Year: 1898

page_text: A communication from ALfred Houée, Merchant, of Kennes, in the Republic
of France..
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to roller skates or devices provided with wheels and
secured to the legs and feet of the user enabling them to travel quickly without
fatigue or danger. -
The device according to this invention is chiefly characterised by a kind of
cycle wheel the spindle or axle of which is secured to an upright bracket or
bar pivotted about said spindle and placed at the side of the wheel. The lower
end of this bracket carries a movable support for the foot of the user and in the
back extension of which support or plate in its longitudinal axis a small support-
ing wheel is placed destined to give more stability and support to an unex-
perienced user or to enable the user to rest securely and comfortably. But as a
rule the small wheel touches the ground very seldom.
In a preferred form of the invention the device consists of a main wheel rotat-
ing about a spindle which is connected to an upright bracket constituted by a
straight bar adapted to be securely attached to the lower part of the leg. At
its lower end a spindle supports a horizontal plate or support pivotted about
said spindle.
The plate is secured to the foot in any suitable manner but preferably so as
to allow the foot to make movements independent of those of the leg. At the
back of the foot-plate there is an auxiliary small wheel which serves for the
purpose before stated. In front of the foot plate there may be arranged another
auxiliary wheel which is always raised from the ground and would only be used
in emergencies. On the spindle of the main wheel a ratchet wheel with a pawl
pivotted about a pin on the upright bracket may be employed.
The characteristic feature of this invention is that the wheels are at the sides
of the user, and not beneath his feet as usual, and that they are operated not only
by the feet but also and chiefly by the legs of the user. The foot being below
the spindle of the main wheel the latter can be of any desired size and is directly
secured to the leg which will take up the greatest part of the strain.
Dated this 2nd day of September 1898.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: A communication from ALFRED HOUÉE,. Merchant, of Rennes, in the Republic
of France.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 111, Hatton Garden, in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed,. to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
1-
The present invention relates to a roller skate adaptable to be secured to the
foot and leg of the user, by means of which rapid locomotion may be obtained
without fatigue or danger.
The device consists of a principal wheel like a small cycle wheel, the axle of
which wheel is supported by a fork or bracket arranged at the side of the wheel;
the lower part of the bracket is provided with a plate for the support of the foot.
The bracket is fastened at its upper part to the leg, and the foot support is
provided at the rear, and in line with its longitudinal axis, with a small wheel
for the purpose of securing greater stability and support for the skates.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is an elevation and
Figure 2 a plan view of the device.
A is the main wheel, revolving on an axle B which is securely mounted on
the front branch C of the bracket CC which is provided with a strap Dat the
upper part, by means of which the skate is fixed to the leg.
A supporting plate E is fixed to the lower part of the bracket, the rear part
of which carries an extension F with an axle G on which is mounted a small
wheel H. Straps I are provided for securing the skate to the foot.
The hub of the wheel A is provided with a ratchet wheel J, a pawl K mounted
on the bracket engaging therewith so as to prevent backward rotation of the
wheel. A lever L or other means may be provided to enable the user to dis-
engage the pawl in case of need.
The characteristic feature of the device is, that the wheels being placed to the
side of and not immediately below the feet of the user, the skates are operated
not only by the feet but also, and principally, by the legs; the foot being, more-
over, below the axle of the main wheel, the latter may be of any desired dimen-
sions and being actuated principally by the leg, which bears the greatest part
of the strain.
Besides, the axis of the main wheel being placed in front of the leg of the
user, a perfect equilibrium of the skater as regards the centre of gravity of the
whole is produced, and in consequence the danger of falling is minimised.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner
the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A roller skate comprising a main wheel revolving on an axle mounted
towards the front of a vertical bracket adapted to be secured to the leg of the
user said bracket being provided with a supporting plate for the foot, the rear
part of which, and in its longitudinal axis, is provided with a small safety wheel
substantially as described,

page_text: 2. A roller skate substantially as described or illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
n
L 1
01
1
1000
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.