IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Harrington, of Ryde, in the Isle of Wight,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES:"
Sealed the 3rd August 1875, and dated the 2nd June 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Harrington at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 2nd June 1875.
I, JOHN HARRINGTON, of Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, do hereby
3 declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER
SKATES," to be as follows:-
:-
The Invention has for its object improvements in roller skates. For
this purpose I mount each pair of rollers on an axis which is fixed to a
vertical perch bolt capable of turning upon its own axis. These perch
bolts are mounted in suitable bearings fixed rigidly to the foot stand of
the skate.
Projecting from each side of the azie

page_text: pair of rollers at right angles to the foot stand except when otherwise
acted upon. The other studs or arms are each passed into a slot or
opening in the lower end of a lever, which is somewhat in the form of
a T. These levers are mounted upon axes of motion carried by bearings
fixed rigidly to the stock or foot stand, and the upper parts of these
levers are placed below the level of the upper surface of the stock or
foot stand, but in such position that the outer ends thereof can be acted
upon by either side of the foot and heel when it is desired to cause the
skate to run in a curved direction.
The stock or foot stand is formed with a central raised portion upon
which the weight of the skater is carried, but it is so formed or bevilled
off at each side as to permit of the rocking of the foot thereon to turn
the levers in the directions desired.
The springs before referred to may be otherwise applied so long as
they tend to maintain the axes of the rollers in a square or rectangular
position, and the studs and levers may be formed to gear together
somewhat in the manner of segmental toothed wheels. The straps may
be fixed to the levers, or they may be passed through openings formed
through the stock or foot stand, in which case a roller would by
preference be inserted to form a bearing for each strap and permit of
its readily moving when the foot is rocked upon the foot stand.
I would here remark that according to my Invention the stock or foot
stand is always maintained in a rigid position, and does not rock as has
heretofore been the case.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, 25
filed by the said John Harrington in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 2nd December 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HARRINGTON, of Ryde, in the Isle of Wight, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her 30
Letters Patent, bearing date the Second day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her roign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,

page_text: give and grant unto me, the said John Harrington, Her special license,
that I, the said John Harrington, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Harrington, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ROLLER SKATES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Henry Harrington, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause. the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Harrington, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in roller skates. For
this purpose I mount each pair of rollers on an axis which is fixed to a
vertical perch bolt capable of turning upon its own axis. These perch
bolts are mounted in suitable bearings fixed rigidly to the foot stand of
the skate.
Projecting from each side of the axis of each pair of rollers is a stud
or arm, one of which is acted upon by a spring or springs to retain
each pair of rollers at right angles to the foot stand except when other-
wise acted upon. The other studs or arms are each passed into a slot
or opening in the lower end of a lever, which is somewhat in the form
of a T. These levers are mounted upon axes of motion carried by
bearings fixed rigidly to the stock or foot stand, and the upper parts of
these levers are placed below the level of the upper surface of the stock
or foot stand, but in such position that the outer ends thereof can be
acted upon by either side of the foot and heel when it is desired to cause
5 the skate to run in a curved direction.
The stock or foot stand is formed with a central raised portion upon
which the weight of the skater is carried, but it is so formed or bevelled

page_text: pieces g, which are fixed rigidly to the stock or foot stand a, a, and the
upper or horizontal parts of these levers fare placed in recesses below
the upper surface of the stock or foot stand in such position that the
outer ends thereof can be acted upon by either side of the foot and heel
when it is desired to cause the skate to run in a curved direction. The
stock or foot stand a, a, is formed with a central raised portion a¹ upon
which the weight of the skater is carried, but it is so formed or bevelled
off at each side as to permit of the rocking of the foot thereon to turn
the levers in the direction desired.
As shown in the Drawings springs h fixed to the stock or foot stand
a, a, act upon the axes c, c, to retain each pair of rollers at right angles
to the stock or foot stand, except when the ends of the levers fare
depressed on the one side or the other by the rocking of the skater's
foot. Springs however may be otherwise applied so long as they tend to
maintain the axes c, c, of the rollers or wheels in a square or rectangular
position, and the studs or arms c¹ and levers ƒ may be formed to gear
together somewhat in the manner of segmental toothed wheels.
The straps may, as shown in the Drawings, be connected to the
levers, the back straps being connected together at the back or heel,
as is well understood, in which case the metal support and the con-
necting piece of the back straps are mounted upon a stud e' projecting
backwards from the rear piece e, so as whilst affording sufficient support
to the rear straps to permit of their freely rocking with the lever f. If
desired however the straps may be passed through openings formed
through the stock or foot stand, in which case a roller would by
preference be inserted in the stock or foot stand to form a bearing for
each strap and permit of its readily moving when the foot is rocked
upon the foot stand.
I would here remark that according to my Invention the stock or foot
stand is always maintained in a rigid horizontal position and does not
rock as has heretofore been the case with some descriptions of roller
skates capable of performing similar motions.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode
in which I prefer to carry the same into effect, I would have it under-
stood that I do not confine myself to the precise details herein shown
and described, as such may be varied without departing from the peculiar
character of my Invention; but what I claim is mounting each pair of

page_text: rollers or wheels b, b, upon an axis c connected to a perch bolt mounted
with capability of turning in a fixed bearing carried by a fixed foot
stand, and causing the feet of the skater to act upon the axes c, c, by
means of T levers, in manner and for the purpose substantially as herein
shown and described.
rollers or wheels b, b, upon an axis c connected to a perch bolt mounted
with capability of turning in a fixed bearing carried by a fixed foot
stand, and causing the feet of the skater to act upon the axes c, c, by
means of T levers, in manner and for the purpose substantially as herein
shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Harrington, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.
shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Harrington, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirtieth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.