IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES, IN PART APPLICABLE TO FASTENING DEVICES FOR OTHER SKATES
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON Fel. Inst. P. A. of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors 6 Lord Street Liverpool in the county of Lancaster Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ROLLER SKATES, IN PART APPLICABLE TO FASTENING DEVICES FOR OTHER
"
SKATES (a communication from Everett Hosmer Barney of Springfield in the
county of Hampden and state of Massachusetts United States of America,
Manufacturer,) to be as follows:-
This invention. relates to improvements in roller skates and in devices for
fastening skates to the shoe of the wearer, the object being to provide improved
journals and means for securing the latter to the skate-frame; to provide improved
means for bringing the journals and axles back to a position at right angles to the
frame after they shall have been swung around to direct the skate on a curved
track and for preventing the journals from swinging too far; to provide improved
means for lubricating the journals and axles and the journal-post from a common
source, and to provide in a skate a non-rotating draw-bar having a heel-clamp
movably secured thereto, the latter being operated by a cam-lever and double or
other acting screw adjustment between said draw bar and sole plate.
The frame of the skate consists of a thin metallic bar of suitable width having
an extension upon one end reaching forward under the foot-plate, the latter being
properly secured thereto. The foot-plate is otherwise secured to the frame by a
bracket secured on each side of the frame and to said plate. The sole-clamps are of
well known construction having their rear ends united by a single pivot-bolt which
is tapped to receive a screw on one end of a link nut, the opposite end of the latter
being tapped to receive the screwed end of a draw-bar. Two shell-brackets are
secured to the rear end of the frame of the skate, having the heel-plate secured to
their upper edges whereby is formed a chamber under the latter to receive the
trough-shaped shank of the heel-clamp
The forward end of the heel-plate is bent up at right angles. The draw-bar
passes through the rear part of the heel-clamp and between the sides of its shank

page_text: under the heel plate, and screws into the rear end of the link-nut which is
connected with the sole clamps. The screw on the draw-bar is made right handed
and that on the link-nut left handed. The draw-bar has a transverse slot through
it near its rear end of some length. A pin passes through the rear portion of the
heel-clamp and through the slot in the draw-bar, thereby locking the clamp and
draw-bar one to the other but allowing the clamp to slide on the bar to the extent
of the length of the slot and preventing the draw-bar from being rotated.
A cam-lever is pivoted to the end of the draw-bar and is adapted to be swung
upward to carry its cam against the rear of the heel-clamp, forcing the latter
against the boot-heel, and then after having its upper end carried against the boot
so completing the locking of the skate by forcing the draw-bar rearwardly and
forcing the sole-clamps against the opposite edges of the sole.
When the sole and heel-clamps are to be adjusted to the size of the boot the link
nut is operated to lengthen or shorten the connection through the draw-bar between
the sole and heel clamps. The frame is made of sufficient thickness near each end
to permit of boring two journal-post bearings in it quite through it from its lower
to its upper end. At the lower end of said bearing the frame provided with a
recess within which a journal vibrates, the journal bearings are bored at an incline
of about fifteen degrees and are of proper cylindrical form. The journal is
provided with a journal-post extending up through said bearing in the frame and
having its axial line intersecting that of the axle of the rollers within the latter at
right angles. Beneath the journal under the post and in a line with it is a flat
sided stud, on the opposite sides of which two flat springs which are bolted to the
frame are made to bear and whereby the journal is held by a yielding force in a
position at right angles to the frame, and also is held in its place in the latter and
is prevented from any disagreeable rattling. The sides of the frame where the
springs are secured to it are slightly recessed and the springs when bolted to the
frame have their upper edges brought against the upper edges of the recesses, and
thereby the springs are rigidly held and cannot swing downward when any force
of the journal is brought against their ends. The journal post has an oil passage
from its upper end to the axle bearing in the journal. The axle passes through
and may freely revolve in the journal and has secured to it in any suitable manner
the rollers.
.
•

page_text: I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, Fel. Inst. P. A., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN ROLLER SKATES IN PART APPLICABLE TO FASTENING DEVICES FOR OTHER
SKATES" (A communication from abroad by Everett Hosmer Barney, of Spring-
field, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, United States of
America, Manufacturer) 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 improvements in roller-skates, and in devices for
fastening skates to the shoe of the wearer, the object being to provide improved
journals and means for securing the latter to the skate frame; to provide improved
means for bringing the journals and axles back to a position at right angles to the
frame after they shall have been swung around to direct the skate on a curved
track, and for preventing the journals from swinging too far; to provide improved
means for lubricating the journals and axles and the journal post from a common
source, and to provide in a skate a non-rotating draw-bar having a heel clamp
movably secured thereto, the latter being operated by a cam-lever, and double or
other acting screw adjustment between said draw-bar and sole-plates.
In the drawings forming part of this Specification
Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a skate embodying the improvements.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the under side of the journal and a section of that
part of the frame with which it is connected.
In the drawings 62 is the frame of the skate consisting of a thin metallic bar of
suitable width, having an extension upon one end reaching forward under the foot
plate A, the latter being properly secured thereto. The foot plate is otherwise
secured to the frame by a bracket J secured on each side of the frame and to said
plate. The sole clamps ii are of well known construction, having their rear ends
united by a single pivot boltz and the latter is tapped to receive the screw z³, on
one end of the link nut y, the opposite end of the latter being tapped to receive the
screwed end of the draw bar c. Two shell brackets a a are secured to the rear end
of the frame having the heel plate B secured to their upper edges, whereby is
formed a chamber under the latter to receive the trough-shaped shank of the heel
clamp b.
The forward end of the heel plate is bent up at right angles to form the heel
abutment k. The drawbar c passes through the rear part of the heel clamp and
between the sides of its shank under the heel-plate, and screws into the rear end of
the link nut y. In the drawing the screw on the draw-bar c is made right-handed
and that on the part 23 which is attached to the nut y and which screws into the
pivot is made left handed. This arrangement of right and left hand screws for
adjusting the clamps to the size of the boot sole in the usual way, facilitates said
adjustment. The draw-bar c has a longitudinal slot through it near its rear end
of some length. A pine passes through the rear portion of the heel clamp and
through the said slot in the draw bar, thereby locking the clamp and draw-bar one
to the other, but allowing the clamp to slide on the bar to the extent of the length
of the said slot in the latter, and preventing the draw-bar from being rotated, as it
has heretofore in similar constructions.
The cam leverf is pivoted to the end of the draw-bar, and is adapted to bo
swung upward to carry its cam against the rear of the heel-clamp, forcing the

page_text: latter against the boot heel, and then after having its upper end carried against
the boot, so completing the locking of the skate by drawing bar o rearwardly and
forcing the sole clamps against the opposite edges of the sole. When the sole
and heel clamps are to be adjusted to the size of the boot, nut y is operated to
lengthen or shorten the connection through bar o between the sole and heel
clamps.
In this adjustment the said bar and the heel clamp move substantially together
back and forth, and when the skate is placed on the boot and held by one hand,
the cam lever is seized by the other and turned upward, first striking the clamp
and sliding it against the boot, and finally having its cam carried against it with
increased force to lock it. By making a sliding connection between the heel-clamp
and draw bar, the necessity of moving each one separately in many of the adjust-
ments is avoided, for when the bar is moved (the pin being against either end of
the slot in the latter) the clamp moves with it. The frame b' is made of sufficient
thickness near each end to permit of boring two journal post bearings in it quite
through it from its lower to its upper edge. At the lower end of said bearing the
frame is provided with a recess as shown in Figure 3, within which the journal d
vibrates, the parts 3, 3, of the frame being journal stops. The said journal bearings
are bored at an incline of about fifteen degrees, and are of proper cylindrical form.
The journal & is provided with a journal post n³ extending up through said bearing
in the frame, and having its axial line intersecting that of the axle m within the
latter at right angles. Beneath the journal d under the post n³, and in a lino with
it, is a flat sided stud n, on the opposite sides of which two flat springs vv, which
are bolted to frame 62 are made to bear, and whereby the journal is held by a
yielding force in a position at right angles to the frame, and also is held in its
place in the latter, and is prevented from any disagreeable rattling. The sides of
the frame where the springs v are secured to it are slightly recessed at was shown,
and the springs when bolted to the frame by the bolts have their upper edges
brought against the upper edges of said recesses, and thereby the springs are rigidly
held and cannot swing downward when any force of the journal is brought against
their ends. The journal post n³ has an oil passage n³, from its upper end to the axle
bearing in the journal d. The axle m passes through and may freely revolve in the
journal d, and has secured to it in any suitable manner the rollers D. The journal
and axle are lubricated by applying oil at the upper end of post n³ whence the oil
flows to the journal centre and along the axle toward its end and to the interior
of the rollers D, affording them such lubrication as they may require.
It will be seen that the weight upon the skate is brought to bear on the upper
side of each journal around the base of the post n³, and in order that there may be
no friction at that point to interfere with easy vibratory movement of the journals
and axles, a little oil is allowed to run down the sides of the post n³ when oil is
applied, as above described, thereby sufficiently oiling the post bearing.
As above described the degree of the incline of the journal posts is about fifteen
degrees, while that usually given in roller skates is ordinarily twenty or twenty
five degrees more than that, and as aforesaid the axial lines of posts n³ and the
axles intersect. These last named two features of this construction conduco to
render the necessary vibratory movement of the journals and axles very easy to
produce by a slight depression of one side of the skate, thereby making it very
easy to skate thereon, and easily guide it to any desired curve of motion Further-
more, the manner of applying the spring force to the journals as above described,
is one in which very great ease of spring motion is the result, as well as an
increasing force at all points in the vibratory path after the journal begins to
Bwing,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is.
"
1. A roller skate frame, substantially as described, having therein inclined
cylindrical journal bearings, one at each end, an axle journal substantially as

page_text: described for each of said bearings, having a journal post fitting said bearings,
and having on its side opposite to said post a flat sided stud, and springs sub-
stantially as described secured to the frame which bear upon the opposite sides
of said stud under the journal, combined and operating substantially as set forth.
2. In a roller skate the frame bª having the journal & pivoted and adapted to
vibrate therein, and having portions 3, 3, thereof extending in the front and rear
of said journal to constitute axle stops, substantially as set forth.
3. A roller skate frame, substantially as described, having therein inclined
cylindrical journal-bearings, one at each end, an axle journal substantially as
described for each of said bearings, having a journal-post fitting the latter, which
post is provided with an oil passage from its upper end to the interior of the
journal, and having on its opposite side to said post a flat-sided stud, and springs,
substantially as described, secured to the frame, which extend under the journal and
bear against the opposite sides of said stud, combined and operating, substantially
as set forth.
4. A roller skate frame, substantially as described, having an inclined cylindrical
journal bearing therein, a journal to receive and support that part of the axle
between the rollers having a post thereon to fit said bearing, whose axial line
intersects the longitudinal centre line of the journal, and a flat-sided stud thereon
opposite said post, and two springs secured on each side of the frame and bearing
against the opposite sides of said stud, combined and operating substantially as
set forth.
5. In a skate fastening the combination with a non-rotating draw-bar, and with
the sole clamp pivot, of an adjusting screw, substantially as described connecting
the said pivot and draw-bar, a heel clamp secured to and having a sliding move-
ment on the draw-bar, and a locking cam-lever pivoted to the latter in the rear of
the heel clamp, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination, with a non-rotating draw-bar and with a locking cam-lever
pivoted thereto, of a heel-clamp secured to said draw-bar by means substantially as
described, but having a sliding movement thereon substantially as set forth.
Dated this 28th day of Novemba 100/