IMPROVEMENTS IN FOOT "
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Forrest Walters, of 7, Queen's Road, Bayswater,
in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOOT
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Forrest Walters at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th August 1881.
JOHN FORREST WALTERS, of 7, Queen's Road, Bayswater, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOOT SKATES."
The object of this Invention is to construct foot skates that an easy action may
be obtained with little fatigue on the part of the user.
For the purposes of my Invention I form a skeleton frame in light spring steel
or other metal, on which I mount a foot board or plate that it may adjust itself
under the action of rubber or other cushions, and guide pins fitted preferably to
the heel portion.
The skeleton frame is attached to or it may be part of axle arms, on which
light skeleton wheels are mounted, one of said wheels being on each side of the
foot board or plate.
In some cases I arrange a small wheel or a spike to the skeleton frame or to the
foot board to serve as a stop on the heel portion being depressed, and also to assist
the skater to strike off by putting it into contact with the ground.
The skeleton frame is, in some cases, below the axial line, as is also, in some
cases, the foot board.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Forrest Walters in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd February 1882.
JOHN FORREST WALTERS, of 7, Queen's Road, Bayswater, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN FOOT SKATES."
The object of this Invention is to construct foot skates that an easy action may
be obtained with little fatigue on the part of the user.
For the purposes of my Invention I form a skeleton frame in light spring steel
or other metal, on which I mount a foot board or plate that it may adjust itself
under the action of rubber or other cushions, and guide pins fitted preferably to
the heel portion.
The skeleton frame is attached to or it may be part of axle arms, on which
light skeleton wheels are mounted, one of said wheels being on each side of the
foot board or plate.
In some cases I arrange a small wheel or a spike to the skeleton frame or to the
foot board to serve as a stop on the heel portion being depressed, and also to assist
the skater to strike off by putting it into contact with the ground.
The skeleton frame is, in some cases, below the axial line, as is also, in some
cases, the foot board.
My Invention will be well understood by the annexed Drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side view with one of the side wheels removed, and Figure 2 a back
end view of one construction of foot skate.
A is the skeleton frame composed of spring steel attached to the axle B, on
which the wheels C, C, are mounted, which wheels may be fitted or not with ball
bearings. The straps of the frame A are carried down and bent at D below the
level of the foot board E and then bent, one end F to the front, and one end G to
the rear, on each side and loosely attached to link straps H, H, which are bushed.
with india rubber I, I, so that the foot board E rests upon them as cushions to act
in conjunction with the steel strips of the frame as yielding elastic bodies to reduce
vibration while the skater is moving upon the skates. J is a back wheel mounted
in the fork of a back plate K fixed to the foot board E, which back wheel may be
superseded by a spike if found desirable. The foot board E is provided with
holes L, L, for the usual leather straps, such as I have shown in the modified
construction, Figures 3 and 4, which are corresponding view to Figures 1 and 2.
In this modification I have shown the foot board E above the axis of the
wheels C, C, and I secure forked plates K, K, to the front and to the rear of the
foot board E, these being bushed with rubber ring cushions. M is a bar con-
necting the two forked plates by the intermediation of lugs N, N. Said bar M
has an adjustable socket P, through which the axle is passed, and by which the
wheels C, C, are carried.
The rear end of the bar M is bent downwards, and the leg Q has a swivel
socket R fitted on it to enable the rear wheel J to turn about it to either side, as
shown by dotted lines in Figure 4, or towards the front, as in Figure 3, to enable
the skater to move backwards, or to perform any evolutions in a similar manner as
is done with ordinary blade or ice skates, there being sufficient clearance between
the wheels C, C, for this purpose. With the first described skate, Figures 1 and 2,
the skater must lift his heel to take the rear wheel off the ground to enable him
to go in any other direction than straight ahead, or nearly so, but with the skate
shown in Figures 3 and 4 he is not so restricted.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in {
which the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,—
The foot skate shown at Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed Drawings.

page_text: Secondly. I claim the foot skate shown at Figures 3 and 4 of the annexed
Drawings.
I have shown spider wheels to both forms of skates, but wheels of other kinds
may be fitted if desired.
•
In witness whereof, I, the said John Forrest Walters, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
JOHN F. WALTERS. (L.S.)