IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE FALLING OF PERSONS SKATING UPON ICE, ASPILALT, OR OTHER HARD SURFACES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Thomas Parlour, of Brooklyn, New York, United
States of America, now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, Shipwright,
for the Invention of "IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING THE FALLING
OF PERSONS SKATING UPON ICE, ASPILALT, OR OTHER HARD SURFACES."
Sealed the 10th November 1876, and dated the 13th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Thomas Parlour at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th May 1876.
JOSEPH THOMAS PARLOUR, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America,
now of No. 8, Southampton Buildings, London, Shipwright. "IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR PREVENTING THE FALLING OF PERSONS SKATING UPON ICE, ASPHALT, OR
OTHER HARD SURFACES."
My Invention relates to simple apparatus for preventing the falling of persons
skating or learning to skate upon ice, asphalt, wood, or other surfaces, and consists
in providing the rink or skating surface with devices which support the skater, and
prevent his falling, while permitting him to move freely upon the said rink or
surface.
According to one method of carrying my said Invention into practice I arrango
horizontally above the rink or skating surface chains, wire or hempen ropes, or
metal tubing, upon which I fit small pulleys, carriages, or slides that will run freely
upon a single rope, chain, or tube from end to end of the rink or around the same.
From these carriages or runners I suspend a belt of leather, metal, or other suitable
material, which is designed to be clasped around the waist or under the arms of the
skater. Or instead of this belt I may use a small bar or rings to be grasped by the
hands of the skater. The said belts, bars, rings, or other devices may be suspended
by india-rubber cords, leather or other straps, metal chains, or other suitable
connections.
The aforesaid wire or hempen ropes or metal tubes or chains are connected at
their ends to metal supporting pieces, which are provided with screwed ends that
pass through the walls or other parts of the rink, and are provided with nuts,
whereby they may be made taut as required. If necessary the said ropes, chains,
or tubes may be supported between their ends by brackets, which are so shaped as
to afford the required support to the said ropes, chains, or tubes, while they will
not interfere with the free movement of the carriages or runners upon the same.
[Price 8d.]

page_text: In a modification of my said Invention I afford the desired support to the skaters
as follows, that is to say-I form or place below the surface of the rink passages
or guideways for the reception of carriages or runners. These passages have formed
through their upper sides a very narrow slit or aperture, through which projects
upward a post or upright attached to the said carriage or runner. The said post or
upright is provided with a frame or belt to encircle the person of the skater, or with
straps or bands by which he can support himself while skating. It is also provided
with screws or other means for adjusting it to suit different heights.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Thomas Parlour in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
November 1876.
"
JOSEPHI THOMAS PARLOUR, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America,
now of S, Southampton Buildings, London, Shipwright. IMPROVED APPARATUS
FOR PREVENTING THE FALLING OF PERSONS SKATING UPON ICE, ASPHALT, OR
OTHER HARD SUBSTANCES."
My Invention relates to simple apparatus for preventing the falling of persons
skating or learning to skate upon ice, asphalt, wood, or other surfaces, and consists
in providing the rink or skating surface with devices which support the skater,
and prevent his falling, while permitting him to move freely upon the said rink
or surface.
From
According to one method of carrying my said Invention into practise I arrange
horizontally above the rink or skating surface guides consisting of wire, leather, or
hempen ropes, chains, gut, metal tubing, wooden bars, or the like, upon which I fit
small blocks, pulleys, or slides that will run freely upon a single rope, gut, chain,
tube, or the like, extending from end to end of the rink or around the same.
these blocks, pulleys, or runners I suspend a belt of leather, metal, or other suitable
material, which is designed to be clasped around the waist or under the arms of
the skater. Or instead of this belt I may use a small bar or a ring or rings to be
grasped by the hands of the skater. The said belts, bars, rings, or other devices
may be suspended by india-rubber cords, leather, or other straps, metal chains, or
other suitable connections.
The aforesaid wire or hempen or leather ropes, gut, or metal tubes, or chains are
connected at their ends to metal supporting pieces, which are provided with screwed
ends that pass through the walls or other parts of the rink, and are provided with
nuts whereby they may be made taut as required. If necessary the said ropes,
chains, or tubes may be supported between their ends by brackets, which are so
shaped as to afford the required support to the said ropes, chains, or tubes, while
they will not interfere with the free movement of the pulleys or runners upon the
samic.
In a modification of my said Invention I afford the desired support to the skaters
as follows, that is to say-I form or place on the rink or skating surface, and
partly below the surface of the same, grooved or slotted guideways or passages for
the reception of the wheels or rollers of carriages or runners. These passages have
formed through their upper sides a very narrow slit or aperture, through which
projects upward a post or upright of steel, iron, or other suitable metal attached
to the said carriage or runner. The said post or upright is provided with a frame
or belt to encircle the person of the skater, or with straps, bars, or bands by which
he can support himself while skating. It is also provided with a screw or other
means for adjusting it to suit different heights. This grooved guide may also be
arranged upon the sides of the walls, pillars, or other supports surrounding the
rink, and I sometimes adopt this arrangement, and carry the same into practise as
herein-after described.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DAWINGS,
Figure 1 is a plan or top view shewing part of the aforesaid arrangement of guides
forming part of my Invention, provided with devices for keeping or making the
same taut; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same.
Figures 3, 4, 5 are elevations of the blocks or pulleys and suspended belts or
other devices for supporting the skaters in connection with the said guides.
Figure 6 is a sectional view illustrating a modification of the said block.
Figure 7 is a plan or top view of the continuous guide arranged on the surfaco of
the skating floor or rink.
Figure 8 is a longitudinal section of a portion of this guide, and shewing in side
elevation a carriago running in the same.
Figure 9 is a transverse section of the said guide, and shews the said carriage in
front elevation.
Figure 10 is a transverse section illustrating the adaptation of the aforesaid guide
to the walls or other supports extending around the rink.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the Drawing.
Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 a, a, are the ropes or chains, and b is one of
the curved or semicircular pieces of the said guides. The said ropes or chains are
secured to the end piece b by bars c riveted upon the arins b' of the said end piece,
or by other suitable means. It is necessary that the said guides should be so con-
structed that the aforesaid carriages, pulleys, or runners may pass freely around
these curved portions b. I therefore form the latter with cranks or depressions 6³,
from which the bars 6 extend. The latter may be made solid with the cranked
pieces, or bolted or riveted thereon, as shown. These bars & extend through walls
or other supports, and are provided with nuts and washers at d. The said nuts
serve for securing the guides, and keeping or making them taut, and the peculiar
formation of these end pieces prevents the sagging or depression of the guides.
In Figure 3 I have shown a convenient form of suspender to be used in combi-
nation with the aforesaid guides. This suspender is attached to the block e; the
latter is provided with a pulley f, which is preferably formed of two metal discs f¹,
and a central portion f of leather, india-rubber, wood, or other suitablo material,
and its periphery is formed to run upon the said guide. is a flat spring, which
serves to keep the said block from jumping or otherwise escaping from the guide;
It is a screw rod fitted in a tube h', which is provided with a nut h, so that the
said rod can be adjusted in the tube to regulate the length of the suspender. Tho
lower end of the said tube is provided with a loop or ring i, which is covered with
a suitable soft material, so that it may be conveniently grasped by the hand of the
skator.
Figure 4 shows another form of suspender, also provided with a screw rod h and
adjustable tube h¹, but the latter is provided at its lower end with a belt j formed
to encircle the person of the skater.
In Figure 5 I have shewn two cords or ropes attached at their upper ends to
the pulley block, and provided at their lower ends with balls or pads of suitablo
soft material to be grasped by the hands of tho skater.
In Figure 6 I have shown drawn to an enlarged scale a modification of the device
for preventing the escape of the block from the guide, and which consists of a spring
pin arranged to enter a hole in a plate m attached to the side of the block, and
which bolt may be readily drawn back to release the block.
In the modification of my Invention illustrated in Figures 7, 8, and 9, n is a
continuous hollow guide formed of cast iron or other suitable material, and of a
suitable form to permit the wheels or friction rollers of the aforesaid carriages to
travel in the same. The said guide is placed on the floor of tho rink, with its top
portion n' level with the skating surface, and it is secured in place by bolts and
nuts or by other suitable means. The said top portion has a slot or opening n'
extending entirely around it, as shewn in Figure 7. The carriage o has four wheels p

page_text: arranged to run on the bottom plate or portion 3 of the guide. From the axles of
these wheels a standard or upright projects up through the said slot. The said
standard has side arms q', which are provided with wheels that run on the surface
of the rink. The said standard carries an adjustable arm or bar 8 provided with a
hoop or band s¹ or other suitable means for supporting the skater, who can follow
or go in advance of the said carriage while safely supported thereby, and can thus
practise and learn the art of skating without danger of falling. The said adjustable
arm a is fitted to slide vertically upon the standard q, and is connected with a
screw, which is fitted to turn in bearings q, and by turning which screw the said
arm 8 is adjusted on the standard to suit skaters of any height or stature.
In the modification of my Invention illustrated in Figure 10 the continuous
guide is secured upon walls or other supports around the rink. The carriage o
has top and bottom rollers o', o, and side friction rollers o; o' is an arm pro-
jecting through the slot in the guide, and provided with a ring or bar for supporting
the skaters.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same,
I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. The guides consisting of the straight pieces of wire or other rope, gut,
leather, or metal tube covered with leather or of other suitable materials connected
with the curved end pieces, provided with means for making the same taut, and
preventing its sagging or deflection, as above set forth.
Second. The rod, tube, cord, or other suspender provided with a belt, bar, ring,
or other suitable means for supporting the skater, and connected with a head or
block and pulley fitted to run upon the guide, as above set forth.
Third. The device for preventing the slipping or jumping of the carriage or pulley
from the guide, as above set forth.
Fourth. The apparatus consisting of the said guides and suspended supporting
devices in combination with the said guides, as above set forth and for the purpose
specified.
Fifth. The modification of my Invention consisting of continuous grooved or
hollow slotted guides placed on or in the surface of the rink or skating floor, as
above set forth.
Sixth. The carriage or frames with wheels or friction rollers fitted to run in tho
said continuous guides and on the skating surface, and provided with devices for
supporting the skaters, as above set forth.
Seventh. The modification of my Invention consisting of the guides placed on the
walls or around the rink in combination with a carriage which has a projecting arm
or bar provided with means for supporting the skaters, as above set set.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Thomas Parlour, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
JOSEPH THOMAS PARLOUR.
(LS)