IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO ROLLER SKATES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Mackay, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO ROLLER
SKATES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Mackay at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th December 1876.
JAMES MACKAY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
AND APPLICABLE TO ROLLER SKATES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
This Invention relates to certain improvements in roller skates, whereby the
weight of the skater is always on the centre of the skate in manner similar to an
ordinary skate, and whereby the vibration so objectionable in roller skates is over-
come, and consists in using two or more rollers, either singly or in pairs, on the
centre line of the skate, which rollers rotate on fixed axles. The rollers and axles
are of peculiar construction, the axle being formed with a spherical projection in its
centre, which fits into a corresponding spherical recess or concave in the roller. The
roller is made in two pieces, so that the halves can ship over the spherical projection.
on its axle, and be then secured together by suitable screws or bolts, The axle and
roller thus form what may be termed a universal or ball-and-socket joint. The axle
is fixed to the foot stock of the skate by a suitable forked bracket securely attached
thereto. The roller is provided with a brass or other suitable liner, and the axle is
by preference of steel.
I would have it clearly understood that in this my improved skate the axles are
fixed to the foot stock, and do not radiate thereon; the radiation of the roller
necessary to enable the skater to perform evolutions is obtained by the movement of
the spherical projection on the axle in relation to the spherical recess or bearing in
the roller itself. This movement is entirely under the control of the skater, and is.
not obtained by the means of springs or any elastic medium.
To prevent any jarring that might occur should the cant of the foot stock cause.
the axle to touch the side of the rollers (which are sufficiently cut away to allow the

page_text: necessary cant) I place liners or washers of india-rubber or other suitable elastic
material either on the inside of the cut away portion of the rollers, or on the axle
provided, as the case may be, with a metal bush or washer. This provision will
also tend to cause the roller to recover its normal position upon raising the skate or
altering the position or centre of weight.
In operation I propose to fit two rollers to each skate, either singly or in pairs,
but I do not limit myself to this number, as three or any other suitable number
may be used, and I would have it understood that this Invention essentially consists
in the peculiar form and construction of parts constituting the roller and axle,
whereby the skater is enabled to perform evolutions without the cramping, or
turning, or radiation of the axle.
Amongst other advantages my improved skate possesses over those now in use
the following may be enumerated:-Absence of vibration, lightness, simplicity of
parts, ease and safety in cutting figures and evolutions, perfect control by the
skater, and perfect lubrication, as the ball-and-socket joint is admirably adapted for
retaining its lubricant.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Mackay in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th June 1877.
" IMPROVEMENTS IN
JAMES MACKAY, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster.
AND APPLICABLE TO ROLLER SKATES."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in roller skates, whereby the
weight of the skater is always on the centre of the skate in manner similar to an
ordinary skate, and whereby the vibration so objectionable in roller skates is over-
come, and consists in using two or more rollers, either singly or in pairs, on the
centre line of the skate, which rollers rotate on axles that do not radiate. The
rollers and axles are of peculiar construction, the axle being formed with a spherical
projection in its centre, which fits into a corresponding spherical recess or concave
in the roller. The roller is made in two pieces, so that the halves can ship over the
spherical projection on its axle, and be then secured together by suitable screws or
bolts. The axle and roller thus form what may be termed a universal or ball-and-
socket joint. The axle is fixed to the foot stock of the skate by a suitable forked
bracket securely attached thereto. The roller is provided with a brass or other
suitable liner, and the axle is by preference of steel.
I would have it clearly understood that in this my improved skate the axles are
fixed to the foot stock, and do not radiate thereon; the radiation of the roller
necessary to enable the skater to perform evolutions is obtained by the moveinent
of the spherical projection on the axle in relation to the spherical recess or bearing
in the roller itself. This movement is entirely under the control of the skater,
and is not obtained by the means of springs or any elastic medium.
To prevent any jarring that might occur should the cant of the foot stock cause
the axle to touch the sides of the rollers (which are sufficiently cut away to allow
the necessary cant) I place liners or washers of india-rubber or other suitable clastic
material either on the inside of the cut away portion of the rollers, or on the axle
provided, as the case may be, with a metal bush or washer. This provision will
also tend to cause the roller to recover its normal position upon raising the skate or
altering the position or centre of weight.
The before-going being the nature, object, and purposes of my Invention, I will
now proceed to describe inore in detail how the same inay be carried into practical
effect, and for that purpose I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings illus-
trative thereof. The Drawings are marked with letters and figures of reference
corresponding with those in the following explanation. Like letters and figures
denote similar parts throughout the various views.

page_text: Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a skate constructed according to this
Invention.
Figure 2 is an underneath plan of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation showing the construction of the wheels of skates
according to this Invention.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 are modifications of Figure 3.
Figures 7 and 8 illustrate this Invention as applied to a four wheeled skate.
Upon reference it will be seen that the improvements consist in a peculiar con-
struction of the rollers a and the axles b. The axle b is formed with a spherical
projection c, which fits into a corresponding spherical recess or concave in the
roller a
The roller a is made in two pieces, so that the halves ship over the
spherical projection c on the axle b, and then are secured together by the screws d.
The axle band the roller a thus forin what may be termed a universal joint; the
roller is cut away at e to give room for play. The axle b is fixed to the foot
stock A of the skate by the bracket 1. The roller may be provided with a liner i,
as shown at Figures 3 and 5, or the liner may be dispensed with, as shown in
Figures 4 and 6. The axles b are fixed to the foot stock A, and do not radiate
thereon. The radiation of the roller a requisite to enable the skater to perform
evolutions is obtained by the movement of the spherical projection c on the axle b
in relation to the spherical recess or bearing in the roller a. This movement is
entirely under the control of the skater, and is not obtained by the means of springs
or any elastic medium.
In
To prevent any jarring that might occur should the cant of the foot stock A cause
the axle b to touch the sides of the roller a I place a washer of india-rubber or other
suitable elastic materials, Figure 3, which is attached to the roller a, and provided
with a bush which runs on the axle b. This washer prevents the foot stock from
going too far over, and at the same time serves as a spring to cause the roller to
regain its normal position upon the skate being raised from the ground.
Figure 4 this arrangement is shown in the form of a brass clutch v provided with a
spiral spring. In Figure 5 this arrangement is shown in the form of a flat sheet
spring w bearing on the roller a. In Figure 6 this arrangement is shown in the
form of an india-rubber washer z. In Figure 7, which illustrates my Invention as
applied to a four-roller skate, the regaining arrangement v is shown similar to that
at Figure 4.
The spherical projection c may form part of the axle b, the roller & running round
the projection c, as shown in Figure 3, or the projection e may be independent of
and slipped on to the axle b, in which case the projection c runs on the axle b, as
shown at Figures 4, 5, and 6.
In operation I propose to fit two rollers to cach skate, either singly or in pairs,
but I do not limit myself to this number, as three or any other suitable number
may be be used, and I would have it understood that this Invention essentially
consists in the peculiar form and construction of parts constituting the roller and
axle, whereby the skater is enabled to perform evolutions without the crainping, or
turning, or radiation of the axle.
Amongst other advantages my improved skate possesses over those now in use
the following may be enumerated :-Absence of vibration, lightness, simplicity of
parts, ease and safety in cutting figures and evolutions, perfect control by the skater,
and perfect lubrication, as the ball-and-socket joint is adinirably adapted for retaining
its lubricant.
Having thus described my Invention, and shown how the same may be put into
practice, what I claim under the before in part recited Letters Patent is,--
First. Applying rollers or wheels to the foot piece or stock of a skate in manuer
as described, namely, by forming a spherical projection such as c on or in connection
with a fixed axle such as b, the roller or wheel being formed with a corresponding
spherical recess fitting the spherical projection c on the axle b.
Second. The methods of applying springs (to cause the rollers to recover their

page_text: normal position) in manner such as shown in the accompanying Drawings, and
described in the before-going Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Mackay, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
SAULT
JAMES MACKAY.
(L....)