Certain Improvements in Pneumatic and other Roller Skates, and in the Manufacture of the same.
Year: 1894

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements in Pneumatic and other Roller Skates, and in
the Manufacture of the same.
We, FRANK JORNS GIBBS, and WILLIAM WRIGHT, trading together as
Gibbs & Wright, of 70 Lower Hurst Street, in the City of Birmingham, Tinplate
Workers and Metal Platers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention consists of the hereindescribed improvements in pneumatic and
other roller skates and in the manufacture of the same.
The frame of a pneumatic skate as heretofore usually made consists of a footplate
having two separate pairs of horn pieces rivetted to the underside of the same
these horn pieces projecting downwardly and carrying the axes of the two pneumatic
or other wheels or rollers underneath the skate the said axes being carried at the
proper distances apart and the horn pieces strengthened by separate side stays from
one axis to the other and also by a cross stay.
The frame made in this way is comparatively expensive and one part of our said
invention is designed to make the said frames stronger and at the same time very
light and cheaper than heretofore.
According to one method of carrying out this part of this invention we raise the
foot plate and the two pairs of horns in a piece from a sheet metal blank of the
proper shape and size the said horns being raised to somewhat of a trough section
and bent downwardly at right angles to the footplate. Each of the horns is
strengthened by having a separate piece of metal of corresponding trough shape on
the inside the edges of the horn and of the separate piece or pieces being soldered
or otherwise fixed together so that the horns will then be hollow and very light
and strong.
We also prefer to make the said footplate hollow by fixing thereto either on the
underside or on the upper side of the same another plate of similar shape the edges
of which or of the footplate.are turned upwardly and soldered or otherwise fixed to
the other plate. Thus by making the footplate and horns of the enclosed hollow
form as above described they can be made of very thin metal and yet be very
strong. The two tubular stays which secure the axle ends of the horns at the
proper distances apart may either be made separate from the horns as at present or
and this is what we prefer the said tubular stays are raised in a piece with the
horns and footplate by cutting out the blank to the proper shape to form these
tubular stays and then closing the metal round into the tubular form the said stays
being strengthened if desired by having a piece of wire or tube enclosed in each.
According to another arrangement of this invention the two pairs of horns are
raised in one piece with a longitudinal strengthening piece underneath the footplate
In this
and they are secured to the footplate by rivets or by other means.
arrangement of our invention the said tubular stays which secure the axle ends of
the horns at the proper distances apart may either be made separate from the horns
or in a piece therewith as above described. The footplate is raised somewhat under
the instep as is usual and this in combination with the longitudinal strengthening
piece formed with the horns as above described effectually prevents the footplate
from bending or twisting.

page_text: In order to support the user's ankles the said pneumatic or roller skate frames
are at present made with upright side supports which extend for some seven inches
more or less above the footplate and are secured to the user's legs by straps. These
leg supports have heretofore been rigidly fixed to or formed with the footplate but
according to another part of this invention we hinge the said leg supports to the
footplate or to the back horns so that when the skate is in use the hinging of the
said leg supports will allow of a certain movement of the user's ankles. We prefer
to make the two leg supports in a piece with a heel piece at the back of the user's
beel and there is or may be also another crossbar somewhat higher up. These log
supports when hinged may be made so as to close down at the sides of the tread or
turn outwardly beyond the heel and we may so arrange these leg supports by means
of side links or other connections that they will actuate side grips which grip the
sole of the user's boot and secure the skate thereto. These side grips are or may
be so arranged in combination with the leg support that when the leg support is
turned forward the grips will open far enough to take the sole of the boot and then
when the leg support is moved into its upright position the said grips will grip the
sole and when the leg supports have been strapped to the wearer's leg the skate
will be firmly secured to the boot. Or the said leg supports may be made so as to
operate the side grips by being turned up from a backward position to the
vertical.
:
In order to facilitate the fixing of the skates on the boots and the removing of
the skates from the boots when desired we may arrange the skates with side
grippers which are operated by springs situated within the hollow footplate the
said grippers being arranged in pairs and made with curved slots working on pins
so as to be operated by a central longitudinal spring and there is or may also be a
heel grip projecting at the upper side of the footplate adapted to act against the
front of the user's heel and operated by means of a spring so that in order to fix
the skates on the foot it will only be necessary to push forward a central slide
which will open the side grips and the heel grip and allow of the insertion of the
sole of the boot and then when this slide is released the spring or springs will bring
the grippers together to grip the sole and heel and secure the skate thereto.
Instead of or in addition to the said grippers which grip the sole we may employ a
spring toe-cap which is shaped so as to enclose the toe of the wearer's boot and is
divided at the top and secured together by an elastic or other spring so as to open
and close with the grippers above described.
According to another part of this invention we make the footplate of the skate
so that it can be inflated and thus reduce the vibration. This can readily be done
by arranging an indiarubber or other airtight pad or cushion on the footplate and
if desired another separate footplate on the top of this thus forming a pneumatic
footplate of which the air tight cushion or pad is properly protected.
So as to obviate the necessity of having to wear a separate pair of boots with
the skates we make according to another part of this invention the footplate of the
skate to also form the sole of the boot that is to say the laced or other boot upper
is fixed to the footplate of the skate. In this case the said footplate is by preference
made as a pneumatic footplate as stated above or it may be lined on the upper
side with cork or felt or other soft substance to form a comfortable tread to
the foot.
According to another part of this invention in order to save the cost of plating
the top side of the footplate and also to reduce the vibration we make the footplate
with an upwardly projecting deep flange or rib all round and in this we fit a pad or 5
cork felt or other suitable substance.
According to another part of this invention we make the frame and the two
forks or horns which carry the axles of the wheels or rollers wholly or chiefly of
tubes that is to say we bend one tube to the shape of the tread so as to form the
contour of the same either strengthened or not with a plate above or below the 5
same and to this tube twoj or four other tubes are fixed forming the four horas or
two forks each tube being bent so as to form a loop at the bottom where the axle

page_text: is and the two upper ends being fitted and brazed or otherwise fixed to the upper
tube or footplate. This form of footplate is particularly useful when the skate is
fitted with a pneumatic pad or cushion as stated above.
Or instead of making the footplate of a tube as stated above the said footplate
may be made of a strip of metal or moulding which is in the shape of a half or
portion of a tube thus forming a rounded edge which is hollow inside to take the
pneumatic or other cushion or pad.
Dated this 10th day of December 1894.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.
Certain Improvements in Pneumatic and other Roller Skates, and in
the Manufacture of the same.
:
We, FRANK ORNS GIBBS and WILLIAM WRIGHT, trading together as
Gibbs & Wright, of 70, Lower Hurst Street, Birmingham, Tinplate Workers and
Metal Platers, 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 reference to those pneumatic and other roller skates which
are made with two pneumatic or other rollers under the foot-plate or tread and the
objects of this invention are, firstly, to so construct the metallic frames of the said
skates that they can be made lighter, stronger and cheaper than heretofore;
secondly, to afford better means for fixing the said skates to the wearer's feet and
for preventing strain on the wearer's ankles; thirdly to provide the said skates
with a pneumatic or air inflated tread-plate to reduce vibration and so that the
wheels or rollers can be made with non-inflatable tyres; and fourthly, to combine
the said pneumatic tread plate skates with boots forming a part of the same so that
separate boots will not be required.
Our said invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawings on which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a pneumatic or other roller skate constructed according
to this invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is an inverted
sectional plan of the same; Fig. 4 is a cross section through one of the rollers
of the same; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the frame of the
same;
Fig. 6 is a plan and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a part of the said metallic
frame to illustrate how the same is made and Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively a plan
and elevation of a part of the foot-plate of the said frame;
Fig. 10 represents on a smaller scale a sheet metal blank for forming the part of
the frame represented by Figs. 6 and 7;
Fig. 11 is another form of the said blank and Fig. 12 shews a portion of one
of the horn pieces of the said frame separately;
Fig. 13 is a side elevation and Fig. 14 is an inverted sectional plan of another
form of the said metallic frame;
Fig. 15 is a cross sectional elevation of the same and Fig. 16 shews one of the
parts of the same separately;
Figs. 17 and 18 illustrate another method of forming the said frame in accordance
with this invention;
Fig. 19 shews the metal part of the ankle support of the said frame separately;
Fig. 20 is a sectional side elevation and Fig. 21 is a plan of a part of a roller
skate formed in accordance with this invention and made with a pneumatic or air
inflated foot-plate; Fig. 22 is a cross section of the same; Fig. 23 illustrates

page_text: another method which we employ of making the said foot-plate pneumatic or air
inflated, and Fig. 24 is a plan of the same;
Fig. 25 shews another skate made with a pneumatic foot-plate in accordance with
this invention; Fig. 26 is a cross sectional elevation of the same;
"
Figs. 27 and 28 shew respectively the two parts of the metallic frame separately
and Fig. 29 shews the indiarubber bladder part of the foot-plate separately;
Fig. 30 is a sectional side elevation, and Fig. 31 is a plan of a part of a roller
skate illustrating another kind of our pneumatic foot-plate; Fig. 32 is a cross
sectional elevation of part of the same;
Figs. 33 and 34 illustrate another method of forming this said pneumatic foot-
plate, and
Fig. 35 shews how we make a skate with a pneumatic foot-plate and boot
combined.
The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all the
figures of the drawings..
A is the foot-plate made with two pairs of horn pieces marked respectively B¹ B
CC projecting downwardly and carrying the axes D' D3 of the two pneumatic
or other rollers or wheels E E2 which are on the longitudinal centre line of the
skate underneath the foot-plate. The axes D' D' are carried at the proper distance
apart and the horn pieces strengthened by the side stays F¹ F extending from one
axis D to the other axis D³.
Heretofore the foot-plate A has been usually made of a single piece of sheet
metal which is liable to twist, and the pairs of horn pieces have also been made of
single sheet metal separate from the foot-plate and rivetted thereto. We attain
the first object of this invention by making the foot-plate A and the said horn
pieces hollow in any of the several ways which we will now describe thereby
enabling the skate frame to be made lighter stronger and cheaper than heretofore.
According to one method of carrying out this part of our invention (see Figs. 1, 2,
3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12) we make the upper part A of the foot-plate and the
two pairs of horn pieces B¹ B C C together from a sheet metal blank of the
corresponding shape and size such for instance as shewn on a smaller scale by
Fig. 10 the said blank having the shape of the foot-plate A and the halves of the
horn pieces B' B'C' C' standing out from the sides of the same. These halves
of the horn pieces are raised into somewhat of a trough shape in cross section as
shewn in Fig. 3 and bent downwardly at right angles to the foot-plate A. so as to
occupy the position shewn in Figs. 6 and ". Each of the half horns B B C C' is
strengthened by a separate half horn piece G also made of a trough section (shewn
separately by Fig. 12) corresponding therewith and soldered to the halves of the
horn pieces which are raised with the foot-plate A so that the completed. horns
will then be hollow as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3 and very light and strong. The
hollow portion of the horns extends almost to the lower ends of the same, these
lower ends being flattened and pierced with holes 6¹³ for the axes D' D' to pass
through.
The two tubular stays F1 F2 which secure the axle ends of the horns at the
proper distance apart may be made separate from the horns as at present, or (and
this is what we prefer) the said tubular stays F' F' are raised in a piece with the
'horn and foot-plate A by cutting out the blank to the proper shape as shewn for
instance on a reduced scale by Fig. 11, the cross strips FF connecting the horns
'which cross strips are closed round into the tubular form and if preferred they are
strengthened by having a length of wire or tube enclosed in cacli. Instead of the
inner halves G of each of the two horus at either side of the skate being made
separate from each other as above described and shewn in Fig. 12, the two inner
parts G for two of the horns at either side of the skate may be formed together
with one of the cross strips. F F as shewn in Fig. 16 this cross strip being after-
wards beut round into the tubular or semi-tubular form and thus (in combination
with the other half of the cross piece which is formed with the blank Fig. 11)
make the complete cross stays FF. Or as, shewn in Figs. 13 and 14 the...two

page_text: pairs of horns may be made entirely of four sheet metal stampings of the hollow
shape shewn by Fig. 16 each stamping consisting of two half horns G' G₁ and one
half of one of the cross bars FF. This will be clear by an examination of
Fig. 14 where it will be seen that the four sheet metal stampings such as shewn by
Fig. 16 are marked respectively G G G G the meeting edges of each pair of
stampings being soldered or otherwise fixed together to form the tubular horn
pieces and cross stays as above described. In this case the horn pieces are by
preference fixed to the foot-plate A by the latter being raised with small down-
wardly projecting pommels a¹ in which the bases of the horns fit and where they
are fixed preferably being soldered therein. The horn pieces are further
strengthened at their bases by the hollow stampings G which are soldered to the
foot-plate A and to the horn pieces thus making the frame very strong. The foot-
plate A may be further strengthened by a flange a round the edge. We also
make the foot-plate A hollow by fixing thereto preferably on the inside of the
same another plate marked H and shewn separately by Figs. 8 and 9 of similar
shape to the foot-plate A with the edges i turned upwardly and soldered or
otherwise similarly fixed to the underside of the foot-plate A. This bottom
plate H has hollows in its sides so as to fit against the rounded hollow
horns B B C¹ C³. Thus by making the foot-plate A and the horns B₁ B' C. C'
of the enclosed hollow form as above described, they can be made of very thin
metal and yet be very strong.
.
In
Instead of making the foot-plate A of thin metal hollow as above described,
the same may be made of a single piece of metal of increased thickness, or
corrugated so as to obtain greater strength. In the further modification of our
invention shewn by Figs. 17 and 18, the two pairs of horns are raised in one piece
with a longitudinal strengthening plate A which is fixed underneath the foot-
plate A as shewn in Fig. 17 and there secured by rivets a' or by other means.
this case the foot-plate A has four downwardly projecting parts marked a³ formed
with it corresponding with the horns and between which the horns are rivetted as
aforesaid. The foot-plate A is raised somewhat under the instep, as shewn in
Fig. 17 and thus in combination with the straight strengthening piece A
fixed thereto and formed with the horns as above described, the foot-plate is
effectually prevented from bending or twisting.
We attain the second object of our invention as follows:-In order to support
the user's ankles the said pneumatic or roller skates are at present made with
upright side stays which extend for some seven inches more or less above the foot-
plate and are secured to the user's legs by side straps. These leg supports have
heretofore been rigidly fixed to or formed with the foot-plate but according to this
part of our invention we fix the two leg supports I¹ 1 together by cross bars such
as 1 1 (see Fig. 19) and we joint the leg supports 1' 1' to the sides of the foot-
plate or horns by pins J' J2 (see Fig. 1 and 2) so as to allow of a certain movement
of the user's ankles. One of these cross bars vic. I³ forins. also the stop for the
back of the wearer's heel and the other cross bar l' is higher up where the fixing
strap I is arranged. We prefer to make the two cross bars 13 15 in a piece with
the leg support 1 as shown in Fig. 19, although if preferred these cross bars
may be made separate from the uprights and be rivetted or otherwise suitably
fixed thereto. The strap 14 with felt part 1 at the top of the leg support fits
round the wearer's leg and secures the leg supports thereto. Our improved means
for securing the toe part of the foot-plate to the wearer's boots is illustrated by
Figs. 1, 3, 5 and 8. We provide near the toe end of the skate a pair of side
grippers L L which project upwardly at and are adapted to grip the sole of
the wearer's bout.. These side grippers are continued underneath the sole-plate A
of the skate and turn on a central pin m' or on two pins preferably made as near
as possible to the end of the skate. The side grippers L L are by the pair of
links L L respectively jointed by the pin m' to the central sliding piece L which
is suitably guided by the pins mom fixed to the sole-plate A of the skate and is
continued backwardly towards the other end of the skate and is there.connected to

page_text: a coiled or other wire spring m which has a tendency to pull the slide L' back-
wardly and the side grippers L' L' towards each other to grip the wearer's boot.
The said grippers are each furnished with a strap part N for fastening over the
toe part of the wearer's boot to firmly secure the skate thereto. On the top side
of the sole plate A there is a stop K having its back edge ¹ turned up to bear
against the front of the wearer's heel. This stop K can be moved to and fro and
is adjusted on the foot-plate A by pins k² k on the sole plate A fitting in slots
in the stop K. By the nut on the screw the stop K can be cramped to the
sole-plate A in any desired position. The screwing up of this nut also fixes the
slide L' and the grippers L L³ at their proper distance apart to suit the wearer's
boot.
The wheels or rollers E' E' are made in any suitable manner with pneumatic or
rubber covered or soft tyres to reduce vibration and they are by preference provided
with ball bearings. We prefer to use wheels constructed as shewn on our drawings
but these wheels form no part of this invention and we make no claim in respect
of them...
r
In order to attain the third object of our invention we make the foot-plate of the
skate with an indiarubber or other like air-tight pad or cushion on or in the foot-
plate, and if desired also protected by a separate foot-plate on the top of the
indiarubber or air-tight pad or cushion, thus forming a pneumatic foot-plate which
reduces the vibration on the skaters feet and enables the rollers to be made with
solid or other non-inflatable tyres. The said indiarubber or other air-tight pad or
cushion and the foot-plate therefor may be constructed and arranged in various
ways as we will now describe by referring to Figs. 20 to 34 both inclusive, which
shew some methods of attaining this third object of our invention but are not to
.be taken as limiting our invention to the precise constructions shewn. In the
arrangement shewn by Figs. 20, 21 and 22 the foot-plate A is provided with an
inflatable india rubber or air-tight pad or cushion marked P which secured to the
foot-plate by metal cross bars U fixed to the upwardly turned edges at of the foot-
plate. The foot-plate A may be and by preference is formed with cross
corrugations a for the purpose of strengthening the same. The said air-tight pad
or cushion P is moulded or otherwise formed with raised ribs as shewn which stand
up between cross bars U so that when the indiarubber pad or cushion is inflated as
shewn in Figs. 20, 21 and 22 the same will stand up above the level of the cross
bars U and thus form a soft and non-vibratable tread. An ordinary valve or
connection t for attaching the air-pump is provided and fixed to the pad P.
In the example of our invention shewn by Figs. 23 and 24 the air-tight cushion
or pad P is made as an indiarubber bladder such as shewn by Fig. 29 of the
general form of the foot-plate, which latter in this case is made with a separate
top-plate S corresponding in form with the foot-plate A (to which the horns are
fixed) so as to enclose the air-tight bladder P and effectually prevent the saine
from being punctured. The top plate S is made with downwardly turned edges &¹
which lap over the edges a¹ of the foot-plate A and allow of the top plate A
moving up and down the same. The cross bolts or rivets W prevent the two
plates A and S moving apart too far; or the foot-plate A may as shewn in Fig. 27
be made without the upwardly turned edges a' and instead of the cross bolts W
for preventing the two plates A and S moving apart too far, the plate S may have
its edges bent down as aforesaid and continued underneath the edge of the foot-
plate A and also be formed with cross ribs s against which the plate A bears and
which also assist in strengthening the top plate A, as shewn in Figs. 25, 26
and 28.
In the example of this part of our invention shewn by Figs. 30, 31 and 32 the
air inflated indiarubber or other air-tight pad or cushion is made tubular something
like one of the well known tyres of a velocipede wheel and the foot-plate A is
made of a shape to correspond, that is to say, the foot-plate A is hollow in the
centre part and has upwardly turned edges a* a³ which are also slightly turned
inwardly. so as to form a channel on the upper part of the tread-plate A in which

page_text: the edges pl of the outer cover P₁ of the indiarubber or inflatable tread fit, these
edges p being by preference wired as shewn. P is an inner indiarubber air tube
which when inflated forces the edges pl of the outer covering under the inclined
upwardly turned edges a a³ of the foot-plate A and thus secures the outer cover P¹
thereto.
In the example of this part of our said invention shewn by Figs. 33 and 34 the
indiarubber or like air-tight pad or cushion is made of canvas with a tubular part P³
all round in which is fitted the tubular india rubber or airtight pad P' provided
with a valve t for inflating the same. The tread-plate A is made with a trough a
all round in which the tubular part P³ of the air inflated tread fits and is secured
by cementing or by other means. When the tread-plate is made to be inflated as
above described, we prefer to dispense with the grippers L' L' and their accessories
above referred to, and instead thereof we employ, as in some other skates, the
leather toe piece R which is fixed to the tread and is shaped so as to admit the toe
part of the wearer's boot and suitably formed, with the lace holes for lacing.
Instead of the foot-plate A being provided with an inflatable tread as above
described we may reduce the vibration by providing a pad or tread of felt cork or
other like soft substance which is fitted and secured to the tread-plate. The latter
is then made with upwardly turned edges a* as in Figs. 23 and 35 so as to form a
recess in which the said pad fits.
Fig. 35 shews how we attain the fourth object of this invention and construct
and combine road skates with a pneumatic tread-plate and boot upper so that a
separate pair of boots will not be required. The road skate shewn by Fig. 35
and the pneumatic tread-plate is similar to that shewn by Figs. 20, 21 and 22 and
the boot upper Q is fixed to the same by any convenient means such as by rivetting
the bottom edge of the upper Q to the upwardly projecting edge of the tread-
plate A. The indiarubber air-tight bladder P thus forms the tread for the skater's
foot. All the other forms of skates heretofore described as being made with
pneumatic tread-plates may be similarly provided with a boot upper Q so that a
separate boot will not be required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to provided with two rollers
carried by cross axles fixed to two pairs of downwardly projecting horns under the
metallic foot-plate, making the two pairs of horns of the improved enclosed hollow
form fixed to or formed with the foot-plate in any of the several ways substantially
as herein set forth and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to provided with two rollers
carried by cross axles fixed to two pairs of downwardly projecting horns under the
metallic foot-plate, making the said metallic foot-plate and the two pairs of horns
hollow and fixed or formed together in any of the several ways substantially as
herein set forth and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to provided with two rollers
carried by cross axles fixed to two pairs of downwardly projecting horns under the
metallic foot-plate, making the two pairs of horns of the enclosed hollow form
integral with the cross stays F1 F2 and fixed to or formed with the foot-plate in
any of the several ways substantially as set forth and illustrated by the accom-
panying drawings.
4. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to the combination of the foot-
plate A raised under the instep and made with two pairs of downwardly projecting
side ears a¹ a², and the strengthening plate A' made with two pairs of downwardly
projecting horns B' B³, C C for the axles and fixed under the foot-plate A
and between the side ears a¹ a thereof, substantially as herein set forth and
illustrated by Figs. 17 and 18 of the accompanying drawings.
5. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to and in combination with the

page_text: foot-plate thereof, the jointed leg support consisting of the two upwardly projecting!
side stays I' I fixed together by the cross bar I³ forming a back stop for the heel
and with or without one or more other cross bars higher up, the said upright sidė
stays I being jointed at their lower ends to the skate frame and provided with
fixing strap 1 for securing the same to the skater's leg, all substantially as herein-5
before set forth..
*6. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to the combination of the foot--
plate, the leg support I¹ I jointed thereto as denoted under Claim 5, and the
adjustable stop K for bearing against the front of the skater's boot heel,
substantially as set forth.
7. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to, the combination of the foot-
plate, the leg support I¹ I jointed thereto, and the side grippers L' L' arranged
in the foot-plate and operated by the spring m through the centre slide L' and
connecting links L' L' so as to grip the toe part of the skaters boot, substantially
as hereinbefore set forth.
I
8. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to, the combination of the hollow
foot-plate A with the two pairs of hollow horns B¹ B C¹ C³ carrying the cross-
axles of the two rollers, the side stays F1 F connecting the lower ends of the
horns together, the leg support I¹ 12 jointed to the skate frame and provided with
fixing strap, and the two spring grippers L1 L2, all constructed and arranged -2
substantially as herein before described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of the accompanying drawings.
9. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to, the combination, with the
tread-plate, of a pneumatic or inflatable pad or cushion to reduce vibration, said
tread-plate and the pneumatic or inflatable pad or cushion being constructed and
combined together in any of the several ways substantially as herein set forth.
:
10. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to, the combination, with the
metallic tread-plate A made with cross bars U, of the inflated indiarubber pad or
cushion P fitting in said tread-plate under between and above the cross bars to
form a pneumatic tread, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by
Figs. 20, 21 and 22 of the accompanying drawings.
11. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to, the combination of the
tread-plate A. made with cross bars U and two pairs of horns, the cross axles
carried by said borns, the rollers made with non-inflatable tyres revolving on said
axles, the inflated indiarubber pad or cushion P fitting in said tread plate under
between and above the cross bars of the same, the cross bars F1 F connecting the
lower ends of the horns together, the leg support 1' 12 jointed to the skate frame:
and provided with fixing strap, the whole forming a roller skate with a pneumatic
foot-plate substantially as herein before described with reference to Figs. 20, 21:
and 22 of the accompanying drawings.
12. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to, the combination of the metallic
tread-plate A, the cover plate S fitted thereto, and the air inflated bladder or
pad P fitted between the plates S and A. so as to form a pneumatic, tread-plate,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated by Figs. 23 and 24 of the
accompanying drawings.
13. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to, the combination of the
tread-plate A made with two pairs of horns, the cross axles carried by said horns,
the rollers made with non-inflatable tyres revolving on said axles, the top plate S
fitted to plate A, the air inflated bladder or pad P fitted between said plates, the
leg support 11 jointed to the skate frame and provided with fixing strap, the
whole forming a roller skate with a pneumatic foot-plate, substantially as herein-
before described with reference to Figs. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 of the
accompanying drawings.
14. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to, the combination of the.
metallic tread-plate A made with the upwardly inclined edges a' a forming a
channel round the top, and the inflated indiarubber pad or cushion fitted thereto.
and formed of the outer covering Pl and inner air tube P constructed and
-

page_text: connected to said tread-plate so as to form a pneumatic tread, substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by Figs. 30, 31 and 32 of the accompanying
drawings.
15. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to, the combination of the
tread-plate A made with upwardly inclined edges at a forming a channel round
the top and having two pair of horns underneath the same, the cross axles carried
by said horns, the rollers made with non-inflatable tyres revolving on said axles,
the inflated indiarubber pad or cushion formed of the outer covering P¹ and inner
air tube P' constructed and connected to said tread-plate as set forth, the cross
bars FF connecting the lower ends of the horns together, the leg support I¹ I'
jointed to the skate frame and provided with fixing strap, the whole forming a
roller skate with a pneumatic foot-plate, substantially as hereinbefore described
with reference to Figs. 30, 31 and 32 of the accompanying drawings.
16. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to, the combination of the
metallic tread-plate A made with the channel a' and the tubular inflated pad fitted
and fixed thereto said pad consisting of the outer canvas covering P³ containing
the inner indiarubber air tube P2 the said parts being constructed and fitted
together so as to form a pneumatic tread-plate, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figs. 33 and 34 of the accompanying drawings.
17. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to, the combination of the
tread-plate A made with channel a in its upper surface, the tubular inflated pad
or cushion P2 P3 fixed in said channel, the two pairs of horns formed with or fixed
to said tread-plate, the cross axles carried by said horns, the rollers made with
non-inflatable tyres revolving on said axles, the cross bars F1 F' connecting the
lower ends of the horns together, the leg support I' I jointed to the skate frame
and provided with fixing strap, the whole forming a roller skate with a pneumatic
foot-plate, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 33 and 34
of the accompanying drawings.
18. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to, made with a pneumatic or
air inflated tread-plate and non-inflatable rollers, the combination with said tread-
plate, of a boot upper such as Q secured thereto so as to form a combined boot
and roller skate, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 35
of the accompanying drawings.
19. In a roller skate of the kind herein referred to, the combination of the
metallic tread-plate A made with upwardly turned edges a* forming a recess on
the top of the tread-plate and a pad of felt or cork or like substance fitted in said
recess to reduce vibration, two pairs of hollow horns B' B' C' C² fixed to or
formed with said tread-plate and carrying the axles D¹ D' of the two rollers E' E',
the rollers revolving on said axles made with non-inflatable tyres, and the leg
support 11 I jointed to the skate frame and provided with fixing strap the whole
forming a roller skate substantially as hereindescribed.
Dated this 10th day of September 1895.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.