IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER OR RINK SKATES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Lowry, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster,
Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER OR RINK
SKATES."
Scaled the 16th September 1876, and dated the 22nd March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Georgo Lowry at the Offico
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd March 1876.
GEORGE LOWRY, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist.
MENTS IN ROLLER OR RINK SKATES."
" IMPROVE-
This Invention consists in certain improvements for enabling the skater with tho
greatest case and certainty to place the rollers in the angular positions required for
making sweeps, curves, and for ornamental skating.
To the sole or stock I fix hangers, on which are placed brackets, cach having
holes in them for carrying the axles of the rollers and an arm extending towards
the middle of the sole, and at the end of each arm there is a slot into which is
placed a rocking rod with an L turn-up recessed in a groove in the under side of
the sole, and held in its place by plates having slotted holes.
To the front L turn-up I fasten the front strap riding on a curved plate or seat,
the strap and plate being adjusted and firmly held by nuts on a screwed part of the
rocking rod, and to the inner sides of the straps are fixed strips of corrugated
india-rubber or other holding material, placed so that they come in contact with
thic sides of the boot, and on the rocking rod at the back there is an india-rubber
boss adjusted and held by a nut and screw on the rod.
When the skate is firmly strapped and buckled to the boot, the corrugated india-
rubber or other holding material bites firmly into the boot between the welt and
the upper, or on the side of the boot, and the leaning or inclining of the foot of the
skater causes the required angular positions to be given to the rollers through the
rods, arins, and axles, for making sweeps, curves, or for ornamental skating, the
rollers being returned to their straight or parallel positions by the india-rubber boss
on the back crank when the skater returns to an upright position; and in some
cases, instead of fixing to the inner sides of the straps strips of corrugated india-
rubber or other holding material, I use the straps only, without any addition; for
keeping the boot always central on the sole of the skate I employ a clip, having
a pin which takes unto a spiral spring in a hole bored through the sole into the
[Price Gul

page_text: hanger; this clip being placed in an angular position in the first instance, is caused
to come more or less into a square position, according to the size of the skater's
boot, and is there firmly held by the spring.
For forming the soles of the skates and the bearings for the axles of the rollers
to run in, as also the heel plate, I stamp out of a sheet of metal the required shape
for the sole, with lugs at the toe and heel ends, which lugs being turned up or
pressed down form the bearings for the roller axles, and also the heel plate, to
support the boot, thus forming a very light sole, roller, axle bearers, and heel plate
from one piece of metal; and in order to get the requisite clasticity, I form the
central part of the sheet metal at right angles with the toe and heel parts or
plates.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Lowry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd September
1876.
GEORGE LOWRY, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster. " IMPROVEMENTS IN
ROLLER OR RINK SKATES."
This Invention consists in certain improvements in roller or rink skates for
enabling the skater with the greatest ease and certainty to place the rollers in tho
angular positions required for making sweeps, curves, and ornamental skating; and
also in the formation of the sole, heel plate, and bearings for the axles of the rollers
to run in, by stamping out of a sheet of metal the required shape for the sole, with
lugs at the toe and heel end, the lugs being turned up or pressed down to form the
bearings of tho axles.
These improvements will be clearly understood by the following particular descrip-
tion thereof, reference being had to the figures and letters in the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation; Fig. 2, a plan of the under side,
shewing the rollers in position for straight skating; Fig. 3, a plan of the under side,
shewing the rollers in position for curving or figure skating; and Figs. 4 and 5, end
views representing a cross section, shewing the rollers in position for straight or
curved skating.
In the various Figures a represents the sole plate or footboard, which is fastened
to the boot of the skater by straps of a peculiar design, the heel straps B meeting
and forming around the ancle and high up the foot, so as to be easy in twisting or
inclining the boot at the will of the skater without any extra strain on the ankle;
the front or toc strap C lined on the inside with clastic india-rubber are formed
right and left hand, so as to equalise the position of the rollers in cases of worn or
uneven sided boots, and in all the Figures the rollers or runners are marked d.
In the arrangement shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 I fasten by means of bolts
and screws, pillars with flanges e, one at the toc and on at the heel of the sole
plate, and on the pillars are fixed swivels with a hole through to carry the axles g,
on which tho rollers & revolve and coiled around, but loose on each swivel there is a
spiral steel spring h. In the bottom or under side of the sole plate a is cut a groove,
wherein is fixed a rocking rod i with an turn up at both ends sufficiently long to
reach through the slotted hole in the swivel f. Attached and firmly fastened
to the rocking rod i is a three-armed trigger or lever having one flat side cast
thereon, upon or over which is screwed a flat steel spring l, which, together with the
flat plate m, holds the rocking rod in its place, but sufficiently loose to allow of the
bar to work the swivels, right or left hand angles. On the ends of the trigger k are
placed india-rubber washers n sufficiently elastic to allow of expansion or contrac-
tion to make to toe straps C suitable to different widths of boots, so that when the
skate is buckled to the boot the two arms of the trigger k, whereon is the elastic
rubbers n, is slightly and evenly underneath the boot and in position for straight
skating. When the skater leans or presses his boot more or less on either side the
straps and arms rock up and down, and the L end of the rocking bar i to and fro

page_text: thereby moving the swivel and roller axles into augular positions, and enabling the
skater to cut curves or figuros to the right or left at will; but when the side pressure
is removed the flat spring brings the rollers again into a straight position, and so
retains them until the side pressure is again applied, the flat spring 7 being capable
of adjustment by screws in each end to suit the action or desire of the skater.
For keeping the boot always central on the sole plate I employ a clip o having a
pin, which works into a spiral spring in a hole bored through the sole into the pillar;
this clip being placed in an angular position in the first instance is caused to como
more or less into a square position, according to the size of the skator's boot, and is
there firmly held by the spring.
For forming the soles of the skates and the bearings for the axles of the rollers to
run in, and also the heel plate, I stamp out of a sheet of metal the required shape
for the solo, with lugs at the toe and heel and as shown in Figure 6, which lugs,
being turned up or pressed down, form the bearings for the roller axles, and also the
heel plate to support the boot, as shewn in Figs. 7 and 8, thus forming a very light
sole, roller, axle beam, and heel plate from one piece of metal.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desiro it to be understood that I
clain,
First. The rocking rod with the L turn up at each end for actuating both roller
axles at one time.
Secondly. The forming the straps, right and left hand, and lining them with rubber
or other suitable material.
Thirdly. The use and employment of the trigger with elastic rubbers on cach end
to accomodate different widths of boots.
Fourthly. The flat spring for adjusting the tension of the rollers to the action or
will of the skater.
Fifthly. The use and employment of the clip for keeping the boot central on the
sole plate.
Sixthly. The improved mode or method for making the sole plate, heel plate, and
axle bearings out of one piece of metal.
And, Seventhly. The general arrangement construction, and combination of the
various parts of the improved roller skate, as all such improvements are herein
described and illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Lowry have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-first day of September, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-six.
Signed, scaled, and delivered by the
above-named George Lowry, in
the presence of
J. E. ROBSON,
Solicitor,
Manchester.
GEORGE LOWRY. (LS.)