Improvements in Elastic Tyres for Cycle and other Vehicle Wheels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 12th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Elastic Tyres for Cycle and other Vehicle
Wheels.
JOHN JAMES Senior 11 Kings Road Finsbury Park N. JOHN JAMES Junior
84 Median Road Clapton N.E. Commission Agents, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The tyre to consist of a hollow coil of either or any of the following viz. cane
bamboo whole or split whalebone and osier twigs as used in wickerwork with or
without a covering of canvas indiarubber or other suitable material separately or
any combination of them.
Dated this 28th der of Mar 1896
JOHN JAMES, SENR.
JOHN JAMES, JUNIOR.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Elastic Tyres for Cycle and other Vehicle
Wheels.
We, JOHN JAMES Senr. of 11 Kings Road, Finsbury Park, London N., and JOHN
JAMES Juur., of 84 Median Road, Clapton, London N.E., Commission Agents,
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:-
The improvements constituting our invention consists of the employment of
a helical or spiral coil of cane, bamboo, osier-twigs or the like, whole or split, or split
whale-bone, as the innermost portion or foundation of cushioned, or pneumatic tyres,
and the use of same upon the wheels of bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes, and
such other vehicle wheels as may have a concave rim for the reception of such a
tyle, and our invention has for its objects to generally promote and enhance the
elasticity of the tyre, and the consequent reduction of vibration or shock to the
rider or riders, and in so far as relates to pneumatic tyres, to provide a means
whereby the machine or vehicle may be ridden for any distance without
inconvenience to the rider or riders, after such pneumatic tyre may have become
punctured and more or less deflated thereby.
In order that our invention and the several ways in which we purpose carrying
the same into effect, may be fully understood, we have hereunto appended a sheet
of drawings, in which the same reference letters are used throughout when referring
to the same or like parts.
Fig. 1 is a side view of part of a helical or spiral coil when made of cane,
bamboo, osier-twigs or like inaterial circular or substantially so in cross section,
while Fig. 2 is a like coil of similar material or materials, or whalebone, that has
been split or divided longitudinally and rendered Hat, or rectangular or oblong in
cross section, or approximately so.

page_text: Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are end views or sections of such coils, illustrating some of the
many shapes or configurations in which these may be formed in cross section
according to the shape of the wheel rim, and other conditions.
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views illustrating one of the many ways in which we purpose
joining or connecting the end of one coil with the end of the next, in making up a
coil of the desired length.
Figs. 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 are sections of tyres constructed according to our
invention and hereinafter explained.
Fig. 14 is a section illustrating a method, we may employ, of fixing the said coil
to the rim for preventing creeping of the tyre.
Fig. 15 is a section illustrating a method of lacing the outer cover or envelope
of a pneumatic tyre upon a wheel rim, the same means being, in some cases, also
employed for fixing the solid, cushion, pneumatic or other tyre upon or around the
said helical coil.
For the purposes of our invention we employ a suitable number of lengths of
cane, osier-twigs or the like, small and circular or thereabouts in cross section,
such as A, which, by the means of steam or other heat, we form into helical or
spiral coils such as Fig. 1. Or we may employ like lengths of split cane, bamboo
or whalebone such as A', which, by the same means, we form into similar coils such
as Fig. 2, either of which may be circular, elliptical, egg or other shape in cross
section, in order to fit like or similar shaped rims, examples of some such shaped
coils being shewn by Figs. 3, 4 and 5, and whichever of these materials we may
employ, or any desired combination of the same, the lengths of coils thus formed
we join together end to end until an endless cuil is formed of the desired length,
and we may effect the said junction of these by tapering the ends of each as at a
Fig. 1 and 2, or by forming one end. of oue length as at Fig. 6, and the
neighbouring end of the next as at e Fig. 7, so that these may fit into, and lock
one with the other as at Fig. 8, or we may employ any form of dovetail joint
suitable for this purpose, and we may connect the said joints firmly together by the
use of any suitable cement, or by that of rivets, screws or pins as suggested by
dotted lines at d Fig. 8, or by any desired combination of such or other suitable
means.
The coil thus formed we may or may not first cover with leather, canvas, cloth,
felt or other fabric, or rubber or rubber composition, this being to some extent
determined by the type or form of tyre to be made.
In Fig. 9 we illustrate, according to our invention, the construction of a non-
inflatable light or racing tyre for a bicycle or like wheel, in which, for preference,
a el such as A Fig. 1 is employed, which may or may not be first partly or
wholly revered with father, eluth or ulur material as stated, such as B, the sid
coil Leing then covered or chea-ed by eating C, of ruller composition, preferably
niculded thereon, and with or without being extended in sub-tance at the tread of
the wheel, as suggested by dotted outline at D.
Or modification of the foregoing arrangement, we may construct the
covering after the form of an ordinary pneumatic tyre cover or envelope as at
Fig. 10, that is to say, with a thickened tread D, and tapered edges e an, and
such a cover we place around A (with or without an intervening covering B) in
such a way that the edges e and el may overlap each other and be connected
together by suitable cement, or by that of lacing after the manner suggested by y
in Fig. 15, or by any other suitable means.
In Fig. 11 we illustrate a manner in which we may carry our invention into
effect in the construction of pneumatic tyres. In this arrangement we employ for
preference a coil such as Ai Fig. 2, (which may or may not be first covered by
material such as B) and upon this we mount an elastic tyre E, preferably of
rubber composition, this being so formed in cross section as to entirely surround
the coil A with its tapered edges e and el overlapping each other, between the said
coil and the rim G of the wheel, the said edges e and e' being connected together
by suitable cement, or by lacing as at Fig. 15, or both, or by other suitable means.

page_text: The said tyre E is widened in cross section at the tread of the wheel, and may or
uay not be thickened in substance at D, and is provided with a longitudinal air
chamber F, of crescent shape in cross section, and we provide for the infiation of
this by the means of a flexible tube J, connected to the nozzle of an ordinary non-
return valve H connected to the rim G in the usual way, and to accommodate such
nozzle we form in the coil A' a pair of holes A (Fig. 2) facing each other or nearly
su, one of which permita the passage of the nozzle of H, and the attachment
thereto of the tube J, the opposite end of which carries a nozzlej which passes
through the second hole & in A' into the said chamber F, and by fixing a force
pump to the valve H in the usual way, air under pressure would be conveyed to
the chamber F. A suitable outer cover or envelope may be provided if desired, (as
suggested by dotted outline at D') which may be connected to the rim by any
suitable means which in certain forms of rims may be by that of lacing as shewn
at Fig. 15, but in cases where such cover D' is absent, the elastic tyre E may
conveniently be fixed upon the rim G by the means of suitable cement.
A modification of the last example is shewn in Fig. 12, in which for preference
we employ the coil A', this being enclosed by a casing of rubber composition K,
preferably moulded thereon, this being so formed in cross section as to provide
upon its outer surface a tread such as L, of any shape in cross section, and either
solid as shewn, or cushioned by the formation of a hollow chamber or chambers,
such for instance as that shewn by k in dotted lines, the inner portion of the said
casing K, or that situated between the cuil A' and rim G, being provided with a
longitudinal air chamber M, of crescent shape in croes section, which may be
inflated by a valve passing through the rim G in the usual way.
A further modification of our invention in relation to pneumatic tyres is shewn
in Fig. 13, in which for preference a coil such as A is employed, this being enclosed
by a casing of rubber composition such as K', preferably moulded thereon, and in
which is provided two crescent shaped air chambers M and M', the latter being
formed in the outer portion or tread, and the former upon the inner surface and
Letween the coil A and the rim G, and we may arrange that the chamber M' may
communicate with the chamber M by a series of suitably disposed small holes or
passages, so that the inflation of M in the usual way, may suffice for the inflation
of M, or we may employ the coil A having therein the before mentioned holes A,
and arrange that M' may be inflated by the means of an elastic tube such as J in
Fig. 11. In the said Fig. 13 we show the use of a covering B, (previously
described) for the coil A, and an outer non-punturable protecting shield N, of any
suitable material, capable of protecting from puncture the chamber M', and in
addition to this we may employ an outer cover or envelope D' as indicated by
detted utline, which as well as the shield N may be fixed in position by any
suitable means, and we may employ such a cover B, and such a shield N in connection
with the arrangement Fig. 11.
In pneumatic tyres such as Figs. 11, 12 and 13, we may find that the valve H
alone may be sufficient to prevent creeping of the tyre upon the rim, but when
otherwise, or in the case of a tyre arranged as at Figs. 9 and 10, we may provide
a suitable bolt or bolts, pin or pins or the like such as P, the head or heads of
which may engage with holes h in the coils A or A', and passing downward.
therefrom thuongh a hole or holes in the rim of the wheel, receive a out or nuts
screwed thereon, such an arrangement being shewn Ly Fig: 14, but where such a
bolt or the like has to pass through an inflatable chamber such as M suitable means
would be provided to render the said bolt air tight therewith.
In either of the foregoing arrangements, especially those shewn by Figs. 9
and 10, the tyre may be retained in position upon the rim of the wheel by the
means of suitable cement, or by means of bolts or the like such as P', or both, and
in pneumatic tyres such as 12 and 13, where the inflation of the chambers M or M'
or both, may not be sufficient to alone retain the tyre upon the rim, any suitable
elastic cement may be employed to effect this, or where such tyres are retained
upon the rim by an outer cover or envelope, such as D', we preter to retain such

page_text: cover upon the rim by forming at or near the edges of same suitable eyelet holes,
so that the said edges may be laced together upon the inner periphery of the
rim as shown in Fig. 15.
We wish it understood that we may employ any suitable or couvenient combina-
tion of the herein described methods of constructing our improved tyres, and any
desired combination of the means of fixing the same to the rims of the wheels of
any vehicle adapted to receive such a tyre, and with the coils A or A' of any
suitable shape in cross section, and not necessarily wholly enclosed by the elastic
portion of the tyre, but partly so, or with the said elastic portion resting upon the
coil, without departing from the principle involved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is.
1st. In the construction of cushioned or pneumatic or partly solid and partly
pnuematic tyres for the wheels of cycles and other road vehicles, the employment.
of helical or spiral coils of any shape or configuration in cross section, constructed
of cane, osier-twigs, bamboo, whalebone or the like, entire or split, as the base or
foundation of such tyres, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
shewn.
Zud. In the construction of or cushion tyres for vehicle wheels, the combination
of a helical or spiral coil such as A or A¹, with or without a casing such as B,
enclosed or partly enclosed by an elastic cover such as C, moulded thereon as at
Fig. 9, or provided with overlapping edges such as e and e' as at Fig. 10, cemented
or laced together, and fixed upon a wheel rim such as G by the means of like
cement, or hy bolts or pins such as P or both, substantially as herein described and
shewn by the appended drawings.
3rd. In the construction of tyres for vehicle wheels, the combination of a
helical or spiral coil such as A or A' of any shape in cross section, enclosed by an
elastic casing such as E, having an air chamber such as F, arranged to be inflated
by the means of an elastic tube such as J, passing through holes such as in the
said coil, and communicating with the said air chamber and a charging valve such
as H, with means for fixing the said tyre upon the rim of a wheel such as G, with
or without the employment of a protecting shield such as N, substantially as
herein described and shewn by Figs. 1, 2 and 11 of the appended drawings.
4th. In tyres for vehicle wheels, the con.bination of a helical or spiral coil such
as A cr A¹ of any shape in cross section, enclosed by an elastic casing such as K,
having a or cushion tread such as L, and inflatable chamber such as M, with means
for fixing the said tyre upon a wheel rim such as G, and means for inflating the
baid chamber M, substantially as herein described and shown by Fig. 12 of the
accompanying drawings.
5th. In tyres for vehicle wheels, the combination of a spiral or helical coil such
as A or A', of any shape in cross section, enclosed by an elastic casing such as K',
having inflatable chambers such as M and M', either in communication with each
other, so that the inflation of M by the means of a suitable valve, such as H,
may also inflate the chamber M, or by the use of an elastic tube such as J, passing
through holes in the coil A or A', and connected to the valve H and th
chamber M', with means for fixing the said tube upon a wheel rim such as G, an
with or without a protecting shield such as N, substantially as herein described
and shewn by Fig. 13 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th der of Santambon 1806
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1 Broad Street Buildings, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.