Improvements in or applicable to Rubber Tube Tyres of Bicycles and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1896-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1396
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or applicable to Rubber Tube Tyres of Bicycles
and the like.
°
A communication from abroad by JAMES LEMUEL HATCH, of Milford, County
of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Manufacturer.
I ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES, of 55 and 56 Chancery Lane in the County of
London, Chartered Patent Agent, 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 has for its object the production of a device readily adapted to be
applied to rubber tube tyres of bicycles and the like, to temporarily close accidental
holes or punctures in the same.
The hole closing device consists essentially of a metallic spring, clip or clamp
adapted to partially embrace and cling to an inflated tyre, the clip being applied
to the tyre while the latter is deflated, and preferably I shall place between
the clip and the tyre a pad to which will be applied rubber or other usual
material.
One part of the invention consists in the use for closing holes in bicycle tyres,
of a metallic spring clip having an internal opening less than the diameter of the
inflated tyre, and adapted to be applied to and but partially surround the deflated
tyre, the subsequent inflation of the tyre expanding and seating the clip firmly
upon the punctured part of the tyre.
Also, in the use for closing holes in bicycle tyres, of a metallic spring clip
having an opening smaller in diameter than that of the inflated tyre, and provided
with a pad, the inflation of the tyre seating the clip firmly thereon.
Also, in the use for closing holes in bicycle tyres, of a metallic spring clip
having an opening smaller in diameter than that of the inflated tyre, and provided
with curved spring arms, the clip being adapted to be applied to and embrace
a portion of the deflated tyre, the inflation of the tyre thereafter seating the clip
firmly thereon.
Also, in the use for closing holes in rubber tyres, of a metallic spring clip
having an internal opening normally smaller than the inflated tyre and adapted to
embrace and extend nearly about said tyre from its outer or tread face toward the
rim, the said spring clip having a plurality of spring horns to engage and cling to
the tyre near the said rim when inflated, said spring horns being adapted to yield
separately.
Also, in the use for closing holes in rubber tyres, of a metallic spring clip
baving a plurality of separate spring horns, and having an interior space smaller
than the diameter of the inflated tyre, the said spring horns being curved to bring
their outer ends towards each other and leave a space between said horns which
may be entered by the inflated tyre.
Fig. 1 shews part of a bicycle rim and tyre with my device in place.
Fig. 2, shows the blank from which it is made.
Fig. 3, a section in the line x-x, Fig. 1.
Figs. 4 and 5, modified forms of my device.
L
-- D -- and max be of any usual shape.

page_text: If the tyre should accidentally be punctured the operator may apply the hole
closing device to the tyre outside the rim, the device not embracing the rim or
felloe and may continue his journey.
The device is composed of light, thin, resilient metal.
Fig. 2 shews a steel blank C from which to make the hole closing device, shown
in Figs. 1 and 3, it having a central part c with spring arms or horns c, the said
blank being bent to embrace the tyre when deflated and to cling to the tyre when
inflated, for during the inflation the tyre swells inside the arms which results in
crowding the part e of the hole-closer, more closely to the surface of the tyre.
The hole-closer is provided at its inner side with a pad d preferably of india
rubber, and before applying the pad and hole-closer. to the punctured part of the
tyre the rider will preferably apply a little india rubber cement to the hole or
puncture, and this part of the tyre will be pressed snugly against the interior of
the pad.
The arms or horns c¹, c¹, yield separately to the pressure of the tyre in use,
and the hole closer sets on and retains its place on the tyre and keeps the pad
snugly in contact with the part of the tyre having the hole.
The inward curving of the spring horns towards each other at their free ends,
enables them to be less disturbed by the expansion of the tyre when the weight of.
the rider is on the wheel, and the space between the spring horns inside their free
ends affords an opportunity for the entrance of the inflated tyre, thus preventing
any injurious tipping of the device on the tyre.
The hole-closer shown in Fig. 4 is also to close a hole in the outer or tread
surface, but it shows a single arm e with a fcot or clamp el.
In Fig. 5, the device marked is shaped to close a hole at the side of the tyre
near the rim, it having a pad f¹ and a foot f' at the end of a spring arm.
In the use of the hole-closing device, the tyre having been punctured, is deflated,
and the device is then applied to the tyre with the pad over the puncture, the
arms or spring end of the device embracing only a part of the tyre, the said arms
not extending to the rim or felloe, and then as the tyre is again inflated the arms
will be expanded with the pressure of the inflated tyre within them, which will
cause the arms to cling to the tyre firmly.
As the tyre is run and its shape changed, due, to the weight of the rider on the
wheel, the device does not touch the rim or felloe.
If the ends of the device should strike the rim or felloe the device would not
only be stopped, thus permitting the tyre to be removed from contact with the
pad, but the device might, by contact with the rim or felloe, be dislodged or tipped
off the tyre, and further the contact of the device with the rim or felloe would
injuriously mar and wear the latter.
After the device. has been applied to the tyre and the latter inflated or put in
use, the two spring horns as the wheel runs. carrying a load are operated or.
expanded by the expanding tyre one just before the other, so that by having two
points of contact at the end of the device a.better hold is ensured on the tyre.
The hole closer may be variously modified as to its shape to adapt it to the
particular location of the hole in the tyre, but most of the punctures will be in the
outer or tread face of the tyre, and the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 will apply.
My correspondent's device is the first, he believes, to fit but partially about
the tyre without regard to the rim or felloe and in operation to cling to the outer
portion of the tyre, it keeping its position thereon by its own, inherent elastic
properties, when the tyre inside the device is inflated, and the greater the inflation
the more closely the device sets itself upon the hole or puncture, and consequently
the hole or puncture is closed substantially air tight, and by not contacting at all
with the felloe, the tyre, as it is flattened or expanded, cannot get away from the
hold or pressure of the device on the punctured part.
Preferably the pad will be permanently attached to the inner side of the hole
closing device or clip.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
. In rubber tube tyres of bicycles and the like.
1. The hole closing device consisting essentially of a metallic spring clip or
clamp adapted to partially embrace and cling to an inflated tyre, the clip being
applied to the tyre while the latter is deflated, and preferably placed between the
clip and the tyre a pad to which will be applied rubber or other usual material,
substantially as set forth.
2. The use for closing holes in bicycle tyres, of a metallic spring clip having
an internal opening less than the diameter of the inflated tyre, and adapted to be
applied to and but partially surround the deflated tyre, the subsequent inflation of
the tyre expanding and seating the clip firmly upon the punctured part of the tyre,
substantially as set forth.
3. The use for closing holes in bicycle tyres, of a metallic spring clip having an
opening smaller in diameter than that of the inflated tyre, and provided with a pad,.
the inflation of the tyre seating the clip firmly thereon, substantially as set forth.
4. The use for closing holes in bicycle tyres, of a metallic spring clip having an
opening smaller in diameter than that of the inflated tyre, and provided with curved
spring arms, the clip being adapted to be applied to and embrace a portion of the
deflated tyre, the inflation of the tyre thereafter seating the clip firmly thereon,.
substantially as set forth.
5. The use for closing holes in rubber tyres, of a metallic spring clip having an
internal opening normally smaller than the inflated tyre and adapted to embrace
and extend nearly about said tyre from its outer or tread face toward the rim, the
said spring clip having a plurality of spring horns to engage and cling to the tyre
near the said rim when inflated, said spring horns being adapted to yield separately,
substantially as set forth.
6. The use for closing holes in rubber tyres, of a metallic spring clip having a.
plurality of separate spring horns, and having an interior space smaller than the
diameter of the inflated tyre, the said spring horns being curved to bring their
outer ends towards each other and leave a space between said horns which may be
entered by the inflated tyre, substantially as set forth.
Dated the 23rd day of June 1896.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.