IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES." A communication from abroad by
Robert Hutton, of Brooklyn, New York, United States of America.
Sealed the 29th April 1878, and dated the 8th November 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th November 1877.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES." [A com-
munication from abroad by Robert Hutton, of Brooklyn, New York, United States
of America.]
This Invention relates to improvements in roller skates, and consists in a roller
skate having a rear roller constructed with a bearing within which the axis of the
roller may shift in a straight line either to the front or rear of its normal central
position, in which normal or central position the horizontal axis of the roller is at
right angles to a vertical axis.
The said Invention also consists in a roller skate with the rear roller having
bearings within which the horizontal axis of the roller may shift in a straight line,
and provided with fingers, in combination with the axis of the roller, whereby the
said axis is restored to its normal central position within the bearings.
The said Invention also consists in a roller skate with a vertical axis constructed
with a spindle provided with a conical bearing surface located near the lower part
of the said spindle and fitting into a corresponding conical seat.
And the said Invention also consists in a roller skate with its rear roller provided
with a spring, whereby the roller may be restored to its normal central position
after it has been turned on its vertical axis.
To the
The sole of the skate may be of wood or other suitable material.
under side of the sole, and a short distance from the front end of the same, and in
077

page_text: suitable bearings, are rollers. These rollers are fixed to their support and bearing
so that their axis shall at all times be at right angles to the sole.
To the rear of
the sole, or rather to a prolongation from the heel of the same, is secured the rear
roller. The said roller may be made of wood or other suitable material, and through
its centre passes an axis. The portions of the axis which protrude on either side of
the roller are received in and supported by bearings. These bearings consist of
horizontal slots formed into plates secured at right angles to and dependent from a
circular plate.
The horizontal slots which constitute the aforesaid bearings are of a width
sufficient to permit the introduction of the said axis, so that the same may slide
readily to and fro within such bearings. The said circular plate is constructed with
lugs located on either side of the said plate. To these lugs are loosely rivetted
fingers. There are two of these fingers on each side of the plate, so that when the
axis of the rear roller is in its normal position the said axis will be received between
the fingers, which will then depend at right angles to the circular plate and bear
against the said axis, and for this purpose those parts of the fingers which bear
against the axis have recesses formed in them. For uniting these fingers I use a
spiral spring firmly fixed to the centre of the circular plate, and on its upper surface
is a spindle. This spindle has a conical bearing in its upper end, and a collar with
a conical under surface secured to it at a point near its lower end. This spindle is
received within a cylinder, which has at its lower end a conical seat corresponding
to the conical under surface of the said collar within which the said collar rests, and
also a screw cap that receives the conical bearing at the upper end of the spindle.
The spindle when in this position is fixed to the aforesaid prolongation. To the
aforesaid circular plate is secured one end of a spiral spring, which is protected by
a hood, and has its other end secured to a suitable pin or stud projecting from
the sole.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th May 1878.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES." A com-
munication from abroad by Robert Hutton, of Brooklyn, New York, United States
of America.
This Invention relates to roller skates, and consists in various improvements
herein-after specified.
In practising the said Invention I provide the skates with a rear roller, and with
bearings within which the axis of this roller may shift or move either to the front
or rear of its normal central position, in which normal or central position the hori-
zontal axis of the roller is at right angles to a vertical axis. The horizontal axis of
the roller may shift in a straight line in its bearings, and fingers are provided in
combination with the axis of the roller whereby the said axis is restored to its
normal central position within the bearings. The said skate has its vertical axis or
spindle provided with a convex or conical bearing surface located near the lower
part of the said spindle, and fitting into a corresponding conical seat. And the said
rear roller is provided with a spring whereby the roller may be restored to its
normal central position after it has been turned on its vertical axis.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an improved roller skate eonstructed according to
this Invention.
Figure 2 shews the under side of the said skate.
And Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Similar letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the Drawing.
A represents the sole of the skate, which may be of wood or other suitable
material. To the under side of the sole A, and a short distance from the front end
of the same, and in suitable bearings, are rollers B. These rollers are fixed to their
support and bearing so that their axis shall at all times be at right angles to the
sole A.
To the rear of the sole A, or rather to a prolongation C, from the heel of the same,
is secured the rear roller D. The roller D may be made of wood, or other suitable
material, and through its centre passes an axis a, so that the roller may freely
revolve on its axis. The portions of the axis a which protrude on either side of the
roller D are received in and supported by bearings E. These bearings consist of
horizontal slots b formed in plates c, secured at right angles to and depending from
a circular plate d.
The horizontal slots b which constitute the aforesaid bearings are of a width
sufficient to permit the introduction of the axis a so that the said axis may slide
readily to and fro within such bearings. The circular plate d to which the plates c
are secured, as aforesaid, is constructed with lugs e located on either side on said
plate. To these lugs are loosely rivetted fingers F; there are two of these fingers
on each side of the plate (as shown in Figures 1 and 2), so that when the axis a of
the roller D is in its normal position, which is exactly midway between the
extremities of the slot 6 or bearing, the said axis will be received between the
fingers F, which will then depend at right angles to the circular plate d and bear
against the said axis a, and for this purpose those parts of the fingers which bear
against the axis have recesses f formed in them. For uniting the fingers F I use a
spiral spring g, the ends of which are secured to the fingers F (as shown in Figures 1
and 2).
Firmly fixed to the centre of the circular plate, and on its upper surface, is a
spindle G. This spindle has a conical bearing hin its upper end, and a collar i with

page_text: a conical under surface ; secured to it at a point near its lower end. This spindle is
received within a cylinder H, which has at its lower end a conical seat / corre-
sponding to the conical under surface j of the collar i, and within which the said
collar rests, and also a screw cap 7 that receives the conical bearing hat the upper
end of the spindle G, as shown in Figure 3. The said spindle when in this position
is fixed to the prolongation C, that is to say, it is passed up through the prolongation,
and a bearing plate m is affixed to the under side of the same. To the circular
plate d, or to a lug n thereof, is secured one end of a spiral spring o which is pro-
tected by a hood p, and has its other end secured to a suitable pin or piece r pro-
jecting from the sole.
When the said skates are affixed to the feet of any person and are propelled in a
straight line, the rear roller D revolves in a direction parallel with the front rollers B
and in a line coincident with a line drawn longitudinally through the centre of the
sole A; but when the wearer desires to describe a curve with the skate or change
the position of his feet from a straightforward to some other course, the increased
friction thrown upon the periphery of the wheel D causes the circular plate d (which
as above described supports the roller through its bearings) to turn on the vertical
spindle G so that the roller D assumes a position at an angle more or less acute with
its normal position, so adapting itself to the change of position of the feet of the
user that it may revolve as easily or freely in its changed position as it revolved
before this change of position. Simultaneously with the change of course the axis a
of the roller D slides within the slots b of its bearings (to the rear end of the slots
when the skate is propelled forward, and to the front end of the slots when the
skate is propelled backward). This shifting of the axis a throws the axis in front of
or behind the vertical spindle G, so that a leverage in length equal to the end of the
slot b to which the axis has shifted, and the centre of the vertical spindle is exerted
on this central axis, thereby causing the circular plate d, and with it the roller D,
to freely turn, so that the roller D will accommodate itself to any curve on which
the skate is propelled with great promptness, and roll with equal facility on such
curves. The roller D will readily revolve with every possible change of direction
of the skate without at any time becoming fixed or dragging on the floor, and
thereby retarding and in some instances tripping the skater.
The fingers F, as the axis a of the roller D is shifted in the slots b, yield or open,
as shown in Figure 1, the spring g expanding for that purpose, and exert an elastic
pressure against the axis, thus facilitating the shifting of the axis within the slot
the spring, at all times exerting a force to restore the axis to its normal position,
which force ensures promptness in change of position of the axis within its bearings
and in change of position of the roller D by reason of the turning of the vertical
spindle G, as above specified.
To restore the roller D, or to assist in restoring it and maintaining it in a position
coincident with a line drawn longitudinally through the centre of the sole A, the
spring o exerts its force. This spring is expanded as the circular plate d turns on
the spindle G, and the recovery of the spring assists the restoration of the roller to
the above-named position.
To prevent the wearing loose of the vertical spindle G within its bearing, and to
maintain at all times a true circular turning of the spindle without "wabbling," in
addition to the bearing h at the end of the spindle, I affix to it the collar i. This
collar with its conical under surface j fits into the corresponding conical bearing k,
affording a broad bearing surface which is truly maintained as the bearing wears
in use.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,
First. A roller skate with a rear roller having its axis borne within slots whereby
the said axis may shift in a straight line within the slots, as and for the purpose
described.
Second. In a roller skate the axis of the rear roller combined with the finger

page_text: plates and spring to facilitate the shifting of the axis within its bearings, as and for
the purpose described.
Third. In a roller skate a circular revolving plate constructed with and supporting
finger plates, as and for the purpose described.
Fourth. In a roller skate a vertical spindle constructed with a collar having a
convex or conical under surface, which collar is located near the lower end of the
said spindle, as and for the purpose described.
Fifth. In a roller skate a vertical spindle with a conical bearing at its upper end,
and a collar with convex under surface, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Sixth. In a roller skate a revolving circular plate, combined with a spring,
whereby the said circular plate may be assisted to assume and maintain a given
position, as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.