IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER-SKATES
Year: 1885

page_text: I CADWALLADER M RAYMOND, of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts,
United States of America Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER-SKATES" and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in roller skates in which an elastic
bearing is provided for the heel, and toe-plates; improved means is also provided
for adjusting the tension of the elastic bearing together with other improvements
more fully hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side view of a roller skate embodying my improvements.
Figure 2 is a top view of the same.
Figure 3 is a view of the underside of the skate.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of the hanger the elastic cushion and attachments
the parts being shown as separated.
Fig. 5, is a transverse vertical section of the same, the parts being connected
together.
Fig, 6, represents the elastic cushion.
Fig, 7, represents the adjusting device.
Fig. 8, is a section of the roller and connecting parts.
A, B, are respectively the toe and heel plates composed of thin metal plates.
The toe-plate A, curves downwards at a point marked d, and in the downwardly
bent portion is a slot of a width and length sufficient to allow the forward narrow
portion of the heel-plate B, to pass freely through from the upper to the under
side of plate A, thus preventing any lateral motion and admitting of an adjustable
longitudinal movement of the two plates. From the slot at d, the narrow portion
of the toe-plate A, extends along the underside of the heel-plate B, through a slot
formed by a recess m¹, in the bearing plate L, (see Fig 5) and the rear portion of
the heel-plate.
The front narrow portion of the heel-plate B, passes forward through a slot
between the underside of the toe-plate and the bearing plate L, which is similar
to that at the heel.

page_text: It will be seen that the narrow ends of the toe and heel-plates overlap respec-
tively and constantly the front and rear sets of rollers.
a, a, are clamps connected to the forward part of the toe-plates and are arranged
to be adjusted to the width of sole of the boot or shoe to hold the same firmly.
b, b, are clamps forming a portion of the heel plate they are cut or stamped out
at the same time with the heel-plate, and then bent upwards as shown so as to
hold the boot or shoe heel in place.
A hole is made in said clamps for the purpose of attaching a strap when
required.
A¹, is a button or knob on the underside of plate A, for the attachment of a
toe-strap when necessary.
In the heel plate is an elongated slot of equal width throughout its length, and
in this slot is fitted a slotted plate H which is bent upwards at the rear end and
projects to the rear as shown in Fig 1, so as to clamp the boot or shoe heel; it is
capable of being adjusted to the size of the heel and is held in position by means
of the screw G, and nut I. C, is a bent lever pivoted to the heel plate B, at the
point D, and at the bent portion F, of the said lever is pivoted a flat bar E through
the other end of which latter passes the screw bolt G. The said screw bolt also
passes through the slotted plate H, and through one of the holes c, in the extended
portion of the toe-plate,A, and is secured by the nut I.
The holes c, in the heel plate B, are not entirely circular but have a segment
removed at one side as shown in Figs 2 and 3, and the side of the screw G, is of
corresponding shape in section, so that when the screw is inserted in the holes c,
the segmental portion of the screw will bear against the corresponding segment of
the holes, c, and thus prevent the screw from turning, a difficulty that is liable to
occur in the constant use of the skate.
The plate H, and bar E, and the toe and heel-plates A and B, are secured
together by means of the screw G, and thumb nut I.
In Fig 2. the lever C, bar E, and clamp H are shown as in a closed position by
full lines and in an open position by dotted lines.
When the skate is to be used the proper length is first fixed by the adjustment
of the toe and heel plates so as to bring the clamps in proper position at the toe
and heel of the boot or shoe, the lever Č and bar E, being in an open position.
The boot or shoe being then placed upon the skate the lever C, is drawn
back wards a bent portion of the outer end being made to bear against the edge
of the heel plate B, thus drawing the heel and toe portions together and causing
the clamps to bind firmly on the heel and toe portions of the sole of the boot or
shoe, the lever C, is prevented from opening outwards by means of its connection
at the bent portion with the bar E, so that the greater the force exerted against the
lever C, by the bar E, the more firmly it will be held in position.
In drawing the heel and toe portions together when the sole and heel of the
boot or shoe are fitted in the several clamps the sole will be contracted longi-
tudinally and thus cause the shank to rise or increase its curvature and thus form
a firm bearing and support for the hollow of the foot and for the instep and thus
conduce greatly to the comfort of the skater.
It is obvious that other devices may be employed to draw the heel and toe
plates together for the purpose of fastening the skate to the boot. For instance
a screw threaded lug may be attached to each plate and a rod passed through said
lugs having right and left screw threads and suitable means for turning said rod.
Hence I do not confine myself to the lever device shown for drawing the plates
together, as any means which will perform that function is within scope and spirit
of my invention, this part of which consists in fastening the skate to the boot by
contracting the skate longitudinally.
To the underside of the toe and heel plates A, B, are secured the frames L, L
each having brackets M, N, extending downwards, and in which are placed the
bearings q, q, of the hangers Q. The bracket M, is open at its lower end so as

page_text: to admit of its passage over the bearing 9, of the hanger. The bracket N, has
an aperture through which the corresponding bearing g', is passed and in which it
is held.
1
Between the underside of the plate L and the upper side of the hanger Q, is
interposed a block of india rubber O, of the form shown in Fig 6. In the upper
side of said rubber block, is a recess or cavity which fits upon a teat or projection Z,
on the underside of plate L, and on the underside of the rubber block is a groove
which fits over the projecting portion on the top of the hanger Q, by which means
the rubber block is held firmly in position when the parts are secured together.
The parts are shown as separated in Fig 4. R, is a screw-bolt having an eye or
opening r, at one end which fits loosely upon the headed bearing 9 of the hanger Q,
while the other end of the said screw bolt passes through a hole in a projection m,
of the frame L, where it is secured by means of a thumb nut U, by turning which,
the elastic cushion O, can be compressed more or less as required.
As the bracket M, is made to straddle the bearing 9, of the hanger Q, it (the
bracket) is capable of a vertical movement, by means of which an elastic bearing
is afforded to the toe and heel plates, vertically as well as laterally, and thus
relieving the wearer of any unpleasant jarring occasioned by passing over any
uneven surface or obstacle.
On the outer hub of the roller K, is placed a cap or cover V, which may be
secured to the hub by indenting the sides of the cap, or by other suitable means,
and on the inside hub is placed a collar W, having its edge turned down a short
distance over the hub, as seen in Fig 8.
On the end of the bearing Q, of the axle T, is an upwardly extending rim t,
which overlaps, but does not touch the turned over edge of the collar W. By
these means the lubricating oil is retained in the cap V, as a reservoir until
used, thus preventing wasto and the oil is prevented from soiling the dress of
the wearer.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st In a roller skate a longitudinally adjustable heel and toe-plate lapped
together, the end of one plate passing through a transverse slot in the other plate
as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd In a roller skate a longitudinally adjustable heel and toe plate lapped
together and the end of one plate passing through a transverse slot in the other
plate, in combination with a lever connected with both plates and adapted to
lengthen or contract the skates by drawing said plates longitudinally, as and for
the purpose set forth.
3rd In a roller skate a fastening which consists of an adjustable toe-clamp and
an adjustable heel-clamp connected respectively with longitudinally adjustable toe
and heel plates in combination with a lever or its equivalent for contracting or
expanding the skate longitudinally and fastening the clamps to the boot as and for
the purpose described.
•
4th The recessed plates L, L, in combination with the heel and toe-plates A, B,
the rubber block O, and hanger Q, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5th The toe-plate A, constructed with a curved portion and a slot as shown at d
in combination with the heel-plate B, as and for the purpose set forth.
6th In a longitudinally adjustable roller skate, a fastening consisting of a lever
pivoted to the heel plate in combination with a bar pivoted at one end to the
toe-plate and at the other end to the lever whereby the heel and toe-plates are
drawn together and the boot is clamped between the heel and toe clamps as and
for the purpose set forth.
7th The frame L, provided with the brackets M, N, in combination with the
hanger Q, provided with the bearings q, q', the screw bolt R, and nut U, and the
elastic cushion O, as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 8th In a roller skate the plate B, provided with the segmental holes c, c, in
combination with the screw G, made flat on one side of its body as and for the
purpose set forth.
9th The combination of the heel and toe-plates B, and A, the frames L, the
brackets M, N, elastic cushions O, hangers Q, and screw bolt and nut R, and U,
substantially as shown and described.
10th The screw bolt and nut R, and U, the bearing q, and hanger Q, the open
bracket M, the frame L, and projection m, all combined and operating as and for
the purpose set forth
11th The cap or cover V, in combination with the outer hub of the wheel K, as
and for the purpose set forth.
12th The collar W, having a turned down edge in combination with the inner
hub of the roller K, as and for the purpose set forth.
13th The bearing Q, provided with the outwardly extended rim t, in combination
with the collar W, as shown and described.
1 1007
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.