) or of solid strips (Figs. 9 and 10) and provided with
attachments e el with tubular distance pieces h, the said attachments hooking on to
hooks ffixed to the main rim b as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings
annexed.
Dated this 9th day of January 1893
P. A. LAFOND,
By L. W., per F. B.
F. A. DEVILLERS,
By L. W., per F. B.