JMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Henry Bliss at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th April 1876.
WILLIAM HENRY BLISS, of Lewisham, in the County of Kent.
"JMPROVEMENTS
IN ROLLER SKATES, PARTLY APPLICABLE TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS FOR
OTHER PURPOSES."
According to the first part of these improvements roller skates are constructed
with a fixed foot-stand, having two pins working through the foot-stand at the toe
and heel, governed by suitable springs, which by the inclination of the foot diverge
the wheels on the opposite side. The pressure of the foot frees the wheel carriages
on one side, and by the action of the springs diverges them on the other.
Roller skates are also constructed according to these improvements by having the
wheel carriages centred upon an inclined plane, so that the weight of the body on
either side forces the wheels into the segment of a circle, the readjustment of the
wheels being governed by suitable springs.
According to another part of these improvements roller skates are constructed
without any crdinary foot-stand by arranging a metal rod upon bearings, under
which the wheel carriages are centred. Upon this rod descending levers act through
a slot in the bearings and through another slot in the wheel carriages, the upper
surface of such levers being extended laterally to connect the toe and heel straps to
the foot.
Roller skates are also constructed according to these improvements with a fixed
foot-stand, through which two bevelled lever pins at the toe and heel (governed by
suitable springs and india-rubber bearings) act, so as to cause the wheels to form
the segment of a circle necessary for skating, the straps being fixed to arms that
work on a longitudinal rod on the upper surface of the foot-stand.
Roller skates are also constructed according to these improvements with a
semicircular guiding arm or lever governed by suitable springs and attached to the
wheel carriage by a projecting arm and slot, so as to turn the wheel carriage by the
inclination of the foot.
Roller skates are also constructed according to these improvements with a lever
or arm in the centre under the hollow of the foot. This arm works on a horizontal
rod running from the toe to the heel, and connected to which are segments of cog
wheels working vertically into other segments of cog wheels placed horizontally to
the wheel carriages. If desired, axles are dispensed with, and side pivots or cups
and sockets used in place thereof.

page_text: According to another part of these improvements roller skates or "pedo-tricycles"
are constructed with three wheels, two at the ball of the foot (about 9 inches in
diameter, or any other suitable size,) and one small one under the heel. The front
wheels are attached to the foot-stand by suitable springs, and the back wheel is
centred to turn either way (such turning being governed by suitable springs). In
order to make the wheels light, strong, and durable, they are constructed by
screwing metal tubes into the nave or centre part of the wheel, each tube being
tapped and fitted with a nut, so that after passing through the tyre felloes or
circumference of the wheel, the nuts can be screwed up so as to make a perfect
tension wheel. The tubular spokes are then filled up with suitable wood, thus
giving them the strength of solid spokes. The wheels are finished with india-
rubber or other tyres.. Wheels constructed in accordance with this part of these
improvements may be employed for other purposes.
When wooden wheels are used the india-rubber tyres are made of T form, the
flange being embedded in a groove or channel formed in the circumference of the
wheel to prevent the tyre from coming off, and wheels thus constructed are suitable
for skating upon boarded floors or rinks.
According to these improvements roller skate wheels are bushed with glass,
plumbago being used to reduce friction.
According to another part of these improvements bicycle skates are made in any
of the forms previously described, and any of the methods described may be used in
combination.