Improvements in Coupling Devices, chiefly Designed for Connecting an Inflating Pump to the Valve of a Pneumatic Tyre.
Year: 1897

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coupling Devices, chiefly Designed for Connecting
an Inflating Pump to the Valve of a Pneumatic Tyre.
I, HENRY KNIGHT AUSTIN, of Reading, in the County of Middlesex and State of
Massachusetts, United States of America, Machinist, 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 :-
This invention relates to conduits or couplings for connecting a supply-pipe or
fitting, such as an air delivering pipe connected with an air-pump, with a receiving
pipe or fitting, such as the valve-casing of a bicycle tire, the coupling forming a
section of the conduit of which the said supply and receiving fittings form other
sections. The object of the invention is to provide an improved coupling of the
character specified, which shall be adapted to fit different-sized supply and receiving
fittings, to be quickly and easily connected thereto, and to form a tight joint there-
with. The invention consists in the improved device which I shall now proceed to
describe and claim.
Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,—
Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of a bicycle wheel, showing an air-pump
connected with the tire valve by means of my improved coupling, the latter being
shown in section.
Figure 2 is a sectional view of the coupling alone.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.
In the drawings,
a represents a bicycle-pump or tire-inflator, fitted with a supply-tube or fitting b.
c represents my improved coupling device, which is composed of flexible elastic
material, such as india-rubber, and which has a duct or bore c¹ extending throughout
its length. Said coupling is provided with a distensible neck portion adapting it
to be attached to the end of the supply tube or fitting b, so that the coupling may be
connected with any relatively small supply-tube or fitting by merely being slipped
over the end of said fitting, when the elastic neck c² will automatically contract,
within certain limits, and enclose the supply fitting and form an air-tight joint there-
with. The coupling c is likewise provided with a distensible neck c³ adapted to
engage in a similar manner with a receiving pipe or fitting, such as a valve-casing d.
The coupling c has provisions for insuring an air-tight connection between its ends
and the parts which it connects, and at the same time permitting the comparatively
easy insertion of said parts into the ends of the coupling. To this end, the duct or
bore of the coupling is enlarged near its ends at e e, the diameter of the enlargement
being approximately equal to that of the parts b and d, the ends of the duct being of
considerably less diameter and forming mouths or bearings el el which hug the
parts bd more tightly than the enlarged parts e e, and form air-tight joints. The
enlargements e e increase the flexibility of the end portions of the coupling, and
permit the parts b d to be inserted with less resistance than would be experienced if
the said enlargements were not provided. At the same time, the contracted portions e¹
grasp the inserted parts with sufficient firmness for all practical purposes.

page_text: The coupling is provided with a peripheral ridge or shoulder d¹ between its end
portions, said shoulder forming a bearing for the operator's thumb and finger when the
coupling is being engaged with either of the parts b and d and preventing the thumb
and finger from slipping when pushing the coupling onto the air-valve and onto the
pump fitting. To facilitate the engagement of the coupling with the air-valve d, I
provide the coupling with an end recess or guide 5, which enables the mouth or
bearing e¹ to readily find the air-valve. The coupling may also be provided with a
similar end recess or guide co at its opposite end, to facilitate the engagement of the
coupling with the air-pump..
It will be seen from the foregoing description, that I have provided a coupling which
will fit any of the valves and air-pumps in common use, as well as one which may be
very quickly attached and removed.
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. An elastic coupling of the character specified, having distensible automatically-
contracting end portions, which are internally enlarged at points near their ends.
2. An elastic coupling of the character specified, having distensible automatically-
contracting end portions, and an intermediate external finger-rest or shoulder.
3. An elastic coupling of the character specified, having distensible automatically-
contracting end portions, and an end recess or guide.
4. An elastic coupling of the character specified, comprising distensible elastic end
portions or mouths having sufficient inherent elasticity or contractile force to grasp
the terminal portions of an air-valve and an air-pump and automatically form and
maintain air-tight joints therewith.
Dated this 28th day of April 1897.
HENRY KNIGHT AUSTIN.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.