Improvements in Tyres for Bicycles or other Light Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 28th May, 1894-Accepted, 30th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tyres for Bicycles or other Light Vehicles.
I, FRANK HULME, of Hayes-Leigh, Timperley, in the County of Chester,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention refers to the outside cover or tread which encloses and protects
the air tube in pneumatic tyres.
In the manufacture of these covers besides making them perfectly plain on the
surface it has been proposed to make them serrated or undulating longitudinally to
prevent side slipping, and with projections transversely, either diagonally across or
at right angles to the rim for the purpose of preventing skidding and suction, and
while such may answer the purpose for which they are designed, they do not afford
any protection against puncturing as the thinner part of the cover also touches
the ground alternately with the projections producing a certain amount of
vibration.
This invention is designed to obviate these objections and to provide a cover
which will present the same advantages for which the others were designed with
increased durability and without causing any vibration.
It consists essentially in forming the external surface of the cover or tread of the
tyre with a number of projections, each in angular or semi-circular form on the
face of the tyre, and placed so that the space between one projection and the next
will be about equal to the width of the projecting piece.
In carrying out the invention I form the cover or tread of the tyre with the
projections thereon running diagonally from both sides and joining to form an angle
at the centre of the cover.
Or the projections may be formed curved or semicircular or if desired they may
be placed diagonally running from the edges to the centre one overlapping the
other but not joining it.
These projections I place at regular intervals apart, the distance between them
being equal to the width of them.
By making them of the form described and placing them close together the
slipping, skidding, vibration and suction is prevented and at the same time greater
protection is afforded to the air tube as the indented part does not come in contact
with the ground. For this reason the tyres may be made lighter than those
referred to as the part occupied by the spaces between the projections can be made
considerably thinner than has hitherto been the case.
Dated this 1st day of September 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tyres for Bicycles or other Light Vehicles.
I, FRANK HULME, of Hayes-Leigh, Timperley, in the County of Chester,
Mechanical Engineer, 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 refers to the outside cover or tread which encloses and protects
the air tube in pneumatic tyres.

page_text: In the manufacture of these covers besides making them perfectly plain on the
surface it has been proposed to make them serrated or undulating longitudinally to
prevent side slipping, and with projections transversely, either diagonally across or
at right angles to the rim for the purpose of preventing skidding and suction, and
while such may answer the purpose for which they are designed they do not afford
any protection against puncturing as the thinner part of the cover also touches
the ground alternately with the projections producing a certain amount of
vibration.
This invention is designed to obviate these objections and to provide a cover
which will present the same advantages for which the others were designed with
increased durability and without causing any vibration.
It consists essentially in forming the external surface of the cover or tread of
the tyre with a number of ribs or projections, each of angular or semi-circular form
on the face of the tyre, and placed so that the space between one rib or projection
and the next will not come in contact with the ground.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. Plan.
Fig. 2. Longitudinal section.
Fig. 3. Side elevation.
Fig. 4. Plan showing modified construction.
Fig. 5. Longitudinal section of same.
Fig. 6. Side elevation.
Fig. 7. Plan of another modification.
Figs. 8, 9 and 10. Plan, longitudinal section, and side elevation, respectively, of
another modification.
Fig. 11. Plan of another modification.
The cover or tread A of the tyre which encloses the pueumatic tube I form with
a number of ribs or projections a running diagonally from both sides in opposite
directions towards the centre of the cover forming an angle.
The ribs or projections a are placed at regular intervals apart the distance
between one and the next not being greater than the width of one of the ribs, and
so that the space between the ribs will not touch the ground.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 the ribs or projections a run from the sides of the
cover A to the centre forming an angle. The end of one overlapping the end of
the corresponding one on the other side, of the centre but not joining it. This is
the arrangement I prefer as a greater treading surface is provided at the centre
with very little increase of weight and the space liable to be punctured is reduced
to a minimum.
Referring to Figs. 4 to 6 and 8 to 10 the ribs or projections a run from the sides
of the cover A to the centre in opposite directions and join there.
In Fig. 7 the ribs or projections a are shown circular in plan extending from one
side of the cover to the other the most advanced part being in the centre.
In the Figs. 1 to 7 the ribs or projections a are shown as raised upon the surface
of the cover A. In Figs. 8 to 11 the ribs or projections a are formed by recessing
the intervening spaces a' so that no shoulder would form at 6 but there is a
depression at 6.
By making the treads A with the ribs or projecting parts a of the form described
and illustrated and placing them close together the slipping, skidding, vibration and
suction is prevented and at the same time greater protection is afforded to the air
tube as the indented part does not come in contact with the ground. For this
reason the tyres may be made lighter than those referred to as the part occupied
by the spaces between the projections can be inade considerably thinner than has
hitherto been the case.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be clearly
understood that I am well aware that tyres or covers have already been constructed

page_text: with projections thereon and such I do not claim broadly but I declare that what I
claim is :-
A tyre or cover for the wheels of cycles and other light vehicles constructed with
a number of ribs or projections on the outer surface extending diagonally across
from both sides to meet in an angle or curve at the centre and so placed that the
spaces between the ribs do not come in contact with the ground substantially as
described and shown.
Dated this 26th day of May 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.