Improvements in Wheel or Roller Skates.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th Apr., 1894-Accepted, 19th May, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheel or Roller Skates.
I, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN, of 54 Croppers Hill, Saint Helens,
in the County of Lancaster, Cycle Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to Improvements in Roller or Wheel Skates and is designed
to obtain increased speed with reduced vibration and greater comfort.
A skate constructed according to my invention comprises wheels or rollers (for
example two placed in a line with each other) connected together by a frame within
which is a movable foot rest pivoted to the axle of the rear wheel or roller or to the
frame and having its other end geared by a flexible hand or chain to a clutch box
adapted to intermittently rotate the front wheel or wheels by the bending or
springing motion of the foot.
The wheels or rollers may have suitable tyres or be springy disc wheels for
reducing vibration.
When the skate has only two wheels they are placed in a direct line with each
other and at a sufficient distance apart to leave ample space for the foot, and
a frame on which the foot rests and which has its rear end pivoted near the hind
wheel. The forward end of this frame is free to oscillate vertically and has
attached to it one or more flexible cords or chains connected at their other ends to
the skate frame by means of springs that pass over and engage with suitable sliding
clutch driving wheels that gear with the front wheel or roller, the arrangement
being such that, as the weight of the body is on the fore part of the foot previous
to the foot being raised and moved forward the free end of the foot rest or frame
descends and causes the front wheel or roller to be partly revolved thus assisting to
move the skater forward previous to making each stroke.
As the foot is brought forward after the weight of the body is removed the foot
rest or frame is again raised to its normal position by a suitable spring. The
clutch may be of the kind in which there are two parts having ratchet teeth, one
part sliding on the axle of wheel or roller and being kept against the other part
formed in one with said wheel or roller.
The part of clutch to which the foot rest or frame is geared is free to revolve on
the wheel or roller axle in one direction but when revolving in the opposite
direction it engages with the other part, which may be formed upon or in one with
the wheel or roller boss which it drives. In the upward movement of the foot rest
the clutch disengages itself. In some cases the rear wheel or roller is also provided
with a clutch or pawl to allow of the wheel being revolved in the forward or going
direction only. Clutches may be arranged on one or on both sides of the front
wheel or roller.
The wheels or rollers may be provided with any suitable elastic tyre such as
pneumatic or otherwise or flexible disc wheels may be employed for reducing
vibration. The foot rest or frame may project forward a little beyond the forward
axle on each side of the wheel or roller, and there be connected to the flexible
chain or the like gearing with the before mentioned sliding clutch wheel.
A suitable regulating spring or springs is or are provided that may be adjusted
according to the weight of the skater to retain the foot rest in a horizontal position
when standing upright.

page_text: I would have it understood that 1.do not confine myself to the employment of
two wheels only with clutches as the arrangement may be varied to suit different
requirements and also that the arrangement for preventing the hind wheel from
revolving in one direction may be dispensed with as with some classes of skates it
may be necessary for the wheel (or wheels if more than two are employed) to be 5
left free.
A
J. G. A. KITCHEN,
By L. W., per F. B.
Improvements in Wheel or Roller Skates..
I, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN, late of 54, Cropper Hill, Saint
Helens, but now of Rose Grove, Ardwick, Manchester in the County of Lancaster,
Cycle Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to Improvements in Roller or Wheel Skates and is designed
to obtain increased speed with reduced vibration and greater comfort.-
A skate constructed according to my invention comprises wheels or rollers (for
example two placed in a line with each other) connected together by a frame
within which is a movable foot rest pivoted to the axle of the rear wheel or roller
or to the frame and having its other end geared by a flexible band or chain to a
clutch box adapted to intermittently rotate the front wheel or wheels by the
bending or springing motion of the foot.
The wheels or rollers may have suitable tyres or be springy disc wheels for
reducing vibration.
When the skate has only two wheels they are placed in a direct line with each
other and at a sufficient distance apart to leave ample space for the foot and a
frame on which the foot rests, and which has its rear end pivoted near the hind
wheel. The forward end of this frame is free to oscillate vertically and has
attached to it a flexible cord or chain that passes over and engages with a suitable
sliding clutch driving wheel that gears with the front wheel or roller, the arrangement
being such that as the weight of the body is brought on the fore part of the foot
previous to the foot being raised and moved forward, the free end of the foot rest
or frame descends and causes the front wheel or roller to be partly revolved thus
assisting to move the skater forward previous to making each stroke. As the foot
is brought forward after the weight of the body is removed, the foot rest or frame
is again raised to its normal position by a suitable spring.
The clutch may be of the kind in which there are two parts having ratchet
teeth, one part sliding on the axle of the wheel or roller and being kept against the
other part formed in one with said wheel or roller. The part of the clutch to
which the foot rest or frame is geared or connected, is free to revolve on the wheel
or roller axle in one direction, but when revolving in the opposite direction it
engages with the other part of the clutch, which may be formed upon or in one
with the wheel or roller boss which it drives. In the upward movement of the
foot rest the clutch disengages itself. In some cases the rear wheel or roller may
be provided with a clutch or pawl to allow of the wheel being revolved in the
forward or going direction only. A clutch and flexible connection may be arranged
on each side of the front wheel or roller.
The wheels or rollers may be provided with any suitable elastic tyre such as
pneumatic or otherwise, or flexible disc wheels may be employed for reducing
vibration. The foot rest or frame may project forward a little beyond the forward
axle on each side of the wheel or roller, and there be-connected to the flexible

page_text: chain or the like, gearing with the before mentioned sha
suitable regulating spring or springs is or are provided that may be adjusted
according to the weight of the skater to retain the foot rest in a horizontal position
when standing upright.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a wheel or roller skate constructed
according to this invention,
Fig.
positions.
being a side elevation of the same with the parts in their normal
Fig. 2, a similar view, but with the movable frame or foot piece depressed.
Fig. 3, a plan, partly in section, shewing the arrangement of the hinged frame
work and ball bearings.
Fig. 4, a plan shewing the frame depressed.
Fig. 5, an enlarged sectional elevation of one end of the front wheel axle and the
clutch mechanism thereon.
Fig. 6, a sectional elevation on the line 8, 9, of Fig. 5, and
Fig. 7, a cross-section on the line 10, 11, of Fig. 5.
1, 2, are the front and rear wheels respectively; the front wheel is of somewhat
larger diameter than the rear wheel, and both are provided with suitable resilient
tyres such as pneumatic tyres.
The axle 3, of the rear wheel 2, is connected by means of curved spring bars 4,
to a jointed frame, hereinafter called the foot piece, the forward end of which is
fixed to the axle 5, of the front wheel 1.
The foot piece is composed of two tubular portions 6 and 7 arranged tele-
scopically one within the other and carrying respectively a heel plate 8 and a toe
plate 9. A clamping band and locking screw 10 is provided for enabling the parts
to be rigidly secured together in any desired position. By this arrangement the
length of the skate can be readily adjusted to suit requirements.
The rear end of the said foot piece terminates in a cross piece 11, arranged at
right angles thereto to which are secured the forward ends of the curved spring
bars 4, the other ends of these bars being fastened to the ends of the axle 3 of the
rear wheel (Figs. 1 to 4). These spring bars serve to reduce vibration and to
allow of the back wheel being canted when travelling in a circular path owing, to
the inclination of the body of the skater depressing one spring more than the other;
the front wheel will be caused to become simultaneously canted in the same
direction though not to the same extent.
The forward end of the foot pieces terminates in a tubular cross piece 12 to
which an arm 13 is secured so as to project forward beyond and below the front
wheel axle 5 (Figs. 1 and 2) the arrangement being such that the telescopic
parts 6, 7, and the arm 13 radiate as one member from the axis of the rear wheel 3.
The arm 13, is connected by a flexible band or chain 14 to the periphery of a
drum 15, which is supported on ball bearings 16, 17 (Fig. 5) arranged around the
axle 5. This drum which is adapted to serve as one part of a clutch, is provided
with two pawls 18, 18 (Figs. 5 and 6) that engage with ratchet teeth 19, formed on
the outside flange of the hub 20, of the front wheel.
Within the recessed outer portion of the boss 15, is arranged a coiled spring. 21,
one end, of which is connected to the said boss and the other to the fixed
adjusting cone 22 of the ball bearing. This spring is wound or coiled in the
opposite direction to that of, the chain 14, so that as the chain is uncoiled, the
spring will be wound up so that when, the weight which depresses the arm 13 is
removed, the spring 21 will come into action and raise the foot piece 6, 7 and the
arm 13 into the position shewn in Fig. 1.
.
$
Springs may be provided to hold the pawls 18, 18, in gear with the ratchet
teeth 19, but preferably the pawls are provided with weighted rear ends as-shewn,
so that when quickly revolved the weighted arms, will, by centrifugal force fly
outward, thus bringing, the pointed ends of the pawls into gear with the ratchet
wheel teeth; when only revolving slowly, one of the pawls will drop into gear by
gravity

page_text: The leading wheel 1, is retained in its relative position with the rear wheel 2, by
two radiating links 23, which form part of the jointed frame and are secured at
one of their ends to the axle 5, and pivotted at their other ends to a pin 24, passing
through the cross tube 12 (Fig. 3), thus a portion of the skater's weight is
supported by the spring bars 4 and the remainder of the weight by the
chain 14.
The spring 21 is so constructed that when coiled up it shall be of sufficient
strength to raise the foot piece into the position shewn in Fig. 1 upon the weight
being removed. A transverse stay bar 25 connecting the links 23 serve to limit
the upward movement of the said foot piece 6 7. 26 is a cover to prevent access
of dust to the ball bearings. The rollers 1 and 2 are preferably made of dished
metal, or of celluloid discs, and are free to revolve about their axes upon ball or
other suitable bearings. The rear roller can revolve in either direction, but the
front one can only rotate in a forward direction, any tendency to rotate in the
opposite direction being prevented by reason of the ratchet wheel connected
thereto engaging the pawls carried by the drum 15, the movement of which is
controlled and limited by the chain 14 the length of which in the example
shewn, is such as to allow the drum to make only about three quarters of a
revolution.
It will be readily understood from the above description that as the weight of
the body is supported on the fore part of the foot the foot piece will turn down-
ward into the position shewn in Fig. 2 thereby partly rotating the drum 15 through
the chain and so giving an impetus to the leading roller, and as the foot is raised
and brought forward for the next stroke the forward end of the foot piece 6 7 and
arm 13 will again be raised and the pawls will engage with the ratchet teeth ready
to assist the skater forward by imparting rotary motion to the front wheel when
the weight of the body again comes on the toe plate.
The strength of the spring 21 may be modified to suit the weight of the
skater; also the diameter of the chain race on the drum 15 may be varied according
to circumstances.
For heavy skaters there may be arms and clutch gear on each side of the
leading wheel.
Instead of connecting the two wheels by a combined foot rest and frame, they
may be connected by a separate frame within which the foot rest 7 and attached
parts would work vertically as before; but I prefer the construction described as
being simpler.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. A skate constructed with a foot rest mounted to oscillate in a vertical plane
about its rear end and connected at its front end by a flexible connection to a
clutch box adapted to intermittently rotate the front wheel or wheels, the arrange-
ment being such that when the weight of the body of a skater is brought to bear
on the said foot rest the front end thereof is depressed and rotary motion imparted
to the front wheel or roller and when the weight is removed from the said foot rest
the latter is raised to its normal position by a suitable spring substantially as
herein described.
2. In a roller skate of the kind referred to in Claim 1 clutch mechanism com-
prising a ratchet wheel fixed to the forward carrying roller of the skate, and a
spring drum provided with one. or more pawls adapted to engage the said ratchet
wheel when the said drum is turned in one direction but to ride idly over the said
wheel when moved in the opposite direction, and a rope or chain connecting the
forward end of the foot piece to said drum and adapted to rotate the latter
in opposition to its spring when the foot piece is depressed, the said spring
drum afterwards returning the foot piece to its raised position substantially as
herein described.

page_text: 3. The improved roller skate constructed, arranged and operating substantially
as herein before described with reference to and shewn in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 16th day of April 1894.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent..