IMPROVEMENTS IN RINK SKATES
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Henry Macaulay at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 8th February 1876.
HENRY MACAULAY, of Kingston-upon-Thames, in the County of Surrey, Captain
5th Royal Lancashire Militia. "IMPROVEMENTS IN RINK SKATES."
It is proposed to construct the body of these skates of wood, iron, or other metal
or material as may be found most suitable, the form of such body to be of the
usual shape, approximating to that of the human foot, or to be made of a form
suitable for a "reversible skate," that is, being of the same form or shape at each
end with such arrangements as would enable the heel and toe fastenings (to secure
the skate to the foot) to be attached to either end, the means of progression or retro-
gression to be obtained mainly by the use of one or more parallel wheels of wood,
inetal, papier maché, or other suitable hard material, or of any of the above or other
substances in combination, such single or parallel wheels to be placed under or under
and on each side (if three) of the skate, and revolving in the direction of its length,
and to occupy a position intermediate between two smaller wheels; or the further
appliances named below as being attached to or forming part of the body of the
skate, according as the same may be made of wood, or metal, or such shoe or
metal frame or axle for wheel to be on two horizontal levels, or wheels to be made
if required to alter its position by sliding in grooves or other suitable arrangements,
and to be screwed or clamped in such altered position as it may be desirable for
the time being for it to assume and maintain. If one wheel is placed in the centre
it will be placed below the horizontal level of the two wheels, which may be placed
on each side of it, such wheels revolving on the same or on a lower axis, and being
smaller than the centre wheel, the edges being bevilled outwards, and the two end
wheels or other appliances to be also placed above the level of the centre wheel, so
that with five wheels only three could at one time touch the surface. The central
wheel axle has a straight portion springing from cranked ends which carry cone
rollers on the outer ends.
The next point of importance in these skates is the application at one or both
ends of the skate of one or more balls of the same or of different sizes (if more than
one) placed vertically over or around each other; or one ball only, or one ball with
small rollers or wheels over and on the sides of such ball and working against it,
having their axles either longitudinally or transversely to the skate, such ball or
balls and rollers or wheels in contact with the same to be of glass, metal, stone,
wood, or other suitable hard material, and to act singly or in combination with
371

page_text: each other, and to be contained in a cup or cups, or in a tube or tubes having an
opening at the bottom so as to permit the lower ball if more than one to be brought
when required into contact with 'the floor or surface of the rink, or the lower ball
may be retained in its place in the cup by claws bent round the surface of the ball
to prevent it dropping out of the socket or cup.
When a central position is adopted for the wheel or wheels before mentioned it is
not proposed to have the ball or balls before mentioned on the same horizontal
level, but a little above so that the skating may be performed mainly upon the
wheel or wheels; but when required the ball or balls at either end of the skate can
be brought into immediate action, and the skate would then continue its movement
by running upon the central wheel or wheels and the ball at the end of the skate
which was for the time being brought into contact with the surface of the rink, the
other end at the same time being slightly raised by the same action.
It is further proposed, if found necessary, to adopt such arrangements either by
means of a screw or otherwise to raise or depress the balls at the ends of the skate,
so as to bring them nearer or remove thein further from the surface to suit the
preference of the wearer.
It is also proposed to insert (if necessary) under the lower ball a circular piece of
leather or india-rubber, or other suitable material to form a brake.