IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Smith, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES."
Scaled the 22nd August 1876, and dated the 27th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas Smith at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th May 1876.
EDWARD THOMAS SMITH, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ROLLER SKATES."
This Invention consists in constructing roller skates in the following manner :—
The working platform or sole of the skate on which the skater's foot is intended
to rest is made of metal by preference, which is raised from and connected with
another platform of wood, forming the body of the skate; the said platforms are
connected together by means of two horizontal pins or fulera, one at each end of
the said body, on which the upper platform swivels and rocks sideways. In the
centre of the aforesaid upper platform is fixed a metal rod which passes through
a slot in the body of the skate, and another slot made in a metal joint connecting
two horizontal tubular levers employed to actuate the rollers of the skate to which
the said levers are connected. The aforesaid tubular levers are each fitted with
a spiral spring and rod, one end of the said rod is connected with the aforesaid
spring, and the other end to the aforesaid joint, which connects the said tubular
levers together. The aforesaid tubular levers have forked-shaped pieces of metal fixed
to or formed thereon which carry the axes of the rollers of the skate, and the said
forks are each connected to the under platform by a pin fixed therein on which
the said forks swivel to allow the rollers to converge.
I propose to employ three rollers for the skate to run or move upon, one roller
to be placed at the front or toe part of the skate, and the other at the back or heel
part thereof, or if desirable I employ four rollers as usual.
I would here observe that if desirable I employ flat metal levers in the place of
the jointed tubular levers before mentioned, and connect therewith a spring or
springs suitably placed for maintaining the said levers in a straight line when the
side pressure on the upper platform is not being exerted. In this case I employ
two curved metal rods passing underneath the body of the skate; the upper ends
of the said rods are fixed to each side of the upper platform of the skate, so as to
rock therewith, and at the bottoin of that part of each of such said curved bais
[Price 6d.]

page_text: which comes in a line with the centre of the body of the skate, and also the
upper platform thereof when it is in a horizontal position, 1 form in the bottom
of each of such curved rods a slot, through which passes a rod connected with the
axles of the rollers of the skate for effecting converging of the said rollers by the
rocking of the upper platform thereof as before stated. The extent of convergence
of the rollers may be regulated by the distance the aforesaid curved rods are fixed
from the fulcra of the aforesaid levers. Instead of employing the before-mentioned
central pin for effecting converging of the rollers of the skate, I employ a horizontal
bar passing underneath the body of the shate, the said har heing fastened to the
upper metal platform or sole aforesaid by means of two rods passing round the
body of the skate. According to this last method, instead of employing the afore-
said tubular levers I employ two flat levers, and place on cach of such said levers
a sliding rest with a slot in, through which the aforesaid horizontal bar passes for
effecting converging of the rollers. The extent of movement or converging may
be regulated by adjusting the rests a greater or less distance from the fulcra of
the aforesaid levers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Edward Thomas Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 27th
November 1876.
EDWARD THOMAS SMITH, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN ROLLER SKATES."
The upper portion or sole of roller skates constructed according to this Invention
consists of two parts or platforms situated one above the other, the upper of the
said platforms being free to move laterally, while the lower is fixed. The upper
platform (which is preferably made of metal and upon which the foot of the skater
rests) is connected to the lower one by incans of pins or trunnions, upon which it
is swung by the pressure of the skater's foot to right or left, and the angle
assumed by the wheels or rollers is governed therefrom either by means of a
straight rod or rods projecting downwards from the rocking platform and engaging
the spring or other connection between the rollers, or by means of a curved bridle
or bridles connected to each side of the rocking foot stock, and actuating the roller
connection in a manner similar to that of the rods. Springs are also provided to
restore the rollers to their normal position when the foot is raised or eased. These
springs may be either spiral or flat, but when spiral I prefer to enclose them in
tubes attached to the roller bearings, the springs being connected by a metal joint
through which the rod from the upper platform passes; but flat metal levers may
also be employed if desired in place of the aforesaid tubular levers, and flat or
other springs placed suitably for maintaining the normal position of the rollers
and levers.
In those cases where the governing force is transmitted from the upper platformi
to the rollers at more points than one, say by means of two or three of the afore-
said links or bridles, I employ a horizontal bar passing underneath the body of
the skate, which bar being actuated at the several points where it is connected
to the said links or bridles actuates in its turn the flat levers attached to the rollers
and so effects their convergence, the extent of such movement or convergence being
regulated by adjusting the rests which slide on the levers a greater or less distance
from the fulcra of the aforesaid levers.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I will now
proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying Drawings and to
the letters and figures inarked theroon, that is to say-
Figure 1 on the annexed Sheet of Drawings is partly a side elevation and partly
a section of one arrangement of roller skate constructed in accordance with my
Invention. Figure 1ª is a plan of the saine, looking from the under side. The

page_text: upper rocking platform a, made preferably of metal, is hinged or pivotted upon
the lower fixed stock by means of the pins or trunnions c. The rollers d, of
which in this instance there are three (two in front and one behind, or vice versa)
are embraced in double jawed brackets or castors c, centred upon the lower fixed
platform b, and the said castors or bearings e are connected by tubular levers f
containing spiral springs, the extreme ends of which are attached to the back
of the tubes, while their other ends are attached to sliding rods connected to
each other by links i. The springs being always in a state of tension will,
unless they are overpowered, keep the axes of the rollers always in their normal
position, that is to say, always parallel to one another, as shewn in the Drawing.
But should the rocking platform be canted to one side or the other then the
rod which projects downwards from the said platform and passes through an
cyc in the links i will be also thrown to one or the other side, pulling with it the
links and their attachments, and causing the axes of the rollers to assume similar
but opposite angles, whereby the skate is caused to run in a curve proportionate in
radius to the acuteness of the angle that the roller axes have been thrown into. As
soon as the skate is lifted or cased the resillience of the springs g at once causes the
rollers to assume the position favourable for straight progressive movement.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of another modification of my improved roller skate.
Figure 2a is a cross section of the same at the line A, B, Figure 2. As will be seen
from these views, according to this arrangement I dispense with the tubular levers
herein-before described, and instead of them employ flat metal levers f fixed to
and projecting from the bearing brackets e. The rocking plate a is carried on a
bar answering to the trunnions c in Figure 1, but instead of governing the
direction of the rollers by means of a single central rod I here employ two curved
bridles, one at each end of the skate, the shape and position of which will be
better understood by reference to Figure 2a. A horizontal bar h fixed to and
extending between the lower parts of the said bridles passes through adjustable
links or rests i fixed by a thumb screw or pinching pin at any convenient point
on the flat levers f, so that when the platform a is canted the bridles / similarly
throw the bar h to one side, and thus through the links i operate the flat levers f
so as to simultaneously cause the axes of the rollers & to assume the required
converging angles. The spring whereby the rollers d are returned to their normal
position may consist (as shewn at the front part of the skate) of a sufficiently
elastic metallic rod y projecting from the centre of the front bearing through an
eye fixed to the lower portion of the foot stock, or the spring g' may be employed
as shewn applied to the hinder bracket e of the skate, or the said springs may be
employed in conjunction, as shown on the Drawing.
Figure 3 is a view of another modification of my Invention, and shows a some-
what simpler arrangement than those already described. The rocking platform a
is carried upon end pivots c, as at Figure 1, and it has formed upon or attached to
its lower side two dovetail shaped bars or projections h, upon which slide similarly
shaped female blocks i, capable of being secured at any desired point upon the
bars by means of the pinching pins k, which are made sufficiently long to project
down through a slot formed in the levers and at least equal in length to the
bars h. It will thus be seen that as the platform a is canted by the foot of the
skater the pinching pins & must of necessity actuate the rollers in the desired
manner.
Figure 3 is a cross section of the platform a, dovetail bar h, and block i. The
springs g are applied to right the rollers when the side pressure is removed.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of a skate somewhat similar to that already
described with reference to Figures 2 and 2a. Figure 4 is an end view of Figure 4.
To give direction to the rollers & flat levers fare here employed, and they are
actuated through adjustable rests i, through which passes a horizontal bar
operated from the platform at three different points in its length through the
connections ',, and . The bearing brackets & are forked, as seen at Figure 4º,
in order to allow free lateral play to the bar h. To return the rollers to their

page_text: normal position flat springs g are provided and fixed to the stationary stock b
the free ends of the said springs passing through and acting upon the swivelling
brackets e in the manner desired.
Figure 5 is a view of a skate where the roller governing connections le are caused
to act upon the bracket levers f by means of a ball-and-socket joint as shewn.
The return spring herein-before described with reference to Figures 4 and 4 is
here applied under instead of above the lever h.
In Figures G the wings a are let into the foot stock b so as to be below the surfaco
to enable the foot of the skater to rest and rock upon the rounded part of the
said stock. These wings are formed upon the bar c, and by application of pedal
pressure on the said wings the connections K are operated and the rollers turned
in the required direction. The spring g may be substituted by picces of india-
rubber placed under the wings_c. The heel plate may, if found desirable, be
attached to the hinder wings a, Figure 6, or to the rocking platforms in the other
Figures so as to rock therewith.
Having now described my said Invention, and particularly ascertained in what
manner the same is or may be used or carried practically into effect, I would
observe in conclusion that I do not limit myself to those mere details of construction
which it is evident might be changed or evaded without departing from the spirit
of my Invention, nor to the number of wheels to be employed, but what I do claim
as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
is, constructing roller skates substantially and in the manner herein-before described
and shewn in the Drawing, and specially I claim the arrangement of wings
marked a in combination with the bar c, substantially as described and shewn;
also the connections K in combination with the bracket levers f, substantially as
described and shewn in Figure 5.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Smith, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord.
One thousand cight hundred and seventy-six.
EDWARD THOMAS SMITH. (LS.)