IMPROVE- MENTS IN WHEELS FOR BICYCLES, TRICYCLES AND CARRIAGES
Year: 1884

page_text: We WILLIAM BOWN of 308 Summer Lane, Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer and ALBERT OVERMAN, of Chicopee, Massachusetts,
United States of America, but temporarily of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, England, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WHEELS FOR BICYCLES, TRICYCLES AND CARRIAGES," to be as follows:-
Our improvements consist firstly in constructing the rim of the wheel hollow
and of such a form that a flat surface is presented for the rubber tyre to be fixed
to; the rubber tyre being also formed with a flat surface to correspond, and this
we effect by using the steel of which the base of the rim is composed of a semi-
circular, crescent, or shape, and in so shaping the upper edges of the rim as to
form a ledge or groove to form a support for a flat strip of metal which is connected
to the same by brazing or otherwise, or the strip of metal may have its two edges
turned down and dropped into position and secured by brazing, or other means,
leaving the flat top for the rubber to rest on. By this construction we obtain
greater strength and rigidity with lightness and reduce the quantity of rubber
used without affecting the elasticity thereby producing a lighter and cheapor
wheel.
Our improvements relate secondly, to the manner of securing spokes to hubs of
wheels for bicycles tricycles and carriages, and consist in forming a bow or hook
at the end of the spoke to be connected to the hub of the wheel, the hub being
slotted, into which slot the hook end of the spoke is inserted. The other end of
the spoke is connected to the rim and the required tension obtained by the usual
nipple or other suitable means, thereby providing a ready and cheap method of
fixing the spokes to the wheels.
G. F. REDFERN,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in Wheels for Bicycles, Tricycles, and Carriages.
We WILLIAM BOWN of 308 Summer Lane Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Manufacturer and ALBERT OVERMAN of Chicopee Massachusetts,
United States of America, but temporarily of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, England do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WHEELS FOR BICYCLES, TRICYCLES AND CARRIAGES," and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement that is to say :-
Our improvements consist in constructing the rim of the wheel hollow and of
such a form that a flat surface is presented for the rubber tyre to be fixed to; the
rubber tyre being also formed with a flat surface to correspond and this we effect
by using the steel of which the base of the rim is composed of a semicircular
crescent or U shape, and in so shaping the upper edges of the rim as to form a
ledge or groove to form a support for a flat strip of metal which is connected to
the same by brazing or otherwise, or the strip of metal may have its two edges
turned down and dropped into position and secured by brazing, or other means,
leaving the flat top for the rubber to rest on. By this construction we obtain
greater strength and rigidity with lightness and reduce the quantity of rubber and
without affecting the elasticity thereby producing a lighter and cheaper wheel.
But as our invention will be best understood by referring to the drawings
hereunto annexed we will proceed to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a transverse section of a rim and tyre constructed according
to our improvements.
A is the base or semi-circular portion of the rim and which may be conveniently
produced from strip metal rolled to the desired section, and bent up into the form
shown, having a ledge at each side marked B. B. for the flat strip of metal
marked C to rest on and be secured in position by brazing or other convenient
means this flat strip of metal forms the seat for the rubber tyre D to be attached
to by cement or otherwise, thus completing the combined rim and tyre.
Figure 2 represents a modification of Figure 1, the edges of the strip of metal
marked C in this case being bent downwards & resting upon the sides of the base
and secured in position by brazing or otherwise as convenient. At Figure 3 we
have shewn a further modification in which case the base forming the body of the
rim marked A is rolled fine on the edges E, E and the strip of metal forming the
base or seat for the rubber tyre to rest on is turned up at each side forming a groove
into which the edges of the body of the rim are inserted and secured together by
brazing or other convenient means. Figure 4 represents a further modification in
which we so form the base or U part of the rim A, that indentations or grooves
are formed therein at F. F. into which the flat strip of metal C forming the seat
for the rubber tyre D to rest on is forced and secured by brazing or other

page_text: convenient means. From this description it will be seen that by our improvements
we are enabled to produce hollow rims conveniently and with extra strength
preventing all liability to buckling of the wheels and by the use of the semi-circular
formed rubber extra lightness is obtained.
Having now described the nature of our Invention and the manner of giving
effect to the same we wish it understood that we do not purpose confining ourselves
to the exact details herein described and exhibited as the same may be varied
without departing from the spirit of our invention, but what we claim and wish
protected by Letters Patent is
The construction of hollow rims and tyres for wheels of velocipedes or carriages
substantially as herein described and exhibited.