ROL AND ATUND S
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joshua Nunn, of Winchester House, Old Broad
•
Street, in the City of London, Deputy Consul General for the
United States of America, and Stephen Tuddenham, of Union
Place, Lambeth Road, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, for the
Tting of 66 TheSTI ROLLED AND ATUND SANDO "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joshua Nunn and
Stephen Tuddenham at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 23rd December 1875.
in the
We, JOSHUA NUNN, of Winchester House, Old Broad Street, in
City of London, Deputy Consul General for the United States of
America, and STEPHEN TUDDENHAM, of Union Place, Lambeth Road, in
the County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for “İMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER AND OTHER SKATES," to be as
follows:-

page_text: This Invention relates both to roller skates and to skates with runners,
and consists of certain peculiar constructions and modes of mounting
and lubricating the rollers of roller skates, in the substitution in some
cases of spheres working freely in cups or sockets for the rollers
ordinarily employed, in improvements in the construction of the stocks
applicable both to roller skates and to skates with runners, and of
a new or improved method of securing a skate (whether provided with
rollers or with runners) more firmly to the foot of the wearer, than by
the usual arrangement of straps and buckles.
In carrying out our said Invention we employ two, three, or more
rollers of any suitable material, but by preference of metal and disposed
either in a line one behind the other, or one in front and two mounted
on cross axle in the rear, or vice versa, or two in front and two in rear
mounted on separate cross axles or turning in transversely disposed
bearings. We sometimes make the said rollers out of one piece of metal
or other suitable material having a deep groove cut circumferentially
therein at the middle, so as to form the journal which turns freely
within a bearing connected by springs or otherwise to the stock. A
chamber or cavity is formed inside this journal for the purpose of con-
taining a supply of oil or other lubricant, and one or more holes are
drilled radially through the said journal so as to afford access for the
lubricant to the interior of the bearing, thereby preventing the soiling of
the various parts of the skate with oil, so objectionable in the present
mode of lubricating. The two sides of these or other rollers for roller
skates are so shaped as to constitute frustums of cones with the smaller
diameter outwards, so that on canting or inclining the skate to either
side it may the more readily describe a curve of the smallest practicable
radius.
We sometimes employ auxiliary rollers disposed at or near the middle
of the stock on both sides thereof, but sufficiently elevated to be clear of
the skating surface excepting when, the skate is inclined to either side,
in which condition one or other of the said auxiliary rollers forms an
additional support or bearing by being brought in contact with the
skating surface.
We also sometimes substitute, metal or other spheres working in
sockets provided or not with other internal antifriction rollers or spheres
for
the wheels
ollows of allas aleaton hithauts
T

page_text: mounting the wheels, rollers, or spheres, we connect them with a curved
blade spring which is in turn connected with the stock by india-rubber
springs or metal, helical or other springs, the rear, front, or both ends
of the curved blade spring being in some cases hinged or jointed to the
stock to allow the latter to swivel thereon when required. The curved
blade spring is by preference connected at or near its centre by a screw
or rivet to a metal plate rigidly secured to the stock, and forged to the
rear end of a second blade spring which carries a roller at its front or
free end, such roller bearing upon or against the upturned front end of
the main blade spring, whereby greater ease and elasticity of action are
ensured. The main blade spring moreover is in some cases provided
with lateral projections, corresponding lateral projections being formed
on the plate or spring above it, and between these projections we inter-
pose metal or india-rubber springs to facilitate the lateral inclination of
the stock, and its restoration to its level or normal position.
Another part of our Invention consists of a peculiar arrangement for
facilitating the describing of curves of any radius, by ensuring the
locking of the axles of the wheels or rollers by the lateral cant or
inclination of the stock. In carrying out this part of our Invention we
employ two annular frames somewhat similar to the under carriage of a
four wheeled common road vehicle, the upper one of such frames being
rigidly secured to the under side of the stock, whilst the lower frame is
connected at its centre by a bolt or pin which passes through the centre
of the upper frame, and round which the lower frame is free to turn.
This lower frame carries the axles of the rollers, and between it and the
upper frame there is fitted an elastic or extensible ring, by preference of
india-rubber, such ring being secured at two diametrically opposite
points to a groove in the upper frame, and is further secured at two
other diametrically opposite points at right angles to the former to the
lower ring. On inclining the skate to one side or the other the elastic
ring will be stretched more or less, and will consequently cause the
lower frame with its axles or journals to turn more or less on its centre,
thus bringing the axle or axles into a radial position with the curve
described.
We make the stocks of vulcanized india-rubber moulded to the
form required, or we make them of wood or of stamped sheet metal, and
with a view to the more effectually securing the skate to the foot, we
dispense entirely with ordinary leathers or straps and substitute therefor

page_text: a metal clamp (padded or otherwise), which is hinged to the toe of the
skate and fits with more or less accuracy upon the surface of the foot
and up the instep, it being secured by a single strap at the ancle to a
metal tongue piece projecting upwards from the rear end or heel of the
stock. One or more transverse projecting arms may be formed on the
said clamp so as to partly encircle the upper portion of the foot, and
lateral adjustable raised side plates are connected to the opposite sides of
the stock to confine the sole of the boot or shoe firmly between them,
the adjustment of the said side plates so as to accomodate different
widths of soles being effected by right and left threaded screws or other
equivalent contrivance, the said screws passing through the stock
horizontally.
In the case of india-rubber stocks metal bushes may be introduced
therein for the said screws to work in. If desired a toe piece or cap
may be provided at the hinged end of the clamp for the reception of the 1
toe of the boot or shoe..