IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FACILI- "6 TATING HUMAN LOCOMOTION
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alfred Augustus Hely and John
Marshall at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 12th January 1870.
-
'We, ALFRED AUGUSTUS HELY, of Buckingham Street, in the City of
Westminster, Gentleman, and JOHN MARSHALL, of Poplar, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil and Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR FACILI-
"6
TATING HUMAN LOCOMOTION," to be as follows:-
.
Our Invention has reference to certain improvements whereby the
objections to the use of the old "roller" or more modern "parlor "
skate for running upon the ground are entirely removed, and this
otherwise useful mode of travelling or recreation is rendered both
practical and safe.
.
These objections were the want of, 1st., a convenient means for
balancing the body upon the skate to suit varied weights or inclinations
of the same; 2nd, a suitable spring arrangement to counteract the
effects of concussion when running upon rough or uneven ground;
3rd, a sufficient break or check power, to suddenly stop, diminish the
speed, or create resistance in going down inclines or when otherwise

page_text: required; 4th, a secure lateral support for the ankle joint to guard
against the constant risk of dislocation; 5th, a ready means of walking
For moving from one spot to another upon the skates without rolling,
and of resuming the rolling motion ad libitum; 6th, a simple con-
trivance for traversing over slippery or frozen ground or ice; 7th, a
practical resource for using wheels of large diameters to obtain high
velocities, otherwise necessitating a corresponding increased and con-
sequently inconvenient length of the foot plate.
These objections we propose to remove by the following arrange-
¡ments:_
They consist of a sole attached to the foot by straps in a manner
somewhat similar to an ice skate, having a socket or guard, and an
adjusting stop to keep the heel firmly in its place, and also two sliding
clamps at the fore part of the sole to secure it to the boot, as substitutes
for the holding screw and points in an ordinary skate. To this sole is
attached a bearing plate, by means of -set screws for the purpose of
adjusting the balance of the body upon the bearing wheel or wheels.
To this bearing plate. is secured at both ends by means of pins or bolts
a curved spring, slotted to receive the wheels, or in place of the slotted
spring two or more curved springs with the wheels placed between them.
The object of this spring or springs is to relieve the foot from concussion
on rough or uneven ground. To this spring or springs are fastened
by rivets or otherwise bearing blocks carrying one or more running
wheels. Affixed to the bearing plate is a lever break constructed to
press when required (by means of a simple cord leading up to. the
waist within easy reach of the hand) upon the periphery of the principal
running wheel. This break has a locking spring to maintain the
pressure, and a lever to release the said break from the locking spring,
by means of a stud fixed on the spring close to the foremost wheel,
which lever may be brought into action by striking or pressing the
foremost wheel sharply upon the ground. Under the heel of the sole
we fix a jointed ankle stay, either on one or both sides, composed by
preference of a forked steel spring padded where it embraces the leg,
and secured thereto by a strap passing through loops attached to the
fork. When running upon slippery or frozen ground or ice we also
prefer to use instead of a smooth tyre on the main bearing wheel, a tyre
serrated or having points thereon to bite upon the surface, also under
the control of the break.

page_text: Although we do not confine ourselves to any number, or dimensions, or
positions of the running wheels, we prefer to use three wheels, one
larger than the other two, placed in a central line, the middle or larger
wheel being the main bearing or running wheel, the front wheel being
for preventing pitching forward and facilitating turning, and the hind
wheel for support in standing or when running on uneven ground. In
using wheels of large diameter to obtain high speeds without increasing
the length of the foot plate we also prefer the three-wheel arrangement
just referred to, but then we place the wheels parallel to one another
with their peripheries overlapping.