Year: 1887

page_text: 1, JAMES WALTER STANSFIELD of Wellington Terrace, Todmorden, Yorks,
Contractor do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to utilize roller or plain bottomed skates in connection
with a shallow incline platform or roadway to enable a person to enjoy as a pastime or
game by sliding down said incline, or series of inclines, which may be straight,
curved, wavy, or otherwise shaped. The platform or roadway may be of wood,
asphalte, or it may be prepared to enable the slider to move rapidly along, he being
at liberty to control his direction while descending.
The inclined platform or roadway may be partitioned off lengthwise to form channels
or tracks.

page_text: I, JAMES WALTER STANSFIELD, of Wellington Terrace, Todmorden, Yorks,
Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :--
The object of this invention is to utilize roller or plain bottomed skates in connection
with a shallow incline platform, or roadway to enable a person to enjoy as a pastime
or game by sliding down said incline or series of inclines which may bo straight,
curved, wavy, or otherwise shaped. The platform or roadway may be of wood,
asphalte, or it may be prepared to enable the slider to move rapidly along, he being at
liberty to control his direction while descending.
The inclined platform or roadway may be partitioned off lengthwise to form channels
or tracks.
To suit the skill of different sliders or skaters the grades or inclines up and down
are varied, that is to say, one track being formed of grades, lines, or curves; or
combination of both very little departing from the level whilst other tracks may be of
steeper descent and ascent. In all cases where the track has more than one descent and
one ascent, the ascents each end at a point slightly below the level of the starting
point of previous descent, so that a slider may by the momentum gained on the
descent be able to rise with little or no exertion of his own muscular force, up and
over the crown of the next ascent and so on for any number of descents and ascents.
When desirable I introduce short lengths of level, or almost level track either between
top of one ascent and commencement of next descent or at base of a descent between
that and next ascent.
In some cases I fix hand rails for dividing the track into widths, say about 2, 3, or
more feet wide longitudinally so as to give greater safety and confidence to nervous
skaters or sliders. In any case I protect each extreme edge of track or series of
parallel tracks by a hand rail or similar fence.
The track or tracks may be of wood, brick, stone, concrete, or similar material with
the surface for sliding upon, made of planed boards (preferably laid longitudinally)
and of hard wood, or oak, pitch pine, or similar material, or of rock, or other asphalte
composition, or of concrete finished smooth, or any other material of suitable nature
to withstand a reasonable amount of wear when used in the manner and for the
purpose described, as for instance, sheets of iron, or steel, or glass.
I lay the track or tracks either to a straight line as base plan, or to a curved line or
lines, or a combination of straight and curved lines.
When a curved track is laid, for greater comfort and safety of the skaters, I lay
the track with more or less fall across its width from the outer to the inner, or smaller
diametered curve in similar manner to that adopted on railway curves for instance.
Previous to the commencement of the first descent, a short length of comparatively
level floor, or track is provided, upon which the skater may skate, or run to get

page_text: increased momentum on the slide, or track proper. There is a similar arrangement
at the finishing end, upon which to expend any excess of, or remaining velocity after
completing last descent.
In the accompanying drawings I show various examples of inclined tracks for
skating or sliding, constructed in accordance with my invention. Figures 1 and 2
are an elevation. and plan respectively of a track or incline A, having a single grade
only, except at the starting point B where the track is level for a short distance, to
enable the skater or slider to obtain a certain momentum before reaching the inclined
portion. From this point the track has a gentle and equal fall, down to the finishing
point C where another short length of level track occurs to enable the skater or slider
to reduce, or check the speed derived from the momentum of the incline. D, D, are
handrails fixed along the track and dividing it into widths as before explained.
Figure 3 shows in elevation an arrangement of track having several descending
and ascending inclines, the end of each ascent being at a level slightly below that of
the previous highest point, and at Figuro 4 I show a plan view of a track having
several lateral, or serpentine curves, arranged with a single incline only as described
with regard to Figure 1, or with several inclines as at Figure 3.
Figures 5 and 6 show two arrangements (in plan view) in which the track has a
return, whereby the finishing point is brought round to the same spot as the
starting point B but at a lower level.
The skates to be used on these inclined tracks are of the ordinary roller skate
description but instead of the leather straps used for fastening the footboard of the
skate to the boot over the toes, I substitute flexible pieces of steel E, E, as shown in
Figure 7, and having but one strap F round the ankle; this arrangement facilitates
the casy and rapid attachment, or removal of the skates, and affords a secure,
the same time, a yielding fastening of the skate to the boot.
but at
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
The new game or pastime hereinbefore described and the apparatus shown in the
annexed drawings for utilizing roller or plain bottomed skates in connection with
inclined platforms, tracks, or roadways, (undulating or others) for enabling persons
to skate or slide with little or no expenditure of muscular strength and with great
rapidity, as set forth.