Improvements in or relating to Pneumatic and like Detachable Tyres for the Wheels of Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1899-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Pneumatic and like Detachable
Tyres for the Wheels of Vehicles.
I, UZZIEL PUTNAM SMITH, of 3126 Rhodes Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, United
States of America, Lawyer, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in detachable tyres for the wheels of
bicycles, and like vehicles.
My invention has reference to improvements in that class of tyres known as
wired-on tyres, and has for its object the provision of novel means connected
with the outer sheath or casing of the tyre for holding said casing upon the rim
and for securing the inner air tube within the casing.
A further object of the invention relates to the provision of novel means opera-
tively connected with an adjustable retaining band secured in one edge of the
outer casing or sheath for adjusting said band and holding it in the adjusted
position.
A further object of the invention relates to the provision of a modified form
of band for retaining the tyre on the rim comprising adjustable retaining wires
secured in the outer casing or sheath, and the provision of novel means for
adjusting said wires and holding them in the adjusted position.
Other objects of the invention relate to certain details of construction and
operation of parts which will more clearly hereinafter appear.
I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a rim and tyre, showing my im-
proved adjusting means applied thereto:
Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a view on the inside of a portion of an outer sheath or casing
showing my improved retaining means applied thereto, said sheath or casing
being flattened or unrolled;
Figure 4 is a view of the inside of that portion of a rim having my adjusting
means secured thereto, the view being arranged relative to Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a section through the sheath or casing taken on line 5-5 of
Figure 3.
Figure 6 represents perspective views of detached parts of my invention.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view through the portion of the rim at
which the adjusting and securing device is applied, the tyre being removed,
illustrating a modified form of retaining band and adjusting device.
Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the retaining wires used
in this construction, and of the extensible wire ring, and illustrating the manner
of securing the wires in the canvas.
Figure 9 is a section through the rim and tyre, showing the arrangement of
these retaining wires:
Figure 10 is a plan view of a portion of a rim showing the retaining wires
with the adjusting mechanism applied thereto, and

page_text: Figure 11 is a sectional detail view through one of the plates in which the
retaining wires are secured.
I
Referring to these drawings, the reference-numeral 1 indicates the rim of a
wheel and 2 a tyre secured thereon according to my invention. Said tyre, as
usual, comprises an inner air-tube 3 and an outer casing or sheath 4.
The
numeral 5 indicates the inflating valve attached to the air-tube 3, said valve
being of the ordinary or any preferred construction. Secured along one,edge of
the casing 4 is an extensible wire ring 6, said wire ring being retained in the
casing by doubling the canvas thereof about said ring and then stitching the
two thicknesses of canvas together adjacent to the wire as shown at 7 in Figure 5.
The wire ring 6 is made extensible by having one end of the wire inserted and
movable in a tubular socket 8, carried by the opposite end. Near the edge of
the casing is provided a circular opening 9 Figure 3 through which the valve ö
is designed to pass, and the wire ring 6 is bent laterally outward at this point,
as indicated at 10, so that it will pass around the valve when the parts are
assembled. Adjacent to the edge of the casing in which the ring 6 is secured,
but further removed from said edge than the opening 9, I provide two slits or
elongated apertures 11, 12, which are in line with each other, the aperture 11
being longer than the aperture 12 for a purpose to be presently explained. In
the opposite edge of the casing I secure my improved retaining band 13, which
is formed of a flat metal band curved, arched, or otherwise bent upward through-
out its longitudinal centre as indicated at 14 Figures 3 and 6 to provide a con-
tinuous recess or seat 15 Figure 5 for the ring 6, as presently described, and
having its sides, 16, 17 adjacent to such arched portion 14 slightly curved upward
so that the band 13 will fit snugly and firmly in the concave of the rim.
secure this band in the edge of the casing by doubling the canvas thereof about
said band and stitching the two thicknesses of canvas together adjacent to the
band as indicated at 18 in Figure 5. The side of the casing containing the band 13
is also provided with an opening 19, for the air-valve 5, and with two elongated
apertures 20, 21, corresponding, respectively, with the apertures 11, 12.
Secured on one end of the band 13 by rivets, or otherwise, is a metal clip, 22,
which conforms to the configuration of the band and at its outer end is provided
with two arms, 23, 24, Figure 6, formed integral with said clip and extending
from opposite sides thereof, said arms being curved to conform to the curvature
of the rim. At their outer ends these arms are curved downward to form
ears, 25, 26, in the inner edge of each of which is provided a recess or socket, 27, 28,
respectively. The curved ends of the arms 23, 24 are adapted to embrace oppo-
site edges of the rim, as will presently appear. Secured on the opposite end
of the band 13 by rivets or otherwise, is a metal clip 29, Figure 6 conforming
in configuration to the band 13 and projecting outwardly from the end thereof,
said projecting portion 30 being adapted to lie under the opposite end of the
band when the latter is placed in position on the rim. The clip 29 is provided
with an opening 31 for the passage therethrough of the valve 5, and the arch
or corrugation 14 extends in a curve about this opening, as indicated at 32.
When the parts are in position on the rim, the curved portion 10 of the ring 6
will seat in or under the curved portion 32 of the clip 29. At its inner end the
clip 29 is provided with two arms 33, 34, which are integral with the clip and
extend from opposite sides thereof, said arms being curved upward to conform
to the curvature of the rim. At their outer ends these arms are curved downward
to provide ears 35, 36, which are adapted to fit over the opposite edges of the
rim in the same manner as the cars 25, 26. Each of the ears 35, 36 is likewise
provided on its inner edge with a recess, said recesses being denoted, respectively.
by the numerals 37, 38. Secured on the under side of the rim is a curved
plate 39 Figure 6, having an opening 40 for the passage therethrough of the air-
valve. At the opposite inner sides, and near each end, this plate is provided
with apertured lugs 41, 42, 43, 44, which rest against the underside of the rim
and hold the plate 39 out of contact therewith and through the apertures in

page_text: which lugs pass the screws 45 which secure the plate 39 to the rim. At one end,
on its underside, said plate is provided with a lug 46 having a recess 47. The
numeral 48 indicates a slide-plate, which is fitted on the plate 39 in a manner
to permit it to moved back and forth thereon. To this end said slide-plate is
curved to conform to the curvature of the plate 39 and its ends are further bent
or curved inward and downward, as indicated at 49, Figure 6, to embrace
opposite edges of said plate and to form a sliding contact therewith. Each of
these curved ends is provided on its outer side with a lug 50. On the bottom
of the slide-plate 48 is an integral lug 51, secured in which and projecting
outward therefrom, is a screw-threaded bolt 52 on which is a thumb-nut 53.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen that the arms 23 and 33 project
through the envelope inclosing the band 13 and also through the respective
apertures 20 and 21 in the casing. The parts are assembled as follows:
The air-tube is placed in the casing, the valve 5 being inserted through the
opening 19 therein and the coincident aperture 31 in clip 29. The casing 4
is now made to inclose the tube, for this purpose the edge of the casing con-
taining the ring 6, being brought over and carried under the band 13, so that
said ring lies immediately under the longitudinal recess or seat 15 by the arch
or corrugation 14. In thus manipulating the casing the apertures 11 and 12
will be passed over the respective arms 24 and 34 and the opening 9 over the
valve 5. The tyre is now applied to the rim, which may be readily done owing
to the fact that the circumference of band 13 and of ring 6 may be increased
at will. The location and arrangement of parts is such that when the tyre is
in position on the rim the recesses 37 and 38 in the ears 35 and 36 may be made
to engage behind the respective lugs 43 and 44 on the inner side of the plate 39,
while the recesses 27 and 28 in the ears 25 and 26 are made to engage behind
the lugs 50 on the slide-plate 48. The bolt 52, when said slide-plate is in position
on plate 39, works in the recess 47 and the nut 53 normally engages the lug 46.
By turning this nut, therefore, the slide-plate 48 can be moved in a direction
away from the lug whereby through the engagement of lugs 50 with the ears
of clip 22 said clip with the end of band 13 to which it is attached may be
drawn inward or toward the opposite end of the band, and as the clip 29 is held
stationary by engagement of its ears with the lugs 43, 44, it follows that the
band 13 will be drawn firmly about the rim, the position of the parts when the
tyre is inflated being shown in Figure 2. It will be seen that the ring 6 will
be held securely within the recess 15, and the broad bearing surface afforded
by the sides 16, 17 of the band 13 will operate to hold the tyre firmly to its
seat at both sides of the rim. In the movement of the clip 22 the arms 23 and 24
will slide in the elongated apertures 11 and 20 of the casing as will be under-
stood. To remove the tyre, the nut 53 is turned so that the slide-plate 48
can be moved toward the lug 46 to increase the circumference of band 13 suffi-
ciently to permit it to be passed over the edge of the rim.
In the modified form, the rim 1 is preferably provided with a flat tyre seat,
as shown at 54, and the tyre is provided with the extensible wire ring 6 as in
the construction just described. In the opposite side of this casing I secure
my improved retaining wires 55 and 56 by doubling the canvas of the casing
over the said wires and stitching the two thicknesses of the canvas together
adjacent to the wires. One of the retaining wires, indicated by 55, is at the
extreme edge of the casing, while the other wire 56, is secured in the canvas
at some distance from wire 55, such distance, in practice, being one-half an
At one end the wires 55 and 56 are firmly secured in opposite sides of
a socket-plate 57. This is preferably done by bending the opposite sides of
said plate around the ends of wires 55 and 56, and securing said wires in place
by solder, or the like. The plate 57 extends beyond the ends of wires 55 and 56,
and its side edges are curled under, or bent into circular form in cross-section
from end to end of the plate, as indicated by the numerals 58, forming a ridge
or offset on each side of the plate. Beyond the ends of the wires 55 and 56
inch.

page_text: these ridges or offsets are hollow, forming sockets 59 in which the opposite
ends of the wires 55 and 56 are designed to be inserted. On its upper side,
and about midway its length, the plate 57 is provided with a stop or shoulder 60
and near its outer end has an oblong aperture 61, the purpose of which con-
struction will presently appear. The numeral 62 indicates a plate, which is
secured about the wires 55 and 56 in the same manner as socket-plate 57, and
at a point thereon somewhat removed from the ends of these wires opposite the
ends having the socket-plate. The wires 55 and 56 thus project beyond the
end of plate 62, said projecting ends being indicated, respectively, by the
numerals 63, 64. The plate 62 is provided with an oblong aperture 65. Pro-
jecting from the outer end of plate 62 is what I will term a stop-plate 66. This
stop-plate extends over the socket-plate 57 and its outer end is bent at a right-
angle, as shown at 67, thereby providing a stop for engaging the shoulder 60
to prevent the projecting ends 63 and 64 of wires 55 and 56 from being pulled
out of the sockets 59. The stop-plate 66 is provided with an elongated aperture
or slot 68 extending longitudinally of its length and the purpose of which will
presently appear.
At a suitable point on the rim, preferably opposite that at which the air valve
is located, I secure a device for adjusting the wires 55 and 56. This comprises
a metal housing 69, of nearly cylindrical form, extending from opposite sides
of which are integral ears 70, Figure 9 by means of which the device is
secured, by screws, to the inner side of the rim. Journaled at its ends in opposite
ends of the housing 69 is a right and left-hand screw-threaded bolt 71 which is
actuated by a thumb nut 72, located centrally of the bolt and working through
a transverse slot 73 in the housing. The oppositely screw-threaded portions of
the bolt 71 extend, respectively, from either side of the thumb nuts 72 to near
each end of the bolt. On each of these screw-threaded portions is operatively
mounted a hook 74, which are moved toward and from each other by turning
the thumb nut 72. To facilitate turning of this nut it is provided in its
periphery at several points with holes 75 in which may be inserted the end of
a suitable implement. The hooks 74 extend upward through and work in a
longitudinal slot 76 cut in the rim and are adapted to engage, respectively,
in the apertures 61 and 65 of the socket-plate 57 and plate 62. The elongated
aperture or slot 68 of the stop-plate 66 receives one of the hooks 74, so that
said stop-plate is free to move back and forth in the adjustment of the parts.
By reference to Figure 8, it will be seen that the wires 55 and 56, in conjunc-
tion with the interposed canvas, forin, as it were, a band having a central
longitudinal concave seat, formed, in this case, by the flexible canvas lying
between the wires and in this respect resemble the band of the construction
first described. The operation is as follows:
The inner air tube having been inserted in the casing the tyre is next placed
on the rim, in which position the wire ring 6 will lie between the wires 55
and 56 and the canvas between said wires will lie over the said wire ring 6,
and the hooks 74 will engage in the aperture 61 and 65, respectively. By
turning the nut 72, the hooks 74 will cause the plates 57 and 62, secured on
opposite ends of the wires, to approach each other, the projecting end 63, 64
entering the sockets 59 of the socket plate 57, and the wires 55 and 56, will
be drawn tightly about the rim and hold the tyre secure to the rim and also
prevent the ring 6 from being drawn from under its seat or from between
the two wires 55 and 56. To remove the tyre, the nut is turned to move the
hooks 74 apart, when the circumference of the band formed by the wires 55
and 56 and the canvas in which they are inclosed may be increased sufficiently
to permit the tyre to be pulled over the edge of the rim. In this operation
the bent end 67 of the stop-plate will engage the shoulder 60 and prevent the
end 63 and 64 of the wires from being pulled out of the sockets 59.
As stated, I employ with this construction, a rim having a flat tyre seat, as
shown at 54, in Figure 9, as this form of seat will operate to hold the tyre in an

page_text: exact position on the rim and with the minimum amount of strain to the rim
This construction of tyre can be used, however, in connection with a rim having
the ordinary concave seat, as shown in other figures of the drawings, the only
difference being in that the latter case a little more care is required in adjusting
the tyre upon the rim, so as to get it even and true, while with the flat seat
no care whatever is required, the shoulders at the edge of the rim compelling
the tyre to take and remain in the proper position upon the rim. In the adjust-
ment of the wires 55 and 56, the wire ring 6 automatically
accomodates
itself to the size of circumference required, as explained in connection with the
construction first described.
!
It will be observed that the principle of operation is the same with the two
constructions and it will be observed, without further specification, that either
form of my improved retaining and adjusting device may be employed in con-
nection with tyres other than pneumatic, and for securing tyres upon vehicles
other than bicycles.
It will be further noted that my construction is simple and economical, and
will permit of a tyre being quickly attached to or removed from a rim, and that
when on the rim, the tyre is firmly held to its seat at both sides.
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, an outer casing having a ring secured in one edge
and an adjustable retaining band secured in its opposite edge, said band having
a longitudinal seat or concave extending throughout its length and adapted to
receive said ring, substantially as described.
2. In a pneumatic tyre, an outer casing having a ring secured in one edge
and an adjustable retaining band secured in its opposite edge, said band having
a longitudinal seat or concave extending throughout its length and adapted to
receive said ring and side extensions forming bearing surfaces, substantially as
described.
3. In a pneumatic tyre, an outer casing having an extensible ring secured in
one edge and an adjustable retaining band secured in its opposite edge, said
band having a longitudinal seat or concave extending throughout its length
and adapted to receive said ring, and means for adjusting said band, substantially
as described.
4. In a pneumatic tyre, in combination with a rim having a tyre seat, an
outer casing having in one edge a ring adapted to seat therein and in its opposite
edge a retaining band having a central longitudinal seat or concave adapted to
receive said ring when the band is placed over the same, and means for clamping
said band upon the rim to hold said ring securely within said concave, sub-
stantially as described.
5. In a pneumatic tyre, in combination with a rim having a tyre seat, an
outer casing having in one edge a ring adapted to seat therein and in its
opposite edge a retaining band having a central longitudinal seat or concave
adapted to receive said ring when the band is placed over the same and side
extensions forming bearing surfaces, and means for clamping said band upon the
rim to hold said ring securely within said concave and to hold the tyre to the
rim firmly at each side of the seat, substantially as described.
6. In a pneumatic wired-on tyre, in combination with a rim, a retaining band
having at its meeting ends armis projecting over the rim at each side thereof,
means for holding one set of arms stationary, and means for adjusting the
other set of arms relative to the first, substantially as described.
7. In a pneumatic wired-on tyre, in combination with a rim, a plate secured
thereon having stops, a retaining band having at its meeting ends arms pro-
jecting over the rim at each side thereof, one set of arms engaging said stops, a

page_text: slide mounted on said plate and engaging the other set of arms, and means for
adjusting said slide.
8. In a pneumatic wired-on tyre, in combination with a rim, a plate secured
thereon having stops and provided at one end with a recessed lug, a retaining
band having at its meeting ends, arms projecting over the rim at each side
thereof, one set of arms engaging said stops, a slide mounted on said plate
and engaging the other set of arms, a screw carried by said slide and working
in the recess of said lug, and a nut on said screw engaging with said lug,
substantially as described.
"
9. In a pneumatic wired-on tyre, in combination with a rim, a plate secured
thereon having stops and provided at one end with a recessed lug, a retaining
band having at its meeting ends arms projecting over the rim at each side
thereof and recessed on their inner sides, the recesses in one set of arms engaging
said stops, a slide mounted on said plate and having its ends curved over
opposite side edges thereof and provided with stops engaging the recesses in
the other set of arms, a screw carried by said slide and working in the recess
of said lug, and a nut on said screw engaging with said lug, substantially as
described.
!
10. In a wired-on tyre, an outer casing having a ring secured in one edge
and an adjustable retaining band provided in its opposite edge, said band having
a flexible longitudinal seat or concave extending throughout its length and
adapted to receive said ring, substantially as described.
11. In a wired-on tyre, an outer casing having an extensible ring secured
in one edge and an adjustable retaining band provided in its opposite edge,
said band having a flexible longitudinal seat or concave extending throughout
its length and adapted to receive said ring, substantially as described.
12. In a wired-on tyre, an outer casing having a ring secured in one edge
and an adjustable retaining band provided in its opposite edge, said band having
a flexible longitudinal seat or concave extending throughout its length and
adapted to receive said ring, and means for adjusting said band, substantially as
described.
13. In a wired-on tyre, in combination with a rim having a tyre seat, an
outer casing having in one edge a ring adapted to seat therein and in its opposite
edge a retaining band having a flexible longitudinal seat or concave adapted to
receive said ring when the band is placed over the same, and means for clamping
said band upon the rim to hold said ring securely within said concave, substan-
tially as described.
14. In a wired-on tyre, an outer casing having an extensible ring secured
in one edge and two wires secured in the canvas in spaced parallel relation
in its opposite edge portion, whereby the canvas of the casing between said
wires will form a flexible longitudinal seat adapted to receive said ring, and
means for adjusting said wires, substantially as described.
15. In a wired-on tyre, an outer casing having an extensible ring secured
in one edge and two wires secured in the canvas in spaced parallel relation
in its opposite edge portion, whereby the canvas of the casing between said
wires will form a flexible longitudinal seat adapted to receive said ring, said
wires having at their opposite ends an adjustable connection, and means for
adjusting said wires, substantially as described.
16. In a wired-on tyre, an outer casing having an extensible ring: secured
in one edge and two wires secured in the canvas in spaced parallel relation
in its opposite edge portion, whereby the canvas of the casing between said
wires will form a flexible longitudinal seat adapted to receive said ring, said
wires, at one end, being secured in a plate affording sockets to receive the
opposite ends of the wires, a plate secured to said wires at some distance from
said opposite ends, and means for adjusting said wires through the medium of
said plates, substantially as described.
17. In a wired-on tyre, in combination with a rim affording a tyre seat, an

page_text: outer casing having in one edge an extensible ring adapted to seat therein and
in its opposite edge portion two wires secured in the canvas in spaced parallel
relation, whereby the canvas of the casing between said wires will form a flexible
longitudinal seat adapted to receive said ring, said wires, at one end, being
secured in an apertured plate affording sockets to receive the opposite ends of
the wires, an apertured plate secured to said wires at some distance from said
opposite ends, hooks engaging in said apertures and being operatively mounted
on the rim and means for moving said hooks toward and from each other,
whereby to adjust said wires, substantially as described.
18. In a wired-on tyre, in combination with a rim affording a tyre seat, an
outer casing having in one edge an extensible ring adapted to scat therein
and in its opposite edge portion two wires secured in the canvas in spaced
parallel relation for the purpose described, said wires, at one end being secured
in an apertured plate affording sockets to receive the opposite ends of the wires
and having a stop, an apertured plate secured to said wires at some distance
from said opposite ends, a bolt having right and left-hand threads mounted
on the rim, a hook mounted on each of said threaded portions and extending
upward through a slot in the rim and engaging in the respective apertures of
said plates, means for turning said bolt to adjust the wires, as described, and
a stop-plate carried by said last-named plate and having a bent end to engage
said stop. substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.