Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th Mar., 1897--Accepted, 10th Apr., 1897
A communication by HEINRICH STRIEFFLER, of No. 1 Mozartstrasse, Munich,
in the Empire of Germany, Artist.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham in
the County of Warwick, and 322 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Roller skates or foot cycles have hitherto been found unsuitable for use in
streets because no suitable hold or purchase was provided for the development of
force necessary for the forward push and for resting the foot. This invention is
intended to remove this drawback and produce a roller skate or foot cycle which
shall fully meet all practical requirements.
The wheels are preferably constructed like bicycle wheels that is to say for
instance are provided with pneumatic tyres. All outwardly projecting parts are as
far as possible avoided, or if necessary protected by flat surfaces. A foot plate
is suitably fastened on the naves of two wheels (which are mounted on a common
axle) in such a way that it may oscillate thereon and is adjustable backwards and
forwards, in order to allow of the user assuming the most favourable position for
balancing and travelling.
The foot plate is preferably formed with slots so that it may be pushed forward'
and again fixed by means of screws and is also suitably arranged to allow of the
foot cycle being firmly attached to the shoe or boot. Such arrangements are so
well known for fastening skates that it does not appear necessary to more
particularly describe any special form of construction of such.
The axle of the wheels runs in ball bearings. One of the two wheels is fixed
to the axle whilst the other is revoluble thereon. This arrangement has for its..
object to facilitate running round curves. If both wheels were fixed to the axle,
in running round curves, that is to say when one wheel has to describe a longer
course than the other, the latter would slip on the ground. With the arrangement
herein before described, free mobility is insured and the above mentioned drawback
avoided.
In order to afford sufficient purchase for the pushing off (striking) when
travelling, and for resting, a buffer is arranged on the foot plate, preferably near
the toe. This buffer in its simplest form consists of a spur or projection of india-
rubber or other suitable elastic material (if desired also of steel) fixed on the front
of the foot plate. Such an arrangement is quite sufficient for wheels of small
diameter. For those of larger diameter the buffer is formed as a higher support.
This is preferably adjustable in height and provided with a removable buffer
piece and well stayed or buttressed so as to be sufficiently resistant to severe
strains.
To this end a tubular piece is screwed onto a screw projecting from the foot.

page_text: plate. The tubular piece is internally threaded at the bottom to receive a bolt
which is adjustable therein. This bolt carries removably in a suitable holder a
buffer of indiarubber or the like, or toothed steel.
By this arrangement it is possible to replace the huffer when it becomes worn
or useless. The buffer. support or buffer carrier is stayed and stiffened in all
directions by steel wires fastened to the foot plate and the greatest rigidity is
thereby attained without necessitating the employment of thick or heavy
constructive parts.
No extensive description is necessary of the method of using these improved
wheel skates or foot cycles provided with buffers, as the mode of travelling is quite
similar to the action in ordinary skating.
In striking or pushing off with the rear foot, the ball or claw part of the buffer
which is pressed against the ground gives the necessary support, and purchase,
the contact with the ground ceasing immediately after the striking or pushing off,
and the movement forward is thus in no way impeded.
The wearer has a thoroughly firm standpoint when striking or pushing off. The
points of support on the ground are arranged as a trapezoid, which circumstance
renders a tipping over sideways an impossibility. In the striking position a firm
triangle (between the points of the hub, the buffer and the contact of the wheels
with the ground) is formed by resting on the buffer support and the wearer is
thereby in a position to bring into play the greatest development of force
with a natural position of the foot, he then travels forward on both wheels,
and repeats the process with the other foot as soon as the active force is sufficiently
absorbed.
The axle may be bent in order if desired to bring the foot nearer the ground in
which case however each wheel must have a separate ball bearing.
From the above it is clearly evident that the arrangement hereinbefore
described renders it possible to use a wheel skate or foot cycle as an ordinary
means of travelling and these improvements essentially facilitate learning to run
on them.
Dated this 5th day of May 1896
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.
A communication by HEINRICH STRIEFFLER, of No. 1 Mozartstrasse, Munich,
in the Empire of Germany, Artist.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 113 New Street, Birmingham in
the County of Warwick, and 322 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
Roller skates or foot cycles have hitherto been found unsuitable for use in
streets, because no suitable hold or purchase was provided for the development of
force necessary for the forward push and for resting the foot. This invention is
intended to remove this drawback and produce a roller skate or foot cycle which
shall fully meet all practical requirements.

page_text: In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a side view of this improved roller skate or foot cycle.
Figure 2 a front vertical section;
Figure 3 a plan view;
Figure 4 shows the position of the foot plate in striking off and
Figure 5 a section of the buffer and
Figures 6-9 modifications of this buffer.
The wheels a are preferably constructed like bicycle wheels, that is to say for
instance are provided with pneumatic tyres. All outwardly projecting parts are
as far as possible avoided, or if necessary protected by flat surfaces. A foot plate b
is suitably fastened on the naves of two wheels (which are monted on a common
axle) in such a way that it may oscillate thereon and is adjustable backwards and
forwards, in order to allow of the user assuming the most favourable position for
balaucing and travelling.
The foot plate as shown in Figure 3 is preferably formed with slots a¹ so that
it may be pushed forward and again fixed by means of screws and is also suitably
arranged to allow of the foot cycle being firmly attached to the shoe or boot.
Such arrangements are so well known for fastening skates that it does not
appear necessary to more particularly describe any special form of construction
of such. The axle of the wheels runs in ball bearings. One of the two wheels
is fixed to the axle whilst the other is revoluble thereon. This arrangement has
for its object to facilitate running round curves.
If both wheels were fixed to the
axle in running round curves, that is to say when one wheel has to describe a
louger course than the other, the latter would slip on the ground. With the
arrangement herein before described and shown in Figure 2, free mobility is
insured and the above mentioned drawback avoided.
In order to afford sufficient purchase for the pushing off (striking) when
travelling, and for resting, a buffer c is arranged on the foot plate, preferably
near the toe. This buffer in its simplest form consists of a spur or projection of
india rubber or other suitable elastic material (if desired also of steel) fixed on the
front of the foot plate. Such an arrangement is quite sufficient for wheels of small
diameter. For those of larger diameter the buffer is formed as a higher support,
as shown in detail in Figures 1, 4 and 5. This is preferably adjustable in height and
provided with a removable buffer piece and well stayed or buttressed so as to be
sufficiently resistant to severe strains.
The form of construction shown in Figure 5 consists of a tubular piece f screwed
onto a screw projecting from the foot plate. The tubular piece is internally
threaded at the bottom to receive a bolt g which is adjustable therein. This .bolt
carries removably in a suitable bolder a buffer c of indiarubber or the like, or
toothed steel.
By this arrangement it is possible to replace the buffer when it becomes worn or
useless. The buffer support or buffer carrier is, as shown in the drawings, stayed
and stiffened in all directions by spokes or steel wires h fastened to the foot plate
and the greatest rigidity is thereby attained without necessitating the employment
of thick or heavy constructive parts. Figures 6-9 show modifications of this
buffer.
In Figures 6 and 7 it is formed of one or two solid rollers r covered with rubber
tyres, and mounted on an easily revoluble axles and prevented rotating forward by
a pawl engaging in a ratchet wheel t, when pushing off against the ground, in
order to prevent any slipping, but unimpeded in its rearward rotation.
The same is the case in the modification shown in Figure 8 where the buffer is
replaced by a toothed wheel z.
In Figure 9, the side parts of the foot plate may also be bent downwards in
front and provided with saw like edges. This form of construction is very
advantageous as it requires no further mechanism and attains in the simplest way
what is wanted of a buffer, viz.-solidity, durability and handiness.
No extensive description is necessary of the method of using these improved

page_text: wheel skates or foot cycles provided with buffers, as the mode of travelling is quite
similar to the action in ordinary skating.
In striking or pushing off with the rear foot, the ball or claw part of the buffer
which is pressed against the ground gives the necessary support and purchase, the
contact with the ground ceasing, immediately after the striking or pushing off, and
the movement forward is thus in no way impeded.
The wearer has a thoroughly firm standpoint when striking or pushing off as
shown in Figure 4. The points of support on the ground are arranged as a cone
and where a double buffer is used a trapezoid, as in Figure 7, which circumstance
renders a tipping over sideways an impossibility. In the striking position, Figure 4.
a firm triangle 5 6 7 (between the points of the hub, the buffer and the contact of
the wheels with the ground) is formed by resting on the buffer support c, and the
wearer is thereby in a position to bring into play the greatest development of force
with a natural position of the foot, he then travels forward on both wheels, and
repeats the process with the other foot as soon as the active force is sufficiently
absorbed.
The axle as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2, may be bent in order if desired to
bring the foot nearer the ground, in which case however each wheel must have a
separate ball bearing.
From the above it is clearly evident that the arrangement herein before described
renders it possible to use a wheel skate or foot cycle as an ordinary means of
travelling and these improvements essentially facilitate learning to run on them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A roller skate or foot cycle, consisting of a pair of wheels with a commou
nave mounted on one axle together with a foot plate provided in front with a
buffer (c) adapted to support the one foot when striking to impart a forward
movement to the other foot substantially as described.
2. A form of construction of the roller skate or foot cycle herein described in
which, whilst using ball bearings, one wheel is fixed and the other revolubly
connected with its axle substantially as described with reference to Figure 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
3. A form of construction of the roller skate or foot cycle herein described in
which, whilst using ball bearings, both wheels are made independent of one another
and revolubly connected with the axle, substantially as described.
4. A form of construction of the roller skate or foot cycle herein described,
characterised by the foot plate being arranged on the axle in such a way as to
admit of its being adjusted forwards or backwards and fixed substantially as
described.
5. In a roller skate or foot cycle such as described, a buffer which is stiffened
by means of wires or the like connected with the foot plate and which may be
adjustable in height and if desired provided with a removable buffer piece,
substantially as described.
6. A form of construction of the herein described buffer (c) for roller skates or
foot cycles, characterised by its being constructed as one or more suitably shaped
indiarubber wheels (r) firmly connected with a ratchet wheel (t) in such a way that
a rotation of the same in the direction of travelling is possible, whilst a rotation in
the opposite direction is prevented by means of a pawl (1) in order to maintain a
firm point of support, substantially as described.
7. A. form of construction of the herein described buffer (r) for roller skates or
foot cycles characterised by its being forined as a toothed wheel (2) provided with
a pawl and ratchet device, permitting it to rotate in only one direction, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
8. A form of construction of the herein described buffer (c) for roller skates or
foot cycles, characterised by its being serrated or toothed like a saw on the edges

page_text: or surfaces of the bottom of the foot plate, the teeth being directed downwards,
substantially as described with reference to Figure 9 of the accompanying.
drawings.
_L1007
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.