Improved Means or Protector for Guarding Pneumatic Tyres against Injury or Puncture.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 10th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 31st Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means or Protector for Guarding Pneumatic Tyres
against Injury or Puncture.
I, JAMES WRIGHT of 3, Spencer Street, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
guard
My improvements appertain to that kind of protecting device forming a
or shield which extends all round the inner tube on the side which would be
likely to be injured, if a piece of glass, a nail, or a thorn injures or punctures a
wheel fitted with this kind of guard or shield, the piece of glass, nail, or thorn
does not injure or puncture the inner tube, as the guard or shield serves as a
protector.
Now the present invention of mine is to perfect and simplify this kind of
protective means, so that there will be provided for cyclists both a very economical
and a thoroughly efficient protector for their machines.
In carrying out my invention I make use of a strip of any kind of textile
material such as would be most suited for the purposes which will be hereinafter
seen. I prefer to make use of strong closely woven canvas such as is used by
ship's sail makers. This textile material serves as a carrier or holder for suitable
liquids or substances with which it is treated or in which it is soaked. These
liquids or substances are to penetrate into the interstices or spaces between the
threads of the fabric. They also will harden and thicken up the textile material
itself. It will be seen when the material has been so treated it will form a hard
and stout body, which, while offering resistance against anything that would cause
injury or puncture is also at the same time flexible and easy of application around
the cycle wheel.
Many kinds of liquids or substances will be found suitable for the object in
view; for instance varnishes are very suitable. A varnish composed of turpentine,
methylated spirit, resin and shellac can be put into a suitable bath and the
textile material be steeped in that. Other kinds of liquids or substances besides
varnishes may also be found suitable, for instance, a solution of alum and
bichromate of potash will act very well.
It must be understood that in carrying out my invention, the canvas bag which
usually surrounds the inner tube to prevent it bursting under inflation might also
be treated in the before mentioned manner and for the same objects and this
would then be a protector in accordance with my present invention, but it is my
intention that canvas or other suitable textile material after being treated in the
before mentioned manner should be cut up into strips and this could be applied
to the inner tube or to the tyre itself in any suitable manner, for instance if
laid on the inner tube the strip would simply surround it and when the tyre was
applied it would hold it in place, or the strip might even be applied outside the

page_text: tyre itself, being fastened onto its face in any suitable manner, for instance by
a suitable solution, or it might be vulcanised on to it.
Dated this 10th day of October 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improved Means or Protector for Guarding Pneumatic Tyres
against Injury or Puncture.
I JAMES WRIGHT of 3 Spencer Street, Liverpool in the County of Lancashire,
Gentleman 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 relates to that class of protecting device forming a guard or shield
extending all round that side of the inner tube or core which would be liable to
receive injury or be punctured by coming into contact with a sharp stone, piece of
glass or the like and the object of the said invention is to perfect and simplify this
class of protecting means whereby same will be rendered thoroughly efficient and
also at the same time inexpensive as to manufacture and durable in wear.
In carrying my invention into practice I employ a strip of any suitable material
such as silk, linen, or any material suitable for the purpose in view, but preferably
strong closely woven canvas such as is used by sail-makers and known by the name
of "sail-cloth." This textile material is treated with or soaked in various suitable
solutions preferably composed by mixing together spirits of wine (methylated
spirits) and resin in suitable quantities or proportions or I may employ a varnish
composed of spirits of wine (methylated spirits) turpentine, shellac and resin.
Various other kinds of liquids or substances that are found suitable may be
employed such as for instance a solution of alum and bi-chromate of potash which
will be found to act satisfactorily.
In operation the strip of canvas or other material is steeped in a suitable bath
containing the desired mixture or solution for a sufficient period to enable the
latter to thoroughly penetrate into the interstices between the threads of the fabric
and also to thoroughly soak into the threads themselves so that when removed
from the bath the solution or mixture will dry and harden and thicken the textile
material and so form a compact stout and relatively hard body which while offering
sufficient resistance against any sharp body to prevent same puncturing the
material so treated will be at the same time flexible and easy of adjustment around
the part of the tyre to which it is to be applied.
The strip of textile material so treated may be fastened around the outer surface
of the tread of the inner tube or core of the tyre that calls forth for the most
protection as containing the air as it does the slightest puncture will cause_the
whole tyre to collapse thereby greatly endangering the safety of the rider. The
said treated protecting strip may be fastened to the inner tube or core by a solution
or by any other suitable fastening means or it could be held in its place by the
compressing action of the outer flexible sheath which surrounds the whole.
If found desirable this outer india rubber sheath or cover which is the part of
the tyre which comes into direct contact with the ground can be provided with one
of the protecting strips around its tread which strip can be fastened thereto by
solutioning or in any other suitable manner, or it can be if found more convenient,
moulded into the said india-rubber sheath or cover.
I also wish it to be understood that the canvas bag which surrounds the inner
core or inflated tube, can, if found desirable, be treated in a bath of one of the

page_text: mixtures in the same manner as that described with reference to the protecting
strips and for the same object this canvas bag would constitute a protector in
accordance with my invention.
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 I am aware
of the Specification of Letters Patent No. 8524 of 1892 granted to Thomas
James Williams and I do not claim anything claimed and described therein but
what I claim is
1 The improved means for guarding pneumatic tyres against injury or puncture
HUGHES & YOUNG,
12, Basinghall Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicant.