IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Friend, of Maidstone, in the County of Kent,
Architect, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Friend at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th February 1876.
GEORGE FRIEND, of Maidstone, in the County of Kent, Architect.
MENTS IN ROLLER SKATES."
15
IMPROVE-
My Invention relates to roller skates to be used on floors of every description
and to be designated the "Concentric or Figure-cutting Skate," and consists in
constructing the skate in such a manner that increased propelling power is obtained
with less leverage than heretofore, whilst the danger of falling is reduced to a
minimum.
In carrying out my Invention the wheels which may be composed of metal, hard
india-rubber, or other suitable material, are made of increased diameter, whereby
the friction to be overcome is diminished, whilst at the same time the sole plate or
footboard is arranged nearer to the ground than in skates hitherto made. The
footboard is mounted on a transverse axle which carries two parallel wheels, either
plain or bevilled, grooved, corrugated, or fluted on their periphery in a transverse
direction in order to increase their hold upon the floor, a ring of india-rubber being
in some cases fitted into a recess or annular groove in the wheels to suit certain
descriptions of floors. At or near the toe and heel of the skate there is fitted a
cup and ball, but in some cases the cup and ball at the toe of the skate will be
sufficient. These cups and balls are for the purpose of facilitating quick or sharp
turning when in motion, thereby dispensing with the necessity for the employment
of any springs or oscillating appliance, whilst at the same time enabling any desired
evolutions to be performed. A projection, fitted or not with a face of india-rubber
or other suitable yielding substance to suit the description of floor used, is provided
at the toe of the skate for the purpose of propelling and also to serve as a pre-
ventative from falling, a similar projection being also provided at the heel which
will act as a skid and regulating stop. The cups and balls, which may be made of
metal or other suitable material, may be lubricated by introducing the lubricating
material through apertures provided for the purpose in the footboard or in any
other suitable manner. Grooves may also be provided in the cups for the egress
[Paving 11

page_text: of any grit which may accumulate therein, and which will thus be discharged
automatically by the motion of the cups and balls.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Friend in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th August
1876.
GEORGE FRIEND, of Maidstone, in the County of Kent, Architect.
MENTS IN ROLLER SKATES."
" IMPROVE-
My said Invention relates to skates of the description known as roller skates
and which are used on floors or rinks, and it has for its object obtaining increased
propelling power with less leverage than heretofore, and providing greater facilities
for performing any required evolutions whilst reducing the danger of falling to a
minimum. In order to effect these objects I construct the skate in the manner
herein-after described, reference being had to the several Figures on the annexed
Sheet of Drawings, the same letters on which indicate corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a side elevation of the improved skate;
Figure 2 is a plan of the under side; and Figure 3 is a vertical section taken
through the wliecls.
The body of the skate consists of a footboard or sole plate A arranged at the
minimum height from the ground practicable, and mounted on a transverse axle B,
carrying two parallel wheels C, C, which are made of the maximum diameter con-
sistent with the minimum height of the footboard A, so as to diminish friction.
The wheels, which may be composed of metal, hard india-rubber, or other suitable
material, are either plain on their periphery, as shewn in Figure 2, or bevelled, as
shewn on the left hand side of Figure 3, or grooved, corrugated, or fluted, on their
periphery in a transverse direction so as to secure adhesion, as shewn at a in
Figure 1; or in order better to adapt them for use on certain descriptions of floors
they may be surrounded by a ring of india-rubber fitted into an annular groove
or recess in their periphery, as shewn at b, Figure 3, as applied to the right hand
wheel. At or near the toe of the skate I provide a ball D, composed of metal or
other suitable material, which is fitted in a cup, or socket, or claws E, formed on a
plate F, attached to the under side of the footboard A; the ball D is inserted in
the cup or claws E and covered with a bearing piece c before the plate F is secured
in its place, and the cup or claws and the bearing piece are so shaped and fitted
that a portion of the surface of the ball is caused to protrude beyond the lower
edges of the cup or claws, as shewn at d, whilst still however being elevated above
the level of the floor when the footboard A is in a horizontal position. A similar
ball D and cup or claws E¹ formed on a plate F¹ may be provided at the heel of the
skate if necessary, as shewn in the Drawing, a bearing piece c being fitted above
the ball similar to the bearing piece c of the ball D. The cups and balls may be
lubricated by introducing lubricating material through apertures provided for the
purpose in the footboard, as shewn at e, c¹, or in any other convenient manner.
The spaces at f, f¹, between the claws of the cups form passages for the egress of
any grit which may accumulate therein, and which will thus be discharged auto-
matically by the motion of the cups and balls.
The toe of the skate is also furnished with a projection G, which is designed to
assist in propelling and also as a preventative from falling. This projection (which
in the example illustrated is formed in one with the plate F) may be faced with
india-rubber or other suitable yielding substance to suit certain descriptions of
floors. A similar projection G¹ is provided at the heel of the skate which will act
as a skid and regulating stop.
The skate is operated in the following manner:-When moving in a straight
course the bearing is taken upon the wheels C, C, alone, the balls D, D¹, and the

page_text: toe piece G and heel piece Gremaining elevated. If, however, it be desired to
turn the skate the operator by the forward depression of his foot lowers the too of
the skate until the ball D takes a bearing upon the floor, when by the canting or
tilting of his foot the cup E will be caused to work over the ball D and thereby
direct it in the required curved course. The toe piece G at the same time comes
into play and by sliding upon the floor facilities the propulsion of the skate, this
toe piece also serves as a preventative of accident, as in the event of the sudden
descent of the toe of the skate when the skater is running upon the wheels C, C,
the toe piece G will immediately take a bearing upon the floor and the danger of
the operator being precipitated will be thereby prevented. In a similar manner the
heel piece G₁ acts as a regulating stop, and as a skid in the event of the depression
of the heel or of any tendency to a retrograde motion, and the ball D₁ when
employed is also brought into play as circumstances may require. It will thus be
apparent that the danger of falling is reduced to a minimum whilst at the same
time facility is afforded for quick or sharp turning when in motion, so as to steer
or perform any required evolutions without the employment of springs or oscillating
appliances as in the ordinary methods.
The improved skate which is adapted for use on floors of every description I
designate the "Concentric or Figure-cutting Skate."
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into effect,
I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original and
therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Patent is, the combination in a roller skate of a footboard of a minimum
height supported by wheels of a maximum diameter, and of a ball or balls and toe
and heel bearing pieces to be brought into use as required, all arranged so as to
operate together substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-before
described and as illustrated by my Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Friend, have to this my Specification
set my hand and scal, this Eighth day of July, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-six.
GEO. FRIEND. (L.S.)