Patent Feuds: The Untold Battle That Shaped Innovation – Inflated Claims: Pneumatic Prior Art

Innovation does not happen in isolation; it is a battleground where ideas clash, rivalries ignite, and ownership defines the future. Behind the technologies we rely on every day lie stories of groundbreaking inventions entangled in fierce legal disputes. Patents have driven progress, and sometimes stalled it.

Welcome to Patent Feuds: The Untold Battles That Shaped Innovation. In this series, we uncover the rivalries that transformed industries, the inventions that triggered legal wars, and the lasting impact of Intellectual Property on the world. Get ready to explore the drama, the ambition, and the ideas that shaped modern history.

“The wheel was already invented, but what about filling it with air?” In the late 1800s, the world was buzzing with innovation. Electricity, steam power, and rubber were reshaping daily life. In the middle of this transformation came the bicycle boom and with it, a race to create a better, smoother ride. A Scottish veterinarian named John Boyd Dunlop thought he had found the answer: an air-filled rubber tyre.

But what Dunlop did not know was that nearly half a century earlier, another Scotsman, Robert William Thomson, had already invented and patented the very same idea and then faded from memory. What followed was a classic tale of overlapping inventions, forgotten patents, and a fight over who truly put the bounce into the bicycle.

The Need for a Softer Ride: The Birth of the Pneumatic Tyre

Before the 1890s, most bicycles had solid rubber or even metal tires. The result? Every bump in the road felt like a hammer to the spine. Roads were unpaved, cobbled, and rough, and riding was more pain than pleasure.

Enter John Boyd Dunlop, a veterinary surgeon from Belfast. In 1887, his young son was struggling to ride his tricycle on solid rubber tyres. Dunlop was always curious and experimented with wrapping the wheels in thin rubber tubing inflated with air. The result was transformational: a quiet, cushioned ride that glided over rough ground like never before.

John Boyd Dunlop patented his version of the pneumatic tyre in Great Britain in 1890 (British Patent No. 10607), with a corresponding U.S. patent granted the same year (U.S. Patent No. 435,995), titled “Wheel-Tire for Cycles.”

Dunlop’s Rise: From Local Tinkerer to National Sensation

Once Dunlop’s tyre hit the road literally the change was undeniable. Cyclists using his inflatable tyres won races, drew attention from manufacturers, and soon, investors were knocking at his door.

In 1889, Dunlop partnered with Irish industrialist Harvey du Cros, forming The Pneumatic Tyre and Booth’s Cycle Agency Ltd. This company would eventually evolve into the Dunlop Rubber Company, which dominated the global tyre industry for much of the 20th century.

By 1890, it seemed Dunlop had secured his place in history as the inventor of the pneumatic tyre.

But wait… Who Was Robert William Thomson?

Here’s where the plot thickens. Unknown to Dunlop, an earlier patent for the pneumatic tyre already existed, filed by Robert William Thomson, a fellow Scotsman, in 1845.

Robert Thomson had patented the first pneumatic carriage tyre called the “Aerial Wheel” in Great Britain in December 1845 (Patent No. 10990), with a corresponding U.S. patent granted in 1847 (No. 5104), predating John Boyd Dunlop’s alleged invention.

So why was he forgotten?

Simple: the timing was not right. In the 1840s, rubber was still new and not good enough to make strong, long-lasting tyres. “Vulcanization (the process to make rubber stable and durable) had just been discovered. Roads were poor, bicycles were not yet common, and the public was not ready. The idea faded, and Thomson moved on to other inventions (he also invented the fountain pen!).

The Real Feud: Not Just Thomson vs. Dunlop, But Welch vs. Monopoly

While Robert Thomson’s pneumatic tyre patent (No. 10990) had long expired by the time John Boyd Dunlop patented his version in 1888, it still played a crucial legal role. That’s because an expired patent is still considered prior art, meaning it can be used to invalidate a newer patent if it proves the invention was not new.

In 1890, Charles K. Welch, a rival inventor, patented a detachable pneumatic tyre, a key improvement for practicality and maintenance. Realising the threat, the Dunlop company quickly acquired Welch’s patent rights to protect its growing market dominance.

But Welch’s legal team did not stop there. Through patent agent William Edlin, they unearthed Thomson’s 1845 patent in the archives, proving that the core idea behind Dunlop’s tyre was not original. Based on this discovery, Welch challenged the validity of Dunlop’s 1888 patent on the grounds of lack of novelty.

Facing strong legal arguments and clear prior art, Dunlop’s patent was formally invalidated in 1891, opening the pneumatic tyre market to all competitors.

The Human Drama:

To be clear, John Boyd Dunlop never intended to steal anyone’s idea. At the time he filed his patent, he genuinely believed he was inventing something new. In fact, when he discovered Thomson’s prior art, he was shocked.

And in many ways, Dunlop’s version was different in application. Thomson aimed at carriages, while Dunlop focused on bicycles. But legally, the underlying principle of using air as a cushion in a rubber tyre was already claimed by Thomson.

In public memory, however, Dunlop remained the hero. He popularised the idea, commercialized it, and built a company around it. Thomson’s contribution was acknowledged by historians, but he never saw the success his idea deserved during his lifetime.

Resolution and Legacy

Although Dunlop’s patent was invalidated, it did not ruin his career. He had already established the foundation of a booming business, and his company continued to thrive. Dunlop himself retired from the company in 1895 and died in 1921.

Meanwhile, Robert Thomson never lived to see his recognition restored. But today, his 1845 patent is regarded as the first true pneumatic tyre patent. In fact, historians often note that he was a genius “too far ahead of his time.”

Takeaways for Modern Inventors:

This feud is not just about tyres; it offers timeless lessons for modern inventors. First, always conduct a thorough prior art search; even ideas that feel new may have been patented decades ago, as Thomson’s forgotten brilliance showed. Second, timing can define success. Thomson’s concept was sound, but it arrived before the market was ready. Third, legal protection alone does not guarantee success; while Dunlop’s patent was invalidated, his business strategy and timing secured his legacy. Lastly, acknowledging the contributions of earlier inventors maintains the integrity of innovation. Dunlop may not have copied Thomson, but he still built on a foundation laid by someone before him.

Conclusion: The Wheel Keeps Turning

The Dunlop vs. Thomson feud reminds us that invention is rarely a straight path. It’s a winding road of rediscovery, reinvention, and rivalry. The air-filled tyre, one of the humblest yet revolutionary inventions, was born twice, once forgotten, and once celebrated.

So, the next time you glide smoothly down the road, remember it’s not just rubber and air under your wheels, it’s the legacy of two Scottish minds, one ahead of his time, and the other arriving at just the right moment.

And that’s the beauty of innovation: even when the wheel’s been invented, there’s always room to make it roll a little better.