Improvements in or Applicable to Wheels of Bicycles, Tricycles, and Carriages or Vehicles of every Description.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 29th Feb., 1888
Complete Accepted, 29th Mar., 1888
Improvements in or Applicable to Wheels of Bicycles, Tricycles,
and Carriages or Vehicles of every Description.
I, WILLIAM BOWN, of Summer Lane, Birmingham, in the county of Warwick
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My improvements in wheels of bicycles, tricycles and carriages or vehicles of
every description relate to the kind of wheels which are fitted with india-rubber
tyres, and my improvements consist in fixing to the outer surface of the rubber
which comes in contact with the road, a strip or strips or ring of steel or other
metal shaped to the periphery of the tyre and made up in one or more parts of
suitable thickness and width which I secure in position on the rubber tyre by
solution, pegs, pins and nuts or other suitable means. This steel or metal ring or
strip or strips of metal, being in contact with the roads prevents the rubber being
cut or damaged by any sharp stones or grit on the road, while at the same time
the full elasticity of the rubber tyre is maintained and the vibration greatly
reduced.
G. F. REDFERN,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, WILLIAM BOWN, of Summer Lane, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
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 :-
My invention has reference to those kinds of wheels of bicycles, tricycles and
carriages or vehicles of every description which are fitted with india rubber tyres,
and my improvements consist in fixing to the outer surface of the india rubber tyre
which usually comes in contact with the road, a strip or strips, or a ring of steel or
other metal.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe how
it can be carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawing
in which
Figure 1 represents an elevation of an ordinary carriage wheel with my improve-
ments applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a cross section of part of the same.
Figures 3 and 4 are similar views to figure 2 but illustrating slightly modified
constructions.
Figure 5 is an elevation of part of the rim of a velocipede wheel provided with my
improvements.
Figure 6 is a cross section of figure 5.
Figures 2 to 6 are drawn to a larger scale than figure 1.
Similar letters in all the figures indicate similar parts.
Referring to figures 1, 2, and 3, A is the wooden rim or felloe, B, B, B are the
spokes, and C is the metal tyre of the carriage wheel, all of which parts are formed
and arranged in the usual manner. D is the india rubber tyre which is secured to
the metal tyre or rim C. by cement, pins, bolts, or other suitable means. E is the
strip of steel or other metal shaped so as to conform to the periphery of the india
rubber tyre D. I fasten the strip of metal E to the india rubber tyre D by means of
cement or solution and in order to more effectually secure the said metal strip and
prevent it from becoming loose. I form on its edges at suitable distances apart lips or
projections E-The lips project over the edge of the iron tyre C and are secured
thereto by means of pins, screws, or bolts, as shown in figures 1 and 2, or they
may be secured to the wooden rim or felloe A by similar means as shown in
figure 3.
It will be obvious that if the metal strip E were rigidly secured to the metal
tyre C or to the wooden rim or felloe A the elasticity of the rubber tyre would
be of no advantage. In order therefore to fully utilize the elasticity of the rubber
tyre I form slots a in the lips or projections E¹ at the parts where the pins,

page_text: screws, or bolts are inserted as shown in figures 1, 2, and 3 which allow the metal
strip E to follow or move freely with the elastic movement of the rubber tyre thereby
fully maintaining the elasticity of the wheel.
To protect the heads of the pins, screws, or bolts from coming in contact with
curb stones or other impediments I form recesses around the slots a, as clearly shown
in figure 1.
Instead of forming lips or projections on the metal strip E and cutting slots
therein for inserting the pins, screws, or bolts, as shown in figures 1, 2 and 3, I
sometimes extend the sides of the metal strip E and form indentations or projections c, c
thereon, as shown in figure 4, which work in corresponding slots d, à made in the
iron tyre of the wheel.
The application of my improvements to velocipede and similar wheels is illustrated
in figures 5 and 6 and being substantially the same as that hereinbefore described
and shown in figures 1 and 2, will be fully understood without description.
Instead of employing a single strip of metal E as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the drawing it will be obvious that the metal strip can be in two or
more lengths.
I have described and shown my invention by way of example as applied to
ordinary carriage and velocipede wheels: it is evident however that it is equally
applicable to other kinds of wheels having india-rubber tyres.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe that I
am aware that metal rings or strips have been used for the purpose of protecting
india-rubber tyres and therefore make no claim to such metal rings or strips, but
what I do claim is :-
1. The means or their equivalent of securing a strip or strips, or ring of steel or
other metal to the iron tyre of an ordinary vehicle wheel, substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described with reference to figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying
drawing.
2. The means or their equivalent of securing a strip or strips, or ring of steel or
other metal to the iron tyre or wooden rim or felloe of an ordinary vehicle wheel,
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to figures 3
and 4 of the accompanying drawing.
3. The means or their equivalent of securing a strip or strips, or ring of steel or
other metal to the rim or felloe of a bicycle, tricycle, or other velocipede wheel,
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described with reference to figures 5
and 6 of the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 20th day of February 1888
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.