Improvements in or appertaining to Sliding or Skating Tracks, Inclines, or Rinks.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 24th July, 1891-Accepted, 5th Sept., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Sliding or Skating Tracks,
Inclines, or Rinks.
I JOHN DOCKER LOWNSBOROUGH of 71 Church Street, Birkenhead in the
County of Chester, Wharfinger, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has for its object a rink, track, or game something of the nature of a
switch-back railway and consists essentially of a track more or less inclined formed
of rollers arranged close together and with their upper surfaces in line. Shoes
formed of extended surfaces such as boards strapped on the feet are used for going
on to this incline, they are rounded at each end. The incline preferably ends at
the bottom either with a level or else with an upward incline so that the persons
using it can gradually come to a stand. I may form my incline if desirable in a
spiral manner the rollers in such case being conical and having a dip inwards so as
to counteract the effect of centrifugal force in going down.
It could be arranged with a staircase inside and a spiral rink or track outside the
staircase or there can be both a staircase and a lift or either of them. Persons
going up by the staircase or lift and coming down by the spiral roller-way. In
some cases I may have two inclines with a semi-circular level track or a semi-
circular inclined track joining them. In such case also the rollers on the curve
are cones whose vanishing point is the centre of the circle bounding the track.
The rollers can be of wood or of metal, either bright, or covered with some tough
composition. Their ends can be formed of pins running in bearings which can if
desired be ball or roller bearings.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Sliding or Skating Tracks,
Inclines, or Rinks.
I, JOHN DOCKER LOWNSBOROUGH of 71 Church Street, Birkenhead, in the
County of Chester, Wharfinger, 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:-
.
This invention has for its object a rink, track or game, something of the nature
of a switchback railway, and consists essentially of a track more or less inclined
formed of rollers arranged close together and with their upper surfaces in line.
The invention is best described by aid of the accompanying drawings, in
which :-
:-
Figure 1 is a vertical section;
Figure 2 a plan ;
Figure 3 an enlarged vertical section on the line a x, Figure 1; and
Figure 4, an enlarged view of the bearings and side bearer.
In these figures, A, are side posts for supporting the track; B, intermediate
posts; C, side bearers supported at the summit of the incline by the metal rod D
slipped through the side posts and adjustable in its height by holes; E, track
rollers mounted in bearings F in the side bearers C. In the arrangement shown in
the drawings, the inclined track ends at the bottom with an almost level surface;

page_text: if desired, however, it may have an upward incline at the end so that the persons
using it can gradually come to a stand. The iron rod D is adjustable vertically
by means of the holes in the posts A, whereby the slope of the track can be
varied. G is a staircase by which persons can ascend to the summit of the inclined
track.
1
Shoes formed of an extended surface, such as boards strapped on the feet, or
shaped to, the sole. or heel of the boot, are used for sliding down the incline, and
are rounded at each end.
I
may form
my incline, if desirable, in a spiral manner, the rollers, in such case,
being conical and having a dip inwards so as to counteract the effect of centrifugal
force in coming down.
It could be arranged with a staircase inside and a spiral rink or track outside the
staircase, or there can be both a staircase and a lift or either of them, persons
going up by the staircase or lift and coming down by the spiral roller-way. In some
cases, may have two inclines with a semi-circular level track or a semi-circular
inclined track joining them. In such case also the rollers on the curve are cones
whose vanishing point is the centre of the circle bounding the track. The rollers
can be of wood or of metal, either bright, or covered with some tough composition.
Their ends can be formed of pins running in bearings which can, if desired, be ball
or roller bearings.
Instead of flat pattens or shoes being used, a kind of sleigh or toboggan may be
employed, which will go down the slide without exertion to the occupant, except
that of guiding the vehicle in its proper course, at almost the speed of a railway
train. Short landing places may be arranged, if desired, at the sides, into which
the skater or tobogganer, with a little practice, may direct himself and thus draw
up at pleasure in the course of his descent.
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. A sliding or skating track, incline or rink, having its sliding or skating surface
formed of rotatable rollers arranged close together with their upper surfaces in
line, whereby a comparatively smooth surface is formed, along which a person,
standing on two flat pattens or sitting in a sleigh or toboggan will move along
with little or no exertion except that of guiding or keeping himself erect.
2. A sliding or skating track in which the sliding or skating surface is formed
of rotatable rollers mounted in bearings in a rigid inclined frame, the slope of said
inclined frame being capable of adjustment, substantially as described.
3. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming the
improved sliding or skating track, incline or rink, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 23rd day of July 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.