MENTS IN ROLLER OR RINK SKATES
Year: 1876

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by George Lowry at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents on the 10th February 1876.
GEORGE LOWRY, of Salford, in the County of Lancaster, Machinist.
MENTS IN ROLLER OR RINK SKATES."
This Invention consists,―
46 IMPROVE-
First. In the formation and production of roller skates which have the advantages
over the roller skates hitherto made of affording a firmer footing to the skater,
enabling him to perform ornamental skating with greater ease, and also reducing
the wear and tear and cost of construction.
And, Secondly. In the construction of the rollers of a new and hard substance
or material so as to make them inore durable and free from noise.
My improvements will be clearly understood by the following particular description
thereof, reference being had to the figures and letters on the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation; and Fig. 2, a plan of a four roller
or rink skate; and Fig. 3, a plan of a three roller or rink skate, both constructed
according to my Invention; and Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, are detached views,
sections, and modifications of some of the parts.
In the various Figures a represents the sole or foot board which is fastened to the
boot of the skater by straps in the usual manner; b the rollers, and c the hangers
or brackets carrying the shafts of the rollers. The hangers or brackets c carrying
the rollers, when two are used, are pivotted or jointed to the sole a by the bearing
studs d, on each face of which there is an incline e, and on the boss of each hanger
or bracket another incline f in contact with that on the face of the boss of the
stud d, so that when the hanger and rollers are turned by the skater in either
direction one incline rides upon the other, so as to cause the hangers and rollers to
cant or incline in the required direction. At the back of each pair of rollers I
employ an antifriction runner h working on a pivot fixed to the hanger or
bracket c, and running or riding on a metal plate fixed to the sole for the purpose
of partially supporting the weight of the skater, and preventing the bearing studs
from being twisted by the action of the rollers when in use, and enabling the rollers
to run freely and oscillate easily; and in Fig. 8 I shew the application of two of these
antifriction rollers, one at the front and the other at the back of the rollers b. To
each hanger or bracket whether for four or three roller skates is cast or fixed an
arm m having a hooked end to which is linked an india-rubber band passing
round a stud o screwed or otherwise fastened to the sole, the object being to allow

page_text: the rollers to oscillate sideways, and bring them back into a straight position when
the side pressure is removed. Or instead of having two bands as shewn one only
may be used attached to the hooks of the arms, and passing in reverse directions
round the central stud, or instead of using india-rubber springs two steel springs
may be used fastened in any convenient manner to the bottom of the sole, and the
ends allowed to press or abut against the outside of the arms m. One method of
accomplishing this is shewn in Fig. 10; the rollers b run loose on the shafts or
spindles in the hangers or brackets c and to keep the shafts or spindles fast, I use
for each a screw fitted to a screwed or tapped hole in a thickened part of the
hanger or bracket c, and this method of fastening is far more effectual than with
the present mode of split pins or keys on the outside.
When desired I divide the sole into two parts and connect them together by
hinges of leather or other material either extending across the sole and each screwed
to it by four or six screws, as shewn in Fig. 2, or made narrow and screwed only by
central screws, as shewn in Fig. 3; and in order to enable the hinges to have their
full effect I leave a space between the two parts of the sole, so that the skater can
move the two parts up and down or twist or swivel them in any direction, and
thereby give a freedom and elasticity of movement which has never before been
attained, or to obtain the same effect I make the sole of leather, buffalo hide, or
other yielding material.
For lubricating the shafts or axles of the rollers more efficiently than at present I
slope or incline the bearing parts at each side from a short plain part in the middle,
so that the lubricating material can be spread over all the parts of the bearing as
it has a tendency to rise from the smaller diameter of the cone to the higher.
The second part of my Invention relates to the rollers of roller or rink skates, and
consists in making them of buffalo hide, compressed leather, or other untanned hide
specially prepared as herein-after described. The buffalo hide I treat as follows :--
The raw hide is first steeped in a solution of bichromate of potash of a strength of
from six to ten pounds of the salt to one hundred gallons of water for several days.
Afterwards the hide is immersed in a solution of sulphate of iron of a strength of
from eighty to ninety pounds of the salt to a hundred gallons of water and allowed
to remain there for a day or two; it is then washed or steeped in pure water, steeped
again in the above named bichromate of potash solution and allowed to become
almost dry; it is then cut into round washers of the proper size to suit the
diameter of the rollers, and each placed on a bush which is provided with grooves
or barbed points which take into the material and hold the bush secure after the
necessary hydraulic pressure has been applied.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I desire it to be understood that I do
not confine myself to the exact details herein set forth, as such may be varied or
modified without departing from the principle of my Invention, but what I claim
is,-
First. Fixing each set of rollers in a hanger or bracket, so arranged as to be
capable of swivelling on the plain stud or on the incline of the plate of the
bearing stud as herein described and illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings.
Secondly. The employment of the antifriction runners h for partially supporting
the weight of the skater, and preventing the bearing studs from being twisted by
the action of the rollers as well as for enabling the rollers to run free and oscillate
easily, substantially as herein described.
Thirdly. The use and employment of the arms m, having one end fastened to the
hanger or bracket and the other linked to one or two india-rubber bands passed
round a stud fastened to the sole of the skate or in connection with steel springs,
substantially as and for the purposes herein-before described.
Fourthly. The mode or method described and shewn of keeping fast the shafts or
spindles which carry the rollers so as to prevent them turning round or slipping out
of their place.

page_text: Fifthly. The dividing the sole of the skate into two parts, as shown and
described.
Sixthly. The construction of the rollers of rink skates of buffalo hide, compressed
leather, or other untanned hide in the manner herein-before described.
Seventhly. The mode or method shewn and described of lubricating the shafts or
axles of the rollers.
And, Eighthly. The general arrangement, construction, and combination of parts
of the improved roller or rink skate, as herein described and illustrated on the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Lowry, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eighth day of February, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
six.
Signed, sealed, and delivered, by
the within-named George
Lowry, in the presence of
G. SEPTIMUS HUGHES,
Patent Agent,
Manchester.
GEO. LOWRY. (L.S.)