Improved Protective Cover for Pneumatic Tyres of Bicycles and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1898--Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1898
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improved Protective Cover for Pneumatic Tyres of Bicycles and
the like.
I, GUST FUNKENBERG, of 462, Uellendahlerstrasse, Elberfeld, in the Empire of
Germany, 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 :-
In connection with the export of bicycles one great disadvantage is that the
packing of the pneumatic tyre involves a considerable loss of time, is expensive and
does not always afford sufficient protection.
The disadvantage is also felt in connection with the exhibition of bicyles, and
the like, that the rays of the sun come into contact with and injure the tyre.
In storing such vehicles the tyre is exposed without any protection to the
effects of the weather and to mechanical influences, so that its durability is
impaired.
The tyre also suffers frequent damage through the vehicle being ridden or driven
over roadways freshly sprinkled with sharp sand or gravel.
The danger of side slipping is also very great when the ordinary pneumatic tyre
is used on wet or muddy roads or in rooms with smooth floors in practice and trick
riding, as the smoothness of the pneumatic tyre renders a slipping of the vehicle
very easy.
This invention has for its object to obviate the foregoing disadvantages, and
consists in the production of a protecting cover for the pneumatic tyre, which
according to its nature and construction will afford complete protection for the
same, as it can be quickly put round the pneumatic tyre or removed therefrom, and
according to the choice of material affords certain protection against the effects of
temperature and the mechanical influences which endanger the pneumatic tyre, or
the safety of the rider.
In the accompanying drawing, the invention is illustrated in one of its forms, by
way of example.
Fig. 1 represents a pneumatic tyred bicycle wheel with cover mounted thereon,
in side view.
L
Fig. 2 is a section along the line A, B.
Fig. 3 illustrates the form of a pneumatic tyre cover, not in use.
',
Fig. 4 a pneumatic tyre cover made of several parts suitably joined to--
gether.
Figs. 5 and 6 show a cover, and a section of the same, respectively the circular
form of which is obtained by the shortening of the longitudinal threads from the
middle towards the outer edges.
The cover consists wholly or partially of a piece of woven or plaited material a of
any desired manufacture or substance, which can be selected of the desired strength.
according to the purpose for which the cover is intended, the length corresponding
to the periphery of the pneumatic tyre, so that when the cover is put on the tyre,
the free ends thereof cover the tyre, the width corresponding either with the upper

page_text: and rim. The cover can also be made as a closed endless ring, which, in the case
of export or storing, is stretched over the wheels which have been removed from
the forks.
In order that the cover may be kept constantly closed suitable fastening
contrivances b such as studs and eyes ard arranged on the free ends, which render
possible a stiff stretching of the cover and subsequent stretching of the cover when
the tyre is inflated. The arrangement of the fastening contrivance can be suitably
effected by placing it sideways of the pneumatic tyre, in order that it may not
offer any hindrance to the use of the cover during riding.
The cover consists either of the same material throughout its width of similar
or different colour, or of different material, according as it is to be employed as a
protection during non-use of the vehicle, for the purpose of identification, or during
the use thereof. In Fig. 4 a portion of a cover is illustrated, which is intended to
serve as a protection for the pneumatic tyre during travelling; it consists of a
running surface or tread c with side pieces d d suitably attached thereto; the
running surface c may be made of any suitable material, such as sail-cloth, leather,
loofah, which prevents any slipping and affords effective protection against damage
from mechanical influences.
In order to secure the cover surrounding the pneumatic tyre on all sides so as to
correspond with its periphery and external conformation, either the whole surface
of the cover or a portion thereof is intersected by elastic longitudinal threads in
such a manner that the inside peripheries of the covering ring stands in the same
proportion to its external peripheries as the inside peripheries of the exposed
pneumatic tyre, which is to be protected, stand to its external peripheries, so that,
when the cover is put around the wheel, the side surfaces of the cover lie closely
against the side surfaces of the pneumatic tyre.
In the accompanying drawing, Figs. 1 to 3, this close contact is effected by means
of the elastic longitudinal threads e e¹ and ff', which are loosely held by the weft
threads of the woven or plaited cover material a in such a manner that they allow
of a stretching of the cover corresponding to their length. A close fitting of the
cover on all sides around the exposed surface of the pneumatic tyre can also be
secured by giving the longitudinal edges or borders of the cover a hose-like shape
or furnishing them with loops through which elastic strings are drawn.
The close fitting of the cover can be rendered more complete by the arrangement
of suitable fastening contrivances, for instance hooks and eyes, on its inner edges,
by means of which the side surfaces a¹ a² of the cover are drawn together over the
wheel rim in such a manner that they meet one another.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A protecting cover for pneumatic tyres of bicycles and the like, distinguished
by a piece of woven or plaited material, which is intersected throughout, or partially,
with longitudinal threads, in such a manner that, when the cover is put on, its
inner peripheries stand in the same proportion to the outer ones as the corresponding
peripheries of the exposed pneumatic tyre to one another, so that by means of the
arrangement of the elastic longitudinal threads, a close fitting of the cover to all
sides of the pneumatic tyre is effected.
2. A protecting cover according to Claim 1, consisting of a running surface or
tread of resilient material, to which a woven or plaited tissue formed by means of
elastic longitudinal threads is attached in a suitable manner, so that a close fitting
of the cover to all sides of the pneumatic tyre is effected.
3. A protecting cover for pneumatic tyres of bicycles and the like, distinguished
by a piece of woven or plaited material, the longitudinal threads of which are
shortened from the middle towards the outer edges, the material being thus elastic
and circular and corresponding in its conformation to the external contour of the
pneumatic tyre.

page_text: 4. The improved protecting cover for pneumatic tyres of bicycles and the like
substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 26th day of October 1898.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, Agents.