Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd April, 1897.-Accepted, 31st July, 1897.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres for Velocipedes
and other Vehicles.
I, JONAS BERGMANN of 70, Neubidschow, Bohemia, in the Empire of Austria,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
saine is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:—
This invention relates to an outer cover of leather for pneumatic tyres for
velocipedes and other vehicles which is characterised essentially by the fact that it is
brought into the dome-shape or domed form suitable for mounting upon the rin,
without wetting the leather or subjecting the leather to a fulling operation. This
object is effected by employing leather strips to form the attachment edges which as
they are of less length than the periphery of the developed outer cover, act when
sewn together to bend the edges of the cover downwards in such a manner as to
produce a permanently domed form of cover.
It should be carefully noted here that it is important in the case of a leather outer
cover, that it should have the domed form before mounting upon the rim, because
there are other determining factors than in the case of an elastic rubber cover which is
more capable of undergoing deformation or change of shape than leather. The latter, in
case the cover were to be made flat, would not be able to assume the desired shape
after inflation of the air tube.
This invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a
portion of a cover in its flat or spread out form with separated circular attachment
edges. Figure 2 is a section on the line x x of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a cross section
of a cover as it lies on the rim, whilst Figures 4 and 5 are cross sections or other
modifications of the cover.
The leather to be worked up to constitute the outer cover a is cut out of the hide
and is bevelled at the edges so that the centre of the cover remains thicker than at
the two ends. The circular fastening edges b are so made that they impart the
desired shape to the cover. Their periphery is made to suit the rim and they are
sewn upon the cover (which has a greater periphery) in such a manner that
the ends are drawn in and they thus determine the shape of the cover in an
automatic manner. The attachment edges are sewn by means of a seam n to
the cover in such a manner that they project a few millimetres beyond the edges
of the same. They are bevelled at their free ends (Figure 2) and when the
cover is inflated the said attachment edges enter the rim and the bevelled
portions bear upon each other, whilst the opposite ends of the attachment edges
effect the attachment of the cover to the wheel rim. (Figure 3.) As will be
seen from Figure 1, the distances apart from the holes 1, 2, 3 and so forth for
the seam in the cover proper are greater than those I, II, III, and so forth, in the
attachment edges. By this manner of connecting the cover to the attachment edges,
the dome shape is produced longitudinally as well as transversely of the cover without
the necessity of wetting or fulling the leather. It is to be understood that either the
flesh side or the grain side of the leather may be used for the tread proper. The

page_text: tread may be either smooth on its outer side (Figure 3) or be provided with one or
more ribs c (Figures 4 and 5). These ribs are formed by means of insertions r of any
suitable material for the sake of greater strength.
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) In a pneumatic tyre for velocipedes and other vehicles, a cover of leather
characterised by the fact that by means of the provision' of lateral bulged or
thickened edges the leather is enabled to acquire a domed form in the dry state
without fulling and will retain said domed form permanently.
(2) A process for the manufacture of the cover specified in Claim 1, characterised
by the fact that the lateral thickened edges are composed of leather strips of less
length than the peripheral length of the developed or spread out cover, the edges of
the latter being drawn in by the sewing of the thickened edges, for the purpose of
producing a permanently domed form of cover, without fulling and without having to
wet the leather.
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(3) In a pneumatic tyre for velocipedes and other vehicles, a leather cover
constructed substantially as herein before described and shown.
Dated this 3rd of April 189
1897.
i
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech, E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70,, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.
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