IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF WHEEL OR ROLLER SKATES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Harrison, of 101, St. George's Road, Southwark,
in the County of Surrey, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF WHEEL OR ROLLER SKATES."
Sealed the 2nd February 1877, and dated the 3rd August 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Charles Harrison at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd August 1876.
CHARLES HARRISON, of 101, St. George's Road, Southwark, in the County of
Surrey. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEEL OR ROLLER SKATES."
My said Invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of wheel
or roller skates, and by means of which the performance of any desired evolutions
or gyrations is greatly facilitated, whilst the mechanism of the skates is of a very
simple character and is not liable to be broken or to become deranged.
The foot plate of the skate is of the usual shape and form, and is constructed
of wood or metal, or of any other suitable material or materials as may be desired.
The foot plate is supported by two wheels or rollers which are respectively placed
near the toe and heel thereof, the same being respectively mounted as herein-after
mentioned. Metallic plates having lugs or brackets at right angles and vertically
thereto are screwed or otherwise securely attached to the lower surface of the
foot plate near the toe and heel thereof respectively. Such plates and lugs or
brackets are either respectively formed in one piece, or of two or more pieces
affixed or securely attached to each other. The inner face of each lug or bracket
has a concave recess formed therein, and in the centre of each of such recesses is a
holo or aperture, such holes or apertures being for the purpose of serving as
bearings for the reception of the journals of the axles of the wheels or rollers.
The wheels or rollers are formed of wood or of any other suitable material, the
centres thereof having inserted therein metallic bushes on which are formed or to
which are attached convex bosses coinciding with and capable of rotating within
the concave recesses formed in the lugs or brackets as before mentioned. Each
wheel or roller is provided with an axle, the ends or journals of which are received
[Price Gd.]

page_text: by and rotate in the circular holes or apertures in the lugs or bearings before
referred to.
The said bearings are of such a diameter that upon the foot plate being canted
or tilted by the wearer of the skates, the axles of the wheels or rollers have a
considerable amount of play or movement afforded to them so as to allow of a 5
converging motion of the axles. In order to regulate and controul such converging
motion of the axles brackets formed of steel so tempered as to possess some amount
of spring or elasticity are placed on the exterior side of each of the said lugs or
brackets. The said spring brackets are respectively formed with oblique grooves
or channels therein for the reception of the extremities of the journals of the wheels
or rollers, such grooves or channels being inclined from each end towards the
centre, at which latter point they have their greatest depth. Upon the foot plate
being caused by the pressure exerted by the skater on either side thereof to be
canted or tilted, the axles of the wheels have necessarily a converging motion
imparted thereto, inasmuch as the journals of the same have a sufficient traversing
space in the holes or apertures in the vertical lugs or brackets, and the converging
motion of the axles being regulated and controuled by the said grooves or channels
in the spring brackets, any desired evolutions or gyrations are facilitated, whilst
the wheels or rollers are brought back to their normal position by the elasticity
of the spring brackets assisted by the form of the grooves or channels; the spring
brackets may be secured to the foot plate cither by means of a strap or plate
passing entirely round the latter, or may be secured to the plate on or to
which the vertical lugs or brackets in which the bearings are formed are secured
or connected.
Instead of constructing the wheels or rollers so as to rotato with the axle, as
before described, the former may be formed with conical or convex bosses through
which the axle passes, and which bosses take their bearings in corresponding recesses
formed in the inner surfaces of plates which are attached to the axle, thus giving
scope for the convergence of the latter. The outer faces of the said last-mentioned
plates are of a convex form, so as to be capable of rotating in concave recesses in the
lugs or brackets in which the axle is mounted. In this modification the wheels
or rollers rotate entirely free of the axle.
I will now proceed to refer to the annexed .Drawings from which the nature of
my said Invention will be more clearly understood.
Figure 1 is a side view of the skate showing some of the hidden parts in dotted
lines.
Figure 2 is a view of the upper surface of the foot plate with some of the parts
connected therewith shewn in dotted lines.
Figure 3 is a transverse back view of the skate.
Figure 4 is one of the wheels or rollers shewn partly in section.
Figure 5 shews the side of the wheel or roller with the bush, boss, and journal.
Figures 6 and 7 aro a vertical section and front elevation of the plate having the
concave recess and the aperture for the journal to pass through.
Figures 8, 9, and 10 shew the plate with the inclined groove or channel for
regulating and controuling thic motion of the journals.
Figure 11 is the modification lastly herein-before described. The same letters of
reference indicate similar parts in the several Figures.
A is the foot plate; B, B, are the lugs or brackets between which the wheels or
rollers are mounted; b, the concave recess formed in the bracket, and b¹ the hole in
the centre of the same; C, C, are the wheels or rollers; D, the metal bushes therein;
E, the convex bosses; and F, the journals of the wheels; G are the spring brackets
with the oblique grooves therein.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that what
I consider original, and therefore claim as constituting my said Invention are, the
combinations and arrangements of parts and mechanism in the construction of

page_text: 5
wheel or roller skates, substantially as and for the purposes herein-before set forth
and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Harrison, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
CHARLES HARRISON. (LS.)