Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1898
I, HENRY MORAND, of Belléme, in the Republic of France, Engineer, 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 an improved construction of roller skates which I call
volvipède hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in
which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the skate according to the present
invention for the left foot.
Fig. 2 a side elevation in vertical section on line X-Y, Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 a plan corresponding to Fig. 1.
Figs. 4 and 5 being respectively partial side-elevation and plan of the skate for the
right foot.
Fig. 4 is placed next to Fig. 2, and Fig. 5 to Fig. 3 chiefly for the purpose of
showing the brake used for these skates.
Figs. 2bs and 7 are modifications of certain constructions shown in the preceding
figures.
Fig. 6 is a detail view in sectional elevation and plan.
The foot plate or sole of the skate according to the present invention consists of a
front part A on which rests the tread of the foot and a back-part B on which rests
the heel of the foot. These two parts A and B are preferably made of ordinary
malleable cast-iron or steel, their upper face substantially flat, the lower faces being
provided with longitudinal and transverse ribs C C¹ and D D¹ serving to render said
parts A and B more rigid and to considerably increase their strength.
The part A terminates at the front in a plate A¹ bent upwards and provided with a
raised edge A2 receiving the toe of the boot which is held fast by means of screws,
As A, which can be adjusted in the said edge or flange A2 so as to press against the
corresponding parts of the boot. The plate A¹ is if desired perforated according to
any suitable design such as shown in Figs. 3 and 5; for the purpose of lightening the
skate as much as possible without diminishing its strength, and of improving at the
same time its appearance.
The rear end of the part has a rectangular extension A5, the longitudinal flanges C
forming lateral edges of said extension which is destined to be connected to the front
part A of the back part B of the sole which is reduced in width, the longitudinal
flanges C¹ also forming lateral edges of said extension A the distance between said
flanges C¹ being such that they exactly fit outside the flanges C of the extension A
of the part A, so that they can slide on them and thus the skates can be made to
suit different sizes of boots by longitudinally adjusting the parts A and B relatively
to each other.
The connection of the two parts A and B of the sole may be effected as shown
in Figs. 13 and 5 by means of screws B' B2 arranged in fixed positions on the
longitudinal axis of the sole on the reduced front portion A" of the latter and passing
vertically through said sole and co-operating with holes B made on the same axis
in the extension A5 of the part A and passing right through the latter as well as
through a thickened portion B or strengthening piece with which said extension

page_text: is provided on its lower face for the purpose of strengthening it. The nuts B5 B
on the bolts B¹ B² are screwed up against said thickened portion, the heads of the
bolts pressing against the upper face of the front end A6 of the part B.
It will be understood that there being a number of holes B3 arranged so that any
two adjacent holes correspond exactly to the bolts B1 B2; it will be possible to move
the parts A and B relatively to each other, and to secure the parts in the adjusted
position according to the size of the foot to which the skate is to be applied.
With the above device for securing the parts is combined on the part B of the
sole a movable curved grip C³ serving to grip the heel at the back replacing the
tightening of the two ends of the sole, as this tightening cannot be effected with
sufficient exactitude by the above described device for connecting the parts A and B
of the sole; it will be seen in fact, that the holes B two of which always co-operate
with bolts B1 B2 will only occasionally give the exact desired length, so that it
becomes necessary, with this system of connecting, to make the jaw Cs gripping the
heel adjustable so that it can grip the foot between itself and the flange A2 of the
plate at the point A¹.
The adjustable grip C³ facilitates, moreover, the putting on of the skates so that
the two parts A and B may be adjusted once for all to a certain length for the user
the grip Cs being screwed out, the foot inserted and then the grip C³ being screwed
up again, so that the point of the boot pressing against the flange A2 of the front
plate A', and the grip C³ being screwed tightly against the heel. The foot is held
still more securely by tightening the screws A³ A4 of the plate against the
corresponding points of the edge of the sole.
In order to enable the grip C³ to be moved as described it is made as shown in
Figs. 1, 3 and 5 with an under projection C4 passing through a slot or recess C³ in the
part B owing to which recess the projection C does not interfere with the
longitudinal adjustment of the part B. Said projection C forms a nut for a screw-
bolt Carranged horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the sole, on the under
side of the part B, in such manner that it cannot move longitudinally while being
free to rotate between two shoulders or bearings one of which is formed by the last
transverse rib or flange D¹ on the part B, while the other C7 is at a suitable distance
from the rib C¹ on the inner face of the part B. The screw C thus supported is held
from longitudinal movement on one side by a collar C³ secured to its front end outside
the shoulder C7 and on the other side by a collar or boss C with lugs or lateral
extensions secured to the rear-end of the screw outside of and against the outer face
of the rib C¹ at the end, said washer C with its lugs serving to turn the screw C in
one or in the other direction for the purpose of adjusting the position of the jaw or
grip C³.
A modified system of connecting the parts A and B is shown in Fig. 6, in
longitudinal section and in plan. It will be seen that in this construction the jaw C
is fixed and arranged at any suitable point on the rear-end of the upper face of the
part B or made in one piece with the latter. The connection of the parts A & B
with each other and their adjustment in a desired relative position to suit a given
length of foot, as well as the securing of the ends of the foot between the flange A²
of the plate A and jaw C³ are effected by a single action of a screw D³ arranged
longitudinally in the axis of the sole under the lower face of the part B the screw being
prevented from moving longitudinally, while being free to rotate, by means of its
reduced portion D2 which is supported and adapted to rotate in a boss D³ formed on
the inner side of the outer rib D₁ of the part B. The other end of the screws engages
with a nut or screw threaded part D formed on the inside of the rib D¹ which in this
case forms the rear-end of the extension A5 of the part A, the rotation of the screw D³
being effected by means of a collar D5 with lugs or handle which said screw carries at
the end of its reduced portion, D' and which is situated outside the boss D³, and which
by. pressing against the outer face of said boss secures said screw Ds in its longitudinal
position.
The extension As of the part A is guided as before by means of its lateral edges C
engaging the lateral edges C¹ of the part B, but is supplemented here by the

page_text: extension A³ being also supported on its underside by a transverse plate DⓇ which may
be in one piece with the part B or be secured to it by its flanges being riveted to the
corresponding lateral edges C¹ of the portion A6 of the part B.
The consequence of these arrangements is that the two parts A and B of the sole
need never be separated for the purpose of adjusting their relative position, said
adjustment being simply effected by the action of the screw Ds which being screwed
or unscrewed in the part D' causes it and consequently the part A of which it forms
part, to come nearer or to recede thus either producing the tightening or loosening
of the grip C on the heel.
The whole sole of the skate constructed in this way according to the present
invention, is mounted on two wheels or rollers arranged to roll on the same line in
the longitudinal axis of said sole. One roller E is arranged in front under the
portion A, and the other one E' at the hack under the portion B. These wheels are
respectively mounted on a fixed spindle E2 supported between two vertical parallel
brackets E3 E the heads E5 of which are secured say by means of screws E6 to the
corresponding points of the parts A and B, the heads E' corresponding to the part B
engaging with symmetrical recesses E7 formed in said part B by the crossing of
strengthening longitudinal and transverse ribs C: D₁ of this part, while the heads
corresponding to the part A bear with their front edge against the outer transverse
rib D of said part A and with their longitudinal edge inside against the corresponding
portion of the longitudinal strengthening ribs C of the same part A. Said ribs C
are at this point formed a little farther apart from each other so that the distance
between them equals that of the ribs C of the part A thus enabling said
brackets E3 E4, the heads E5 of which are exactly alike, to be mounted without
difficulty at the same invariable distance apart, as their inner edge always rests
against the corresponding portion of the longitudinal strengthening ribs C C¹ of the
parts A and B of the sole.
The roller itself is made, as will be seen from Fig. 2 of two metallic stamped or
cast halves F F¹ absolutely alike, placed back to back and formed so that when they
are connected, they form a hub F, the sides or flanges F³ forming the intermediate
part with a hollow F and the rim F5 with a groove of any desired section in which is
placed a rubber tyre F preferably provided with an inner metallic ring F7 ensuring its
inextensibility whilst not effecting its elasticity.
The two halves FF1 are connected round a ring G arranged between them and
having concentric circular and symmetric shoulders G1 G2 on which are mounted
the corresponding edges of the respective portions of the halves F F forming the
hub F The edges of this ring G serve beside as a support to other rings or
cups G3 G4 arranged respectively and symmetrically at the ends of the hub F2 and
forming cups or ball-races for balls G5 placed in said cups. Other rings G G7
forming regulating cones aré secured on the spindle E2, so that the corresponding
inner faces of the bosses GS G of the brackets E3 E in which the spindle E² is held
In this way
fixed by the outer nuts H H¹ press against the outer faces of said cones.
it is possible to adjust the bearings by tightening or loosening said nuts H H¹ on the
spindle E2 and cones G G7, as the brackets E3 E are sufficiently elastic to allow the
bosses G G to be brought sufficiently near the cones after the latter have been
adjusted to lock said cones in position.
The spindle E2 has a flat portion H³ throughout the whole of its length so
that the bosses G8 G of the brackets E³ E with corresponding passages rest
against said flat portion and do not injure the screw thread of the spindle E2.
Moreover, this flat portion H5 leaves between it and the screw threaded inner
portion of the cones G G7 spaces 12 [3 merging on the outside into passages I* I5
made in the face of the bosses G8 G which rests against said cones Go G7, and
on the inside, into a central annular hollow 10 formed when the parts hereinbefore
described are put together in the centre of the wheel, so that the bearing can be
lubricated by introducing oil or lubricant into said hollow Iº, said introduction
being easily effected from the outside through the passages I* I³.
This construction of wheel as described with reference to Fig. 2, may be

page_text: slightly modified as shown in Fig. 2bs. In this modification the ring & for
fitting up the parts is omitted and replaced by an annular shoulder or
extension J made in one piece with one of the halves of the roller, said
shoulder forming the continuation of the part F2 constituting the hub, and
terminating on the opposite side in a projection J₁ on which is mounted the
part F2 forming the hub of the other half.
The manner in which these constituent parts of the wheels are fitted together
may, however, vary, as well as the section of the rubber tyres mounted on them
and consequently the shape of the rims receiving said tyres.
In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 shows an elevation of the left foot skate,
Fig. 3 shows the same in plan and Fig. 5 shows also in plan the inner half of the sole
for the right foot, this part being only required for the better understanding of the
following description.
With the sole for the left foot is combined a brake mechanism acting on the front
wheel E and constituted by a semi-circular part L secured to the end of or forming
part of an inclined bar L1 L2 pivotted about a fixed point 1.3 on the outside of the
rib C, said bar L² being bent downwards beyond its pivot L³ and carrying at its end
an angle piece L with a raised end M7 which as well as the corresponding portion of
the bar L² serves as a support and sliding guide (Fig. 2) for a square bar L passing
through both of them, the thickened end of which is formed with two recesses L7
and L. This bar L can be moved nearer to or farther away from the edge of the
sole carrying it, so as to adjust its position relatively to a device carried by the right
foot skate and adapted to act on said bar in order to actuate the brake, as will be
hereinafter described. In order to guide the whole of the bar of the brake laterally,
the portion L² is guided and moves in a recess M made at any desired point in the
corresponding transverse rib D of the part A, the bottom of said recess limiting the
movement towards the top of said portion L2 and consequently the oscillation of
the whole of the bar L' in the direction for the release of braking action, a spring Me
secured outside at a suitable point to the longitudinal flange C and pressing against
the bar always tending to disengage the brake. The part of the bar L which is
connected to the semi-circular brake band L is bent inwards so as to ensure the
position of said band L in accordance with the smooth or serrated circumference of
the corresponding portion F2 of the hub of the wheel. The operative portion of the
band L may be smooth or serrated according to the friction desired between the two
parts of the brake in contact.
The semi-circular band L may be replaced by a movable block M¹ mounted, as
shown in front and side elevation in Fig. 7, at the end of the bar and provided if
desired, on its operative surface with rubber, leather or other material which could
then act directly on the smooth portion F2 of the hub. As previously mentioned,
with this brake device arranged on the sole of the left foot co-operates another device
arranged on the inner side of the right foot skate for operating the brake.
This latter device is chiefly constituted by a bar Ms of rectangular or other cross
section preferably bent to form a longitudinal are of a circle and mounted by means
of angle pieces in such manner that its straight ends M M³ arranged transversely of
the sole can slide with a slight amount of friction in a passage or holes formed in a
small angle piece M³ secured by rivets or in any other manner on the inside edge of
the lower surface of the part A at its front end.
This bent bar M³, the distance of which from the edge of the sole carrying it, can
be adjusted, serves to operate the brake bar L, for which purpose the bar M³ is
caused to engage with the upper recess L7 of the bar L' whereby the bar L' is caused
to oscillate and to apply the brake. If it is desired to release the brake and the
spring Me does not exercise sufficient effort to disengage the brake, the bar M³ is
caused to engage with the lower recess L in order to bring the bar L' to the position
in which the brake is inoperative.
In order to prevent backward movement of the wheels there is mounted on the
outside end of the hub F2 of the back wheel E¹ a ratchet wheel N with which engages a
spring pawl N so as to prevent said ratchet wheel and, consequently the roller E',
4

page_text: from rotating backwards. The pawl N¹ is combined with a screw N2 provided with a
milled head N³ outside and a cam N4 at the opposite end. By turning the screw N²,
the rotation of which in either direction is limited by two thickened portions of the
screw-threaded portion outside and inside of the bracket E which is provided with a
screw threaded hole No for the passage of said screw N², the cam N* may be placed in
the fork 02 formed at the end of the pawl N¹ opposite its operative end, at the other
side of its axis of oscillation (the spindle No about which said pawl oscillates being
also supported in the bracket E+) so that said cam raises the operative end of the
pawl out of engagement with its ratchet wheel N allowing the latter and, con-
sequently, the roller E¹ to rotate in any direction, or leaves the operative end of the
pawl N¹ the free oscillation of which remains unimpeded, in engagement with the
ratchet wheel N, this ratchet wheel N and consequently the roller E¹ being in this
position of the pawl prevented from rotating backwards.
The roller skates constructed as herein before described are placed on the feet, the
one with the brake on the left foot and the one carrying the brake-operating device on
the right foot. The skates are secured to the feet by straps 001 arranged
symmetrically on the parts A and B and secured under the edges of the soles of the
skates. The straps arranged one in front and the other at the back and so that
they can be connected by being buckled on the boot or on the gaiters by means of
buckles with ordinary tongues arranged in desired position on the boot or gaiter.
The straps 001 exercising a vertical pull thus effect the most perfect securing as
they press the sole of the skate strong against the sole of the boot without interfering
with or compressing the upper portion of the foot connecting the edges of the sole of ·
the skate to the ankle. This way of securing the skate to the ankle is the same as
and can be compared only to the way of securing masts to a boot, and is perfectly
secure and rigid. This securing can be further supplemented by straps P P¹, secured
to the front end under the part A of the sole at each side of the latter, adapted to be.
secured on the upper surface of the end of the foot.
The preceding description will enable the manner of adjusting the length of the
sole of the skate relatively to the foot as well as the manner in which it is secured to
the foot, and the working of the device for preventing backward rotation of the
wheel, to be clearly understood.
It is now only necessary to explain the working of the parts of the brake
mechanisin arranged on the inner sides of the skates that is to say, opposite each
other.
!
The skates having been suitably secured to the feet as described, if it is desired to
apply the brake, the two feet must be sufficiently near each other, the left foot
resting on the ground on both wheels while the right foot rests on the ground only
by its back-wheel, its front part being raised and consequently, the front wheel
being raised off the ground. The two feet thus resting on three wheels, equilibrium
may be preserved very easily. When it is desired to apply the brake, for instance in
going down hill, it is sufficient to point the right foot sufficiently to cause the arched
bar M³ to engage with the upper recess L7 of the head of the bar L³ the result of
which will be to lower the latter and to swing the bar L¹ forward, the brake band L
of said bar thereupon engaging with the brake ring or surface formed on the
corresponding portion of the hub F2 and exercising a braking action the force of which
depends on the effort produced by the bar of the right foot on the head of the bar L³
of the left foot.
It will be seen that owing to these arrangements travelling on these skates becomes
perfectly safe as the brake can be applied in an extremely easy convenient and quick.
manner at any time and with any desired strength and during any desired time.
When the braking is to cease, the right foot must resume its normal travelling
position, its bent bar M³ being completely disengaged from the head of the bar L³
which being thus released returns with its bar I₁ and consequently the band L into
its normal position, so that the braking action ceases.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In a roller skate a foot plate made in two parts connected together and adjustable
longitudinally the front end of the foot being supported and secured by screws A³ A+
in an upwardly bent end A' of the front part, the rear part B being provided with
an adjustable grip C³ for engagement with the heel of the boot, substantially as
described.
2. In a roller skate a foot-plate comprising two parts A and B having reduced
overlapping portions A5 A° the portion A5 sliding in the portion A and under
the latter, the connection of the two parts heing effected either by means of bolts
as B¹ B², or by means of a screw D8 provided on the part B and co-operating with a
screw threaded part D carried by the plate A5, in combination with a grip C³ which .
when bolts are used for the connection is movable relatively to the plate B on which
it is arranged or in case of the connection being by means of the screw D³, the grip
forms part of the said plate B substantially as described.
3. A foot-plate for roller skates comprising two parts as A and B provided with
longitudinal ribs CC¹ and transverse ribs D D¹ on their lower surfaces for the purpose
of strengthening said parts and rendering them more rigid without increasing their
weight to any considerable extent, substantially as described..
4. A wheel for roller skates comprising two halves F F¹ connected together as
shown in Fig. 2 or in Fig. 2bis said halves together forming a hub F2 and rim for
receiving the tyre the hub F2 being combined with rings G3 G4 forming cups with
races for balls placed between them and other cups G G7 attached to the fixed
spindle of the wheel substantially as described.
5. In a roller skate the arrangement of a fixed spindle of the wheel, screw-threaded
throughout the whole of its length and held by nuts H H¹ between sleeves G³ Gº
on brackets E³, E* having heads E5 connected to the underside of the foot-plate at
the intersection of the longitudinal and transverse strengthening ribs C C D D¹, said
spindle being provided throughout. its length with an upper flat portion forming
a passage adapted to co-operate with corresponding passages in the sleeves G8 G+⁹
whilst in its portion arranged within the wheel said passage co-operates with vertical
passages 14 15 made in said sleeves G8 Gº whereby oil or other lubricant may be
introduced through the passages I* 15 into the central hollow I° of the hub in order
to lubricate the bearings, substantially as described.
6. Brake mechanism for roller skates, comprising a semi-circular brake plate L on
the inner side of one skate adapted to act on the corresponding smooth or roughened
part of the hub F, said plate forming part of a pivotted lever L', adapted to engage
with a lever by pressing on the head of an adjustable bar I arranged transversely of
the foot-plate in a support L' at the end of the horizontal extension L2 of the lever L¹
a spring Me having a tendency to keep the brake band I normally out of action,
substantially as described.
7. In combination with brake mechanism of the character described, arranged on
one of a pair of skates, a bent bar M³ on the inner side of the other skate arranged
transversely on the under surface of the foot-plate so as to be capable of being
laterally adjusted, in order to enable pressure to be exercised on the bar L of the
brake device in any position for the purpose of applying the brake, substantially as
described.
8. In a roller skate a back wheel provided with a ratchet wheel N co-operating
with an oscillating pawl N' having a fork 02 in combination with an eccentric cam N*
on a screw N2 adapted to be turned in either direction to a limited extent in the
bracket or wheel support, in order to cause the pawl to engage and to remain in
engagement with the ratchet wheel N so as to prevent backward rotation of the
wheel or to keep said pawl out of engagement with the ratchet wheel N substantially
as described.
9. In a roller skate means for fastening the skate to the foot comprising straps 001
symmetrically arranged in pairs in front and at the back at each side of the foot-plate

page_text: of the skate and adapted to engage with buckles or the like secured to the boot at a
suitable height on the leg of said boot or to gaiters used with said boot, said fastening
being supplemented by a toe strap P in two parts connected by a buckle substantially
as described.
10. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
adjustable foot-plate for roller skates substantially as described and illustrated in
Figs. 1, 3, 5 or the modification shown in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.
11. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete wheel
for roller skates substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
12. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete brake
mechanism for roller skates substantially as described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.