IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATIES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur Henry Robinson, of Merrion, in the County of
Dublin, Ireland, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER
SKATIES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur Henry Robinson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th May 1876.
ARTHUR HENRY ROBINSON, of Merrion, in the County of Dublin, Ireland,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES."
My Invention has for its object the production of a roller skate which whilst
providing all the requisite facilities for the necessary gyratory motions in a simple
manner shall at the same time be of light weight and capable of being
manufactured at a cheap rate.
In order to effect this object I construct the skate in the following manner :-I
take a hollow or solid bar or rod, but by preference, a cylindrical tube cut to the
requisite length, according to the size of the skate to be produced, and I drill or
otherwise form holes through the same for the reception of horizontal and vertical
pins for the purposes herein-after mentioned. The bar or rod is connected with fore
and aft swivelling carriages by means of sockets formed on the upper portion of the
said carriages, and through which the ends of the said bar or rod pass.
The carriages are provided with vertical cylindrical pendent plugs for receiving
swivelling axles, which are each furnished with a projection for the reception of a
swivelling eye piece, into which is introduced the lower end of one of the vertical
pius, herein-before referred to, pendent from the bar or rod, the operation being
generally similar to that of the pins and swivelling connections described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, No. 2998, 1875. The fore and aft
carriages are slotted for the passage of the vertical pins, and may be connected
together by a tie rod or bar; they are further provided at their upper portion with
vertical boxes for rubber or other springs which form spring bearings for the
horizontal pins herein-before referred to, and press against the latter when the
skater inclines either to the right or left.
In lieu of the vertical boxes and their springs I may employ a flat rubber or steel
spring inserted between a wing formed on the carriage and flat plates attached to
the main bar or rod; or I may substitute therefor a horizontal spring box projecting
[Price 6d1

page_text: from the carriage, and which is slotted for the passage of the vertical pendent pin
which enters the swivelling eye piece below. The spring box is fitted in its interior
with rubber or other springs arranged at opposite sides of the pendent pin, passing
therethrough, and which are capable of adjustment by means of screw plugs.
The foot rest consists of a toe plate and a heel plate formned on or attached to the
main rod or bar, and which may be adjustable in size to suit any size of foot,
in which case straps may be dispensed with, and also adjustable in position on the
main rod or bar.
If desired the heel plate may take its bearing upon the horizontal pin in the rear
end of the main rod or bar.
In order to obviate the necessity of frequent oiling and the consequent dirt
incidental to the ordinary method I provide in the body of each of the wheels a
chamber fitted with a spring piston, between which and the end of the chamber I
place a convenient quantity of absorbent material saturated with any suitable
lubricant. This chamber communicates with the axle bearing by means of a sinall
passage, so that by the act of pressing the piston with the finger a certain quantity
of lubricant is expressed from the absorbent material at each operation and con-
ducted to the bearing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Arthur Henry Robinson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 29th
November 1870.
ARTHUR HENRY ROBINSON, of Merrion, in the County of Dublin, Ireland,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES."
The object of my said Invention is the production of a roller skate capable of
affording all the requisite facilities for the necessary gyratory motions in a simple
manner, and also capable of being manufactured at a cheap rate.
The accompanying Sheet of Drawings illustrate the manner by which I effect the
above objects.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a roller skate constructed according to my
said Invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same; Fig. 3, a ground plan
of same; Fig. 4, an end view of saune; and Fig. 5, a transverse vertical section on
the line x, x, through Fig. 2.
Fig. 7 represents the rotating carriage axles borne on the oscillating centres or
pivots herein-after referred to.
Fig. S represents the swivelling eye pieces which work in the horizontal arins or:
projections attached to the carriage axles.
Fig. 9 represents the rubber used in the vertical boxes formed in the shoulders
of the oscillating centres or pivots herein-after referred to.
Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the same skate, showing flat steel springs substituted
for the rubber before referred to, and having a toe and heel plate without straps,
and which are more particularly herein-after referred to.
Fig. 11 is a plan of the flat steel springs with socket attached for rigidly fixing
the same to the main tube, bar, or rod, in the position shown in Fig. 10.
Figure 12 shews a modification to be herein-after referred to.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A, A, represents a hollow or solid bar or rod (of any suitable material, but by
preference a cylindrical tube) cut to the requisite length, according to the size of the
skate to be produced. To this tube, bar, or rod, I attach rigidly vertical pins B, B,
at a prescribed distance from the ends of said tube, and distant from each other
according to the size of skate required, and on the said tube, bar, or rod I mount
oscillating centres or pivots C, C, provided at the shoulders thereof with vertical
boxes for the reception of rubber or spiral springs, as shown at 1 and 2 in Figs. 1,

page_text: 4, and 5, or in lieu of said vertical boxes I form wings or projections on the sides of
the said oscillating centres or pivots with slots, as represented at 3 and 4 in Fig. 12,
for the reception of longitudinal steel springs shown in detail in Fig. 11, and in
position in Fig. 10.
On the herein-before described oscillating centres or pivots C, C, I mount wheel
axles D, D, as shown in detail at Fig. 7, which rotate freely on the said oscillating
centres or pivots C, C, in a plane horizontal to the skating surface. I also rigidly
attach to the tube A, A, a toe and heel plate, herein-after called a skeleton solc
plate, one form of which will be seen numbered 5 and 6 at Figs. 1, 2, 3, and
another form at Fig. 10.
I provide the said skeleton sole plate, according to one form of my said Invention,
with the attachments requisite for securing same by means of ordinary straps to the
foot of the skater, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and according to another form with
means of attaching the same as more particularly herein-after described and shown
in Fig. 10.
For the purpose of restoring the wheel axles to their normal position after being
turned to the right or left by the skater when performing curves I introduce vul-
canised rubber or spiral springs into the boxes before referred to, and shown in 1
and 2, Figs. 1, 4, and 5, which rubber or spiral springs by pressing against the under
side of the toe and heel plate before referred to cause the oscillating centres or
pivots to resume their vertical position on the tube, bar, or rod A, A, as soon as the
pressure of the foot be removed by the lifting of the skate from the floor; or in lieu
of the aforesaid rubber or spiral springs I use flat steel springs, as shown in Figs. 10
and 11, the ends of which are carried in wings or projections 3 and 4, Fig. 12,
formed on the sides of the aforesaid oscillating centres or pivots.
Instead of a pair of flat steel springs, as before described, I may employ four flat
springs of shorter lengths, one at each side of the toe and heel plate, and rigidly
attached at one end to shoulders on the main tube, rod, or bar suitably placed to
receive the same, the action of these springs being similar to those above described.
For the purpose of attaching the skate to the foot of the skater I may use in lieu
of the ordinary straps usually employed cars or side projections formed on or
attached to the toe and heel plate, as shown at G, G, Fig. 10, said projections being
perforated to allow the passing through of a pin, bar, or screw into the sole and
heel of the boot or shoe of the skater; these ears or projections may be constructed
so as to be adjustable to the width of the sole of any boot or shoe.
Having now fully described the nature of my said Invention, and the mode in
which the same may be carried into effect, I hereby declare that what I claim is,—
First. The construction of a roller skate having a skeleton sole plate rigidly
mounted on a tube, bar, or rod, the said tube, bar, or rod carrying an oscillating
centre or pivot at the fore and aft end provided with converging axles, the said
tube, bar, or rod being the only connection or tie between the fore and aft centres
or pivots hercin-before referred to.
Secondly. A tube, bar, or rod having rigid vertical pins and a skeleton sole plate
rigidly fixed thereto, said tube, har, or rod forming the bearings for oscillating
centres or pivots having swivelling or rotating carriages or wheel axles for roller
skates.
Finally. I claim the construction of a roller skate substantially in the manner
and for the purpose as herein-before described and set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Arthur Henry Robinson, have to this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of November One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
ARTHUR HENRY ROBINSON. (L.S.)