IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES, AND IN APPURTENANCES FOR THE SAME
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Plaister Harriss-Gastrell, formerly of Stanley Hall,
Wakefield, in the County of York, England, but now of the British Embassy,
Vienna, in the Empire of Austria, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ROLLER SKATES, AND IN APPURTENANCES FOR THE SAME."
Scaled the 16th September 1876, and dated the 4th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Plaister Harriss-Gastrell
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th April 1876.
JAMES PLAISTER HARRISS-GASTRELL, formerly of Stanley Hall, Wakefield, in the
County of York, England, but now of the British Embassy, Vienna, in the Empire
of Austria. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES, AND IN APPURTENANCES FOR
THE SAME."
The improvements consist in-
a. Setting rollers, wheels, flattened spheres, or spheres (balls, castors, or other-
wise), continuously or nearly so along a central line in the length of the skate, which
line can be curved slightly upwards at each end.
b. Placing wheels, flattened spheres, or spheres (balls, castors, or otherwise), capable
of moving in any direction for support at points not necessarily provided with rollers
or wheels, or flattened spheres for steadiness or curving.
c. Providing a means of travelling in curves by differentiation of diameter or
speed, or both as on the principle of the spindle or of the truncated cone or of
spheres (flattened or not), with axes to be dipped vertically, or of breaks to reduco
the speed of parallel sets of wheels.
d. Providing a means of slackening speed by a break.
e. Separating the skate into an upper and lower part, the upper to control the
arrangement for travelling in curves, and the lower to provide for as much hold on
the rink and support to the foot as may be necessary.
Covering the rollers, wheels, flattened spheres, or spheres (balls, castors, or
otherwise), with an india-rubber covering to increase the hold on the rink and
diminish the noise.
And g. Combining all or some of these in the same skate.
I proceed to mention six chief modes of producing curving, to each of which can
Disn

page_text: be added stopping break d or division into two parts e, or india-rubber coverings f,
or balls, castors, or otherwise for support b.
1st Mode. One or more spindles parallel to and on each side of central line
brought into operation together or in succession by tipping the skate.
2nd. One or more spindles cut up into loose running wheels on their axes, and
similarly brought into operation.
3rd. One or more spindles with axis cut up similarly brought into operation.
4th. Loose wheels of same or nearly same diameter with breaks to each to
produce difference of speed for curving similarly actuated.
5th. On each of the axes of imaginary spindles one loose movable wheel of less
diameter than central wheel to be pushed by tipping of the skate in the plane of
a reversed spindle from outer edge to central line of skate and reduced speed, by
pressure for instance of a spring to return said wheel to outer edge.
And 6th. One or more flattened spheres at one or more points on each side of
central line, with axes to be dipped by tipping of the skate.
I now proceed to describe more fully the mode No. 6. Let a line A, B, be the
central line from point to heel, and a line C, D, crossing it at E, say about two-thirds
of the distance from the point, indicate more or less the skating centre. Along
A, B, I arrange spheres, flattened at each side to one quarter of their diameter, of
say two inches diameter, and I shorten the axes to about 1/2 inches; one such
sphere being at E, one before and one behind E, one at the heel end, and one or
two more at the point end. On either side of and parallel to A, B, I arrange one
or two sets of one or more similar flattened spheres with the outer end of each axis
set with play room in a connecting bar fixed to the foot part of the skate, and with
the inner end of each axis set with play room in a connecting bar suspended free to
rise towards the footpath of the skate, but held down by a spring or springs.
For support wherever necessary I place balls or wheels running freely in any
direction, and I add a stopping break, which is actuated by downward pressure at
the heel where the central line curves slightly upward, bringing sphere or wheel
(or a drag) to the ground, throwing the forward spheres or wheels off the ground
and applying a break to the cross line spheres or wheels behind the centre. This
skate can be made in one or two parts and with or without the india-rubber
coverings or tyres. This rolling and curving apparatus can be fitted and adapted
to the well-known Acme Halifax form of skates. By wheel I mean roller balls,
castors, or similar appliances.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the condition of the Letters Patent filed by the
said James Plaister Harriss-Gastrell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th October 1876.
JAMES PLAISTER HARRISS-GASTRELL, formerly of Stanley Hall, Wakefield, in
the County of York, England, but now of the British Embassy, Vienna, in the
Empire of Austria. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES, AND IN APPURTENANCES
FOR THE SAME."
My Invention relates to improvements in roller skates and appurtenances for the
same, and consists―
(a.) In setting rollers, wheels, flattened spheres, or spheres (balls), as castors, or
otherwise, continuously, or nearly so, in two's or singly along a central line or at
the edges of a central band in the length of the skate, which line or band may be
curved upwards at each end, and may be fitted at the toe end with a pad or cushion
of india-rubber, or the like, from in front of the foremost roller, wheel, or castor to
increase hold for pushing out, and at the heel end with a similar contrivance to
increase power of heel brake.
(b.) In placing wheels, rollers, flattened spheres, or spheres (balls), as castors, or

page_text: otherwise, capable of moving in any direction with or without a check to turning
of axles in a horizontal plane, for steadiness and support and hold on ground
wherever necessary.
(c) In providing an appliance for travelling in curves by differentiation of
diameter or of speed, or of both, as on the principle of the spindle, or rather of the
truncated cone, generated either by a straight line or a curved line, or of spheres
(flattened or not), or rollers, like double truncated cones or wheels placed under
central line, or of such spheres or wheels with axles to be dipped placed either under
the foot part of the skate or at the side of it, with their axles below or at the side of
or above the foot; or on the principle of reducing speed of parallel wheel, or sets
of wheels, or rollers, or sets of rollers by brakes, all these being actuated by tipping
of foot part of the skate or of the whole skate.
(d.) In providing a means of slackening and stopping speed by a brake actuated
by a downward pressure of the heel.
(c.) In a separation whenever necessary of the skate into an upper and lower
portion, the upper to control the appliance for travelling in curves, the padded toe
end for pushing out, and the heel brake and the lower part.to provide for as much
steadiness, support, or hold on the ground as may be necessary.
(f) In adding as may be desirable india-rubber or the like coverings or tyres to
increase hold and lessen noise.
(g.) In combining all or some of these or any of them with themselves or others.
Some varieties of the skate may be with or without division into two parts of
the skate, and with or without additional wheels or rollers acting as castors, or
balls for points of support, and may generally also be without pad or cushion
at the point end or at the heel end, and all varieties may be with or without
a brake at the heel and with or without the coverings or tyres of india-rubber or
the like.
I now enumerate six modes of obtaining facility of curving
1. One or more spindles (truncated cones) on each side of the central line or
double truncated cones brought into operation together or in succession by tipping
of the skate.
2. One or more spindles (truncated cones) cut up into loose running wheels on
their axes and similarly brought into operation.
3. One or more spindles (truncated cones) with axes cut up into separate axles
similarly brought into operation.
4. Loose running wheels of the same diameter, or nearly the same diameter, with
brakes to produce difference of speed similarly brought into operation.
5. On each of the axes of imaginary spindles (truncated cones) one loose running
and movable wheel of less diameter than the central wheel or wheels to be pushed
inwards by tipping of skate, and reduced in speed or not and to be returned
towards the outer edge.
6. One or more flattened spheres (wheels) at one or more points, either under the
central line or on each side of the central line with axles to be dipped by tipping of
the skate.
I now proceed to describe the varieties under each mode of curving appliance,
prefacing them with the following general remarks:-I take for the foot part the
ordinary or any other form of ice skate, and I divide the length (central line) into
three equal parts or thereabouts. I call for convenience the point at two-thirds
from the toe end and one-third from the heel end the skating centre, and the
point at one-third from the toe end the pushing point. At or near the pushing
point or the skating centre, or along the central line, or on a line or lines at right
angles to the central line, at or near either of them or between then, I place the
appliance or appliances for curving. At or in front of the pushing point I either
place a wheel or a roller either on the same level or on a rising line (so as not to
touch the ground), or I set one or more castors or the like, checked or unchecked,
with a pad or cushion, or an equivalent in front of such castor or castors. Or
vice versa at or near a transverse line through the skating centre I place either two

page_text: wheels or two rollers or two castors, the curving appliance being placed forward,
and then the two wheels can be outside the foot part of the skate with their axle
either below or at the side of or above the said foot part. Behind the skating centre
I place the brake arrangement with or without pad or cushion, or the like, set above
the usual level. If it be necessary or desirable I add on a separate frame but
connected with any castors at or near any other point castors or the like, checked or
unchecked, for points of support on each side of the central line or along the central
line. And I also cover, or not, wheels, rollers, or castors with india-rubber or the
like. And I regulate the tipping of the skate to ten degrees or thereabouts, and
this angle of possible inclination varies somewhat, according to whether the point
be on the ground or above it, at which deviation from the perpendicular begins.
I use
"wheel" in contradistinction to "roller," and by "castor" I mean either
wheel, or roller, or ball, capable of moving freely in any direction whether or not
the turning of their axles in the horizontal plane be checked. The curving
appliance can of course be generally duplicated or multiplied. Each arrangement
of parts must as to relative size be determined by the length, width, and height of
the skate. Let a length of 12 inches and a width of 4 inches be assumed. Then
a, b, c, d, e, f, is the plan (Figure 1) of the skate, a, d, is the central line or band,
is the pushing point, and h is the skating centre. It is further assumed that
the sole of the foot shall be 1½ inches or thereabouts from the ground. I then take
for the wheels, rollers, or castors, a diameter usually of one and a half inches. A
section is shown in Figure 2. I place under a line at right angles to the central line
through two castors, checked so as to deflect to say only 120° in all, connected by
a bar which is attached to the foot part of the skate, as shown in Figures 3, 4, and 5,
the springs at c and c maintaining the horizontal position of the said foot part. Or I
place under a broad rimmed castor or a wheel, or a small roller similarly attached.
If I use balls then I place two instead of castors, as in Figure 6, so that they run
freely in any direction. The pad or cushion should cover a transverse curve drawn
from the central line in front of the castors. Under I place a double truncated
cone tapering in both directions on a straight line from one and a half inches, for
example, to one and one quarter, or thereabouts, of an inch in a length of one and
a half inches, and the two joined cones united by a broad rim of half an inch, and
attached with the aid of a spring on the outer end to the foot part of the skate, as
shown in sketch Figure 7, à depression of one-eighth of an inch, or thereabouts,
bringing the cone into play, and further depression compressing the springs at dor d
and increasing the friction. Or place two truncated cones tapering in opposite
directions in like manner, separated by a broad rimmed wheel, and attached solidly
on the inner end and with the aid of a spring on the outer end, as shown in Figure 8.
I can also repeat this appliance at half way between and h. These spindles or
truncated cones can be solid or hollow, or also, if of metal, in skeleton to reduce
weight. Under i, half way between the skating centre and the heel end of the
skate, I place the brake appliance (Figure 9). This consists in a roller brake with
withdrawing spring, and side and end pads or cushions of india-rubber or the like.
The roller of a diameter of one inch with the axle about three-quarters of an inch
from the ground is set so as to travel forwards and upwards, and push a brake
suspended close to said cones against the middle portion of the double or single cone.
The depression of the heel throws all appliances in front of the skating centre off
the ground, applies the brake to the appliance at the skating centre, and eventually
presses pads or cushions or the like against the ground.
A variety (I. B.) is to use a second curving appliance at or g, but to make
it taper more sharply than the one at ht, to let it for instance taper from 1'/
to 1 inches in diameter. Or to use a third appliance at g tapering to one
inch only.
A third variety (I. C.) consists in using cones generated by a curved line so that
the tipping of the skate brings successive points gradually into play. Two single
cones are used, and the wheel between them has its rim rounded so as to remain on
the ground during the tipping. Each cone tapers from 1/2 inches to 1'/, inches, and

page_text: is attached to foot piece on the inner side by the spring attachment, and on the
outer side by the fixed attachment, as in Figure 10.
Under mode 2 there are the three varieties A., B., and C., the cones being replaced
by a fixed axle with loose running wheels of quarter inch rounded rim at every
quarter inch from inner to outer edge and diminishing in diameter like the cones.
The heel brake is widened so as to act on all these wheels, or the wheels may
be of larger rim or wider apart or both.
Under mode 3 there is only the variety C., in which the cones generated by
curved lines are replaced by quarter inch or half inch round-rimmed wheels
diminishing in like manner in diameter and fixed to axles with a spring attachment
to foot part of skate, so that each is brought successively into play from the inner
to the outer edge, as shown in Figure 11.
Under mode 4 there are two varieties, which I shall call D. and E. respectively.
In 4 D. there are loose running wheels of quarter or half inch rims, and of diameter
of, say, one and a half inches at intervals, say, of a quarter inch from central wheel to
outer edge, on a fixed axle running across width of skate, or there is only one wheel
on each side and above each a spring brake arrangement, so that the tipping of the
foot part of the skate slackens and eventually stops cach wheel in succession from the
outer edge to the central wheel, as shown in Figure 12. In 4 E. the curving wheels
are of less diameter than the central wheel and of a gradually decreasing diameter
and proportioned rim, so that the tipping of the foot part of the skate first puts
them all to the ground and then applies brakes, as shown in sketch Fig. 13.
Under mode 5 there is one variety which I shall call F. In 5 F. the central
wheel being, say, 1/2 inches in diameter, and, say, one / inch in rounded rim a
loose running movable round-rimmed wheel of a diameter of, say, 17/16 inch, is set
on a prolongation (slotted or not) of the axle of the central wheel at a distance of
one inch or thereabouts. A spring is coiled inside or outside this axle to push the
movable wheel away from central wheel. The axle is continued to the total length.
of the width of the skate. In the slot is fixed a lazy tongs in due proportion to
push the movable wheel in the ratio of four or more to each unit of depression of
the edge of the foot part of the skate, as shown in Figures 14, or a block is placed
in the slot or around the axle and actuated by a crank arrangement.
Under mode 6 there are four varieties, which I shall call G. and H., I. and K. In
6 G. I use a central wheel with the rim forming part of the circumference of a
sphere of the same diameter, and on each side thereof on the same line of axle one
or more similar wheels, all being, say, of 1/2 inches diameter. I attach the outer
point of each axle solidly to the foot part of the skate with play room for the axle, but
the inner point of each axle by a short bar and spring with play room for the axle, or
if more than one set of wheels be used in the length of the skate, by a long lever
and spring or springs, as shown in Figures 16 to 18. The said spring or the inner
bar is connected with the axle by a short rod or bar. With 1%, inch spheres or
parts of spheres with ends of diameters or axles to be dipped a quarter of an inch
or thereabouts, the rim should be of a width of at least one 1/, inch for dipping on
one side only. In 6 H. I omit the central wheel and connect the corresponding
inner bars on each side of the central line by a lever of equal length of arm pivoted
under the central line, so that the wheels on both sides are correspondingly dipped
by tipping the foot part of the skate, as shown in Figures 19 and 20. In this
case cateris paribus the rim should be a half inch at least in width for dipping
both ways. In 6 I. a large wheel with rounded rim is placed at the side of the
skate on each side, and the curving appliance in H is changed into a crank
or equivalent movement, so as to pull down instead of push down the outer part
of the axle, or push up the inner part of the axle, as shown in Figures 21, 22,
23, and 24. Or the appliance in G similarly modified may be used. In 6 K.
one wheel is placed under the skating centre, and on each side thereof a castor
may be added, as in Figure 25.
Castors or balls in addition for points of supports can be added in some of these
varieties at the point, and the transverse bars connected or not.

page_text: In each variety, A. to K., the arrangement at the pushing point and for the brake
is the same, with the necessary and obvious modifications, as, for instance, pulling
the brake on to the wheels in the I. variety; and a duplication or multiplication
of the curving appliance can usually be introduced.
Many sub-varieties can be made by modes of arranging additional castors or balls
for support or by using a single castor (with additional castors) or a broad round-
rimmed wheel or a roller at the pushing point, or vice versa, or by placing a wheel
roller or castor under .
In all these varieties the curving appliance may be placed only at or near the
pushing point, instead or at or near the skating centre. For the reverse (variety L.)
of the variety K., when the hind wheels are at the side of the foot part of the skate.
I subjoin a sketch, Figure 26. The appliance for curving may be either of mode I.
or mode 6, and the two castors for support may be added or not, and the hind
wheels may be placed behind the skate.
I now proceed to describe more fully the sketches or Figures.
Under A., Figure 1 is already explained, and so is Figure 2, except in respect
of the pads or cushions at and w (referred to herein-before and requiring
no further explanation), and the brake appliance which will be herein-after
mentioned.
Figure 3 shows two methods of applying springs for maintaining the level of
the foot part of the skate, and two methods of deflecting freely (with a check to
These methods can be inter-
prevent "running over") the axles of the castors.
changed.
In Figures 3 and 4, g is the pushing point, a is the axle, b is the pivot (con-
nected with the axle) and its semicircular plate i, k; c is the circular spring, which
presses upon d, the arm of the bar connecting both castors, and on which the foot
part is pivoted at c; & is the block of 30° to check the deflection of the axles and is
attached to d.
In Figure 5 the springs act horizontally from inside in its altered form and
press against a bar or pillar b¹ attached solidly to the foot part of the skate and
pivoted at to arms holding rings f¹, f, in which the axles deflect fully.
Figure 6 shows a method of using balls d, d, instead of castors, the springs b, b,
acting on the bar a, a, to which the foot part is pivoted at e and the lever bars c,
with lubricated packing (loose) on rings.
Figure 7 is the skating centre.. a, a, the double truncated cone with broad rimmed
joint band axle pivoted at c, c, to tubes working inside (attached to the foot part
of the skate) and held from the foot part by springs. If pivoted at c, e, as at e,
two springs are employed at each end of the axle.
In Figure 8 the broad rimmed join becomes a wheel b fixed by connecting
bars c, c', to foot part.
Figure 9 shows in transverse section the roller in the break appliance, n being the
roller and o, o, the connecting bars, as in Sketch No. 2, where s is the break pivoted
at t, and held in place by the spring in the tube pivoted on the cross
bars w, w.
Figure 10 has a central round rimmed wheel attached to the foot part, and on
either side a truncated cone generated by a curved line, the diameter of a tapering
from inner of 11/. inches to outer of 11%, inch, and its axle pivoted at c and c¹ to
connecting bars d¹ and e¹, the latter two el attached solidly to the foot part, and
the former one d' being half bar and half spring.
Under 3 C., Figure 11 has has skating centre with bent bar a, a, in which all
connecting bars of e and fon each side are set in larger holes, and to which is fixed
central wheel d, the foot part is pivoted at b and the connecting rods of e and f,
and the transverse bars at i and j are pivoted at y, i, and j, and the transverse
bar j ofe is held strongly against the foot part by the spring, whilst the transverse
bar off is held at 1/8th inch from it by the other spring.
Under 4 D., Figure 12 shows the wheels c and d on the prolonged axle of the central
wheel and brakes k, set in transverse bars a, a, on which the foot part is pivoted

page_text: at b, and actuated by springs and i, the former touching the footboard and the
latter holding the brake in place, with its slanting transverse bar almost touching
the foot part. Between these is a spring g to maintain the level of the foot part,
and at is a small spring to keep the brake of e in place.
Under E., Figure 13 shows c and d wheels with views of a truncated cone, the
other parts being as in Figure 12.
Under 5 F., Figure 14 shows the bar a and pivot at b, and springs at g and g to
support the foot part. The central wheel at c is round rimmed, and its axle is pro-
longed both ways to f. Inside it are the springs e pushing the movable wheel d
back with its block to f, which is connected by pivoted bars to the lever i, k,
pivoted at j on the bar a, a, and its short arm & touching the foot part.
Under 6 G., Figure 16 shows the two spheres a and a with their axles pivoted
at band b to connecting rods to foot part, and the inner points thereof connected
by the bar tube and spring d with the foot part. The axle is pivoted to
the bar.
In Figure 17, a is part of a sphere, and the axle at a projects beyond and through
a bevelled eye.
Figures 18, 18, and 18c, show connecting longitudinal bars when the curving
appliance is repeated at or at g, or at both, (180) showing 3 springs, (18b) one
spring and two telescopic tubes, and (18c) showing said bars at the level of the
connecting axles.
Figure 19 shows spheres a, a, with the connecting levers 7, 1, pivoted at %, and
Figure 20 shows parts of spheres with the said lever 1, 1.
Under 6 J., Figure 21 shows the usual bar a, a, pivoted at b to the foot part,
which is kept horizontal by springs c and c, the bar being connected at and
with the appliance under the pushing point g.
In Figures 21 and 22 d is pivoted to the foot part and to the equal armed lever
which is pivoted at e at the side of the bar a, a, the axle g of the wheel i is pivoted
at g to a bar pivoted at f to the equal armed lever. If the wheel be less in
diameter the total width of skate or rather the space occupied by skate will be
lessened.
In Figures 23 and 24 the bar d is pivoted at e to the rod e, f, in a slot of the
bar a, a.
This rod e, f, actuates the arrangement f,, which is solidly attached to
the bar 1, 1, and by this to the axle g, which at gis pivoted to a branch of the
bar a, a.
In K., Figure 25, the central wheel only is used, but the castors band b
may be added, deflecting their axles in the plane e, e, c, e, as in Figure 3, and
connected at c, c, with castors under the pushing point g, the bars supporting the
springs d and d which keep the foot part level.
In Figure 26 a single round rimmed wheel a is shown under g instead of h. To
this castors may be added, as in Sketch No. 19. The hind wheels b, b, not
being used for curving can be narrow rimmed, but to allow of tipping the foot
part must either be of less diameter, as in Figure 27, or the foot part must
be higher from the ground or made wider. If the brake be not used, the wheels
can be placed behind the skate, and, if necessary, the foot part suspended from
their axle with freedom of tipping controlled by springs for returning it to
level.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I claim-
Firstly. The several improvements herein-before referred to in roller skates,
and in appurtenances for the same, and as shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. I claim the employment of springs or their equivalents in combination
with telescopic rods for returning the foot boards of roller skates to a horizontal
position after a side pressure, as set forth and as shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Thirdly. I claim the employment of arms and levers in connection with a frame

page_text: hinged under and to the foot board of a roller skate as described and as shown in
the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Plaister Harriss-Gastrell, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Twenty-fifth day of September, One thousand
cight hundred and seventy-six.
JANES PLAISTER HARRISS-GASTRELL (L.S.)