IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROLLER SKATES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Tytherleigh, of 10 and 11, Upper Weymouth
Street, Marylebone, in the County of Middlesex, Ironmonger and Builder,
and Elizabeth Nash, of 30, Weymouth Street, Marylebone, aforesaid, Widow,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROLLER
SKATES."
Sealed the 8th August 1876, and dated the 10th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Tytherleigh and
Elizabeth Nash at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th
February 1876.
WILLIAM TYTHERLEIGH, of 10 and 11, Upper Weymouth Street, Marylebone, in
the County of Middlesex, Ironmonger and Builder, and ELIZABETH NASH, of 30,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
Weymouth Strect, Marylebone, aforesaid, Widow.
STRUCTION OF ROLLER SKATES."
Our Invention relates to skates provided with wheels or rollers, and used for the
purpose of skating upon hard and level floors or other surfaces. It has for its
objects improved methods of construction of such skates so that greater security
and ease in balancing are given to persons using them, with less risk of falling or
injuring the ankles.
We take a sole or foot plate of sheet iron, wood, or other suitable material which
fits and is attached to the foot of the person using the skate by means of straps or
other convenient means in the ordinary way. This sole plate may be flat on its
upper and under surfaces, or it may be shaped to fit the foot of the skater, but we
prefer to make it rise slightly at the heel. On the lower side of the sole plate at
or near the toe we fix a bracket, which carries the axis of a wheel or roller of hard
wood or other suitable material. This wheel is arranged so that it revolves directly
under the centre line of the skate. At or near the heel of the skate we fix a
similar bracket carrying a similar wheel, which also revolves beneath the centre line
of the skate. At or near the middle of the length of the skate we fix a bracket,
which also carries a transverse axis, but we arrange a wheel or roller upon each
end of this axis (instead of one at its centre, as in the other brackets).
J
We prefer to make the wheel or roller at the heel of the skate a little larger,
or the bracket which carries it a little deeper, than is the case with the other
wheels..

page_text: The wheels are arranged so that the lowest points of their circumference are all
upon the same plane, or sometimes we arrange the centre wheels so as to be slightly
lower than those at the heel and toe, and thus the movement of the skater is
segments of circles instead of straight forward is facilitated.
We make the edges of the wheels or rollers somewhat rounded in transverse
section, and sometimes we insert india-rubber or other elastic substance between the
sole plate and the brackets, or the latter may themselves be made elastic.
Instead of one roller only at the toe and heel of the skate two rollers may be
used in each position.
By our improved method of construction, great cheapness, durability, and case
in use are attained as compared with roller skates as ordinarily constructed and
used.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Tytherleigh and Elizabeth Nash in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 9th August 1876.
WILLIAM TYTHERLEIGH, of 10 and 11, Upper Weymouth Street, Marylebone, in
the County of Middlesex, Ironmonger and Builder, and ELIZABETH NASH, of 30,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
Weymouth Street, Marylebone, aforesaid, Widow.
STRUCTION OF ROLLER SKATES."
Our Invention relates to skates provided with wheels or rollers, and used for the
purpose of skating upon hard and level floors or other substances. It has for its
objects improved methods of constructing such skates so that greater security and
ease in balancing are given to persons using them with less risk of falling or injuring
the ancles.
In order to put our Invention in operation we take a sole or foot plate of sheet
iron, wood, or other suitable material, which fits upon and 'is attached to the foot
of the person using the skate by straps or other convenient means in the ordinary
way. The sole plate may be flat on its upper and under surfaces, or it may be
shaped to fit the foot of the skater more or less closely, but we prefer to make it
rise slightly at the heel. On the lower side of the sole plate, made as described, at
or near the toe, we screw or otherwise fix a bracket which carries the transverse
axis of a wheel or roller of hard wood or other suitable material This wheel is
arranged in such a position that it revolves directly under the centre line of the
skate. At or near the heel of the skate we fix a similar bracket, which we prefer
to make inclined slightly backward. This bracket also carries the transverse axis
of a wheel similar to that last described, and also revolving beneath the centre line
of the skate. At or near the middle of the length of the skate we fix a third
bracket also carrying a transverse axis, but instead of a wheel at its centre (as in
the other brackets) we arrange a wheel or roller upon each of its ends.
We prefer to make the wheel or roller at the heel of the skate a little larger in
diameter, or the bracket which carries it of somewhat greater depth than the other
wheels and brackets; or sometimes wo make the wheels at the centre of the skate
of larger diameter than that at the toe, and the wheel at the heel larger than those
at the centre.
We arrange the wheels so that their lowest points are all upon the same plane,
or sometimes we arrange the centre wheels so that their lowest points are at a
lower level than those at the toe and heel, and thus the movement of the skater
in describing segments of circles to the right or left instead of straight lines forward
or backward is facilitated.
We prefer to make the edges of the rollers or wheels somewhat rounded in
transverse section, and sometimes we insert india-rubber or other clastic or
yielding material between the sole plates and the brackets, or the latter may them-
selves be elastic or attached to flexible springs.

page_text: Sometimes instead of using one wheel or roller only at the toe and heel of the
skate, respectively as described, we use two wheels or rollers in each position, or we
use two wheels or rollers at the toe and one at the heel, or vice versa.
The axles of the wheels may be lubricated in any convenient way, but we prefer
to form chambers for lubricating material in the brackets which carry the axles.
These chambers may be closed by screws, and communicate by a small aperture
with the axle.
The accompanying Drawing is in illustration of our Invention,
Figure 1 is a side view; Figure 2, a plan; and Figure 3, a cross section at the
centre wheels.
Figure 4, a cross section at the roller at the heel.
And Figure 5, a cross section at the roller at the toe of the skate.
a is the sole plate which is fixed to the foot of the skater by straps b, b¹. The
bracket c is fixed under the toe of the skate and supports the axle of the wheel or
roller d. A similar bracket e is fixed under the heel of the skate and supports the
axle of the wheel or roller f. Near the centre of the skate is fixed a third bracket
which supports an axle having the wheels or rollers and i at its ends.
Figure 6 is a plan of a skate constructed according to our Invention, but having
two wheels or rollers (instead of one) at the toc; Figure 7 is a side view of the
same.
By our improved method of construction, greater cheapness, durability, and case
in use are attained than in wheel or roller skates as ordinarily constructed and
used.
We claim the methods of constructing and arranging wheel or roller skates, sub-
stantially as described and shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Tytherleigh, have hereunto set my
hand and scal, this Eigthth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
WILLIAM TYTHERLEIGH. (L.S.)
Witness,
E. EDWARDS,
Edwards and Co.,
Engineers and Patent Agents,
40, Southampton Buildings.