IM- PROVEMENTS IN SKATES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE. CARODY
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Henry Robinson, of Merrion, in the
County of Dublin, Ireland, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN SKATES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE.
CARODY Dorma
ADD A
Avenue D
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Sealed the 16th October 1875, and dated the 26th August 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Henry Robinson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 26th August 1875.
I, ARTHUR HENRY ROBINSON, of Merrion, in the County of Dublin,
Ireland, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SKATES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO THE STEERING OF BOATS AND OTHER STEERING AND GUIDING
PURPOSES," to be as follows:
--
My Invention relates more particularly to what are known as roller
skates, but it is also applicable to runner skates and to other steering

page_text: and guiding purposes, and has for its object as applied to skates bringing
the angular or guiding movement of the rollers or blades under the
perfect control or will of the skater by means of self-acting arrange-
ments operated by the foot according to the position of the body (either
vertical or inclined) of the skater, so as to enable the operator to perform
the various evolutions, and to steer or take any direction or course
desirable with more perfect command and with less liability to be
thrown than heretofore attained.
My improved roller skate consists of an open frame or carriage
having two transverse semicircular projections at the top at a suitable
distance from each other, but by preference directly over the rollers, to
which frame or carriage I attach at one or both ends, or midway, by
means of a pin and socket, a vertically swivelling table or carriage,
having fitted thereto either one or two rollers of suitable dimensions, and
either round or square on the periphery.
When I employ but one swivelling table I substitute for the second
table either one or two wheels or rollers, also of suitable dimensions,
mounted on a spindle or axle attached to the open frame or carriage
first referred to. Midway in the open frame or carriage I construct a
parallel horizontal bearing for a pin which carries an oscillating bolt or
rod having a square shoulder near the top, to which bolt or rod I
rigidly attach a foot rest or sole plate. This foot rest or sole plate
oscillates with the bolt or rod over the top of the two semicircular pro-
jections before referred to, having a bearing surface on each, whereby
such foot rest or sole plate is supported at any angle of inclination
without interfering with its action. To the bottom of the foot rest or
sole plate I attach at one or both ends, or midway, a plain or forked
pin, which plays in or on a projecting piece or rudder guide attached to
the swivelling table before referred to and actuates the same, thereby
turning or setting the roller or rollers carried by the said swivelling
table to the angle corresponding to the rate of inclination given to the
foot rest or sole plate by the foot of the operator, and so ensuring the
course or curve to be taken at the will of the operator.
The oscillating bolt or rod to which the foot rest or sole plate is
attached may carry a projection for actuating the swivelling table or
tables, which arrangement thus admits of the plain or forked pin or

page_text: pins being dispensed with, and by suitable connections enables the whole
of the rollers to be turned simultaneously if so required.
The number of rollers may be varied according to the skill of the
operator. For example one roller may be fitted at each end, or two
rollers at one end and one at the opposite end, or otherwise.
Adjustable pads or stops may be provided for the purpose of limiting
the range of motion of the foot rest or sole plate.
The roller skate herein-before described may be converted into a
sliding or runner skate by simply removing the rollers from the open
frame or carriage and substituting therefor a plain blade or runner
rigidly attached by pins, and either made in one piece or in two parts
jointed together, so as to allow one portion to move sidewise. When
a jointed blade is adopted I employ over the moveable end a swivelling
table, which is actuated in a similar manner to the swivelling table
herein-before referred to. The blade or runner when made in one piece,
or the moveable part of the blade or runner when it is formed in two
pieces, may carry a suitable roller or wheel so constructed and fitted as
to be capable of swivelling in the manner herein-before described.
It is obvious that runner skates may be specially constructed in the
manner herein-before described.
The arrangements for operating the swivelling table or tables by
means of the sole plate may be applied to other purposes for steering
and guiding; for example, these arrangements may be adapted to
pleasure boats, the sole plate in that case forming a seat for the rower
or sailor, the motion of which at the will of the occupant by the act
of moving his body will have the effect of operating the rudder, and so
steer the vessel in the desired course.
It is evident that by this arrangement a single individual may row
or sail a boat and guide the same as completely as if there were an
independent hand at the rudder.
The arrangements are also applicable to bicycles for steering and
guiding, and to moveable furniture.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Arthur Henry Robinson in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 26th February 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ARTHUR
HENRY ROBINSON, of Ealand Lodge, Strand Road, Merrion, in the
County of Dublin, Ireland, Gentleman, send greeting.
•
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of August, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in
the 39th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Arthur Henry Robinson, Her special
license that I, the said Arthur Henry Robinson, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Arthur Henry
Robinson, my executors, administrators, or 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 SKATES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE STEERING OF BOATS AND OTHER STEERING AND GUIDING
PURPOSES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Arthur
Henry Robinson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly 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 Arthur Henry Robinson, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say :-
My said Invention relates to what are known as roller skates, and
it has for its object bringing the angular or guiding movement of the
rollers under the perfect control or will of the skater by means of self-

page_text: acting arrangements operated by the foot according to the position of
the body (either vertical or inclined) of the skater, so as to enable the
operator to perform the various evolutions and to steer in or take any
direction or course desirable with more perfect command and with less
liability to be thrown than heretofore attained.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall
now proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose
shall refer to the several Figures on the annexed Sheets of Drawings,
the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all
the Figures.
Figure 1 (Sheet 1) represents a side elevation with the near wheels
or rollers removed of a roller skate constructed with four wheels
according to one mode of carrying out my Invention; Figure 2 is a
longitudinal vertical section of the same; Figure 3 is a corresponding
under plan; Figure 4 is an end view; Figure 5 is a transverse vertical
section taken through the centre of the skate; and Figures 6 and 7 are
details to be herein-after referred to.
Figures 8 and 9 (Sheet 2) are side elevations (with the near wheels
or rollers removed) illustrating two modifications of the arrangement
shewn in Figures 1 to 7 (Sheet 1).
Figure 10 (Sheet 2) is a side elevation (with one of the rear wheels
removed); and Figure 11 is an under plan illustrating the application
of the Invention to a three roller skate.
Figure 12 (Sheet 2) is a back view, shewing the application of the.
Invention to a two roller skate.
My improved roller skate consists of a frame or carriage A of any
suitable shape having two transverse projections or bridges a, a, at the
top, forming segments of circles or curves and arranged at a suitable
distance from each other, but by preference directly over the spindles
or axles a', a', of the rollers B, B, to which frame or carriage I attach,
by means of a pin and socket b, either at one end, as shewn in Figures
10 and 11 (Sheet 2), or at each end, as shewn in Figures 1 to 5 (Sheet 1)
and Figures S, 9, and 12 (Sheet 2), a swivelling table or carriage O
(one modification of which is shewn in detail in Figure 6, Sheet 1),
having fitted thereto either two rollers B, B, as shewn in the arrange-
ment illustrated in Sheet 1 and in Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 (Sheet 2), or

page_text: one roller only, as shewn in the modification Figure 12 (Sheet 2), such
rollers being either, square on the periphery, as shown, or of a rounded
form if preferred.
.
When I employ but one swivelling table, as in the modification,
Figures 10 and 11 (Sheet 2), the spindle or axle a' of the front roller
(or of the front rollers where more than one is employed) is rigidly
attached to the frame or carriage A. Midway in the frame or carriage A
I provide a bearing c for a pin d, which carries an oscillating bolt rod
or pin D, to which I rigidly attach the foot rest or sole plate E by means
of a socket piece e, the rod or pin D fitting same, and being held therein
by a nut g. The position of this rod or pin may be adjusted as required
in the socket e by means of the screw and nut g, so as to compensate
for the wear of the segmental projections or bridges and the rubbing
surfaces of the foot rest or sole plate, and in order to regulate the
degree of frictional contact between these parts and thereby stiffen or
case the swaying of the foot rest at pleasure. The foot rest or sole
plate E being connected to the frame or carriage as described oscillates
or traverses sideways from right to left, or vice versa, over the frame
or carriage A, whilst at the same time it is thoroughly supported by the
segmental projections or bridges a, a, at all angles of inclination. To
the bottom of the foot rest or sole plate E I attach a rod, bar, or pin,
or rods, bars, or pins F. In the arrangement shewn in Sheet 1, and in
Figure 12 (Sheet 2), a horizontal rod, bar, or pin F is employed rigidly
carried in the oscillating rod or pin D, and outer supports or lugs h, h,
attached to the sole plate; and in the modification Figure 8 (Sheet 2)
two vertical pins F, F, are used in lieu of the horizontal rod or bar
before referred to. The rods, bars, or pins F may be either plain, as
shewn in the Drawings, and enter the eye pieces or rudder guides G, G,
(one modification of which is shewn in detail in Figure 7, Sheet 1,)
attached by pins to the swivelling tables C, C, or they may be forked
and embrace the rudder guides G, G, their function being to actuate the
swivelling tables as the foot rest or sole plate is swayed or carried
laterally, thereby turning or setting the rollers, as shewn by the red lines
in Figure 3, Sheet 1, according to the rate or degree of inclination given
to the foot rest or sole plate by the foot of the operator, and so insuring
the skate running in the course or curve desired to be taken by the
operator.

page_text: the segmental projections or bridges a, a, are provided with slots i to
admit of the lateral traverse of the horizontal rod, bar, or pin F, and
sole plate E. Adjustable stops k, l, (Figures 1 and 4, Sheet 1,) or
adjustable pads may be employed for the purpose of limiting the range
of motion of the rod, bar, or pin, and consequently also that of the foot
rest or sole plate. The horizontal rod, bar, or pin F may if desired be
arranged above the foot rest or sole plate in lieu of below it, as shewn
in the Drawings, in which case it should be covered in, so as to provide
a level surface for the foot.
The oscillating bolt, rod, or pin D, to which the foot rest or sole plate
is attached, may carry projections or arms F1, F¹, (Figure 9, Sheet 2,) for
actuating the swivelling table or tables C, C, which arrangement thus
admits of the separate pin or pins F being dispensed with, whilst by
means of the swivel connections G enabling the whole of the rollers B
to be turned simultaneously, and preventing either roller from being
actuated without the other.
The number of rollers may be varied according to the skill of the
operator.
In the arrangements shewn in Sheet 1, and in Figures 8 and 9
(Sheet 2), two rollers are fitted at each end, this skate being intended,
say, for the use of- beginners; and in the modification Figures 10
and 11, Sheet 2, two rollers are employed at one end and one at the
opposite end for the advanced skater; and in the modification Figure 12,
Sheet 2, one roller only is used at each end, the latter arrangement
being designed for the use of the perfect skater, but the rollers may be
otherwise arranged in number and position, as found practicable. In
the arrangement shewn in Figure 10 and 11 (Sheet 2) the front roller
is shewn as working in fixed bearings in the frame A, but it is obvious
that a swivelling table similar to that shewn in Figure 12, Sheet 2, may
be employed.
The arrangements for operating the swivelling table or tables by
means of the sole plate may be applied to other purposes for steering
and guiding, as for example, to pleasure boats, the sole plate in that case
forming a scat for the rower or sailor, the motion of which by suitable
connections with the rudder handle will at the desire of the occupant
by the act of moving his body have the effect of operating the rudder,
and so steer the vessel in the desired course,

page_text: . Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to
be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
5
First. The combination with a foot rest or sole plate of a frame or
carriage connected thereto by an oscillating bolt or rod and provided
with segmental curvilinear bearers or bridges for supporting such foot
rest or sole plate at all angles during its lateral travel, and of a
swivelling table or tables for converting the motion imparted by the 1
said foot rest or sole plate into a gyratory or cramping motion of the
wheel or wheels, or roller or rollers, carried by the said swivelling table
or tables, the whole arranged and operating substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The employment of a swaying foot rest or sole plate carried 1
by a central oscillating bolt or rod, the latter having its bearing or
fulcrum in a frame connected to a swivelling table or tables, sub-
stantially as herein-before described.
Thirdly. Mounting the fore and aft swivelling tables or carriages of
a roller skate in one and the same rigid frame independent of the soft 2
plate, substantially as herein-before described.
Fourthly. Mounting a swivelling table or carriage and a rigid carriage
on one and the same rigid frame independent of the sole plate, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose herein-before described.
Fifthly. The employment in roller skates of a frame having segmental 2
curvilinear tops, bridges, or bearers, substantially as and for the purposes
herein-before described.
Sixthly. The employment of a frame having segmental curvilinear
tops, bridges, or bearers and socket bearings, substantially as and for
the purposes herein-before described.
Seventhly. The employment in and on a roller skate of a foot rest or
sole plate mounted upon a central oscillating bolt or rod and supported
upon and traversing over segmental curvilinear tops, bridges, or bearers,
substantially as herein-before described.
Eighthly. The attaching of a foot rest or sole plate to a frame or carriage 3
3
Eighthly. The attaching of a foot rest or sole plate to a frame or carriage 3

page_text: Ninthly. The employment in a roller skate of a central oscillating
bolt or rod with horizontal projecting arms or bars in combination with
rudder guides for actuating the swivelling carriage or carriages, sub-
stantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Henry Robinson, have
to this my Specification set my hand and seal, this Seventeenth
day of February One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
ARTHUR HENRY ROBINSON. (L.S.)