IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING SKATERS ON RINKS OR FLOORS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Wallington, of Bristol, in the County of Gloucester,
Painter, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING
SKATERS ON RINKS OR FLOORS."
Sealed the 1st September 1876, and dated the 7th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Wallington at tho
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th April 1876.
ALFRED WALLINGTON, of Bristol, in the County of Gloucester, Painter. "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING SKATERS ON RINKS OR FLOORS."
My Invention has for its object the adaptation and application to skating rinks
and floors of supports for skaters suspended at any suitable elevation convenient for
use in order to prevent accidents. These supports consist of a suspended line or
pair of rails, forming either a circle or a straight line, as may be required, to serve
as a carrier or way on which may traverse blocks or runners, to which are connected
ropes to be held by skaters while learning the art of skating. The said line or way
is suspended by means of rods fixed to the principals of the building or otherwise,
and it is or may be constructed of two layers of wood formed in pieces arranged so
as to break joint and secured together, the rails being formed by a piece of iron on
the outer and inner side of such wood; or the said line or way may be formed of
angle irons with connecting plates between the vertical sides thereof. In the former
case the suspending rods would be passed through and bolted to the wood, and in
the latter case to the connecting plates and the horizontal parts of the angle irons.
To this suspended line or way are applied blocks or runners with sheaves or rollers
mounted so as to be capable of running on the edges of the irons, which serve as
guide rails for each block as it is moved onwards by the action of the skater who is
using it.
The block is or may be formed in two parts bolted together in order to admit of
its application to a circular suspended line or way. To each of the side plates of
the block is bolted an iron band with a loop at the bottom to receive a ring, to
which may be connected a rope or cord (or ropes or cords) extending downwards so
as to be in a convenient position for use by a skater, a ring or handle being also
fitted to the rope or cord.
Friction rollers mounted in a horizontal position are adapted to prevent the
Din 17

page_text: binding of the side plates of the block against the suspended line or way as the
block is drawn forward by the skater.
My Invention as above stated consists of a suspended line or way with moveable
blocks adapted to run on the same, in such a manner as to support the skater and
prevent accidents without interfering with the freedom of his action or progress on
the rink.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alfred Wallington in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th October
1876.
ALFRED WALLINGTON, of Bristol, in the County of Gloucester, Painter.
PROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING SKATERS ON RINKS OR FLOORS."
"IM-
My Invention of "Improvements in Apparatus for Supporting Skaters on Rinks
or Floors" has for its object the adaptation and application to skating rinks and
floors of supports for skaters, suspended at any suitable elevation, convenient for
use in order to prevent accidents. These supports consist of a suspended line or
pair of rails forming either a circle, or a straight, or curved line, as may be required
to serve as a carrier or way on which may traverse blocks or carriages, to which
are connected ropes or other appendages to be held by skaters whilst learning the
art of skating. The said line or way is suspended by means of rods fixed to the
principals of the building, or otherwise, and it is or may be constructed of two
layers of wood formed in pieces arranged so as to break joint and secured together,
the rails being formed by a piece of iron on the outer and inner side of such wood.
To this suspended line or way are applied blocks or carriages with sheaves or
rollers mounted so as to be capable of running on the edges of the irons which serve
as guide rails for each block as it is moved onwards by the action of the skater who
is using it.
The block is or may be formed in two parts, bolted together in order to admit of
its application to a circular suspended line or way. To each of the side plates of
the block is bolted an iron band with a loop at the bottom to receive a ring, to
which may be connected a rope or cord (or ropes or cords) extending downwards so
as to be in a convenient position for use by a skater, a ring or handle being also
fitted to the lower end of the rope or cord.
Friction rollers mounted in a horizontal position are adapted to prevent the
binding of the side plates of the block against the suspended line or way as the
block is drawn forward by the skater.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention I will proceed to describe
more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, in which are represented the parts above referred to.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 represents an end elevation of the block or carriage shewing in section the
rails on which it runs; and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the block or carriage.
A, A, are two strips of iron serving as rails, which are kept apart as required by
blocks of wood B so as to form a line or way for the carriage to run on, which line
or way inay be straight or curved as required; C, C, are four sheaves or pulleys,
two for each rail on which the carriage runs, and which are kept in place by suitable
bolts or spindles on which they revolve; the carriage, as represented in the Drawing
at D, D, consists of two iron cheeks or sides in which the said sheaves or pulley's
are fixed, and which are secured together by bolts at E, E; the carriage has also
friction rollers F, F, fitted into the sides or checks, as shown, so that if the skater
or person using the safety block or carriage should pull too much on either side the
friction would be reduced to a minimum by the voller F revolving against the side

page_text: of the rail; also from the sides or cheeks of the carriage there is hung a pendant or
iron strap G to which is intended to be secured the rope or other appendage to be
held by the user of the apparatus; this iron strap G is hung from the carriage in
such a manner that it can swing both before and behind the carriage in tho
direction of the rails, and on the lower part of this strap G is provided an appliance
represented by the hook A to which is fixed the rope or other appendage to be held
by the user of the apparatus.
By means of an apparatus the parts of which are combined in the manner
described there is provided a block or carriage supported on a base of four sheaves
or pulleys, and thereby rendered capable of running steadily on the rails and with
a slight amount of friction as required.
At Fig. 3 is shewn on a reduced scale an appendage to be used in substitution for
a rope. At I there is an universal joint in the short rod that is fixed at the bottom
of the strap G instead of the hook H; to this rod is connected a hollow tube K in
which is inserted a rod L with a handle at the end to be laid hold of by the user of
the apparatus, such rod being adjustable in the tube by means of screws at M.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I hereby declare that I do not claim as of my Invention
any of the parts of apparatus above described except as herein-after stated; but
what I do claim as of my Invention is, the combination of parts consisting of a
carriage supported on four sheaves or pulley's furnished with lateral friction rollers
and an iron strap suspended to the carriage as described, and adapted for use by
skaters on skaking rinks, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Wallington, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Third day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
E. A. SHEPPARD,
Accountant,
32, Horfield Road,
Bristol.
ALFRED WALLINGTON. (L.S.)