IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEEL SKATES ADAPTED FOR USE UPON ARTIFICIAL ICE OR OTHER SMOOTH SURFACE AND RINKS,' ALSO IN THE FORM AND CONSTRUCTION OF THEIR WHEELS OR ROLLERS
Year: 1875

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Pilbrow at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th
December 1875.
I, JAMES PILBROW, of Tunbridge Wells, in the County of Kent, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEEL SKATES ADAPTED FOR USE UPON ARTIFICIAL ICE OR
OTHER SMOOTH SURFACE AND RINKS,' ALSO IN THE FORM AND CONSTRUCTION OF
THEIR WHEELS OR ROLLERS," to be as follows:—
The Invention relates to that description of skate that may be used
upon "rinks," artificial ice, or other smooth surface, and is designed for
the purpose of producing a skate which shall be simple in its con-
struction, and better adapted than the roller skates hitherto used for
facility and certainty in turning curves, and that their action as well as
the user's practice shall approach as nearly as may be to that of the ice
skate and skating, at the same time giving the highest speed with the
least exertion and the greatest safety. The improvements and novelty
consist in the first part of my arrangement or construction of the skates,
in the employment of three rollers or wheels differing in diameter or

page_text: size and in sectional form, and all being ranged in a line under the
centre of the sole plate or stock of the skate, but so that the periphery
or circumference of each roller shall be in contact with the ground
level or "rink
when the skate is in a vertical position, but when the
skate is inclined to either side, one or two of these three rollers will lose
their bearing on the "rink" as may be desired by the user, at the same
time the centre of the skate is thereby slightly elevated and either one
of the ends depressed, causing a peculiar alteration in the centre of
bearing and motion. These rollers or wheels are placed and turn in
their respective positions on pins or axles, being secured by brackets or
side plates of steel or other metal rivetted to the under side of the
sole plate or stock. The rollers differ in form and size according to
their position, for example, the centre roller is square or flat and wide at
its periphery or circumference, the foremost roller is circular or curved
and narrower at the circumference but of the same diameter, and the
hinder roller is both circular at its circumference and smaller in diameter
than the other two, although the latter is not always essential.
The second part of my arrangement consists in the addition of two
(or more) wheels or rollers, one being placed on either side of the former
centre line of rollers, and being also secured in an oblique position as
regards the centre line; these side rollers are smaller in diameter than
the centre roller and of different form, being conical or hemispherical
at their periphery, and are not intended to touch the floor level when
the skate is in a vertical position, this arrangement completes the
curvilinear action and capabilities of the skate.
A further improvement in the construction of the wheels or rollers
consists in making them up by two or more thicknesses or layers of wood
with one or more plates of metal between them as well as at the outside,
the whole being rivetted or screwed up together and turned to the
required form as before described. This will not only prevent the rapid
wear but will give the desired and better "grip" on the surface of the
" rink."
The skates will be secured to the feet or shoes of the wearer by any
of the ordinary methods by straps or screws, and the sole plate or stock
may be made either of wood or metal.
11
In conclusion, I wish to state that I am aware that many designs for
10

page_text: rollers or wheels, and their appurtenances and positions to enable them
more or less to perform evolutions, but in all these the rollers whether
placed in line under the centre of the foot, or by pairs at the sides are
fixed in a parallel position and not obliquely as above described, nor
have they such difference of form and size for the purpose of affording
the means of raising any one or more rollers from the "rink" surface,
or causing one roller only to take the whole bearing and become the
point d'appui, by simply inclining the foot to either side, thus enabling
the user by continuing further the same action to bring the lateral and
oblique rollers into effective action in their stead, which combination of
capabilities enables the user with the least possible exertion either to
attain a higher speed in a straight line or turn, and gyrate with the
greatest ease and grace without any alteration in position or lateral
movement of any of the wheels, by contrivances of central pivots
tunning hoobats anainen

page_text: which means with proportionate inclination of the skate the smallest
curve desired may be accomplished.
Fifth. The insertion of steel or other metal plates in the rollers for the
purpose of durability, and giving a better "grip" on the ground surface
for "striking," and security in turning sharp curves.