Year: 1897

page_text: We, JOHN SELF, Merchant, and ARTHUR SHULVER, Cycle Manufacturer, both
of Framlingham, in the County of Suffolk, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to pneumatic tyres and consists in providing means for
or so constructing such tyres that when punctured they will not collapse but any
such puncture or punctures will automatically close or be closed and sealed
according to this invention as follows:
Between the inner air tube (which latter may be of any well-known or suitable
character) and the outer cover or wrapper (which latter also may be of any well-
known or suitable character) we arrange and mount a band of india rubber advan-
tageously soft india-rubber and also advantageously formed of two strips or bands
(of suitable width) each of different qualities or softness or resiliency of rubber
solutioned together and having their side edges bevelled or otherwise as desired.
This band (or bands) is of such a form as to fit or overlay the inner air tube
when the latter is fully inflated and said band may either be attached (for
instance solutioned) to the inner air-tube so as to fit closely and easily (advan-
tageously with little or no stretching or tension of said band) on the exterior of said
air tube when the latter is fully inflated; or if desired said band may be attached
(solutioned) in a similar manner (i.e. with little or no stretching or tension on
same) to the inside surface of the outer cover or wrapper or a band may be attached
to the air tube & another to the wrapper.
Or instead of arranging and mounting a separate band or bands of rubber on
the fully inflated inner tube as aforesaid (or in addition thereto or in combination
therewith) we may construct the inner air tube itself with a part of the substance
of the latter so arranged that it is not stretched or in tension (or not so much
stretched or in so much tension) when the air tube is stretched to the usual extent by
fully inflating same-thus in all cases providing a soft or non-stretched or little-
stretched surface of rubber all round the periphery or tread of the tyre between
the inside of the air tube and the outer cover or wrapper and this non-stretched or
little-stretched surface of rubber has the effect of instantly and automatically
closing any puncture or punctures (through same) of the air tube and thereby
automatically prevents escape of the air through any such puncture or punctures.
1
114L dow of August 1897
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
We, JOHN SELF, Merchant, and ARTHUR SHULVER, Cycle Manufacturer, both
of Framlingham, in the County of Suffolk, 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: —
This invention relates to pneumatic tyres and consists in providing means for
or so constructing such tyres that when punctured they will not collapse but any
such puncture or punctures will automatically close or be closed and sealed
according to this invention as follows:
Between the inner air tube (which latter may be of any well-known or suitable
character) and the outer cover or wrapper (which latter also may be of any well-
known or suitable character) we arrange and mount a band of india-rubber advan-
tageously of soft india-rubber and also advantageously formed of two strips or bands
(of suitable width or widths) each of different qualities or softness or resiliency of
rubber solutioned together and having their side edges bevelled or otherwise as
desired.
This band (or bands) is of such a form as to fit or overlay the inner air tube
when the latter is fully inflated and said band may either be attached (for
instance solutioned) to the inner air-tube so as to fit closely and easily (advan-
tageously with little or no stretching or tension of said band) on the exterior of said
air tube when the latter is fully inflated; or if desired said band may be attached
(solutioned) in a similar manner (i.e. with little or no stretching or tension on
same) to the inside surface of the outer cover or wrapper or a band may be
attached to the air tube and another to the wrapper.
Or instead of arranging and mounting a separate band or bands of rubber on
the fully inflated inner tube as aforesaid (or in addition thereto or in combination
therewith) we may construct the inner air tube itself with a part of the substance
of the latter so arranged that it is not stretched or in tension (or not so much
stretched or in so much tension) when the air tube is stretched to the usual extent by
fully inflating same-thus in all cases providing a soft and non-stretched or little-
stretched surface of rubber all round the periphery or tread of the tyre between
the inside of the air tube and the outer cover or wrapper and this non-stretched or
little-stretched surface of rubber has the effect of instantly and automatically
closing any puncture or punctures (through same) of the air tube and thereby
automatically prevents escape of the air through any such puncture or punctures.
In the accompanying drawings we have illustrated at Fig. 1 a piece of the non-
stretched band a of rubber made of two layers of rubber with the edges bevelled
as shown in the cross sectional view thereof at Fig. 2 taken on line 1-1 Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of an inflated tyre having said band a applied
thereto.
Having now. particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In pneumatic tyres-providing a band or bands or surface of non-stretched
or little-stretched rubber all round the periphery or tread of the tyre between the
inside of the inner air tube and the outside of the wrapper or outer cover substan-
tially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described.

page_text: 2. Pneumatic tyres constructed and arranged to act substantially in the manner
and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated this 10th day of May 1898.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.