Means for Repairing Breaks in Pneumatic Tires.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Aug., 1895-Accepted, 21st Sept., 1895
Means for Repairing Breaks in Pneumatic Tires.
1. FREDERICK HAROLD NIES, of 114, William Street, Brooklyn, in the County
of Kings, and State of New York. United States of America, Dental Surgeon,
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 means for repairing breaks, tears or punctures in
pneumatic tires, and particularly that class of tires consisting of a hollow tube
inflated with air. Its object is to provide a simple and economical device which
may be carried about by the rider and immediately fixed to the tire whenever any
break occurs, to repair the break and enable the rider to use the wheel thereafter,
thereby obviating the necessity of carrying the wheel to a repair shop for the
purpose. Although the invention is designed only for temporary use, it will be
found that it can be used for a considerable length of time.
The invention consists in clamping the tire on each side of the break tightly
enough to prevent the passage of air from or into the tube or tire, then reinflating
the tube, and bridging over the compressed part of the tube with a suitable shield
or otherwise preserving the continuity or height of the outer periphery of
the tire.
The invention will be more particularly described with reference to the
accompanying drawing, in which:
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a portion of a bicycle wheel, showing my
improvement applied thereto,
Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,
Figs. 3 and 4 are cross-sections of modified forms of the device, and
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a detail.
Referring to the drawing by letter, A represents the rim of a bicycle wheel
and a the usual hollow rubber tire fitting thereon. b, bare yoke shaped clamping
sections adapted to fit over or straddle the outer side of the hollow rubber tire,
and, in some cases, the rim also; and c, c are inner clamp sections adapted to be
placed against the rubber tire on the under side thereof directly opposite the
beforementioned yoke sections a, a, whereby the tire may be clamped by drawing
the two sections together. Both the outer yoke sections and the inner clamp
sections are made arch shaped in section to aid in keeping the tire in its normal
shape when the clamps are applied, and the inner clamp sections are provided with
lateral cars c c which are perforated or otherwise arranged to receive the ends of
the yoke sections b, b, the ends of the yoke sections being screw threaded and
carrying the thumb nuts b', ', adapted to operate against the ears of the inner
clamp sections to draw the two sections together.
It is important that the arched shape of the sections be preserved when the
device is applied, in order to preserve the continuity of the outer surface of the
tire, and to that end I provide a cross-bar d uniting the two ends of the yoke
section together either above or below the rim of the wheel to prevent the legs from
spreading apart. But if a flange c be raised on each edge of the inner arched
clamp section, as shown in Fig. 5, the same result will be obtained and the cross-
bar may be dispensed with. Furthermore, it is preferred to form on each side of
the inner clamp sections, intermediate between the arch and the ears c¹, a pair of
lugs or ears c embracing the ends of the yoke section, whereby the sections are
prevented from being displaced by being tilted or wrenched to one side.

page_text: An inflated air cushion, or any other suitably shaped cushioning device B of
elastic material, is placed under the clamped portion of the tire between the rim
and the tire and serves to retain the periphery of the clamped portion approxi-
mately in line with the outer periphery of the inflated portion, and at the same
time imparts to the parts of the tire under which it is placed the same elasticity as
is possessed by the inflated portion of the tire.
In the operation of the device, when a break or puncture occurs, the tire is
raised partly out of engagement with the rim of the wheel and on each side of the
break a yoke section placed across the outer side of the tire and an inner clamp
section under the inner side thereof. The sections are drawn together by the
thumb nuts b¹, b', thus securely clamping the tire and preventing the passage of
air from or into the same. The cushion B is then inserted between the tire and
the rim under that portion of the former included between the clamps, and the tire
is then inflated in the usual manner, after which the wheel may be mounted and
ridden as though no break had occurred.
In case the puncture be a small one it will not be necessary to use the
cushion B, for in that case the clamps could be placed close together and the
arched form of the sections would serve to retain the outer periphery of the tire
approximately in line with the rest of the tire, and also give sufficient elasticity to
prevent jolting when the wheel is being used.
It is obvious that the device hereinbefore described is capable of modification.
The various parts may be altered, interchanged, and in some instances dispensed
with, without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, the essential
feature of which comprises means for clamping the tire on each side of a break or
puncture therein and then restoring that part of the tire between the clamps to the
same height as the rest of the tire.
Having now 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. A device for clamping a torn or punctured hollow tire, comprising a clamp
for compressing the tire on each side of the puncture therein, and means for
holding that portion of the tire between the clamps approximately in line with the
outer peripheral surface of the inflated portion, for the purpose set forth.
2. A device for clamping a torn or punctured hollow tire, comprising an outer
yoke section and an inner clamp section, said sections being adapted to receive and
clamp a tire therebetween, and a support adapted to be inserted between the tire
and the rim of the wheel for holding the clamped portion of the tire approximately
in line with the outer peripheral surface of the inflated portion thereof, substantially
as described.
3. A device for clamping a torn or punctured hollow tire, comprising an outer
yoke section and an inner clamp section, said sections being adapted to receive and
clamp a tire therebetween, and an elastic support adapted to be inserted between
the tire and the rim of the wheel for holding the clamped portion of the tire
approximately in line with the outer peripheral surface of the inflated portion
thereof, substantially as described.
4. A device for clamping a ton or punctured hollow tire comprising an outer
yoke section and an inner clamp section, said sections being adapted to receive and
clamp a tire therebetween, and said clamp section uniting the legs of the outer
yoke section to prevent spreading thereof, substantially as described.
5. A device for clamping a torn or punctured bollow tire, comprising an outer
yoke section and an inner elastic clamp section, said sections being adapted to
receive and clamp a tire therebetween, and said elastic clamp section serving to
unite the legs of the outer yoke section to prevent spreading thereof, substantially
as described.
6. A device for clamping a torn or punctured tire, comprising an outer arched
yoke section and an inner arched clamp section, said sections, being adapted to

page_text: receive and clamp a tire therebetween, and the arching form of the sections.
serving, when the device is applied, to maintain the clamped portion of the tire
approximately in line with the outer peripheral surface of the inflated portion,.
substantially as described.
7. A clamp for repairing a torn or punctured tire, comprising inner and outer
arched sections, the inner section uniting the legs of the outer section to prevent
spreading thereof, and the arched formation of the clamp sections, when applied,
serving to maintain the clamped portion of the tire approximately in line with the
outer peripheral surface of the inflated portion, substantially as described.
8. A device for clamping a torn or punctured hollow tire, comprising two
arch-shaped sections, said sections being adapted to receive and clamp a tire
therebetween and the outer section having its ends screw-threaded, and a cross-bar
so formed as to adapt itself to the contour of the convex surface of the outer rim,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
9. A device for clamping a torn or punctured hollow tire, comprising inner and
outer arched sections, said sections being adapted to receive and clamp a tire
therebetween, and means for preventing the inside clamp section from being tilted
or wrenched from its position with respect to the outer section, substantially as.
described.
Dated this 6th day of August 1895.
J. C. CHAPMAN, C.P.A.,
Filing Agent.