Improvements in and relating to Tyres for the Wheels of Cycles and other Vehicles
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 11th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tyres for the Wheels of Cycles
and other Vehicles,
I, FRANK DYMOND SMITH, of 63, Penward Road, Shepherd's Bush, in the County
of London, Inventor, 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 consists of improvements in and relating to tyres for the wheels
of cycles and other vehicles.
The chief objects of my invention are to produce outer tyres for partially or
wholly covering or enveloping the pneumatic tyres or tubes for the wheels of
cycles or other vehicles to protect such pneumatic tyres or tubes from being
punctured cut or damaged by sharp stones thorns and the like when in ordinary
use and for other purposes hereinafter mentioned and described.
Certain designs of the said outer tyres hereinafter described are made to fit
either wholly or partially outside or round the said pneumatic tyres or tubes at
present in vogue or that may be hereafter in use. Other designs of the said outer
tyres hereinafter described are made to form their own pneumatic tyres or tubes in
order to avoid adding weight and for other purposes. In most cases the methods
of attachment and detachment render the said outer tyres more easily detachable
for repairs and the like.
The term outer tyre shall be understood to apply to the invention either as a
tyre for partially or wholly covering such pneumatic tyres or tubes as are herein
described or as applying to tyres forming their own pneumatic tubes as herein
described. Any extended part or parts of such cuter tyre such as the extended
sides hereinafter described or the inner pneumatic semi-distensible tube herein-
after described and shown in Fig. (8) or any parts or additions hereinafter described
shall be considered as parts of the invention.
Referring to the said sheet of drawings (which are all transverse sections unless
otherwise mentioned) throughout the several figures similar parts are markod
with like letters of reference.
Fig. (1) shows a transverse section of the said outer tyre when made or applied
as a solid detachable outer tyre the pneumatic tyre rim and valve are of the
ordinary kind and are drawn only to show the position of the said outer tyre and
how it is applied to pneumatic tyred wheels at present in vogue or hereafter in
use. (a) is the said solid outer tyre which is constructed with several thicknesses
of suitable canvas hardened or chemically treated cemented stuck or compressed
together or it may be made with any other suitable material or materials but in
all instances there will be an outside lining of vulcanized rubber cemented or
stuck to such canvas material or materials. (BB) are non-distensible wires or
cores of other suitable material embedded at the edges of the said outer-tyre
The ends of each wire may be connected by an ordinary screw nut having a right
and left thread or each wire may be made endless. The said wires or cores are

page_text: of sufficiently less circumference than the outer circumference of the pneumatic
tyre (c) when inflated to prevent the said outer tyre from becoming detached or
disconnected. The said wires or cores would also be of larger circumference than
the edges of the rim (D). Deflation of the said pneumatic tyre enables the outer
tyre to be easily removed. (E) is an ordinary valve for purposes of inflation.
This form of outer tyre is made so as to cover up that part of the pneumatic tyre
known as the tread to the extent of about one third or more of the transverse
circumference of the pneumatic tyre.
The said outer tyre may also be attached to the pneumatic tyre in any other
suitable manner such as screw rivetting or bolts and the like or the said outer tyre
may be cemented or connected in any other suitable manner to the pneumatic
tyre or the wires or cores may be omitted and the edges or sides of the said outer
tyre extended as shown in the following fig.
•
Fig. 2. The extended sides shown at (B B) are made by a thin continuation of
the said outside rubber and inside canvas or other material as aforesaid suitably
prepared so as to render these extended sides easily adhesive to any
pneumatic tyre by the ordinary solution or other suitable cement.
(a) is the thickened tread of the said outer tyre and will hereinafter be
called the "thickened tread." (c) is an ordinary pneumatic tyre. (D) is an
ordinary rim. (E) is an ordinary valve.
Fig. 3 shows a similar outer tyre with extended sides of sufficient width so as
to wholly cover that part of the pneumatic tyre seen outside the rim of the wheel.
(a) is the said thickened thread. (B. B) are the extended sides made as herein-
before described. The other parts of the section represented by (c) (D) and (E) are
the same as before mentioned.
The said extended sides (one or both of them) may also be of sufficient width or
size so as to completely cover or envelop the pneumatic tyre or tube.
Fig. 4 shows the said outer tyre with one of the said extended sides of sufficient
width or size so as to pass under a (supposed) pneumatic tube and meet pass or
overlap (or be overlapped by) the shorter said extended side outside the rim of the
wheel. Round the shorter extended side at (G) a non-distensible wire or core is
attached or embedded as herein before described running longitudinally. This
wire is of somewhat larger circumference than the edges of the rim. At (F) another
non-distensible wire is attached on the inside or outside of the said outer tyre
running longitudinally. This wire is connected at each end by a
right and
left screw nut and is made and attached in a manner so as to hold the longest or
enveloping said side firmly into the bed of the rim or instead of the said wire
any other suitable contrivance may be used. There will of course be a hole of
sufficient size and in a convenient place to allow an ordinary air valve from an
inner pneumatic tube to pass through. The letters (AB) refer to parts herein-
before described. (H H) will be explained later herein.
Fig. 4 represents the said outer tyre (in the form mentioned and explained
in Fig. 4) in position on an ordinary rim and covering an ordinary pneumatic
tube. The down flap or end of the said shortest extended side at (H) is to be
tucked inside the flange or edge of the rim when the pneumatic tube is partially
inflated. The other flap or end of the said longest extended side or enveloping
part at (H) will overlap the said wire (G) on the inner side for about the same
distance as the aforesaid down flap from (G) to (H). The other parts and figures
of the drawing are the same as hereinbefore described.
Fig. 4 represents the outer tyre described in Figs. (4) and (4) when opened
or partially detached for purposes of repairing either an inner (supposed) pneu-
matic tube or for repairing or examining the inside of the said outer tyre. To
open or partially detach the said outer tyre (as shown in the drawing) the said
pneumatic tube must be deflated. The thickened tread (a) must then be pressed
into the bed of the rim and tucked under the wire or core (G). The outer tyre will
then be inside out and will be quite open for the said purposes by pulling the
extended or enveloping side containing the said wire or core (G) over the opposite

page_text: edge of the rim (D). The other descriptive letters (BB) (E) and (F) refer to
parts herein before mentioned.
Fig. 5. The mode of attachment by wire or core for preventing undue distension
of the said outer tyre and for other purposes shown at (G) in Figs. (4) (4*) and (4")
may be omitted or otherwise and any other suitable contrivance endless detached or
otherwise may be substituted or used in conjunction with the said wire or core.
In substituting or adding any other such contrivance of attachment either with
or without the said wire or core it may be found advantageous to make such con-
trivance attachable inside the rim. Preference of position for such attachment
is shewn at (G) in Fig. 5, such attachment may be made by slot holes and buttons
or hooks and eyes clasps and the like attached to the said sides at intervals round
at or near (G) as described in this and other figs. The said methods of attachment
by omitting the wires may be applied in such a manner so that the connection of
the said extended sides may be made to take place in the centre or bed of the
rim or in any other suitable position. The other descriptive letters shown in
Fig. 5 of the drawings refer to parts herein before described or hereinafter
mentioned. Any other suitable contrivance or contrivances may be used in order
that the said outer tyre may be readily thrown open when on the rim or partially
or completely detached for the said purposes.
Fig. 5 represents pieces of longitudinal sections showing a slot hole and button
as mentioned in Fig. 5.
Fig. 6. Represents the said outer tyre when made so that part of the said
"thickened thread" takes the place of the said shortest extended side which over-
laps the end of the said longest extended side the connection taking place at (G)
by any of the methods described or mentioned in Fig. 5, or in any other suitable
manner. The other letters shewn in the drawing refer to parts herein before
described. This form of outer tyre may be made so as to be used with or without
an inner pneumatic tube by the methods hereinafter mentioned or in any other
suitable manner.
Fig. 7 shows the said outer tyre made detachable at both sides. The method
of attachment may be carried out in the manner described in Fig. (5) or other-
wise, the position of attachment may be inside the edges of the rim at (G.G) as
shewn in Fig. (7) of the drawing or the position of attachment may be outside the
rim on both sides of the said outer cover at or about the position taken by the
said wire or core (G) as shown at one side of the said outer tyre in Fig. (4). It
will be noticed at Fig. (7) that there is a band or connecting strip shown by (K)
in the drawing. This band or strip is constructed of similar material or materials
as the said extended sides. The attachment of the said sides of the said outer
tyre with the said band or strip will take place at (G. G) or as aforesaid and in
the manner hereinbefore described. The said outer tyre would thus have the
appearance of a tube made in two longitudinal sections. A wire or core made
to be connected at each end as aforesaid is placed near or about the centre of the
said band or strip on the inside so as to hold the said band or strip (with or with-
out the said outer tyre being connected) firmly in the bed of the rim of the wheel
in a similar manner to that described in Fig. (4). There will be a hole in the said
band or strip in a convenient position to allow an ordinary air valve to pass through
the said band or strip. The other descriptive letters of this figure refer to parts
hereinbefore described or that may be hereinafter mentioned.
Fig. 8 shows another form of the outer tyre in combination with and made
attachable to a pneumatic inner tube or tyre on the outside. This inner pneumatic
tube or tyre is made non distensible for about one longitudinal half. The said
non-distensible half will have an ordinary air valve fitted in the usual manner
and such half will be placed in the rim as shown in the drawing. The sides of
the said outer tyre are attached at or about (G G) in the same or similar manner
described in Figs. (5) (5) (6) and (7) or in any other suitable way.
Parts of the
attachment would of course be fitted in or through the nondistensible half of the
tube at or about (G G) or in any other suitable position. The said inner tube
can be attached to or in the rim by a wire or core made to be connected at each end

page_text: as aforesaid but fitted on the outside of the said tube so that the said tube may be
firmly held in the bed of the rim in a similar manner to that adopted in order to
attach the outer covers mentioned in Figs. (4) to (7). The other descriptive letters
of this figure refer to parts herein before described or that may be hereinafter
mentioned.
Fig. 9 shows the said outer tyre made in the form of a complete single tube
pneumatic tyre. (a) is the said thickened tread. (BB) are the said extended sides
joined or woven together so as to form an air tight tube. (E) is the said ordinary
air valve fitted in the usual manner. This form of tyre may then be fitted into
the bed of the rim by the wire method herein before described.
Any of the said outer covers shown in Figs. (4) to (7) may be made so as to
dispense with an inner pneumatic tube. To do this it will be necessary to make
the ends of the said extended sides or the said band or strip at (H H) in the figures
of soft suitable rubber for some few inches. That part or those parts of the said
sides immediately coming in contact with or touching such soft rubber ends must
also be lined for some few inches with some of the said soft rubber. The pressure
of air upon inflation will then press the said soft rubber ends and the said parts
of the sides lined with the said soft rubber together so as to prevent any escape
of air from such outer covers and thus such outer covers made in the said manner
may be used as inner-tubeless pneumatic detachable tyres.
Keferring to the thickened tread in the forms shown in the various figures of
the drawings it will be necessary to vary the thickness of such thickened tread
according to the class of tyre required such as for path racing road racing and
roadster tyres for cycles or heavier tyres that may be required for other vehicles.
I would have it distinctly understood that I am aware that various detachable
outer tyres or covers for pneumatic tyres are in present use as also are single
tube detachable pneumatic tyres. Wires or cores have also been applied before
and are also in use in a variety of ways. Such detachable outer tyres or covers
or single tube detachable tyres or wires and cores are or have been applied in
a different manner and for different ideas and purposes to those I use in the present
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 what I
claim is:-
1. A solid outer tyre of various shapes made to cover a pneumatic tyre on the
tread and be either fixed or detachable substantially as herein described.
2. A solid outer tyre with the addition of thin extended sides so as to partly or
wholly cover (and be cemented or otherwise attached to) a pneumatic tyre or tube
the wires or cores shewn in Fig. 1 being omitted substantially as herein described.
3. The application of one or more non-distensible wires or cores (made endless
or each connected by a right and left thread screw nut) in combination with various
forms of outer tyres made as detachable pneumatic tyres without inner tubes
or in combination with various forms of outer tyres made to partially or wholly
cover pneumatic tyres or tubes the said wires or cores or one or either of them
being of lesser circumference than the outer longitudinal circumference of such
pneumatic tyres or tubes outer tyres or covers or detachable pneumatic tyres
without inner tubes. The said wires or cores or one or either of them being
also of larger circumference than the edges or flanges of the rim of the wheel
substantially as herein described.
4. Any form of detachable pneumatic tyre with or without an inner tube that
'can be opened or made detachable either on one or both sides of such tyres outside
the edges or flanges of the rim of the wheel or immediately at on near or under
the "tread" of such tyres without detaching such tyre inner tube or valve of such
tyre from the rim of the wheel substantially as herein described.
5. The methods of securing the said various forms of pneumatic tyres outer
tyres or covers or inner tubes on or into the rim of the wheel as mentioned in

page_text: Figs. (4) to (9) by wire or other suitable contrivance as aforesaid substantially
as herein described.
6. An outer tyre or cover or detachable pneumatic tyre with or without inner
tube made in two longitudinal sections (or made so as the two said extended sides
may be connected) and fitted together either inside or outside the rim of the wheel
by slot holes and buttons hooks and eyes or clasps or the like substantially as
herein described.
7. The mode of attachment of Claim (6) applied to the outer tyre or cover and
to the inner air tube mentioned in Fig. (8) of the drawings substantially as
herein described.
8. The soft rubber ends or lining of such soft rubber situated at (HH) in
Figures 4 to 8 for the purpose of preventing escape of air when the tyres referred
to in the said figures are made as single tube detachable pneumatic tyres sub-
stantially as herein described.
9. An inner pneumatic tube with one longitudinal half non distensible and the
other longitudinal half distensible substantially as herein described.
Dated this Nineteenth day of September One thousand eight hundred and
minster night
F. D. SMITH.