Improvements in Puncture Repair Tool for Pneumatic Tires.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1898 -Accepted, 11th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Puncture Repair Tool for Pneumatic Tires.
We, CHARLES CHASE CALL, of 18, Green Street, in the City of Springfield,
County of Hampden, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Machinist, and EDWARD STANDISH BRADFORD, Junior, of 164, St. James Avenue,
in said City of Springfield, Manufacturer, 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: -
The object of this invention is to provide a small compact, simple and inexpen-
sive device for employment in conjunction with an ordinary rubber band for
closing punctures in pneumatic tires, rendering it possible to quickly conveniently
and permanently close the punctures.
The invention consists in a rod or stem which is split at its forward end and
provided at a suitable distance back from its forward end with engagement arms;
and also in combination with the above of a pair of casting off finger-operated
levers; and the device furthermore preferably is constructed with its rod or
stem tubular from its upper end to a point suitably back from its tire-entering
end with one or more lateral outlet perforations whereby at the time of intro-
ducing the strands of rubber through the puncture, a suitable quantity of rubber
cement may be entered upon the portions of the strand which are carried to the
interior of the tire; and all substantially as will hereinafter fully appear and be
set forth in the claim.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing in which the present
improved puncture repair device is illustrated, Figure being a side view of
the same.
Figure 2 is a central vertical section taken on the line 2-2, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a side view of the device shown as turned at right angles to the
position shown in Figure 1, and showing a common rubber band properly placed
while in a stretched condition in connection with the device in readiness to be
applied for closing the puncture in a tire.
Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the manner of manipulating the device
for closing the puncture in a tire, this view also showing the aspect of a puncture
which has been repaired as by the present tool.
Figure 5 represents in perspective an ordinary rubber band such as is employed
in conjunction with the repair tool and Figure 6 is a perspective view in a
nature of a diagram showing the course of stretched portions of the rubber band
and indicating the relative positions of such portions when the rubber band is
stretched and doubled on the tool in the manner shown in Figure 3.
Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the views.
In the drawings A represents the straight rod or stem constituting the center
of the device, the same having its forward end split, as performed by a saw kerf
leaving the slot a and the opposite nib like members 6 b, the points of which
are rounded as shown at 10 and the members 66 are approached as shown at 12,
Figure 1, in the manner of the nibs of a ruling pen, so as to permit easy entrance

page_text: of the stem through a comparatively small puncture without tearing the margin
thereof or enlarging the hole.
Intermediate between the point and the upper end of the stem A the stem is
provided with the rigid oppositely extended arms or studs d d, and above_said
arms the stem has, formed as a part thereof or affixed thereto, the similarly
oppositely extended lugs constituting the pivotal supports for the slightly angular
levers B B.
The ends of the lugs ff are necked down as indicated at 18 with the shoulders
14 at the bases of the necked down portions, while the elbow portions of the
levers are perforated as shown at 15 to fit over the said necked down portions
of the stud, the outer ends of the latter being headed or upset as shown at 16
to prevent the displacement of the levers from their pivotal or rocking engage-
ments on the supporting studs therefor.
The lower portions of the said levers are recessed or apertured as indicated
at g to straddle the aforesaid studs d d.
therein
The stem A is formed tubular from its upper end, the axial passage
extending downwardly to a point somewhat above the crotch 17, at which the
lateral perforations outwardly lead.
The upper end of the rod or stem A is provided with the enlarged threaded
cup-like socket for receiving connection therewith with the threaded nozzle of
a collapsible tube or can such as indicated at G in Figure 4, whereby rubber
cement may be injected through the tubular stem or needle.
m m represent oppositely reacting springs provided at the upper end portion
of the stem for a spreading pressure on the upper members of the levers B B
correspondingly normally maintaining the lower members of said levers in their
disposition shown in Figures 2 and 3 closely against the opposite sides of the stem
and within the ends of the arms d d.
In order to provide and apply these springs in a simple and practical manner,
I form both springs of a single thin strip or sheet of metal which I centrally
perforate as shown at 20, then bend the strip into U form and outwardly spread
the extremities, the perforated bent part of the spring being fitted over the tube
before the cup shaped screw socket is secured in place.
In carrying the device into operation I take a rubber band of the most common
form, and larger or smaller according as the puncture is large or minute, and
place one loop of the band on the one side stud d, then stretch the band and carry
an intermediate part thereof between the nibs bb then pass a bight of both
strands over the other side stud, returning an intermediate part of both strands
again between the nibs, passing a second bight over the stud first engaged
and returning the extremity of the strand back again between the nibs and
engaging the other end loop with the opposite stud.
The band may be so stretched as to permit of a greater number of doublings so
that there will be as many strands extending from the crotch 17 upwardly to
the engaging stud b as may be deemed advantageous to accord with the character
of any given puncture.
The rubber is then wet to enable it to easily pass through the puncture with
the rod A which is inserted for such a distance that the orifices ii are carried
beyond the inner wall of the tire.
The cement is then injected issuing through the orifices and becoming
sufficiently incorporated on and within the several strands, and then the levers B B
are operated in the manner shown in Figure 4 casting off the loops of the rubber
from the studs d d and quickly withdrawing the stem leaving the looped ends
ut the strands which fill the puncture in compact bunches, as represented at the
left of Figure 4.
The cement introduced in the manner explained fills the interstices between
the strands which pass through the puncture and also with the bunched up
looped ends on the interior of the tire, forms a homogeneous mass which effectually
prevents all leakage of air.

page_text: With the tool may be provided a straight rod to be forced down into the tubular
stem from the top to or beyond the orifices i for the purpose of clearing the
tubular stem of any cement which may have been left therewithin after the
collapsible or other cement containing can or tube has been detached.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1-A puncture repair tool consisting of a rod or stem having at its forward end
the longitudinal slot, and provided back of said forward end with the opposite
outwardly extending studs d d adapted for the engagement therewith under
tension of a rubber band substantially as described, and a device mounted on
the rod and movable relative to said studs for forcing the rubber band from its
engagement therewith.
2A puncture repair tool consisting of a rod or stem having at its forward
end the longitudinal slot and provided back of said forward end with the opposite
outwardly extending studs d d combined with lever arms pivotally mounted on
the rod having members thereof adapted to swing adjacent said studs, and serving
as cast off devices, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3 In a puncture repair tool, the combination with the rod or stem A having
the bifurcated forward end and provided with the studs da and the studs ff.
of the levers B B pivotally mounted on the said studs ff, and having their lower
extremities adapted for swinging movement adjacent the studs d d, and springs
for normally maintaining the lower members of the levers inwardly disposed,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
4- In a puncture repair tool, the combination with the rod or stem A having
intermediate of its length the opposite outwardly extended studs dd, and pro-
vided thereabove with the opposite outwardly extended lugs ff having the
necked down and shouldered formations, of the angular levers B B having the
perforations 15 at their elbows to set over said necked down portions of the
studs and having their lower extremities apertured to straddle the said
studs dd, said lugs having their ends headed or upset and the springs applied
to said levers, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5-Iu a puncture repair tool, in combination, the stem. A having the bifurcated
forward end and with an axial passage therewithin leading from its upper end
partially to the forward end and having the orifices ii, and provided with the
studs d and the lugs f f necked down and shouldered as shown, the angulur
levers BB having at their elbow portions the perforation 15 fitted for rocking
support over said necked down portions of said lugs and having their lower
extremities provided with apertures whereby they straddle over the said studs dd,
the extremities of said lugs being headed, the double spring consisting of a
single strip of sheet metal intermediately perforated and bent into U form.
6. A puncture repair tool consisting of the stem having at its forward end the
slot and provided back of such end with the studs dd, said stem being tubular
from its upper end to a point suitably below the studs and opening to the exterior
of the stem.
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11
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T
1000