A NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF SKATE ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE ON ARTIFICIAL ICE OR SMOOTH SURFACES.
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to the Honorable Wyndham Edward Campbell
Stanhope, of Charing Cross, in the City of Westminster, for the
Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF SKATE ESPECIALLY
ADAPTED FOR USE ON ARTIFICIAL ICE OR SMOOTH SURFACES.
Sealed the 1st December 1874, and dated the 4th June 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the Honorable Wyndham
Edward Campbell Stanhope at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th June 1874.
I, the Honorable WYNDHAM EDWARD CAMPBELL STANHOPE, of
Charing Cross, in the City of Westminster, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED CONSTRUCTION OF
SKATE ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE ON ARTIFICIAL ICE OR SMOOTH SURFACES,"
to be as follows:-
•
"rinks "
The Invention relates to that description of skate used upon
or artificial ice, and is designed for the purpose of producing a skate
much simpler in construction than those hitherto employed for the
•

page_text: purpose, and which enables the users of the same to move about with
the greatest ease and facility in any direction, or perform any gyration
desired.
The improvements consist in applying to the sole plate or stock of the
skate immediately underneath the ball of the foot a central roller or
wheel supported on, a pin, axis, or antifriction centres secured to
brackets which may be adjustibly or permanently fixed to the sole plate
of the skate. Behind this roller or wheel a break wheel is placed at a
slightly higher elevation and of a smaller diameter than the front or
skating wheel, and is so arranged that by lowering the heel the move-
ment of the skater may be checked or stopped at will.
The wheels or rollers by preference are composed of a disc of india-
rubber, or other suitable flexible material, placed between two metal
flanges, and secured so as to form a semi-yielding substance for the
periphery of the wheels.
The skates are secured to the feet by straps and screws, or other
equivalent.
In conclusion I would add that I am well aware that skates having
two or more rollers or runners placed on the sole plate by means of
oscillating brackets or hangers have hitherto been employed, and are
now well known; but such skates are entirely different in principle and
construction to the skate forming the subject of this Invention, the
novel feature of which in contradistinction to the oscillating hangers
and rollers is that there is only one skating roller fixed to the sole plate
by which the skater can perform any movement or gyration with the
greatest ease, his body forming the centre upon which he turns, and
the application of the break wheel offers a means whereby the move-
ment or velocity of the skater can be checked or stopped at pleasure.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the Honorable Wyndham Edward Campbell Stanhope in the 3
Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th December 1874.
MRRE
ARRANG
ATT&TT
CAME
T
11
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the Honorable Wyndham Edward Campbell Stanhope in the 3
Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th December 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, the
Honorable WYNDHAM EDWARD CAMPBELL STANHOPE, of Charing Cross,
in the City of Westminster, send greeting.

page_text: ر
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
5 give and grant unto me, the said Wyndham Edward Campbell Stanhope,
Her special licence that I, the said Wyndham Edward Campbell Stan-
hope, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Wyndham Edward Campbell Stanhope, my exccutors, admini-
strators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
O from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein
expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED CON-
STRUCTION OF SKATE ESPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE ON ARTIFICIAL ICE OR SMOOTH
5 SURFACES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Wyndham Edward Campbell Stanhope, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing, under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
> performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Wyndham Edward Campbell
Stanhope, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in
5 what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying
Drawings, that is to say :-
The Invention relates to that description of skate used upon rinks
or artificial ice, and is designed for the purpose of producing a skate
much simpler in construction than those hitherto employed for the.
purpose, and which will enable the users of the same to move about
with the greatest case and facility in any direction, or perform any
gyration desired.
The improvements consist in applying to the sole plate or stock of the
skate immediately underneath the ball of the foot a central roller or
wheel supported on a pin, axis, or antifriction centre secured to brackets
which may be adjustable or permanently fixed to the sole plate of the

page_text: skate. Behind this roller or wheel a break wheel is placed at a slightly
higher elevation and of a smaller diameter than the front or skating
wheel, and is so arranged that by lowering the heel the movement of
the skater may be checked or stopped at will.
°
The wheels or rollers by preference are composed of a ring or disc of
india-rubber, or other flexible or suitable material, placed between two.
metal flanges, and secured so as to form a semi-yielding substance for
the periphery or tyre of the wheels.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained
in detail, I have hereunto annexed a Slicet of Drawings made about full
size, similar letters of reference being marked on corresponding parts on
all the Figures alike.
Fig. 1 represents the skate in elevation as it would appear when
attached to the shoe or boot of the skater; Fig. 2, an under side plan
view of the skate.
Fig. 3 represents a transverse section through the line x, x, of Fig. 1.
In these Figs. a is the sole plate or stock of the skate, which is secured
to the boot by clamps or by straps, and the heel screw b.
The brackets c, c, under the ball of the foot may form a part of the
sole plate a, or be connected thereto, so as to be adjustable. These
brackets support the skating wheel d, which is provided with a leather
tyre or other suitably prepared flexible or metallic material, which will
enable such wheel to revolve noiselessly and without slipping when
specding along. e is a back wheel giving steadiness to the skater when
standing, and it also offers a means to the skater of retarding or stopping
himself whilst skating. This wheel is of a smaller diameter than the
skating wheel d, and is supported in brackets forming part of the break
lever f. This lever is secured to the sole plate by its fulcrum f¹, its
normal position being maintained whilst skating by means of the spiral
spring g, at which time the breake e¹ is kept clear from the periphery of
the wheel d; but in the event of the skater wishing to check or stay his
progress the heel must be lowered, so as to compress the spring, and
bring the wheel e into contact with the floor, the action of which forces
the break e¹ into contact with the tyre of the wheel d, and so in pro-
portion to the pressure exerted retards or stops the progress of the skater.

page_text: The journals supporting the skating wheel in the brackets c, c, are
provided with spiral springs so placed that they will maintain such
wheel in a true central position between the supporting journals, and at
the same time allow it to yield to the action of the foot when striking
out whilst skating.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention,
together with the method of carrying the same into practical effect, I
would remark in conclusion that I am well aware that skates having
two or more rollers or runners placed on the sole plate by means of
oscillating brackets or hangers have hitherto been employed, and are
now well known; but as such skates are entirely different in principle
and construction to the skate forming the subject of the present Inven-
tion, I wish it to be distinctly understood that what I claim is, the
novel and peculiar construction of a rink skate, having applied to the
sole plate thereof the skating wheel d, back wheel e, and break e¹
arranged as shown in the Drawings, or any modification thereof, to be
employed in the manner and for the purpose as herein-bffore
substantially described, set forth, and fully illustrated in the Drawings
annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Wyndham Edward Campbell
Stanhope, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Second day
of December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-four.
WYNDHAM E. C. STANHOPE. (L.S.)
5 Witness,
ALEX: PRINCE,
Office for Patents,
4, Trafalgar Square,
Charing Cross.