IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER OR RINK SKATES
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Griffith Brewer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th April 1876. A communication
from abroad by François Joseph Endrès, of Paris, France.
EDWARD GRIFFITH BREWER, of Chancery Lane, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ROLLER OR RINK SKATES." A communication from abroad by François Joseph
Endrès, of Paris, France,
This Invention consists-
First. In the means provided of constructing skates so that the length may be
varied to render them suitable for use by people having feet of different sizes.
Second. In the means provided for obtaining the requisite inclinations by the
skater.
Third. In the means provided for the automatic lubrication of the working parts.
Fourth. In the means provided for obtaining the required inclinations with
sufficient rigidity for the effect produced.
To render the description as clear as possible a Drawing is annexed to illustrate
the Invention.
The Drawing shows a skate made according to this Invention in longitudinal
section. The sole plate a may be made of wood, leather, or other material; it is
provided at front with toe piece b; c is a heel piece capable of being moved to and fro
and adjusted in any required position by means of screw with a thumb piece s for
operating same, by turning which the position of the heel piece c is regulated to
suit the foot of wearer to the greatest nicety.
The second part of the Invention refers to the means employed for producing the
peculiar oscillating or wobble motion required for the proper working of roller or
rink skates. d is a box or socket provided with say three cavities d', d, d³; in the
cavities d, d, there are two balls (spheres), the arm from being fixed directly to
the sole plate a, and is connected to a curved arm, which is also attached to sole
plate a; it will be thus understood that the motions produced by the spheres are
connected, and that the inclination of the foot plate will correspond to the motion
of these spheres whether the skater inclines to the left or right; a pallet spring e
tends to bring the skate back to the horizontal position, but a helical or other suit-
able spring may be used instead of the pallet spring. The third cavity d³ is for
lubricating; it is supplied with oil at top, and the rotation of the wheels is suf-
ficient to lubricate the parts; other incans for lubricating may however be employed.
As previously stated the pallet spring can be replaced by a helical or other spring,
and when a helical spring is employed a more equal resisting power is obtained.

page_text: Two springs instead of one may also be used; by dividing the pressure greater
suppleness is obtained. This arrangement necessitates a continuous lubrication,
but, as previously described, the cavity provided for oil in the box does not give a
continuous supply.
By another arrangement the oil reservoir is formed in the box, and the axis turns
iu same.
By another arrangement there are several reservoirs for oil; viz., one in interior
of box and others in the wheels. The axis may be arranged in various ways;
the box d also for example, it may be divided vertically or longitudinally and
united by screws or rings.
Where a helical spring is used a nut is employed for regulating the tension, and
the movement of the rod on which the spring is placed is calculated so that there
may be constant latitude without allowing it to escape.
The play of the pallet spring may also be regulated by means of rod carrying
pins between which the spring passes, the rod being operated by a screw several
separate and distinct springs may be used. The rod for regulating spring may be
provided with conical shaped head for adopting itself to all the movements of the
apparatus.
The roller or wheel axis may be made in two parts to give the rollers motions
independent of one another; where the movable axis is in one piece one of the
rollers may be fixed and other movable therein.