IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES."
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Cattlin, of Westfield Lodge, Brighton,
in the County of Sussex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
ROLLER SKATES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Cattlin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th March 1875.
I, ALFRED CATTLIN, of Westfield Lodge, Brighton, in the County of
Sussex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES," to be as follows:-
I propose to make my improved skate with two rollers, one near the
toc, the other near the heel, setting these rollers upon curved axles
carried by plates fixed above or below the stock or foot stand. Upon
each of these curved axles forming a semicircle I propose to place two
helical metal springs, or springs of india-rubber, or other suitable
material, so that upon the slightest divergence of the roller to the one

page_text: side or the other one or other of these springs will press against it and
at once bring the roller back to the centre, when the evolution which
has caused this divergence shall be completed.
I may enclose the curved axles and their springs, or the axles only,
within a metal tube descending to within such distance of the boss of
the roller as will stop the divergence of the roller from the middle of the
axle when it has reached the maximum that can be safely allowed; or
I may use any other kind of stop for this purpose.
I propose to use rollers of various breadths and diameters according to
the skill of the skater and requirements. Unless the roller is very
narrow I propose to hollow it so as to form a cup at both ends, thus
lengthening the curve of my axle and preventing any part touching the
side of the wheel.
I propose to make the stock or foot stand of wood, metal, or other
suitable material, and to use any suitable straps or fastenings.
I further propose to place a stop behind the heel roller to prevent the
skate running away with the skater or his falling backward, this stop
being either a piece of wood or india-rubber secured between plates
descending from the stock, or a piece of any material which will give
sufficient friction on the rink when the skater throws his weight back-
ward, making this stop of any form which I may find suitable.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Cattlin in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 31st August 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
CATTLIN, of Westfield Lodge, Brighton, in the County of Sussex, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of March, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give

page_text: A indicates the stock or foot stand; B, B, the rollers, set so that they
may not only revolve round but also be moved laterally on their axles; C, C,
the curved axles; D, D, plates securing axles to stock A; E, E, springs
by means of which easy play is given to the rollers B, B, on their curved
axles C, C; F, nuts for regulating movement of springs E and rollers B;
G, a brake or back stop secured to heel of A; H, bush for roller to turn
on axle; h, h, feathers in bush H.
When the skater diverges from a straight line the weight of his body
causes the rollers B, B, to leave the centre, to rise along the curve of
their axles C, C, compressing one or other of the springs, as shown at E',
Figure 3, and thereby give an easy play to the skate and enabling the
skater to perform the desired evolution in the requisite curve. As the
weight of the skater comes back to the usual vertical pressure on
the stock or foot stand the springs E' relieved from pressure expand,.
and the rollers B, B, resume their normal position as at Figures 1
and 2.
The stock or foot stand A may be made of wood, or of metal, or of
any suitable material, or combination of materials, and of any design or
shape; and the plates D, D, by which the curved axles C, C, are
secured to the stock may be in two parts, as shewn Figure 3, or in one
piece, fastened to the stock on its upper or its lower face, or they may
be cast or made of one piece with the stock, as may be found most
desirable.
I make my curved axles of steel, but they may be made of any suitable
metal or material, and of a greater or lesser curve than shown on the
Drawing; and I may enclose these curved axles and their springs in
metal tubes descending to within such distance of the boss or nave of
the roller as will stop the divergence of the roller from the middle of
the axle when it has reached the maximum that can be safely allowed.
In the arrangement shown on the Drawing this maximum of divergence
is regulated by the fullest compression of the springs. In some cases I
use stops for this purpose, and in lieu of the metal springs shown on the
Drawing I employ india-rubber or other clastic material, enclosing these
springs within the said metal tube or not as I may find most suitable.
I find it preferable to use only two rollers, a toe and a heel roller, but
a greater number might be used, and they may vary in breadth and
diameter according to the skill of the skater and other requirements.

page_text: On the Drawing the rollers are shown upon axles set at an angle of
50 degrees, but by setting these curved axles at different angles curves
of larger or smaller curvature may be described by the skater, and I'
consider this an important feature of my Invention. Rollers of ordinary
form might be used but unless the rollers used be very narrow that
which I find preferable is the form shown Figure 4 of the Drawing,
that is to say, with both ends hollowed so as to form cups as at b, b,
whereby the length of the curve is increased and the edge of the roller
is prevented from touching the axle when traversing the curve during a
gyration.
The bushing which I find may be used with advantage is that indicated
by H, Figures 4 and 5; it is made of gun metal cast with a strip of
metal (see h, Figure 5), projecting along on two sides opposite one
another; it has a collar on one end and is bored out in a conical form to
suit curve of axle, as shown in section at Figure 4. The roller B having
been previously bored out the bush H is driven in and the smaller end
riveted over; at the same time owing to the feathers h, h, (Fig. 5,)
it is impossible that the bush can get loose or revolve. Any suitable
kind of bushing may however be used.
The stop or brake G which I use is composed of a forked piece of
metal enclosing a piece of wood, india-rubber, or other material, which
will give sufficient friction upon the rink, but any kind of brake might
be used, or the skate be used without a brake of any kind, and I lay no
claim to this particular form of brake.
I have shewn the skate attached to the boot by straps, but any kind
of fastening or clamps may be used.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is or may be performed, what I claim
as secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
is,—
Firstly. The construction of roller skates with curved axles employed
for carrying the rollers of roller skates, substantially as herein-beforo
specified.
Secondly. The use of spiral or other springs or clastic material in
combination with the curved axles, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.

page_text: Thirdly. The use of rollers cupped or hollowed; substantially as at b,b,
Figure 4, in combination with the curved axles, for the purposo herein->
before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Cattlin, have hereunto
set my hand and scal, this Thirtieth, day of August, in the 5
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.