IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER OR RINK SKATES
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Fletcher and Alexander
Thorn at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th April 1876.
WILLIAM FLETCHER and ALEXANDER THORN, both of No. 19, Salisbury Street,
Strand, W. C. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER OR RINK SKATES."
This Invention consists in a novel mechanical arrangement and disposition of
those parts of roller or rink skates situated between the axles and the under side of
the foot stock or sole plate, and by means of which the alterations in the movement
of the skates are facilitated, and greater stability for support of the rinker as well as
for the effecting of changes of position whilst in motion are secured to the wearer of
skates so constructed.
Instead of an angular or inclined stud, depending from the underside of the
foot-stock of the skate, or projecting from a metal plate attached thereto (by screwing
or otherwise) and from (or to) which inclined or angular stud, a socket or a castor-
like or a carriage like frame is fitted having the transverse axle with the two rollers
each being freely fitted upon the ends, thereof, so as to turn or revolve upon the
same, and to allow of curvilinear movements being made by the wearer whilst
wearing them in rinking, we, by our present Invention, construct the carriage and
movement portions of rink skates to be applied respectively to the heel and toe
ends of such skates in the following manner:-we take a casting in which the
upper portion is formed as a plate-like or horizontal flanch for attachment to the
under side of the foot stock, and projecting downward, from which (when the
attachment has been made) there is a doubly curved horn, or plate with cheeks,
within which is a portion of a socket for receiving a ball or a spherical termination
of the shank at (or to) the lower part or portion of which piece the cross arm or
cross-head piece is so formed as to receive the axle, to (or upon) which axle the
wheels or rollers are severally fitted or connected so as to be free to revolve separately
or independently of each other. This separate piece or portion fits into and is
guided by the horns or double curved casting, or that portion which is screwed to
the under side of the foot plate, and the required movements are effected by
reason, first, of its having a direct or vertical bearing or support upon the ball joint,
or upon the spherical termination of the other or moving portion to which the axles
and wheels are attached and fitted; and, secondly, by the guiding action produced
by the combination of the double curved guides before mentioned provided for freely
allowing both the motions of the skate foot stock and the tangential change of
position of the wheels (and their axles) through the movement of the vertically (or
[Prime 2dl

page_text: pendantly) disposed portion of the gear between the casting or fixed portion, and
the removable front or covering portion of such piece or part, and within which two
portions and between which also the sphere and its shank each work or move, when
movement is imparted to the axle and wheel portion by means of the motion or
movement of the user.
A suitable spring and adjusting arrangement is provided at the back of each such
apparatus; and the two heel and toe portions of the moveable apparatus are
connected together, preferably by means of a steel bar or spring stretcher piece,
fitted with a screw and nut adjustment or equivalent means of fastening and
adjusting the tension and securing the heel and toe mechanism together, under
regulation.