AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF ROLLER SKATE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hillman, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick,
Machinist, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF ROLLER
SKATE."
Sealed the 2nd June 1876, and dated the 22nd March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hillman at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd March 1876.
WILLIAM HILLMAN, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Machinist. "AN
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF ROLLER SKATE."
This Invention relates to a novel construction of roller skate, the object being so
to simplify the parts as to reduce the cost of the manufacture, and to increase the
strength and consequently the endurance of the skate.
Tho
The skate is provided as usual with a front and back pair of rollers, which are
mounted so as to run freely in rocking frames. These frames are connected together
by a central longitudinal bar, the ends of which carry pins which enter sockets in
the rocking frames, for the purpose to be presently described. This bar is pivotted
at about the middle of its length to a central plate on the stock or footboard.
wheel frames have forward extensions with holes to receive pivot pins, by which
they are secured to the footboard. Fitted to the central plate of the stock is a
straight spring, the forward end of which enters a forked projection thereon, its
object being to give the bar a tendency to maintain a central position with respect
to the stock. The stock is provided at either end with recessed plates, in which
antifriction rollers are placed to facilitate the lateral movement of the rocking frames
while sustaining the pressure of the skater's foot.
In order to make the axles of the wheels converge, so that the skate may run in
a curve, the skater will by twisting his foot inove the stock on its centre pin,
and he will thus, by reason of the connection of the rocking frames with the stock,
turn the frames on their fulcra in opposite directions. So soon however as he
removes this lateral pressure the spring, acting through the longitudinal central
lever, will restore the rocking frames to their normal position, when the course of
the skate will continue in a right line.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Hillman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd September
1876.
WILLIAM HILLMAN, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Machinist.
IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF ROLLER SKATE."
" AN
This Invention relates to a novel construction of roller skate, the object being so
to simplify the parts as to reduce the cost of the manufacture, and to increase the
strength and consequently the endurance of the skate.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn my improved skate in side and end
elevation and in inverted plan view, and I have also shewn details of some of the
parts in order that their construction may be fully understood.
The skate it will be seen is provided as usual with a front and back pair of
rollers, which are mounted so as to run freely in swivel frames. These frames are
connected together by a central longitudinal bar, the ends of which carry pins which
enter sockets in the wheel frames, for the purpose to be presently described. This
bar is pivotted at about the middle of its length to a central plate on the stock or
footboards. The wheel frames have forward extensions with slots to receive pivot
pins, by which they are connected to the footboard. Fitted to the central plate
of the stock is a straight spring, the forward end of which enters a forked projection
on the central longitudinal bar, its object being to give the bar a tendency to
maintain a central position with respect to the stock, and to return the wheel frames
to their normal position when by the action of the skater's foot the axles of the
wheels have been caused to converge for turning curves, as will be hereafter
explained.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved skate; Fig. is a front elevation; and
Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the same.
In these Figures A is the stock or footboard, fitted with a heel piece and straps
as usual.
On the under side of this stock is secured a central socket or pivot
plate B (shewn best in the inverted plan view of the stock, Fig. 4, and partial
section, Fig. 5,) for receiving the central stud or pivot of the longitudinal bar C.
This pivot pin is held in place by means of a screw inserted from the upper side
of the stock. The bar C carries at its opposite ends pivot pins c, that enter sockets
in the frames D in which the wheels E are mounted. Secured to the upper side of
each of these frames is a plate D³, which plates form forward extensions of the
frames. These plates D¹ are slotted at their forward ends to receive screw pins d,
which connect them with the stock, and serve as pivots on which the frames may
rock. F is a straight spring fitted to the central pivot plate B, so that it lies between
the stock and the bar C. The free end of this spring lies between two studs or
projections on the inner face of the bar C, and it thus serves to maintain the central
position of the bar with respect to the stock. The stock is provided at either end
with recessed plates G, G, in which antifriction rollers g are placed to bear upon the
plates D¹ of the wheel frames, and facilitate the lateral movements of the wheel
frames while sustaining the pressure of the skater's foot. H is a metal strap secured
to the stock, and serving to maintain the bar C in connection therewith.
It will now be understood that in order to make the axles of the wheels converge,
so that the skate may run in a curve, it will only be necessary for the skater to twist
his foot horizontally, when he will move the stock on its centre pin, and thus, by.
reason of the connection of the wheel frames with the stock, they will be turned
on their centres in opposite directions, as indicated by the dotted lines 1, 1, in
Figure 3. So soon however as the skater removes this lateral pressure the spring F,
acting through the longitudinal central bar C, will restore the wheel frames Ď to
their normal position, when the course of the skate will continue in a right line.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "An Improved Construction
of Roller Skate," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I wish
it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim

page_text: pivotting the wheel frames to the stock, and connecting such frames together by a
rocking pivot bar, which is provided with a retaining spring, in the manner and for
the purpose above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hillman, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twentieth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thou-
Band eight hundred and seventy-six.
WILLIAM HILLMAN. (L.S.)