AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ATTACHMENT TO SKATES TO INDICATE THE PATHS OF TRAVERSE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Watts, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
Silversmith, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ATTACHMENT
TO SKATES TO INDICATE THE PATHS OF TRAVERSE."
Sealed the 20th April 1877, and dated the 24th October 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Watts at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th October 1876.
"AN
WILLIAM WATTS, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Silversmith.
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR ATTACHMENT TO SKATES TO INDICATE THE PATHS OF
TRAVERSE."
My Invention relates more particularly to the roller skates employed when
skating on rinks or artificially prepared surfaces, and has for its object to enable
the skater to mark the paths or tracks of his skate upon such surface, and thereby
to form geometrical or other figures thereupon in a similar manner as when skating
upon ice. To this end I attach to the skate an apparatus containing a marking
wheel, which is kept in contact with the said surface.
In apparatus which I have constructed for the purpose a wheel or disc of plaster
of Paris, prepared chalk, clay, or other substances or material capable of making a
white or light coloured mark upon the said surface is fitted to revolve in a frame
which can be quickly secured upon and removed from the skate. The free rotation
of the said wheel is checked by means of a brake acting upon the circumference of
the wheel. The said brake is pressed against the said wheel by means of a spring or
of springs, or is otherwise applied to have the desired effect. The said wheel is pro-
vided with gudgeons which work in a slot in the said frame, the said spring or
springs maintaining the contact of the said wheel with the said surface as the said
wheels becomes less by wear. The said wheel can be readily placed in position,
the said gudgeons passing through side slots and being retained in the main slots by
means of a hinged guard.
I may employ means for regulating the resistance of the aforesaid spring or
springs.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Watts in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 24th April
1877.
WILLIAM WATTS, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Silversmith.
" APPARATUS FOR ATTACHMENT TO SKATES TO INDICATE THE PATHS OF TRAVERSE."
My Invention relates more particularly to the roller skates employed when
skating on rinks or artificially prepared surfaces, and has for its object to enable
the skater to mark the paths or tracks of his skate upon such surface and thereby
to form geometrical or other figures thereupon in a similar manner as when skating
upon ice. To this end I attach to the skate an apparatus containing a marking
wheel which is kept in contact with the said surface.
In apparatus which I have constructed for the purpose a wheel or disc of plaster
of Paris, prepared chalk, clay, or other substance or material capable of making a
white or bright coloured mark upon the said surface, is fitted to revolve in a fraine
which can be quickly secured upon and removed from the said skate. The free
rotation of the said wheel is checked by means of a brake acting upon the circum-
ference of the wheel. The said wheel bears upon the skating surface with a yielding
pressure and makes the required markings upon such surface.
And in order that my said Invention might be fully understood I have appended
hereunto a Sheet of Drawings, made about double the linear dimensions of the
apparatus which I have constructed for the said purpose, the said Drawings being
marked with letters of reference, corresponding marks indicating the same parts in
the various Figures.
Referring in this place to the said Drawings, Fig. 1 represents a side view of the
complete apparatus; and Fig. 2 is a view taken at right angles to Fig. 1.
In the said Figures A is the said wheel of plaster of Paris or marking material,
in which is fixed or formed a central axis which may consist of a short piece of
wire fixed in the mould in which the wheel is cast, pressed or formed, or inserted
and secured within a central hole formed in the said wheel. The projecting parts
of the said axis form two gudgeons which are fitted to revolve within a frame B,
which is attached to the sole plate of the skate which is represented by C. The
said frame consists of two cheeks, between which is a space within which the wheel
rotates. At or near the lower end of each cheek is mounted a lever a, which is
hinged to the said cheek by means of a joint pin upon which the said lever can turn.
Each lever is formed with a foot which projects inwards through a slot in the said
cheek, and each lever is also formed to retain one end of a caoutchouc spring b.
The other end of each spring is hooked on to the end of a cross bar c, the two ends
of the said bar passing through slots in the said cheeks. To or on the said cross
bar is fixed or formed a curved brake plate d, which is pressed by the action of two
springs against the periphery of the wheel A. The said springs also tend to retain
the two levers a, a, in the positions represented in Fig. 2, and when in these
positions the feet of the said levers by closing the lower ends of the slots in which
the gudgeons of the said wheel are arranged to slide, prevent the said wheel from
falling out of the frame or from being forced out by the action of the two springs.
When the wheel is to be placed in position between the two cheeks the two
levers a, a, are moved into the position represented in Fig. 3. This can readily be
effected by causing the ends of a thumb and a first finger to press in the directions
indicated by the arrows upon the outer ends of the levers. When so acted upon
each lever turns about a quarter round upon its pin, and the foot is thereby moved
out of the way so that the gudgeons on the wheels can be pressed into the slots in
the cheeks. When the said levers are released the springs draw the said levers
back into the positions represented in Fig. 2, and the wheel is then prevented from
leaving the frame. The said levers are turned in the same manner when the wheel
is to be withdrawn. In the example, the said frame is represented as being attached
to the sole plate of the skate by means of a strap 7, which passes over the said plate

page_text: and is drawn tight by means of a screw and nut f; but other arrangements may be
employed for effecting the same object, as, for example, the said frame may be
attached to the skate by means of screws, or by means of screws or bolts and
thumb nuts, or by means of thumbscrews, or by other suitable means, but I prefer
to employ means which will permit of the apparatus being readily applied to the
skate or removed therefrom.
Also the form of the frame B may be varied, and the arrangements for retaining
the wheel within the framing, that is to say, by the employment of the levers a, a,
may be varied.
If preferred, springs of steel or other metal may be employed in lieu of springs of
caoutchouc. The apparatus is by preference attached in a central position between
the front and rear wheels of the skate.
When the skate with the attachment is in use the periphery of the wheel A is
kept in contact with the skating surface by the action of the springs, and as the
brake checks the rotation of the said wheel the said wheel makes a mark upon the
said surface, and at the same time revolves on its axis sufficiently to ensure that the
said wheel shall retain a circular form. As the said wheel becomes reduced in
diameter by wear the brake follows the wheel up until the wheel has become too
small to answer its intended purpose, when it may be removed and a fresh one be
inserted in its place.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which I carry the same into practical effect, I would have it to be
understood that I claim,-
First. The employment of marking wheels of the nature indicated arranged to
revolve in frames attached to skates, substantially as and for the purpose set forth
and indicated.
Secondly. The combination of the said marking wheel with the brake pressed
against the said wheel by means of a spring or of springs, substantially as and for
the purpose set forth and indicated.
And, Lastly. The apparatus, substantially as and for the purpose set forth and
indicated herein-before and by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Watts, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-third day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
Signed and sealed by the
said William Watts, in
the presence of
HUGH GRANT,
Clerk to Edward K. Dutton,
Agent to the Patentee,
3, Princess Street,
Manchester.
WILLIAM WATTS. (L.S.)