Improvements in and relating to Tyres for Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Light Road Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 26th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 1st Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tyres for Bicycles, Tricycles, and
other Light Road Vehicles.
I, LEO OHNSTEIN, of 29, Rue du Chateau d'Eau, Paris, in the Republic of
France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in and connected with tyres for bicycles,
tricycles and other light road vehicles, the object of the invention being to provide
a tyre which possesses the suppleness and elasticity of pneumatic tyres without
their defects.
In carrying out the invention I arrange around the rim of the wheel which has
a hollow or concave section two spring-bands preferably steel, the outer edge of each
of which is fixed to the rim, the inner edge being free. I then place on these bands a
solid or hollow india-rubber tyre fixed to the rim and, if there is space, connected
to the circular bands; from this construction it results that the tyre in rolling upon
the ground conforms to the inequalities of the surface in the same manner as the
well known pneumatic tyre for the reason that the circular bands on which it is
supported give when the wheel passes over an obstacle. The improved tyre not
only adapts itself to any inequalities of the road but possesses the further advantages
that it does not slip and is not liable to be damaged by pointed or sharp bodies.
My improved tyre is very economical since it dispenses with the air-tube and its
accessories as well as the multiple causes of its fragility.
According to one way of carrying out my invention I employ a rim of concave
section, the edges of which are raised and bent over to receive the edges of the two
steel bands and of an india-rubber tyre. The bands are separate from each other
and from the tyre which is formed with an internal flange or projection which
passes between the free edges of the bands and thereby prevents any lateral
displacement of the tyre. The tyre can be solid or hollow and may be adapted to
the bands in various ways. The tyre is sometimes carried by the bands them-
selves, the said bands having their outer edges held in recesses formed in the rim
and adapted to receive wires.
The tyre is sometimes held between two metal bands in order to prevent its
lateral displacement and also to prevent dust from penetrating to the interior of
the rim. In this arrangement the tyre may be held in the bent or curved edges
of the rim but it can be held and fixed to the rim by any suitable means.
In another arrangement the tyre is provided with tongues having flanges to form
circular grooves in which are placed metal bands to prevent lateral movement of
the tyre and ensure its connection with the rim.
In some cases the edges of the tyre and of the bands are so bent or curved as to
engage with the turned-over edges of the rim.
According to another arrangement the spring-bands are made from a sheet of
steel which is stamped to the form of the rim in order to take its shape and be
fixed thereto..
The spring-bands can be superposed and still operate as above described, and
the action would be the same if the springs were formed by two or more spring-
rims, these springs being made of steel or other suitable material.
.
Dated this 28th day of December 1893.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South. Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: VALION.
Improvements in and relating to Tyres for Bicycles, Tricycles, and
other Light Road Vehicles.
I, LEO OHNSTEIN, of 29, Rue du Chateau d'Eau, Paris, in the Republic of
France, 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 improvements in and connected with tyres for bicycles,
tricycles and other light road vehicles, the object of the invention being to provide
a tyre which possesses the suppleness and elasticity of pneumatic tyres without
their defects.
In carrying out the invention I arrange around the rim of the wheel which has a
hollow or concave section two spring-bands preferably of steel, the outer edges of
which are fixed or attached to the rim, and the inner edges free. On these bands I
place a solid or hollow india-rubber tyre counccted to the circular bands; from
this construction it results that the tyre in rolling upon the ground conforms to the
inequalities of the surface in the same manner as the well known pneumatic tyre
for the reason that the circular bands on which it is supported yield when the wheel
passes over an obstacle. The improved tyre not only adapts itself to any
inequalities of the road but possesses the further advantages that it does not slip
and is not liable to be damaged by pointed or sharp bodies.
My improved tyre is very inexpensive in comparison with a pneumatic tyre as
the air-tube of the latter and its accessories are dispensed with as well as the many
causes of fragility of such a tyre.
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 is a transverse section of a wheel tyre and rim for bicycles, tricycles
and other light road vehicles illustrating one form of my improvements; and,
Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 1-2 of Figure 1:
Figures 3 to 11 are similar views to Figure 1 but illustrating various
modifications.
In all the said figures a is the rim of the wheel of hollow or concave section,
and b, bare the spring bands having their outer edges secured to the rim a, their
inner edges free and their ends overlapped as in Figure 2 and secured by studs
or rivets d'; c is the solid or hollow iudia-rubber tyre connected to the circular
bands.
In Figure 1 the rim a is shewn of V shape in cross section with the edges turned
upwards and outwards so as to form flanges a', a to receive the edges of the two
spring steel bands, which are independent of one another and are simply
attached to the flunges a', a' by means of pins, studs or rivets d fixed at intervals in
the bands and freely entering corresponding holes made in the said flanges a', a
of the rim a.
The end of the rivet d' connecting the ends of the bands projects inwardly and
enters a hole in the edge of the rim in the same manner as the other rivets d.
This method of attaching the spring bands b, b' to the edges of the rim gives
good results as regards the resistance and elasticity of the bands.
The rim a receives the edges of the india-rubber tyre c of ordinary shape and
section. As far as possible the tyre e which bears inwardly upon the springs b, h¹
should not interfere with the elastic action of the said springs.
In Figure 3 the rim a is shewn of concave section with its edges a', a² turned up
and inwards so as to simultaneously clip the edges of the bands b, b¹ and those of
the india-rubber tyre c.

page_text: Figure 4 shews how the tyre can be carried and secured by the bands b, b'
themselves which have their outer edges rigidly held in the lateral clips a', a² of
the rim, wires e, e¹ being introduced if desired.
Figure 5 illustrates a modification of the section of the tyre and of its relation
to the springs, on which it bears progressively when pressed inwards.
Figure 6 shews the tyre c supported between strips which prevent its
displacement in a transverse direction and also prevent dust from penetrating to the
interior of the rim. The strips are formed by doubling over and turning
outwards the edges of the rim but they can, if desired, be made separate and fixed
to the rim by any suitable means.
In Figure 7 the tyre e is shewn provided with lateral flanged tongues y forming
peripheral or circular grooves in which are located rings or hoops which with nuts
and bolts constitute the means of fixing the tyre to the rim and preventing any
trausverse displacement of the connected parts.
Figure 8 represents another section of the rim a and tyre e having inwardly
turned edges.
Figure 9 represents another arrangement in which the bands b, are made
integral with a strip or band of steel B curved to the section of the rim a.
The tyre being formed and combined with the other parts, according to any of
the arrangements described or in any other suitable manner and being elastic, will
yield under the weight of the rider to all the irregularities of the ground because
the said tyre e has all the necessary suppleness and above all because the bands b, b
allow the tyre to be pressed into the rim more or less according as it encounters a
larger or smaller obstacle and to pass out of the rim again. In any case this
obstacle whether it be a pointed or piercing or cutting body cannot seriously.
damage the tyre and will never interfere with the action of the springs b, b.
The spring bands b, can be overlapped, as shewn in Figure 10, the action being
the same as that hereinbefore explained. The same action would take place if these
spring bands were duplicated or each made of two or more superposed bands as
shewn in Figure 11, in which each of the bands, & is supposed to be made of two
superposed bands. These bands may be of metal or other suitable material.
Finally the spring bands b, may be formed either continuously, as shewn, or
in two or other suitable number of segments. The segments composing a ring or
hoop of springs may be independent of one another or be joined together by
transverse joints.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The arrangement of tyres for bicycles, tricycles and other light road vehicles
consisting essentially of two or more spring-bands of metal or other suitable
material fixed or attached by their outer edges to a hollow rim, the inner edges
being left free and opposite each other, or overlapping, in such a manner that the
elastic tyre which is placed upon the said spring bands may yield to the irregu-
larities or roughness of the ground, the yielding of the tyre combining with the
spring of the bands to obviate the injurious effects of the vibrations caused by such
irregularities and roughness of the road in machines or carriages having rigid
rims, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The arrangement of tyre for bicycles, tricycles and other light road vehicles
comprising two bands b, of steel or other suitable material connected at their
outer edges by means of pins, studs or rivets d to the edges a, a² of the rim a, the
inner edges of the bands b, being free and capable of yielding under the action
of the solid or hollow india-rubber tyre e which covers the said springs b, and is
attached to the rim a by any suitable known means, substantially as hereinbefore
described and represented in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.
3. The arrangement of tyre for bicycles, tricycles and other light road vehicles
comprising two spring rings or bands b, b' the outer edges of which are fixed or-

page_text: attached to the edges of the rim, with the edges of the india-rubber tyre c, which
is placed upon the said spring bands so as to leave the inner edges of the said
bands or springs free substantially as herein before described and represented in
Figures 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawing.
4. The arrangement of tyre for bicycles, tricycles and other light road vehicles
comprising two spring rings or bands connected by their outer edges to the edges
of the rim so as to leave their inner edges free, the said bands or springs carrying
the supple elastic tyre, substantially as hereinbefore described and represented in
Figure 4 of the accompanying drawing.
5. The arrangement of tyre for bicycles, tricycles and other light road vehicles
comprising two spring rings or bands b, b' formed by the edges of a strip or band
of steel of which the main body B follows the shape of the rim, the rings b, b
carrying the india-rubber tyre c substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figure 9 of the accompanying drawing.
6. In the arrangement of tyres for bicycles, tricycles and light road vehicles
herein before claimed the employment of the spring bands b, b having their inner
edges opposite each other or overlapped substantially as hereinbefore described and
represented in Figure 10 of the accompanying drawing.
7. In the arrangement of tyre he reinbefore described for bicycles, tricycles and
other light road vehicles the employment of two or more superposed bands to form
each of the bands b, b' substantially as hereinbefore described and represented in
Figure 11 of the accompanying drawing.
8. In the arrangement of tyre bereinbefore claimed the employment of spring
bands b, made of a single band or of two or more segments, substantially as set
forth.
Dated sh
3
J
1004
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.