Improvements in Tires for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 6th Nov., 1897
Improvements in Tires for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
I, GEORGE WASHINGTON DORR, of 5735 Washington Avenue, Chicago, Cook
County, Illinois, United States of America do hereby declare the nature of my
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
The object of my invention is to make a tire for bicycles and other wheeled
vehicles, in which the adhesive tendency between the periphery of the tire and
the surface over which it is moving will be reduced to a minimum; and my inven-
tion consists in the features and details of construction hereinafter described and
claimed.
In the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of the periphery of a bicycle tire pro-
vided with my improvements; Fig. 2 a transverse section taken in line 2 of
Fig. 1; and Figs. 3 and 4 plan views showing slight modifications.
In making my improved tire A for the wheels of bicycles and other vehicles,
I make it of the usual material and attach it to the wheel rim B in the usual
way, and the usual means for inflating it may also be employed. I provide the
outer surface or periphery of the tire with a series of lugs, ridges, or projections C,
which may be moulded out of the material of which the tire is composed, or other-
wise made and afterwards secured in place, although I prefer to make them as an
integral portion of the tire. These lugs, ridges, or projections extend out a
desired distance from the periphery of the tire and form the contact surface
between the tire and the ground. I prefer to arrange these lugs at an angle of
about forty-five degrees to the longitudinal center of the tire, as shown, although
they may be arranged at any angle that may be preferred, even though trans-
versely to the longitudinal center of the tire. I consider, however, that there is
an advantage in having the lugs, ridges or projections arranged at the angle
shown, as a part of one lug will be coming into contact with the ground as a part
of another is leaving, thus ensuring an even movement to the wheel, while if they
are arranged strictly transversely to the tire, each lug or ridge will strike and
leave the ground again as an individual part, thus tending to cause a slightly
jolting or uneven movement in the wheel.
The lugs, ridges or projections are arranged at a desired distance apart, so that
there will be uninterrupted air spaces between them transversely across the tire.
Furthermore, I provide a longitudinal circumferential channel or groove D which
may be U-shaped, as shown, or any other shapes. It serves to divide the lugs or
ridges along the longitudinal center of the tire, so that air may circulate not only
between the lugs or ridges, but also through them longitudinally. This will have
the effect of diminishing the adhesion or friction between the lugs and ridges and
the surface over which the tire is moving and minimize it to the greatest practical
extent. It also prevents the formation of a vacuum between the surface of the
tire and the surface over which it is moving, which causes an adhesion of the two.
The advantage of securing this result is obvious, inasmuch as it requires less
force to propel the wheel, and permits an acceleration of speed with a given amount
of force.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A tire for bicycle or other wheels provided with lugs, ridges or projections
around its external periphery divided by a longitudinal circumferential groove.
2. A tire for bicycle or other wheels provided with lugs, ridges or projections
around its external periphery divided by a longitudinal circumferential groove,
and arranged at an angle which presents a portion of the lug, ridge or projection
first to the ground, whereby a part of one is coming into contact as a part of
another is passing out of contact with the ground.
3. A tire for bicycle or other wheels provided with lugs, ridges or projections
around its external periphery having uninterrupted air passages between them.
Dated this 14th day of September 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.