IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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:→
The object of my invention is to produce a roller skate that shall possess the
advantage in its action of that of an ice skate whereby a greater degree of speed
can be attained with less exertion than can be effected by the roller skates in
ordinary use and with less floor friction.
The invention consists in mounting the foot plate or stock upon wheels which
are journalled upon axles formed or bent in such a manner that two of said wheels
will stand at an angle with each other and converging together at the lower
portion of their perimeters. Two sets of wheels are used, one set being under the
toe portion and the other at the heel.
On the under side of the bent axle is a bar that extends downwards and carries
at its lower end a bevelled friction wheel or roller against which the lower portion
of the wheels bear so as to maintain them in their proper relative position.
Friction rolls are also attached to ribs under the foot plate so as to maintain the
upper portion of the wheels in position.
The invention further consists in certain details of construction hereinafter
fully set forth.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of a roller skate embodying my invention.
Fig. 2, is a top or plan view of the same.
Fig. 3, is a rear end view and Fig. 4, a front end view.
Figs. 5 and 6, are enlarged views in detail of portions of the skate.
A. is the foot plate made of metal or it may be of wood. Underneath the toe
and heel portions of the foot plate are secured by means of screws or rivets S. S.
ribs b, extending nearly across the plate.

page_text: Extending downward from the rib b, is an arm I, which is attached to or forms
a part of the bent axle H. H. as shown in Fig. 3.
On the bent axle H. H. are journalled the wheels G. G. so arranged that the
lower portion of their perimeters are nearly in contact, while the upper portion of
the same spread outwards as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.
On the under side of the centre of the bent axle H. H. is a bar J. which extends
downward and carries on its lower end a bevelled friction roller K. against which
the lower portions of the wheels G. G. bear so as to maintain them in proper
relative position. On the ends of the rib b, are also placed friction rolls M. M.
against which the upper portions of the wheels bear.
The ends of the axles H. H. are formed as shown in Fig. 6, h, is a reduced
portion of the bearing into the end of which is fitted a screw O. forming a part of
the bearing upon which the hub of the wheel is journalled and serving to hold the
wheel upon the axle, P. P. are washers placed on the axle at each side of the hub.
On the upper side of the heel portion of the foot plate is a heel holder B, which
consists of an elastic piece of metal having pivoted at each end a clamp N, in the
face of which is fitted a dove tailed piece of rubber e, as shown in Fig. 5. This
pivoted clamp and rubber adapts itself to the sides of the boot or shoe heel of the
skater and serves to hold the skate on. On the inside of the rear of the holder B,
is a rubber bearing B', for the heel to bear against, and is secured to the holder by
rivets D.
Similar clamps N. N. are also arranged at the toe portion of the foot plate.
These clamps N, having a facing of rubber e, as shown in Fig. 5, are pivoted to
uprights E. E. which are connected to bars E¹. that pass under the foot plate and
are fitted to slide in guides a, a, at each side.
The inner ends of the sliding bars E'. E. are attached to curved springs secured
to the under side of the foot plate, so that when the clamps N. are drawn outwards
for the insertion of the boot or shoe of the skater, they will spring inwards and
clamp the boot or shoe sole and thus hold it upon the skate.
At the front part of the skate is secured a frame R. which carries two small
rollers Q. Q. arranged one above the other. Instead of the rollers a ball placed
within a socket may be used in the place of one or both rollers. These rollers are
for the purpose of being used by professional skaters skilled in the art.
Extending from the foot plate and passing down by the axle H. H. are tubes i, i,
leading to the bearings of the wheels. In these tubes is to be placed some
absorbent material saturated with oil for the purpose of lubricating the journals.
By arranging the wheels at an angle as above described they can be of larger
diameter and consequently of a much longer circumference without raising the
height of the foot plate, than if the wheels stood upright.
At the same time the friction on the floor or ground is very much less than that
of the wide rollers used in the ordinary roller skate.
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
"
1 In a roller skate the wheels G. G. arranged at an angle with each other in
combination with a bent axle H. H. a support I, and foot plate A, as shown and
described.
:
2 The combination with the wheels G. G. and bent axle H. H. of the bevelled
roller K. the friction rollers M. M. the rib b, and support I, as and for the purpose
described.
3 In combination with the foot plate A, the elastic heel holder B, and the
pivoted clamp N, having a facing of rubber e, as set forth.
4 In a roller skate, the axle H. H. having the recessed diminished portion h, in
combination with the screw Q and the wheels G. G. as shown and described.

page_text: 5 In a roller skate the rollers Q. Q. arranged in a suitable support in front of
the forward wheels substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
6 In combination with the foot plate A, the pivoted toe clamps N, faced with
rubber e, the uprights E, the sliding bars E¹. E. and springs F. F. as and for the
purpose specified.