IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER WHEELED CARRIAGES
Year: 1875

page_text: :
LETTERS PATENT to George Duddell, of Queen's Park, Brighton,
in the County of Sussex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ROLLER SKATES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
WHEELED CARRIAGES."
ROLLER SKATES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER
WHEELED CARRIAGES."
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said George Duddell at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 12th November 1875, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.

page_text: the same, and have made solemn Declaration that I am the first and
true Inventor thereof.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Duddell, do hereby declare
that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and seal, fully
describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed in and by the following statement,
that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in roller skates, which
improvements are also applicable to other wheeled carriages.
In constructing roller skates according to this Invention I fix
obliquely at an angle of 45° or thereabouts below the skate board or
table and in the longitudinal central line thereof two frames, one at
either end. In each frame is a dome or hollow hemisphere (forming a
cylinder inclined), into which enters a hemisphere or ball free to rotate
in the cylinder inclined. The ball immediately below its centre carries
a cross axle, upon each end of which is a wheel or roller, and it also
carries a flange or rim to connect it to the dome. By this construction
of roller skate the axles are brought as close as possible to the skate
board or table, and a perfectly steady connection is obtained between
this table and the axle carriage. By doing away also with all oscillating
brackets or descending arms for carrying the rollers or wheels I am
enabled to construct roller skates which will work smoothly and evenly
without the rattling noise and unsteadiness now common in roller skates,
and perfect curves and figures can be executed with these skates as they
work with a steady and uniform motion.
The Drawing hereunto. annexed shows a roller skate constructed
according to my Invention.
Figure 1 shews a side view, and Figure 2 a plan view of the skate ;
Figure 3 shews a part side view of the same with the wheels removed.
Figures 4 and 5 are part plan views of the skate showing modified
ways of applying a spring or springs for holding the axles in a central
position.
A is the skate board or table, which is shewn to be of wood, but it
may be of iron, brass, or other suitable material; B, B, oblique frames
fixed below it; C, C, wedge-shaped supports for frames B; D, D, hemi-

page_text: sphere or ball entering the dome in the frame B; E, flange or rim of
hemisphere or ball; F, axle secured to or formed with ball D.
The flange or rim E may be held in the dome by screws G as shewn
at Figure 4, slots H in the rim allowing it to rotate to the extent
desired, and the screws forming stops to limit the movement of the
ball.
Other means may also be adopted for holding the ball and dome
together. The movement of the ball may also be limited by a stop I in
the manner shewn at Figure 2. K, K, are springs for keeping the axles
in a central position.
Any other suitable arrangement of common spring may however be
used for controlling the movement of the ball.
Skates constructed as herein-before described are extremely simple
in their construction, and may be manufactured at small cost. The
friction between the moving parts is also extremely small, and as before
stated the skates work smoothly and evenly without the rattling noise
or unsteadiness which is experienced with other roller skates.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner
of performing the same, I would state that the locking movement of
other carriages may be constructed in a similar manner to that above
described, and I would have it understood that I claim constructing
roller skates with the axles carried by hemispheres or balls working in
domes constrained on an incline, and fixed or formed in oblique frames
below the skate board or table, and with the axles directly below the
ball, substantially as herein described.
I also claim constructing the locking movements for other carriages
in a similar manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Duddell, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Eleventh day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
GEORGE DUDDELL. (L.S.)