other Vehicles.
Year: 1886

page_text: other Vehicles.
I PHILIP MIDDLETON JUSTICE of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (a communication to me from abroad by Lucius E Whiton of New
London in the State of Connecticut United States of America Manufacturer,) and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to tires, for the wheels of bicycles and other vehicles having
tires of rubber, its object being to hold the tire securely to the wheel.
Generally such tires are held to the wheels of bicycles by cement, which under
wear becomes loosened, and occasions danger and much inconvenience to the rider,
as well as costs of repairs. This liability I avoid by using a series of metallic
strips or sections embedded in the rubber and by means of fastening devices hold
the rubber to the wheels.
The best methods known to me for carrying out my invention are shown in the
accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of the tire.
Figure 2 represents a transverse section.
Figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of a modified form of the tire.
Figure 4 and 5 also represent modifications.
In these drawings A represents an ordinary rubber tire such as those used on the
wheels of bicycles. Within this is a steel strip B bent to a proper circle and
embedded in the rubber in the process of forming the tire. The felloe of an
ordinary bicycle is shown at C and the tire is held to this felloe by means of
screws D which pass through the felloe from the inside and enter threaded holes
in the steel strip. This tire may be conveniently made by forming the steel strip
in proper length, and with the threaded holes in required number and position.
After being bent to the proper curve the steel strip should be cut apart in one or
more places, forming sections, in order that when embedded in the tire, the sections
may separate slightly and allow the tire to expand longitudinally when sprung
into place.
The sections are supported in the mould by means of screws of the same size
and number of threads as those to be afterwards used for fastening the tires to the
wheel, these screws projecting from the inner side of the mould, into the threaded

page_text: holes in the strips, whereby the strips are held in proper position to leave them
embedded at or near the centre of the tire. The rubber is then moulded in the
ordinary manner and surrounds the strips, and the screws by which the strips are
held. After the rubber is hardened, the screws used to hold the steel strips in the
mould are turned out. The tire with holes for the screws all in proper place, and
with its imbedded strips, may then be stretched over the felloe. It is turned until
the holes in the tire register with the holes in the felloe, when the screws D may
be inserted and the tire is secured permanently in place.
Instead of using separate screws D I may use spokes to fasten the strips by
extending the spokes and causing the threaded ends thereof to pass into the holes
in the steel strips. Further I prefer to use steel strips rolled with lugs as shown
in figure 3. These lugs b, are on the inside of the strip and the holes are tapped
through them. I form the lugs in order that the spokes may be positively connected
to the wheel in this modification and the wheel be as firm as when the spokes are
connected directly to the felloe, as hereinafter described. A cavity is formed on
the inside of the rubber tire from the surface into the lug on the steel strip, to
allow compression of the rubber and thus increase the firmness with which it may
be held.
By screwing up a spoke the lug is drawn in to compress the rubber, until the lug
bears on the outer surface of the felloe acting like an ordinary screw nut. The
recess will not appear and as the lugs all around the wheel are drawn into contact
with the felloe, the wheel is stiff as if spokes were secured directly into the felloe.
This modification renders extra holes in the felloe unnecessary and avoids the
screw heads on the inner surface of the felloe.
Though the steel strip is better I do not confine myself to this metal.
Instead of the sections having the holes bored through them to receive the ends
of the bolts or spokes, the sections may be provided with clips made integral
therewith or secured thereto, before the sections are placed in position, these clips
projecting out and having screw threaded ends to receive the nut, by which it is
fastened to the felloe, as shown in Figure 4 or as shown in figure 5 in which the
end is tapped to receive the screw threaded end of the spoke.
I am aware that prior to my invention it had been suggested as a means of
attaching tires to wheels, to form the tire tubular, with spaces at intervals for the
insertion of bolts with eyes, and then passing a wire or rod through the tubular
tire or eyes of the bolt; and this I do not claim, my invention consisting in
embedding in the rubber of the tire a series of metallic strips or sections and
uniting the tire to the wheel by means of fastening devices connected with the
strips or sections.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is-
1. In combination with a rubber tire a series of metallic strips or sections
embedded therein and fastening devices for connecting said series of sections with
the felloe or spokes substantially as described.
2. A tire for wheels having an embedded strip formed of sections and having
holes combined with the felloe and holding screws substantially as described.
3. A rubber tire for wheels, having metal fastening devices embedded therein
which hold it to the felloe substantially as described.
Dated this 13th day of July 1886.