Improvements in Roller Skates.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 14th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 15th Dec., 1894.
PROVISIONAL DI MOLTIVATION
Improvements in Roller Skates.
We JOSEPH THOMAS FENWICK, of 68 West Street, Gateshead, Durham.
Engineer, and THE CORRUGATED RIM AND AIR TYRE COMPANY LIMITED
whose registered office is 33 Morley Street in the City and County of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object improvements in roller skates and relates more
particularly to the rollers or wheels of such skates.
According to this invention the rim of each roller or wheel is grooved or recessed,
the two lateral flanges thereof being corrugated and bent upwards and inwards so
as to form a dovetailed groove or recess wherein a tyre consisting preferably of a
flat piece of rubber or other suitable flexible material of any convenient size and
substance is fitted, by passing the edges thereof under such corrugated dovetailed
flanges. When so fitted the edges of the tyre are so firmly gripped and held in
position by the corrugated dovetailed flanges as to effectually prevent all creeping
or slipping of such tyre, while the centre of the tyre assumes a convex form, thus
forming an air chamber between it and the rim of the roller or wheel, and converting
it into a pneumatic tyre.
Each roller or wheel may be made either in one piece or in two or more
parts bolted or otherwise fastened together, and either with or without spokes as
desired.
Din 10th ton of Luna 1801
ELT & Co.,
33, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for Applicants.
Improvements in Roller Skates.
We, JOSEPH THOMAS FENWICK of 68, West Street, Gateshead, Durham,
Engineer, and THE CORRUGATED RIM AND AIR TYRE COMPANY LIMITED,
whose registered office is 33 Mosley Street, in the City and County of
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 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 :-
Our invention relates more particularly to the wheels of roller skates, and has
for its objects Firstly. To reduce friction, and impart a rapid easy and noiseless
travel to the wheels of the skate, thus minimising the exertions of the operator
and enhancing the value of such skates as a means of transit. Secondly. To obtain
the advantages of a pneumatic tyre without inflation. Thirdly. To simplify the
construction of such wheels by avoiding all necessity for cementing or otherwise
fastening the tyres in or on the rims of the wheels, thereby economising the cost of
production and Fourthly. To minimise the risk of accident by obviating side slip
and preventing any creeping or slipping of the tyre. We attain these objects by
the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a side
elevation of a roller skate wheel made according to our invention. Figure 2 is an

page_text: edge view of such wheel, and Figure 3 a transverse section of the rim and tyre
thereof.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
When
According to our invention the rim a of each wheel is grooved or recessed, the
two lateral flanges thereof being corrugated radially or in any other convenient
manuer, as shewn in Figure 1, and perforated, and bent upwards and inwards, so as
to form a dovetailed groove or recess, wherein a flexible tyre b, consisting
preferably, but not necessarily, of a flat piece of rubber, or other suitable material
of any convenient size and substance is fitted by passing its two lateral edges
under such corrugated perforated dovetail flanges as shewn in Figure 3.
thus fitted the edges of the tyre are so firmly gripped by the flanges that all
creeping or slipping of such tyre is obviated, while the centre of the tyre assumes
a convex form, as shewn in Figure 3, thus, in combination with the groove in the
rim of the wheel, forming an air chamber between such rim and tyre, and converting
the latter into an air cushion upon which the wheel travels easily and swiftly and
almost noiselessly. Each wheel may be made either in one piece or in two or more
parts bolted or otherwise fastened together and either with or without spokes as
desired.
If desired the perforations may be dispensed with and the corrugations, only
employed, but in this case the grip of the flanges on the lateral edges of the tyre
will not be so great, and consequently not so secure as when such corrugations are
used in combination with perforations.
The perforations may be of any convenient form and may be furnished with
serrated edges so as to take into and hold the tyre in position more securely. We
wish it to be understood however with regard to perforations that we do not
claim the same broadly, but only in combination with corrugations as hereinbefore
specified.
By our invention we produce a wheel that is particularly adapted for use for
roller skates, as it combines the essential advantages of comfort, utility and con-
venience, and is almost noiseless. Moreover it does not require inflation, and
is not therefore so susceptible to injury from puncture as wheels or wheel
tyres which are inflated with compressed air, thus prolonging the life of the
wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is,
1. As a new article of manufacture a roller skate wheel having a grooved rim
with corrugated perforated flanges bent upwards and inwards in a dovetail form, and
fitted with an elastic tyre the lateral edges whereof are passed under such flanges
thereby securing to the rim without cement or other fastening, all substantially as
herein before specified and shewn.
2. As a new article of manufacture a roller skate wheel having a grooved rim
with corrugated flanges bent upwards and inwards in a dovetail form and fitted with
an elastic tyre the lateral edges whereof are passed under such flanges thereby
securing it to the rim without cement or other fastening, all substantially as
herein before specified and shewn.
Dated this 14th day of November 1894
ELT & Co.,
33, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for Applicants.