Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM RADCLIFF BIRT Junr. of 4, High Street, Birmingham, Warwick-
shire, India Rubber Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention has reference in the first place to the cushioned and pneumatic
india rubber tyres of bicycles tricycles and other velocipedes the object of this part
of my invention being to prevent any undue lateral spreading of the tyre when
compressed along its periphery.
A cushioned or pneumatic tyre constructed according to this part of my invention
consists of a thick tube of india rubber or india rubber and canvas insertion, of any
usual form outside such as round in cross section, the internal cavity having one or
more longitudinal ribs or other internal projecting parts so arranged that when the
tyre has been compressed to a certain point the rib or projection meets the opposite
side of the cavity, or when several ribs or projections are used they meet together,
thus preventing the tyre being further distorted except under a considerable
increase of pressure. Or instead of having one internal longitudinal cavity formed
as above described, the cushioned or pneumatic tyre may have two or more of the
said cavities each furnished with one or more internal ribs or projections as above
described. Or instead of being tubular the india rubber tyre may be of trough
section, the hollow trough side being next to the wheel rim this trough having the
said internal rib or ribs or other projection or projections which when the tyre is
compressed come into contact with the wheel rim and prevent any undue lateral
spreading of the tyre as above described. Or for the same purpose a rib or ribs.
may be fixed to or formed with the wheel rim to come into contact with the inside
of the trough or tyre when compressed as above described. The said ribs or
projections may or may not be formed with an internal core of canvas or other
suitable substance.
Another part of my invention consists in providing a removable air tube within
the usual tubular cushioned or pneumatic tyre this air tube being made in one or
more parts or sections each furnished with a valve or other means for retaining the
compressed air therein. This air tube fits in the tubular tyre and can readily be
removed therefrom or replaced therein through a lateral slot or opening without
removing the tyre proper from the wheel. I may or may not provide a projecting
rib along each side of the rubber tyre and make the wheel rim with corresponding
grooves so that the tyre will hold in the wheel rim without cement.
Another part of this invention has reference to the saddle springs which I arrange
as follows so as to lessen vibration. Beneath the saddle I provide two three or
more coiled wire or other springs arranged about horizontally or slightly inclined
by which the saddle proper is suspended from the coiled spring ends of an under-
frame beneath the saddle proper. The said ends of the underframe are or may be
coiled to form springs in vertical planes or thereabouts. The ends of the said
coiled springs by which the saddle is suspended may also be connected to the other
flat coiled springs fixed to the saddle. Or instead of the said suspension springs,
links straps or chains may be used; or these may be altogether dispensed with and
the flat coiled springs of the saddle proper be connected to the similar spring ends
of the underframe by a pin or pins passing through both. Or the said underframe
may be formed with upwardly projecting links supporting the saddle, the upper
ends of these links being connected together by coiled wire or other springs.
Another part of this invention also has reference to the saddle springs which I
arrange as follows:-Instead of rigidly fixing the underframe of the saddle to

page_text: boss
the piece or stem by a set screw as is usual I arrange for the saddle and its
underframe to be movable on an upright pin which passes through a hole in
on the underframe,, A coiled wire or other spring around the said pin sustains the
weight of the Saddle and rider and thus reduces vibration. The said pin may form
the vertical arm of an inverted piece which is adjustably connected to the usual
saddle piece by the usual socket and set screw or otherwise. Or the said L piece
may be rigidly connected to the saddle as usual and pass loosely through a hole in
the frame of the machine the weight of the saddle and rider being sustained by
a coiled wire or other spring around, the vertical arm of the L piece as above
described.
In carrying out another part of my invention the wheel axle bearings are con-
nected to the forks of the machine frame by means of coiled wire or other springs
so that the machine frame is supported by the said springs and the vibration thereon
is considerably reduced.
Dated this 30th day of December 1890.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM RADCLIFF BIRT, Junior, of 4, High Street, Birmingham,
Warwickshire, India Rubber Manufacturer, 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 reference in the first place to the cushioned india rubber tyres
of bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes the object of this part of my invention
being to prevent any undue lateral spreading of the tyre when compressed along
its periphery.
I will describe this part of my invention by referring to Figs. 1 to 20 of the
accompanying drawings which illustrate in cross section various forms of cushioned
tyres made according to this part of my invention, and in which the same letters of
reference indicate the same or corresponding parts.
The said cross sections are taken through that part of the tyre and wheel rim
which are nearest to the ground when the wheel is held in its usual position in a
vertical plane.
A cushioned tyre constructed according to this part of my invention consists of
a thick tube a of india rubber or india rubber and canvas insertion, of any usual
form outside such as round in cross section, the internal cavity 6 having one or
more longitudinal ribs or other internal projecting parts e so arranged that when
the tyre has been compressed to a certain point the rib or projection meets the
opposite side of the cavity, or when several ribs or projections are used they meet
together, thus preventing the tyre being further distorted except under a considerable
increase of pressure. I do not limit myself to any particular number or shape of
these ribs or projections.
The various sections of cushioned tyres shewn in my drawings are intended as
examples only and not as limiting my invention to the particular number and shape
of the ribs or projections c shewn. Figs. 1, 4, 7 and 10 shew four forms of cushioned
tyre each having one longitudinal rib c in the bottom of the cavity b which when
the tyre is pressed on the ground will come into contact with the top of the cavity b
and prevent the tyre being further compressed except under a considerable increase
of pressure. The cavity 6 in the tyre shewn in Fig. 2 has two of these ribs c one
above the other which meet together when the tyre is compressed. Each of the
tyres shewn in Figs. 3 and 11 has a rib e in each side of its cavity with which the
bottom of the cavity comes into contact when the tyre is compressed. Each of
с

page_text: the tyres shewn in Figs. 6, 12 and 14 has three of the ribs c one at the bottom and
two at the top thereof a short distance apart between which the bottom rib fits
when the tyre is compressed. The cavity 6 in the tyre shewn in Fig. 5 has four of
the ribs c and the cavity b in the tyre shewn in Fig. 13 has eight of these ribs which
meet together as above described when the tyre is compressed.
Or instead of having only one internal longitudinal cavity formed with a rib or
ribs or projections as above described, the cushioned tyre may (for instance as
shewn in Figs. 8 and 9) have two or more of the said cavities beach furnished with
one or more of the internal ribs or projections c as above described.
Or instead of being tubular the india rubber tyre may be of trough section (see
Figs. 15, 17, and 18) the hollow trough side a¹ of the tyre being next to the wheel
rim this trough having the said internal rib or ribs c, or instead of a rib or ribs c,
there may be projecting knobs in the trough at certain intervals apart, which when
the tyre is compressed come into contact with the wheel rim d and prevent any
undue lateral spreading of the tyre as above described.
Or for the same purpose a rib or ribs c (see Fig. 16) may be fixed to the wheel
rim d, or (see Fig. 20) the said rib c may be formed with the wheel rim to come
into contact with the inside of the trough a' of the tyre a when compressed as above
described.
The said ribs or projections c may or may not be formed with an internal core of
canvas or other suitable substance so as to strengthen the tyre. In the example
shewn by Fig. 19 this core is marked e.
Another part of my invention consists in providing a removable air tube within
the usual tubular pneumatic tyre this air tube being made in one or more parts
or sections each furnished with a valve or other means for retaining the compressed
air therein. This air tube fits in the tubular tyre and can readily be removed
therefrom or replaced therein through a lateral slot or opening without removing
the tyre proper from the wheel. I may or may not provide a projecting rib along
each side of the rubber tyre and make the wheel rim with corresponding grooves so
that the tyre will hold in the wheel rim without_cement.
This second part of my invention is illustrated on the accompanying drawings by
Figs. 21, 22, 23, 24 and 25, of which Fig. 21 shews a velocipede wheel fitted with
a pneumatic tyre the outer tube of which is of the usual kind except that it has
small lateral slots or openings (see Fig. 23) in this case four in number at equal
distances apart on that side which fits against the wheel rim in which latter there
are also corresponding slots. In this example the air tube is made in four sections
marked respectively ¹² h³ 14 one of which is shewn separately in Fig. 24 each
furnished with the usual valve i at one end for retaining the air therein. When
not inflated the air tubes, which are by preference made of thin rubber as usual,
can, by first inserting a wire in the air tube be inserted through the said slots in
the wheel rim and the slots g in the tyre and pushed along into position in the
outer tube f as shewn in Figs. 22 and 23 which represent the complete pneumatic
tyre when removed from the wheel rim. If one of the sections h¹² h³ * of the
air tube should be cut or punctured it can readily be removed through the said slot
and replaced by a new one. Fig. 25 shews how the said tyre fitted with removable
air tube or air tubes as above described can be secured to the wheel rim without
cement, the tyre having a rib j formed along each side which spring and fit into
corresponding grooves d' in the wheel rim.
Another part of this invention has reference to the saddle springs which I
arrange as I will now describe so as to lessen vibration. Fig. 26 illustrates a
velocipede saddle with the springs and frame arranged according to this part of my
invention, the saddle proper being represented in section; Fig. 27 is a similar view
of a modification of the same. The same letters of reference indicate the same or
corresponding parts in both figures and in Figs. 28, 29 and 30 hereinafter referred
to. Beneath the saddle k I provide coiled wire springs preferably three in number
as shewn one spring being under the front and the other two springs 1³ ³ being
under the back part of the saddle. As will be seen by the drawing these springs

page_text: are arranged horizontally (or they may be slightly inclined) and by them the
saddle proper is suspended from the coiled spring ends m¹ m² m³ of an under
frame M beneath the saddle k; the outer ends of these springs being respectively
hooked or otherwise connected to the ends m² m² m³ of the underframe and the
inner ends of the springs being connected to a platen to which the saddle proper k
is fixed. The two back springs 12 13 are hooked directly to this plate n and the
other spring is connected thereto by the adjusting screw o furnished with the
adjusting nuts o o2 by which the tension of the springs can be regulated. In
the example shewn by Fig. 27 the ends m² m² m³ of the underframe are coiled to
form springs in vertical planes or thereabouts, which tends to further diminish the
vibration on the saddle. The underframe M has the usual loop or eye m¹ or is
otherwise formed in the usual way for attaching to the piece or stud which
supports the underframe from the frame of the machine.
Instead of using the rigid plate n to which the saddle k is fixed, a flat coiled
spring such as that marked in Figs. 28 and 29 may be used, to the ends of which
the springs 13 are attached as by the springs 1213 being hooked to a pin q
passing through the coiled end of the spring and the spring being connected to
the adjusting screw o as in the examples shewn in Figs. 26 and 27.
Instead of using the coiled suspension springs 1, 12, 13 india rubber springs or
metal links or chains or leather straps may be used to connect the saddle plate n or
spring p to the ends m¹ m² m³ of the underframe M.
In a further modification of my invention which is shewn by Fig. 30 the under-
frame is formed with upwardly projecting links (in this case four in number and
marked 123) which are hinged to the underframe and at their upper ends
support the saddle by four other links 123s hinged thereto and to the upper
ends of the links 34. The upper ends of the links 1 2 3 4 are connected
together by the two coiled wire, rubber or other tension springs t¹t. It will be
seen that the rider's weight on the saddle acting through the links increases the
tension on the tension springs t¹t which absorb or lessen the vibration.
Instead of employing two pairs of links at the front of the underframe and saddle
as above described there may be only one pair of links at the front connected as
above described by two coiled wire or other tension springs t¹ to the back links,
or by a single coiled wire or other tension spring to a cross pin connecting the two
back pairs of links together.
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. Making the tubular cushioned india rubber tyres for the wheels of bicycles,
tricycles and other velocipedes with one or more internal longitudinal ribs or
projections arranged substantially as herein before described and shewn in Figs. 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 19 of the accompanying drawings so as to
prevent any undue lateral widening or spreading of the tyre by the rider's weight
as hereinbefore described.
2. Making the trough section india rubber tyres for the wheels of bicycles,
tricycles and other velocipedes with one or more longitudinal ribs or projections
along the trough side of the tyre arranged substantially as hereinbefore described
and shewn in Figs. 15, 17 and 18 so that the said rib or ribs or projections will by
the rider's weight be brought into contact with the wheel rim and prevent any
lateral widening or spreading of the tyre as hereinbefore described.
3. In combination with the channel section rim of a velocipede wheel the use of
a trough section india rubber tyre a and one or more ribs such as e either fixed in
the channel section rim (Fig. 16) or formed therewith (Fig. 20) and arranged to be
brought by the rider's weight into contact with the inside of the trough section
tyre and thus prevent any undue lateral spreading of the same as hereinbefore
described.
4. The improvement in pneumatic tyres for the wheels of bicycles, tricycles and

page_text: other velocipedes hereinbefore described and shewn in Figures 21, 22, 23, and 24
of the accompanying drawings, consisting in making a slot or slots in the inner side
of the pneumatic tyre and in the wheel rim through which the inner air tube of the
tyre can be removed or replaced when not inflated substantially as hereinbefore
described and shewn.
5. The improved construction of pneumatic tyre hereinbefore described and
shewn by Fig. 25 of the accompanying drawings made with side ribs engaging in
corresponding grooves in the wheel rim as hereinbefore set forth and shewn.
6. In combination with a velocipede saddle the use of horizontal or slightly
inclined suspension springs such as 11213 or straps links or chains by which the
saddle proper is suspended from the underframe, the said springs, straps, links or
chains being applied and arranged in the manner substantially as hereinbefore
described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved velocipede
saddle suspension springs and underframe hereinbefore described and illustrated by
Fig. 26 and the modification shewn by Fig. 27 of the accompanying drawings.
8. The use with a velocipede saddle and underframe of suspension springs
arranged for the purpose and in the manner substantially as hereinbefore described
and shewn in Figs. 28 and 29 of the accompanying drawings.
9. The use with a velocipede saddle and underframe of the links and springs
arranged for the purpose and in the manner substantially as hereinbefore described
and shewn in Fig. 30 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of September 1891.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.