IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEEL OR ROLLER SKATES
Year: 1876

page_text: WILLIAM BORTHWICK SMITH, and JAMES STARLEY, both of Coventry, in the
County of Warwick, Machine Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEEL OR ROLLER
SKATES
"
[s the proceedings connected with this application for Letters Patent were not
completed when the other Specifications contained in this volume were ready for
publication, the volume is issued without the Specification of the above No., which

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Borthwick Smith and James Starley, both of
Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Machine Manufacturers, for the Inven-
tion of IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEEL OR ROLLER SKATES."
Scaled the 8th December 1870, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor,
and dated the 10th February 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Borthwick Smith
and James Starley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th
February 1876.
WILLIAM BORTHWICK SMITH and JAMES STARLEY, both of Coventry, in the
County of Warwick, Machine Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEEL OR
ROLLER SKATES."
Our said Invention relates to wheel or roller skates, and its main object is the
construction of a skate which may be easily guided or turned in any direction,
while at the same time it affords a safer and more steady support than the wheel
or roller skates heretofore constructed. For this purpose we combine, with a pair
of ordinary skate wheels or rollers placed under the sole or front part of the skate
a caster or swivelling wheel or roller or a pair of such casters placed under the
heel of the saine.
In a skate constructed according to this Invention the guiding or turning of the
skate is effected by the lateral pressure or twist of the foot applied to the heel of the
skate, the front wheels serving as the fulcrum whereon the skate is turned, and we
wish it understood that we do not in any form or modification of our Invention
avail ourselves of the rocking or tilting of the foot plate or stock of the skate for
the purpose of guiding, turning, or controlling the direction of the skate, but we in
some cases provide incans for slightly tilting or rocking the stock for the purpose
of preventing undue strain upon the ankles.
According to one form of our said Invention we provide the skate with one
caster or swivelling roller at the heel or rear of the stock, and with two ordinary
wheels or rollers at the front of the same. We secure on the heel of the stock a
metal plate from which projects vertically a pin or pivot. The caster is somewhat
similar to an ordinary furniture caster, and has a socket fitted to turn freely on the
said pin or pivot. It is obvious that in using this skate a slight pressure to either
side will by the resulting action of the caster guide or turn the skate in the
desired direction so that the skater can describe curves or other figures with great
facility, and can go either forward or backward at will, but to prevent any
[Price S1

page_text: unsteadiness which might arise from the free movement of the caster we provide
the stock with a spring, which bears on flat surfaces on opposite sides of the
swivelling socket of the caster, this spring exerts a restraining action upon the
caster and tends to keep it in a central position, either forward or backward, but
permits it to turn freely when the necessary pressure is exerted on it by the heel
of the skater.
We modify the above described arrangement to render the skate more convenient
for persons commencing to learn the art in the following manner, that is to say :-
We provide the heel or rear portion of the stock with two casters or swivelling
rollers with sockets fitted on vertical pins or pivots projecting from a plate secured
on the heel, as above described. These sockets are provided with sinall toothed
pinions which are geared with a central pinion fitted to turn on a short pin or stud,
also fixed in the said plate. This central pinion connects the two casters in such
a manner that while turning or swivelling freely on their vertical pins or pivots
they are always kept in the proper relation to each other, and move together in
the same direction without fouling or obstructing each other. Moreover, this central
pinion is provided with flat surfaces on opposite sides of its axis for the application
of a restraining spring, operating in the manner above described. Instead of pro-
viding the said caster or pinion with flat surfaces for the application of the said
restraining spring, we may provide the caster or pinion with small antifriction
rollers for the said spring to act upon; or we may otherwise arrange a spring or
springs to prevent too great freedom of the said caster.
Instead of using toothed pinions for connecting the casters and causing them to act
in the proper relation to each other, we may obtain the same result by means of
a coupling link or rod. In this case the casters have pins which work in sockets
fixed on the heel of the stock and project through these fixed sockets and through
the wood or other material of which the stock is formed. On the upper projecting
ends of these pins we fix cranks or discs provided with crank pins. And the two
crank pins are connected by the said link or rod which allows the two casters to
turn freely in all directions while keeping them in their proper relation to cach
other. The restraining spring is in this instance applied to the periphery of the
said dises or the bosses of the cranks. These said discs and other parts of the
mechanism on the upper side of the stock must be protected by a metal plate or
other suitable cover.
If it is not necessary or desirable to allow the casters to turn completely round on
their vertical pins or pivots, we simply connect the two casters by means of a
coupling link or rod applied at either side of their vertical axes. This link or rod
allows the casters to turn or swivel freely for a certain limited distance to either
side, but will not permit them to turn completely round, consequently the guiding
of the skate is only practicable when the skater is going in one direction, that is to
say, either forward or backward. And the said casters should be so arranged that
this guiding or controlling action can be exerted in the forward direction.
This form of our Invention will be useful to persons learning to skate, who will find
the steadiness resulting from the peculiar arrangement of the rollers, combined with
the micans for guiding and controlling the skates, of very great advantage. The
necessary restraint of the swivelling rollers in this case is conveniently. obtained by
means of a spiral spring or elastic band connected at one end to the said coupling link,
and at the other end to a stud fixed in the stock or to the axis of the front wheels.
In combination with the above described improvements we in some cases provide
the skate with means for slightly inclining or tilting the stock to relieve the ankles
of the skater from excessive strain, but not in anywise for the purpose of guiding or
turning or controlling the direction of the skate, for this purpose we connect the
aforesaid wheels or rollers at the front and rear of the skate with a longitudinal
shaft or axis fitted to swivel in bearings at the ends of the stock, and we arrange
india-rubber or other elastic cushions or pads between the stock and lugs or pro-
jections on the said longitudinal axis to afford a yielding or elastic support to the
skater. Or for the same purpose we may provide the skate with a rocking or

page_text: tilting stock or plate connected to the other stock by suitable joints and with
clastic cushions or pads between the two stocks.
In this last described modification the said rocking plate or stock may be limited to
the sole or front portion of the skate.
We prefer in some cases to so arrange the straps whereby the skates are secured
to the foot that the skates can be reversed when desired. For this purpose we
secure the straps at or near the centre of the stock and divide them into two or
more parts, or inake them of such a length that in whichever way the skate is worn
the said straps will extend to the front and rear thereof. Or we may provide the
skates with spring clips or other suitable fastenings instead of straps.
SPECIFICATION filed in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, by the said William Borthwick Smith and
James Starley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th December 1876.
WILLIAM BORTHWICK SMITH and JAMES STARLEY, both of Coventry, in the
County of Warwick, Machine Manufacturers. IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEEL OR ROLLER
SKATES."
"
Our Invention relates to improvements in wheel or roller skates, and its main
object is the construction of a skate which may be easily guided or turned in any
direction, while at the same time it affords a safer and more steady support than
the wheel or roller skates heretofore constructed. For this purpose we combine
with a pair of ordinary skate wheels or rollers placed under the sole or front
portion of the skate a caster or swivelling wheel or roller, or a double caster, that
is to say, a pair of such casters placed under the heel of the same.
In using a skate constructed according to this Invention the guiding or turning
of the skate upon the skating floor or surface is effected by so twisting or turning
the ankle or foot that the heel of the skate is moved laterally, the front wheels
serving as the fulcrum whereon the skate is turned.
According to one form of our said Invention we provide the skate with one caster
or swivelling roller at the heel or rear of the stock, and with two ordinary wheels
or rollers mounted on a non-convergent axle at the front of the same.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a skate constructed according to this part of our
Invention.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an elevation of part of a skate showing a modification of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of part of a skate, and Figure 5 is a horizontal section
on the line y, y, Figure 4 showing another modification.
Figure 6 shows a further modification of this part of our Invention.
a is the foot stock, consisting of the curved bar al and heel and front plates a²,
3, is the said swivelling roller or caster, and c the pair of wheels or rollers at the
front of the skate. We fix on the heel of the stock or on a metal plate secured
thereon a vertically projecting pin or pivot d. The caster is somewhat similar to
an ordinary furniture caster, and has a socket ' fitted to turn freely on the said
pin or pivot. The caster or swivelling roller may be either single or double.
It is obvious that in using this skate a slight pressure of the heel to either side
will by the resulting action of the caster guide or turn the skate in the desired
direction so that the skater can describe curves or other figures with great facility,
and can go either forward or backward at will. But to prevent any unsteadiness
which might arise from a too free movement of this caster we provide the skate
with a spring, which bears or presses on flattened or elliptical or other surfaces 1, 1,
on a collar, fixed below the stock, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, or on the sides of
the swivelling socket of the caster, as shown in Figure 3. The spring exerts a
restraining action upon the caster and tends to keep the same in a central position,
cither forward or backward, but permits it to turn freely when the turning pressure

page_text: is exerted on it by the heel of the skater. Or we may use the arrangement shown
in Figures 4 and 5, in which the spring e is provided with a small roller e¹ that runs
upon the edge of a cam c. In Figure 6 we have shown a portion of a skate with a
double caster or two casters, one of which is removed to show the parts more clearly.
The springs e bear upon a round collar f.
In this modification of our Invention the caster b swivels upon the horizontal
pin b, and also upon the vertical pin d.
We modify our Invention to render the skate more convenient for persons com-
mencing to learn the art of skating in the following manner, that is to say :-We
provide the heel or rear portion of the stock with two casters or swivelling rollers
with sockets fitted on vertical pins or pivots projecting from the foot stock, as
above described. This modification is illustrated in Figure 7, which is an under side
view of the heel portion of a skate. The said sockets have formed or fixed upon
them toothed pinions, which are geared with a central pinion i fitted to turn on a
short pin or stud, also fixed in the said foot stock. This central pinion connects
the two casters b in such a manner that while turning or swivelling freely on their
vertical pins or pivots & they are always kept in the proper relative position to each
other, and move together in either direction without fouling or obstructing each
other. Moreover, this central pinion may be provided with flat surfaces on opposite
sides of its axis for the application of a restraining spring, operating in the manner
above described. Or instead of providing the said pinion with flat surfaces for the
application of the said restraining spring, we may provide the caster or pinion with
small antifriction rollers for the said spring to act upon; or we may otherwise
arrange a spring or springs to prevent too great freedom of the said caster.
Instead of using toothed pinions for connecting the casters and causing them to
act in the proper relation to each other, we may obtain the same result by means of
a coupling link or rod. In this case the casters may have pins which work in
sockets fixed in the heel of the stock, and project through these fixed sockets and
through the wood or other material of which the stock is formed.
On the upper
projecting ends of these pins are fixed dises or plates provided with crank pins, and
the two crank pins are connected by the said link or rod which allows the two
casters to turn freely in all directions while keeping them in their proper relative
relation with regard to each other. The restraining spring is in this instance
applied to the periphery of the said dises or the bosses of the cranks. The said discs
and other part of the mechanism on the upper side of the stock must be protected
by a metal plate or other suitable cover.
But as it is not usually necessary or desirable to allow the casters to turn
completely round on their vertical pins or pivots, we modify the above arrangement,
as in Figures 8 and 9, which show an under side view and a side elevation of one of
our skates. We connect arms b' on the two casters' frames 63 by means of a coupling
link or rod j applied at the front or the back of the caster frame b. This link or
rod allows the casters to turn or swivel freely for a certain limited distance to
either side, but will not permit them to turn completely around on their vertical
pivots. With the casters arranged, as shown in these Figures, the guiding or
direction of the skate is only practicable when the same is moving forward. The
necessary restraint of the swivelling rollers in this case is conveniently obtained by
means of a spiral spring or elastic band j', connected at one end to the said coupling
link and at the other end to a stud j fixed in the stock.
This form of our Invention and the various modifications thereof will be of great
use to persons learning to skate, who will find the steadiness resulting from the
peculiar arrangement of the rollers, combined with the means for guiding and
controlling the skate, a very great advantage.
In combination with the above-described improvements we in some cases provide
the skate with means for slightly inclining or tilting the stock to relieve the ankles
of the skater froin excessive strain, and which in combination with the devices,
shown in Figures 8 and 9, facilitate the guiding of the skate by limiting the turn-
ing movement of the caster on its vertical pivot. For this purpose we connect the

page_text: aforesaid wheels or rollers at the front and rear of the skate with a longitudinal
shaft or axis fitted to swivel in bearings at the ends of the stock; and we arrange
india-rubber or other clastic cushions or pads between the stock and lugs or pro-
jections over the said longitudinal axis to afford a yielding or elastic support to the
skater. Or for the same purpose we may provide the skate with a rocking or tilt-
ing stock or plate connected to the other stock by suitable joints, and with elastic
cushions or pads between the two stocks. In this last described modification we
construct the skate as in Figures 10 and 11, which show a side elevation and end
view of part of the said skate.
fixed upon and
We connect the casters b with a longitudinal shaft, which is
oscillates or rocks with a rocking plate 7. From this shaft an arm extends down-
ward and is connected with the aforesaid coupling link j, so that by rocking the said
plate the casters are turned or swivelled on their vertical pivots; *, *, are the rubber
pads or cushions. Or we construct the skate as shewn in Figures 12 and 13; Figure 12
being an under side view of a skate, and Figure 13 a side elevation of the same. In
this form of our Invention the longitudinal shaft or bar is a metal tube secured
rigidly to the heel and front plates a, a, and when the skate is in use the said
shaft is free to oscillate in bearings forming part of the vertical supports of the
caster frames or of the roller axles. The skate shown in the last-named figures has
swivelling rollers or casters b at one end only, although we may if desired have
single or double casters at both ends of the skate. The caster frames have arms or
levers b connected by a link j, as herein-before described, and this link has a
pin or rod which passes through an eye or tube on the end of the arm which
is fixed on and projects from the longitudinal shaft k, or may be connected to the
said arm by any other suitable devices. This arrangement limits the swivelling
movement of the casters and enables the skater to keep the skate more perfectly
under control. By arranging flat or other springs in conection with the studs b
we provide very efficient means for "righting" the casters or causing them to return
to a central position after each deviation therefrom.
Figure 14 is a transverse section illustrating a device to be used instead of india-
rubber pads or cushions to restore the wheels to their central position, and may be
used in connection with an oscillating or swivelling axle frame. m is a spiral
spring placed around the stem of a forked pusher fitted in a socket or cavity in
the axle frame. The resistance of this spring tends always to keep the wheels in a
central position.
Figure 15 is a side elevation of a portion of a skate showing a single caster wheel b
provided with an arm or lever o which is connected by a ball-and-socket joint at p
to the arm '. We may use in this skate the india-rubber pads or cushions, or the
device shown in Figure 14. This mechanism is similar in its action to that shown
in Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13.
Having thus fully described our said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, we wish it understood that we claim for the purposes of our Invention-
First. A single or double swivelling roller or caster wheel provided with suitable
devices, as above described, for controlling its swivelling movement arranged at the
heel of the stock and in combination with wheels or rollers at the front end of the
stock which do not swivel or converge.
Second. At one end or both ends of the skate the combination of parts comprising
the two swivelling rollers or casters supported upon separate vertical pins or
pivots, and so geared with each other by toothed wheels, coupling links, or other
devices as to move together either partially or entirely around their vertical axes
or pivots.
Third. The construction of the skate with a hollow shaft or tube which connects
the front and rear portions of the skate and supports the axle or caster frames in
combination with either of the peculiar devices shown in the Drawings for con-
necting it with the said frames and for controlling the action of the same, as above
set forth.

page_text: Fourth. Providing our improved skates with the india-rubber pads or cushions,
or the device consisting of the forked pusher and spiral spring, or with other suit-
able spring devices arranged and operating in combination with the casters or roller
axles, as above set forth.
Fifth. The skate illustrated in Figure 1 of the Drawings, consisting of the parts
shown in this Figure or in either of the modifications thereof constructed, combined,
and operating as above set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the said skate of the peculiar devices illustrated in
Figure 15 for more effectually controlling the action of the skate upon the floor or
surface on which it is moving.
Seventh. The skate illustrated in Figures 8 and 9 of the Drawings, consisting of
the parts shown in these Figures, constructed, combined, and operating as above set
forth.
•
Eighth. The skate illustrated in Figures 12 and 13 of the Drawings, consisting
of the parts shown in these Figures, or in the several modifications thereof, and
whether on a metal shaft or a wooden foot stock, and constructed, combined, and
operating as above set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Borthwick Smith, for myself, and on
behalf of the said James Starley, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-six.
W. BORTHWICK SMITH. (L.S.)