IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROLLER SKATES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sigismund Wekey, of No. 26, Montague Street, Russell
Square, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROLLER SKATES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sigismund Wekcy at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd May 1876.
SIGISMUND WEKEY, of No. 26, Montague Street, Russell Square, in the County
of Middlesex. "
'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROLLER SKATES."
My Invention consists in an improved mode of constructing skates so as to
render them not only lighter and neater in appearance than skates of ordinary
construction, but also an improvements in the different parts of a skate, which
renders it a more perfect skate than those of ordinary construction hitherto in usc.
The framework or body of my improved skate is constructed of strips of tin,
sheet iron, brass, or other suitable material. I give preference to strips of tin or
brass being placed edgeways, so as to admit of a skate being made light and yet
strong enough for the purpose of skating, a portion to fit the heel being depressed
or cut away and mado telescopic so as to fit any heel. To the under part of the
body of the skate at each end are fitted the bearings of the axles. The axles are
hollow, containing lubricating fluid within the hollow parts.
At one end of each of the axles is a cap inclosing the lubricating fluid within the
hollow axles, and preventing the access of dust or grit to the lubricating fluid.
There are small perforations in the hollow axles made for the purpose of
supplying small quantities of lubricating fluid to the wheels or rollers at the
fulcrum.
'At the end of the heel is a projection pointing downwards to serve the purpose
of enabling the skater to better control his progress on the skate, and by raising
the toe and lowering the heel to check or to arrest at will the forward movement
of the skate.
Underneath the centre of the skate body are two revolving balls or rollers made
of brass, wood, iron, or any other suitable material, and if desired to be noiseless,
enclosed in india-rubber. The balls or rollers are placed on a shaft passing through

page_text: a slit in the framework of the skate, tho shaft being pressed down to the bottom
of the slit by a piece of india-rubber or other suitable elastic material boxed in
to keep it in place, but without any other fixing which may render it liable to get
out of order. By means of these balls or rollers (one of which is on each side of
the skate) being controlled by a self-adjusting clastic medium in the manner
described, the skater has a perfect control over every motion of the foot without
losing his balance in skating. The shaft is kept in its place by pinning or other
suitable means.
The balls or rollers just described are scooped out or made hollow at the outer
parts, so as to receive and retain lubricating fluid. The aperture of the cavity is
closed by a cap or other suitable. means. These balls or rollers are also scooped
out or made hollow where the shaft enters, and there a piece of sponge or other
absorbing material is placed in the aperture and within the cavity.
The necessary quantity of lubricating fluid is poured in at the outer part, and
the aperture is closed to prevent any of the lubricating fluid escaping, and the
sponge is inserted to absorb any superfluous lubricating fluid which may escape
from the ball or roller, and also to prevent the access of dust or grit to the revolving
ball or roller.
The skate is strapped and clamped to seize the foot of the skater after placing
it on the skato, and to keep it firmly to the saine by any convenient method.
The mode of using my skate is similar though much easier and safer than the use
of skates of ordinary construction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Sigismund Wekey in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
30th October 1876.
SIGISMUND WEKEY, of No. 26, Montague Street, Russell Square, in the County
of Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROLLER SKATES."
The improvements in roller skates which I claim as forming my new Invention
can be applied in different ways, namely, as shewn in Figure 1, which is a side
clevation of a roller skate having two rollers in front under the toe and two rollers
under the heel of the foot, and more particularly intended for the use of advanced
skaters, and also as shewn in Figure 7, which is also a side elevation of a roller
skate running on two front and two hind rollers, and also having in the central
part of the skate two additional balls or rollers to run upon this latter skate
intended more particularly for the use of beginners.
In both modes of construction the self-lubricating system and the controlling of
the motion of the axles passing through an elastic medium confined or boxed in in
the manner hereafter to be described which I claim as my new Invention are
equally carried out, as may be ascertained from the following description and
Drawings, reference being had to the letters and figures.
A (Figures 1, 2, 7) is the body or framework of the skate. This framework or
body of the skate may be constructed of strips of tin, sheet iron, brass, or other
suitable material. I give preference to strips of tin or brass being placed edgeways
60 as to admit of a skate being made light and yet strong enough for the purpose
of skating. A portion of the framework to fix the heel may be depressed and
made telescopic to suit different heels.
B (Figures 2, 3, 5, 6) are axles hollow at each end, and capable of containing oil
or other lubricating fluid. There is a minute perforation in the hollow axle, as
shown in B, in Figure 5, by means of which minute perforation small quantities
of the lubricating fluid from time to time escape to lubricate the rollers at the
fulcrum.
C (Figures 1, 2, 3, 7) are caps screwed on to the hollow axles to enclose the

page_text: lubricating fluid and to prevent the access of dust or grit to the same. These caps
are fastened down with small screws.
:
D (Figures 1, 2, 7) as an additional safeguard to prevent the caps unscrewing
and the rollers coming off.
E (Figures 1, 2, 3, 7) are rollers, and E', Figure 7, revolving balance balls or
rollers. The shafts or axles on which the balls E, Figure 7, or the rollers E,
Figures 1, 2, 3, 7, revolve, pass through a piece of hard india-rubber, as shown at
F, Figures 2, 3. The india-rubber being confined or boxed in under and attached
to the framework of the skate, the box within which the india-rubber is enclosed
having an aperture or slot at G, Figures 2, 3, 4, to allow the axle B to move on a
pivot H, Figures 3 and 4. The india-rubber, boxed in as shown at F, Figures 2
and 3, may be compressed by means of the bolts and screws I, Figures 2 and 3, to
control the oxtent of the motion of the axles on which the rollers or balls
revolve.
The skate may be strapped or cramped to seize the foot of the skater after
placing it on the skate to keep it firmly to the same by any convenient method.,
Having described the nature of my Invention, I do not wish to confine myself
to any preciso material of which to construct the body of the skate nor to the
mode of distributing the rollers or balls under the framework of the skate, but
what I claim as my Invention is in the roller skate,—
1. The method of giving the necessary motion to the rollers by means of an
anxle passing through a hard piece of india-rubber or other suitable elastic medium
boxed in, the axle projecting out of the box through apertures or slots within the
spaco of which apertures or slots the axles have a sufficient play to enable tho
rollers to have the necessary motion, substantially in the manner herein-before
described.
2. The construction and use of hollow axles for roller skates, such hollow axles
being capable of containing lubricating fluid and conveying such fluid to tho
fulcrum of the rollers, substantially in the manner herein-before described.
3. The construction of the body or framework of a skate of sheet metal or
other substance placed edgeways to allow of a skate being made light and yet
strong, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sigismund Wekey, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
G. ELLISON COLLETTE,
23, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
Solicitor.
S. WEKEY. (L.B.)