Interesting Fact about Patents - In 1887, John Boyd Dunlop invented and patented a pneumatic tire for use on his son's tricycle November 5, 2015 by admin chat_bubble_outline In 1887, John Boyd Dunlop invented and patented a pneumatic tire for use on his son’s tricycle. However, in 1891, Dunlop’s patent invalidated in favor of the earlier patent filed by Robert William Thomson.