Improvements in and relating to the Wheels of Bicycles.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Wheels of Bicycles.
I, ARTHUR ROGERS JENKINS, of 163, Wool Exchange, in the City of London,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention is designed to provide for enabling bicycles to be ridden with
safety upon ice and similar surfaces by minimizing the liability to side-slip.
My said invention, moreover, comprises the construction of the wheels or one
of the wheels of a bicycle in such a manner that, after the machine has been set
in motion, the rotation of the said wheel or wheels can, if desired, be arrested and
the bicycle allowed to slide along the ice or other surface somewhat after the
manner of skating,
The
An important feature of my said invention consists in the employment of a tyre-
cover or auxiliary tyre of metal, preferably steel, which is placed concentrically
around the outside of an ordinary pneumatic, cushion or other tyre, or of the
wheel-rim, and which is provided with one or more circumferential ribs or flanges
forming the tread of the tyre and so arranged as to prevent side slip.
working face of the said rib or ribs may be made smooth to permit sliding in the
direction of motion of the velocipede, or, in the case of the driving wheel, it may
be provided with teeth or projections of steel, india-rubber, leather or other suitable
material to afford a better grip on the surface traversed and thus assist the driving
effort to propel the vehicle.
In carrying my said invention into practice, I find it advantageous to secure
around an ordinary pneumatic tyre, a circular piece or ring of steel or other
suitable metal of a convenient shape in cross-section, which is made with a central
circumferential rib or flange forming the tread or runner when the velocipede is
progressing in a straight line, and with other circumferential ribs or flanges made
with their edges more or less sharp to prevent side-slip, and upon which the
velocipede can travel when rounding a corner or curve. The central rib or flange
is sometimes provided with pointed projections or studs or with teeth cut radially
or inclined more nearly in a tangential direction, as on a ratchet wheel, so as to
give a firmer grip on the track.
The method of mounting the auxiliary tyre upon the wheel is extremely simple.
The auxiliary tyre is not continuous but is an incomplete ring which can be
expanded to permit it to be passed over the forks or stays of the machine and fittedl
upon the wheel without removing the latter. The extremities of the auxiliary
tyre are provided with holes tapped to receive a right- and left-handed screw-bolt,
tlie said holes being formed either in the substance of the said auxiliary tyre or in
The
lugs thereon. The pneumatic tyre is first wholly or partially deflated.
auxiliary tyre is then put in place and the two ends brought tightly together by
means of the right- and left-handed screw-bolt. The pneumatic tyre is next fully
inflated so as to hold the auxiliary tyre firmly in place, the said auxiliary tyre
being of such diameter that it will be partially embedded in the pneumatic tyre
when the latter is fully inflated.
I do not restrict the use of my improved auxiliary tyre to velocipedes provided

page_text: with pneumatic tyres, as I can fit the same to any rim or tyre, and I sometimes
dispense with the ordinary tyre and insert a pad of leather, india-rubber or other
suitable material between the auxiliary tyre and the rim of the wheel.
As a modified form of my invention for use with pneumatic tyres, I sometimes
build up the auxiliary tyre of two circular pieces or rings of metal L-shaped
in cross-section, which are connected by ties or distance-pieces placed at intervals
so as to form a kind of circular ladder. The whole is placed around the pneumatic
tyre while the latter is wholly or partially deflated, and is secured by a right- and
left-handed screw-bolt in the manner hereinbefore mentioned. The pneumatic
tyre is then inflated, when portions of the outer case thereof are forced out though
the spaces between the ties or distance-pieces, thus forming projections or studs
which will grip the surface whereon the velocipede is propelled. If there is any
tendency to side-slip the said rings will come into contact with the ice and restrain
the wheel from slipping.
In combination with the auxiliary tyres herein before mentioned, I sometimes
employ one or more levers attached to the frame of the velocipede and supporting
a shoe or skid which, by means of the said levers, can be brought to a position
to act as a runner or skid, the wheel or wheels being at the same time elevated
from the track,
Dated the 2nd day of Santama 1900
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings. London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, ARTHUR ROGERS JENKINS, of 163, Wool Exchange, in the City of London,
Merchant, 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:-
My invention is designed to provide for enabling bicycles to be ridden with ease
and safety upon ice and similar surfaces.
My said invention comprises the construction of the wheels or one of the wheels
of a bicycle in such a manner that, after the machine has been set in motion in
the usual manner, the rotation of the said wheel or wheels can, if desired, be
arrested and the bicycle allowed to slide along the ice or other surface somewhat
after the manner of skating or sleighing. And my said invention also comprises
means for diminishing the liability to side-slip.
An important feature of my said invention is the employment of a tyre-cover
or auxiliary tyre of metal, preferably steel, which is placed concentrically around
the outside of an ordinary pneumatic, cushion or other tyre, or of the wheel-rim,
and which is provided with one or more circumferential ribs or flanges forming
the tread of the tyre and so arranged as to counteract any tendency to side-slip.
The working face of the said rib or ribs may be made smooth to permit sliding
in the direction of motion of the velocipede, or, in the case of the driving wheel,
a central circumferential rib may be provided with teeth or projections of steel.
india-rubber, leather or other suitable material to afford a better grip on the
surface traversed and thus assist the driving effort to propel the machine. Lateral
ribs are also provided, on which the machine can slide or skid when travelling in
a curvilinear path. Or, if desired, my auxiliary tyre is so made that, when it is
in position on an ordinary pneumatic tyre, parts of the outer surface of the said
pneumatic tyre will project through apertures in the auxiliary tyre and form
projections or studs which will grip the surface whereon the velocipede is propelled

page_text: I sometimes provide the machine with one or more shoes or skids which can at
will be brought into position to serve as runners, the wheel or wheels of the
machine being at the same time elevated from the surface of the ice.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view showing a portion of a wheel-rim pro-
vided with a pneumatic tyre having applied thereto one form of my auxiliary
tyre adapted for the front or steering wheel of a bicycle.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing another form or modification of my auxiliary
tyre adapted for use on the rear or driving-wheel of a bicycle.
Figure 3 is a transverse section, and
Figure 4 a longitudinal central section, showing another modification of my
auxiliary tyre.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of a bicycle having my invention applied thereto.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
A is the wheel-rim and B a pneumatic tyre thereon.
The auxiliary tyre, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, comprises a ring or annular
piece of steel or other suitable metal, which is made with two lateral curved
flanges C having rounded edges, and with a central external circumferential rib C2
forming the tread or runner when the velocipede is progressing in a straight line,
and also with lateral circumferential ribs C, upon which the velocipede can trave!
when rounding a corner or curve, and which are made with their edges more or
less sharp to prevent side-slip. A pad or cushion D of india-rubber, leather, or
other suitable material fitting the inner surface of the flanges C is placed between
the said auxiliary tyre C and the pneumatic tyre B. The central rib C2, in the
case of the guiding or steering wheel, Figure 1, is made with a hollow-ground
periphery or edge similar to that of a skate-blade, whilst, in the case of the driving-
wheel, Figure 2, the said rib C2 is provided with ratchet-teeth C5 so as to afford
a firmer grip on the surface of the ice, or it can be provided with pointed pro-
jections or studs for this purpose.
The auxiliary tyre C is not continuous, but is made in the form of an incom-
plete ring which can be expanded to permit it to be passed over the forks or stays
of the machine and fitted upon the wheel without removing the latter from the
said forks or stays. The extremities of the auxiliary tyre are provided with tapped
holes E to receive a right- and left-handed screw-bolt F, Figure 4, the said holes
being formed either in the substance of the said auxiliary tyre, as shown in
Figures 1 and 2, or in lugs thereon, as shown in Figure 4 and as hereinafter
described.
In mounting the auxiliary tyre on the wheel, the pneumatic tyre is first wholly
or partially deflated, and the auxiliary tyre put in place thereon and its two ends
brought tightly together by means of the said right- and left-handed screw-bolt.
The pneumatic tyre is then fully inflated so as to hold the auxiliary tyre firmly
in place, the said auxiliary tyre being of such diameter that it and the pad D will,
as shown, be partially embedded in the pneumatic tyre when the latter is fully
inflated.
In the modification of my invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, the auxiliary
tyre is built up of two rings or annular pieces C of metal of suitable shape in
cross-section, which are connected by tie-rods or distance-pieces G placed at
intervals so as to form a kind of circular ladder. This auxiliary tyre is placed
around the pneumatic tyre while the latter is wholly or partially deflated, and
is secured by one or more right- and left-handed screw-bolts F fitting into tapped
holes E in lugs formed on one or both of the said annular pieces C. The
pneumatic tyre is then inflated, when portions thereof will be forced out through
the spaces between the tie-rods or distance-pieces G as shown, thus forming
projections or studs which will grip the surface whereon the velocipede is propelled.
If there is any tendency to side-slip, the said rings C will come into contact with
the ice and restrain the wheel from slipping.

page_text: I do not restrict the use of my improved auxiliary tyre to velocipedes provided
with pneumatic tyres, as I can fit the same to any rim or tyre, and I sometimes
dispense with the ordinary tyre and insert a pad or cushion of leather, india-rubber
or other suitable material between the auxiliary tyre and the rim of the wheel.
It is evident that a bicycle provided with auxiliary tyres as above described,
can be easily driven either upon ice or upon roads or other surfaces, and that
when, in riding upon ice, any desired speed has been attained, the wheels or either
of them can be restrained from rotation, by means of the pedals or by a brake
or otherwise, and the machine will then slide or skid along like a sleigh.
In Figure 5 I have shown a safety-bicycle having my auxiliary tyres applied
thereto, and also fitted with a shoe or skid H mounted on a lever or levers J turning
about a pivot or pivots K formed at the end or ends of the front wheel axle. These
levers J are provided with arms or extensions J¹ having projections J2 whereby
they may be acted upon by the feet of the rider so as to bring the shoe H into
position to act as a runner or skid, the wheel being at the same time elevated from
the track. The levers J, J¹ are acted upon by springs L which normally hold the
shoe H out of contact with the ice or other surface on which the machine is used.
If desired the rear wheel or both wheels may be provided with shoes or skids
for the purpose above specified.
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:-
First. A metal tyre-cover or auxiliary tyre adapted for use in conjunction with
an ordinary pneumatic, cushion or other tyre or with the rim of a wheel and
provided with one or more circumferential ribs or flanges, substantially as, and
for the purposes, hereinbefore described.
Second. A metal tyre-cover or auxiliary tyre such as is herein before described,
wherein a central rib or runner is provided in combination with lateral ribs or
flanges having sharp edges, substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Third. The modification of my invention wherein the central rib or runner is
provided with teeth or projections, for the purposes above specified.
Fourth. A metal tyre-cover or auxiliary tyre such as is hereinbefore described,
having apertures through which portions of a pneumatic tyre can project to serve
as driving projections or studs, substantially as, and for the purposes, above
specified.
Fifth. A metal tyre-cover or auxiliary tyre such as is hereinbefore described,
made in the form of an incomplete ring the ends whereof are united by means
of a right- and left-handed screw, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination, with a wheel-rim (with or without a pneumatic or other
elastic tyre), of a metal tyre-cover or auxiliary tyre and a pad or cushion inter-
posed between the same and the wheel-rim or the pneumatic or elastic tyre
thereon, substantially as described.
Seventh. The combination, with a bicycle, of one or more runners, shoes or
skids mounted on pivoted levers and adapted to be brought into position for use
simultaneously with the raising of the wheel or wheels of the bicycle, for the
purposes above specified.
Eighth. The metal tyre-cover or auxiliary tyre constructed substantially as
described with reference to Figure 1, or Figure 2, or Figures 3 and 4 of the
drawing and for the purposes specified.
1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.