Improvements in and relating to Wheels for Bicycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1892-Accepted, 30th July, 1892
COMI LEIM DI MUITIATIO
Improvements in and relating to Wheels for Bicycles and
other Vehicles.
my
I, WILLIAM ISAAC BUNKER, a Manufacturer, residing at La Grange, Cook
County, Illinois, United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
One part of my invention relates more particularly to the wheels of bicycles,
baby carriages and similar light vehicles, and consists in so forming the tires as to
prevent the wheels from slipping sidewise when running over obstructions or out of
the direct course; in forming the bearing surfaces so as to distribute the weight
over more than one point of contact, while providing a tire possessed of great
elasticity. The above results are accomplished, speaking generally, by employing
elastic cushions or bearing surfaces, of various forms, secured to the periphery of
the wheel, and held thereto by any suitable means; and accordingly, in the
drawings, I have illustrated several ways of attaching the tire to such periphery.
Another part of my invention consists in fastening the tire to the periphery by
means of an encircling band, and still another in providing the wheel with a brush
or cleaner, which, under certain circumstances, is adapted to operate as a brake,
and is intended to take the place of the old mud guards, which were objectionable
for various reasons.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a side view of half of a wheel embodying one form of my
invention;
Fig. 2 a plan view of a portion thereof;
Fig. 3 a similar view of an encircling, retaining band;
Figs. 4 to 14, inclusive, are plan, perspective and sectional views illustrating
modifications of the invention ;
Fig. 15 is a side elevation of a bicycle provided with the brush, which forms a
portion of my invention, the brush being shown in various forms on the respective
wheels;
Fig. 16 a broken plan view on line 16 of Fig. 15; and
Figs. 17 and 18 detail views of the guard and brush shown on the front wheel
of Fig. 15.
A is the rim of the wheel; B the spokes; C the hub; D the elastic cushions
forming the tire; E the frame; F the brush; and G the frame supporting the
brush.
The hub and spokes of the wheels may be made in any desired manner, and
require no special description. The rim may be made in any form which will be
suitable to receive and assist in retaining the tire.
In the first two figures, the rim is made of an undulating form, as shown more
particularly in Fig. 2, and is provided with depressions or sockets, in which are
secured, by cement or otherwise, the balls of soft rubber or other material which
form the cushions. These sockets may be made by providing the rim with a
trough-shaped depression in its outer face, widening out at suitable points to afford
places for the accommodation of the cushions, or by making flat, rounded, or
hemispherical depressions at such desired points, of a size adapted to receive and
hold such cushions. If desired, in addition to or instead of attaching these cushions
by means of cement, I may use an encircling band H, provided with openings h,
arranged in alternating or undulating manner, as shown more particularly in

page_text: Fig. 3, and adapted to encircle, engage with and hold in place the cushions shown
in the first two figures.
In Fig. 4 I have shown a modification, wherein the same undulating or waving
form is imparted to the rim of the wheel, but wherein the cushions, instead of being
circular in cross section, are rectangular, being cemented or otherwise secured
in suitably shaped recesses or depressions in the rim; the same principle of
placing the cushions on one side or the other of the centre line of the rim being
adhered to.
In Fig. 5, I have shown a form wherein the tire, although continuous, is made of
elastic material, and in a corrugated or wavy form, whereby elastic cushions are
formed at the external points of this tire, which tire has many, if not all, of the
dvantages of the preceding forms. It affords bearing surfaces upon each side of
the centre line of the rim, but at the same time it brings into contact with the
ground a greater amount of tire surface, and is perhaps not so useful a form as those
heretofore or hereafter described, although I consider it a highly useful manner of
constructing and embodying my invention.
In Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, the rim is made concavo-convex, and in it is placed the
tire D. In Fig. 6, this tire consists of a strip of soft rubber or other suitable
elastic material, made of any desired width, and of the proper length to encircle the
wheel. It is held in place by means of a band I, which forces it into the concavity
in the rim, turning the edges d outwards, so as to form a bearing surface at either
side of the retaining band. In Fig. 7 the same principle is shown, the tire,
however, in this form consisting of a tube compressed by the encircling band. In
Fig. 8 is shown the same form as that in Fig. 7, except that the band I fits so
closely as to bring the inner sides of the tube in contact, forming air chambers J
at either side of the centre line of the rim.
Fig. 9 illustrates a form almost identical with that of Fig. 7, except that
in place of a continuous tube, I form the tire out of a series of cushions or short
chambers D, closed at their ends, and adapted to be held in place by the band I,
in the same manner as shown in Fig. 7; or, if desired, this band may be tightened,
in order to bring into contact the inner sides of these sections, as shown in
Fig. 8, thereby forming a series of air chambers at either side of the centre line of
the rim.
In Figs. 10 to 13, inclusive, the rim is shown in a hollow form, which is the one
I prefer to use, and is provided with a series of openings with flanges, which are so
formed as to provide threaded sockets in which the cushions are placed. These
openings may be arranged at any desired distance apart, and either in a direct line
or alternately, first adjacent to one side of the rim and then adjacent to the other.
The cushions D, in the form shown in Fig. 10, are made of soft rubber or other
suitable material, preferably in the form shown, and are attached to the rim by
inserting them into the screw-threaded opening K, the elasticity of the rubber
forcing it out into the channels of the screw threads, thereby firmly holding the
cushions in place.
In Fig. 11, the rim and cushions are made in substantially the same manner,
but the latter is surrounded by a spiral spring L, adapted to screw into the socket,
the device being in other respects substantially the same, but the elasticity of the
spring being added to that of the cushion. In Fig. 12, I have shown substantially
the same device as that shown in Fig. 11, except that the cushion is so formed as
to bend over and rest upon the rim around the screw-threaded opening.
In Fig. 13, the cushions D are made in the form of metallic springs, suitably
wound, and adapted to be secured to the rim by means of their coils. In Fig. 14,
the rim is preferably made solid, and cup-shaped elastic cushions D are provided
with shanks d', adapted to screw into suitable openings in the rim.
By means of the above constructions, I provide a simple and efficient tire,
so formed as to be readily applied to and removed from the rim when desired, which
tire will run easily over the ground, while yet engaging with it with sufficient
firmness to prevent slipping.

page_text: My invention further relates, as above described, to a brush adapted to be used
as a brake under certain circumstances, which I will now describe. The continuous
mud guard, heretofore used on bicycle and other similar wheels, having been found
objectionable as being heavy, unsightly, and having a tendency to collect mud, some
device had been desired to take its place, since it was impossible to dispense with it
entirely, as if so dispensed with, the mud would be thrown by the wheel upon the
rider. I have, therefore, contrived a simple brush or cleaning device, which comes
preferably into contact with the wheel at the point where centrifugal action causes
adhering particles to separate themselves therefrom, and which brush is free from
the objections above referred to.
In Fig. 15, I have shown this device as consisting of a guard secured to the
frame, and a brush secured to the lower end of the guard, and adapted to be
brought into contact with the tread or periphery of the front wheel at about the
point where centrifugal action causes mud or adhering particles to separate there-
from. The guard constructed in this form extends downwardly, so as to allow the
accumulation of mud or material to readily drop out, without clogging the brush
or interfering with the action of the brake. It is preferably so constructed that it
will not touch the periphery of the wheel until brought into contact therewith by
the action of the brake lever, but still arranged sufficiently near to practically
intercept all mud or dirt adhering to such wheel, which would otherwise be thrown
upward by centrifugal action.
In some cases it may be found desirable to omit the brush and use the guard
portion alone, the guard in this case serving to protect the rider from mud thrown
up by the action of the wheel; and, in some cases, where both the brush and the
guard are used, the brush, in addition to cleaning the wheel, may be made to
operate as a brake-shoe.
As shown in Fig. 15 (rear wheel) and in detail in Fig. 16, the brush frame is so
constructed that it may be set and held in any fixed position by a set screw, and
the brush itself is constructed in such form as to be capable of revolving only on
one direction, ratchet mechanism being used to prevent opposite revolutions or
action. A brush constructed in this form may be used alone, or inclosed by suitable
guard mechanism.
that
As already stated, the advantages of this part of my invention are,
it provides a simple, efficient brush or cleaning device, readily adjustable,
light in construction, and specially adapted to prevent clogging of the
wheel.
While I have described the above features of my invention as applied to bicycle
wheels, it will be understood that they, or any of them, can be applied to any sort
of wheel in connection with which they are adapted to be used. Furthermore, I do
not desire to limit myself to forms or details of construction, but contemplate
necessary or desirable changes in form, construction, and the substitution of
equivalent members.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a rim, and an elastic tire secured
thereto, such tire being formed into a series of cushions arranged alternately
on opposite sides of the centre line of the rim, substantially as described.
2. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a rim, a series of elastic cushions
secured thereto on either side of the centre line thereof, and a band encircling the
rim and arranged to engage with the cushions to retain them in place thereon,
substantially as described.
3. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a rim, an elastic tire of greater
breadth than the rim secured to such wheel, and a band encircling the tire and
dividing it into one or more bearing surfaces, such surfaces being located at either

page_text: side of the centre line of the rim and beyond the outer edges of such rim,
substantially as described.
4. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a rim, and a series of elastic cushions"
secured thereto, such cushions being arranged alternately upon opposite sides of the
centre line of the rim, substantially as described.
5. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a rim, an elastic tire placed thereon,
and a band encircling such rim and tire and holding the two together, such
band being the sole means of causing the tire to present one
bearing surfaces upon either side of the centre line of the rim, substantially as
described.
or more
6. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a rim, a tubular tire, and a band
cucircling the tire holding it to the rim, and dividing it into one or more
pneumatic cushions on either side of the centre line of the rim, substantially as
described.
7. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a concave rim, a tire composed of a
flat strip of elastic material, and a band encircling such tire and forcing it into the
rim compelling it to assume a concavo-convex shape, whereby one or more
independent and separate bearing surfaces are formed at either side of the centre
line of the rim, substantially as described.
8. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a rim, a series of pneumatic cushions
composing the tire, and a band encircling such cushions securing them to the rim
and compressing them to increase their elasticity and regulate the tension of the
air substantially as described.
9. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a rim provided with a series of
threaded sockets and a series of elastic cushions screwed into such sockets,
substantially as described.
10. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a rim provided with a series of
threaded sockets, and a series of clastic cushions provided with spiral springs, such
springs being adapted to engage with the threaded sockets, substantially as
described.
11. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a rim, and a series of spiral
springs secured to such rim by means of their coils, substantially as
described.
12. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of a rim provided with threaded
sockets, and a series of spiral springs screwed into such sockets, substantially as
described.
13. In combination with a vehicle wheel, a guard and brush adjacent to the
periphery of the wheel, the guard serving to arrest upwardly flying particles, and
the brush to clean the periphery, substantially as described.
14. In combination with a vehicle wheel, a guard and brush adjacent to the
periphery of the wheel, at least one of them being set at an angle to arrest
upwardly flying particles, substantially as described.
15. In combination with a vehicle wheel, a guard and brush adjacent to the
periphery of the wheel, and mechanism for bringing the guard and brush into
contact with the periphery for braking purposes, substantially as described.
16. In combination with a vehicle wheel, a brush adjacent to the periphery of
the wheel and set at an angle to arrest upwardly flying particles and throw the
same sidewise, substantially as described.
17. In combination with a vehicle wheel, a guard provided with a revoluble
brush, substantially as described.
18. In combination with a vehicle wheel, a revoluble brush, and mechanism to
hold the brush in position, whereby it is caused to revolve by the revolution of the
wheel, substantially as described.
19. In combination with a vehicle wheel, a brush adjacent to the periphery of
the wheel, and mechanism for bringing the brush into contact with the periphery
for braking purposes, substantially as described.

page_text: 20. In combination with a vehicle wheel, a guard provided with a brush adjacent
to the periphery of the wheel substantially at the point where centrifugal action
causes adhering particles to separate from the wheel, and mechanism for bringing
the brush into contact with such periphery for braking purposes, substantially as
described.
Dated this 21st day of June 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.