Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1897
I, WILLIAM GRIFFITHS, of Weston-under-Lizard, near Shifnal, 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 :-
This invention relates to a single wheel skate for use on roads, lawns, rinks and.
the like.
According to my invention the skate consists of a dish shaped wheel comprising
a ring surrounded by a pneumatic or other suitable tyre, a central portion carrying
foot and leg supports, and a ball bearing interposed between and connecting the
said ring and central portion. The foot support is secured to the central portion
some distance beneath the axis of rotation of the wheel thus keeping the centre
of gravity as low as possible and facilitating balance. The dished form of the
wheel permits of the partial entrance of the foot and allows the tread of the
wheel to be brought directly beneath the same without inclining the wheel greatly
from the perpendicular.
I will now more fully describe a road skate constructed in accordance with my
invention having reference to the accompanying drawings wherein :-
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a skate constructed according to my invention,.
Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section and Fig. 3 is a detail.
a is a dished ring the outer periphery of which is so shaped as to be adapted for
the reception of the tyre b. c is a ball race formed around the inner periphery
of the ring a. The central portion of the wheel is here represented as consisting
of two rings d d the peripheries of which are so shaped as to form in conjunction,
when the rings are clamped together by the bolts d 1, the ball race cl. ee are
the balls which run between the ball races c and cl. fis a toe plate and fl is
a heel plate which are secured to the rings d d by the rivets d2 or otherwise in
such a position that the foot is supported near the ground and well below the
centre of the wheel. G is the leg support which is also secured to the rings d d
and may be of any convenient construction, being here represented as consisting
of a forked bracket h having a padded lining i which is secured around the leg
by the straps k.
If desired, in lieu of securing the tyre 6 directly to the dished ring a as
illustrated, I may secure the tyre to a separate rim and connect the latter with
the dished ring a by suitable springs of metal or rubber.
Fig. 2 clearly shows how the dished shape of the wheel permits its tread to
be brought directly beneath the foot without greatly inclining the wheel from
the perpendicular.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A single wheel road skate consisting of a dish shaped wheel provided with
supports for the foot and leg and constructed and arranged substantially as
described and illustrated.
2. A single wheel road skate consisting of the combination of a ring surrounded
by a suitable tyre, a central portion, foot and leg supports carried by said central

page_text: portion and a ball bearing connecting the ring and central portion, substantially
as described and illustrated.
3. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting a single
wheel road skate, substantially as described and illustrated in the annexed
drawings.
Dated this 11th do of December 1000
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON,
Chartered Patent Agents,
19, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.