IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Glaister, of Barrow-in-Furness, in the County
of Lancaster, Architect, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER
SKATES, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 19th December 1876, and dated the 24th June 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Glaister at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th June 1876.
THOMAS GLAISTER, of Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of Lancaster, Architect.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS APPLICABLE
ALSO TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention consists chiefly of a roller skate made on a principle which I believe
to be new in mechanics, and consisting of a ball-and-cup joint, the said ball and cup
being held together at one point only by means of a pin or screw passing loosely
through one but tight in the other, or tight in one and pivotted or projecting into
the other in such manner that the latter shall be free to rotate upon it.
The pin
must point in a direction radial to the centre of the "ball," and in the case of a
roller skate in a direction forming an oblique angle with the footstock.
I carry out my Invention in various ways, being partly governed by the question
as to whether a two or a four-wheeled skate be required.
is
One mode of applying it to a two-wheeled skate is as follows:-The
cup
firmly attached to the footstock, the concavity downwards. The bracket carrying
the axle has a spherical top fitting into the cup. On the centre line of the skate,
and at an oblique angle with the horizontal, I drill a hole through the cup in a
direction radial to the centre of the spherical joint, in which hole freely works a pin
screwed or firmly fitted into the ball radially. I usually make the axle of the
roller with a point at each end bearing on conical bearings in the ball bracket,
which bearing can be tightened as the axle wears. This plan is also applicable to
four-wheeled skates. I also frequently place nearly opposite the main pin, and at
or about the same distance from the footstock, a second pin working in a slot so as
to act as a stop to limit the angular deviation of the axis from the normal. Attached
to the cup and ball or ball and footstock are springs of any convenient kind,
such as india-rubber washers, for instance, so as to bring the axle back to the
normal on the removal of pressure. The simplest form of spring, perhaps, is as
follows:-Attached to the cup are two lugs and to the ball one lug, each having
[Price 6d.]

page_text: spherical cavities opposite each other. Between the central lug on the ball and the
two side lugs on the cup are two stout cylinders or balls of india-rubber with
spherical ends falling into the cavities in the lugs or preferably metallic shells in
the same.
If metallic shells are used pins in the centres of the exterior lugs regulate
the compression of the india-rubber, and in that way the radius of the curve
described by the skater also. The position of the swivelling pins, and the springs
on the two ends of the skate, is of course reversed as regards each other, so that when
actuated by a side pressure of the footstock the two axles shall converge on the
same side.
2nd. In a four-wheeled skate a somewhat similar arrangement can be used, I, how-
ever, prefer to make the. spherical end of a (preferably hollow and cylindrical) bracket
attached to the footstock act as a ball, and then form the bracket carrying the axle
cup-shaped. The axles usually pass through openings in the cylindrical bracket, the
On the
pin as before passing through a hole in the cup and tapped into the ball.
axle inside the cylindrical bracket I usually thread an eye or socket with an arm
projecting upward. This arm is kept normally in the centre of the cylindrical
interior of the bracket by any convenient spring or springs, the simplest plan being
to tightly thread over it one or more india-rubber washers of the same diameter
as and therefore just fitting the cylindrical space aforesaid, leaving, however, an
empty space above and below. "The number and size of the "wasliers regulate the
stiffness of the skate, being aided thereby by the compression of screw nuts on the
arm. Any other form of spring in any other position, so long as it will bring the
axle back to its normal position when extraneous pressure is removed, will do,
especially if its strength can be regulated.
I oil my wheels in the following peculiar manner:-A hole is drilled into the
periphery down to the centre. This can be chambered out inside by means of a
one-sided bit or otherwise. This hole I fill with oil and insert a needle twined
round with cotton wick or waste. I then fill it with oil and plug up the end with
a brass screw with a nick head, taking care that the head is just level with the
surface. Every time it requires fresh oil the plug screw is unscrewed and fresh oil
poured in. I oil the cup and ball in the same way, the chamber in this case being
bored through the stock and the plug screw inserted in the said stock.
Among the many advantages of this form of skate are the following:-1st. The
axle being above the bearings of the skater's weight on the cup and ball gives greater
stability, and must purposely be canted by the skater before leaving the vertical
position. Beginners can consequently learn much faster and more easily on this
skate than on those where they have to maintain their balance on simple longitudinal
linear vertical axes on each skate.
2d. The bearings being below the axle and near the lower side of the wheels
the skater has greater purchase in making a thrust and can propel himself without
canting the sole plate.
Sometimes I construct the skate stock entirely or partially of india-rubber, and in
that case rigidly fix the axle of either the toe or heel roller or rollers, in a bracket
firmly secured to the underside of the stock, the roller or rollers at the other end
of the skate being canted or turned by any of the methods before described. I
prefer to connect the toe and heel brackets by a flat steel or other spring to maintain
the tension of the india-rubber stock between toe and heel as well as to return the
axles to the normal position after the side pressure is removed. It will be found
that the twisting of the rubber stock still allows the wheel or wheels fixed to the
rigid axle to bear on the ground however far the foot is canted; while the other axle
is of course canted or turned so as to cause the skater to describe a curve.
on,
In using the skate on real ice I use steel wheels, or wheels with steel tyres shrunk
and file cut, milled, or roughened on the periphery and rims,
The new mechanical motion of a cup and ball pivotted obliquely at one point by
a pin so as to cause an axle to change its angular direction by altering the position
of the superincumbent weight is applicable also in numerous cases in mechanics, such
for instance, in the velocipedes, invalid or other wheeled carriages, or for steering

page_text: boats, the steersman sitting on a rocking seat, which communicating motion to the
ball would turn the rudder, ropes being attached from arms on the ball to the rudder
for the purpose.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Glaister in the Great Seal Patent Office on 22nd December
1876.
THOMAS GLAISTER, of Barrow-in-Furness, in the County of Lancaster, Architect.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN ROLLER SKATES, PART OF WHICH INVENTION IS APPLICABLE
ALSO TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention consists chiefly of a roller skate made on a principle which I
believe to be new in mechanics, and consisting of a ball-and-cup joint, the said
ball and cup being held together or confined at one point only by means of a pivot,
such as a pin, screw, or ball passing loosely through one but tight in the other, or
tight in one and pivotted or projecting into the other in such manner that the
latter shall be free to rotate upon it. The pin must point in a direction radial to
the centre of the ball, and in the case of a roller skate in a direction forming an
oblique angle with the footstock.
I carry out my Invention in various ways, being partly governed by the question
as to whether a two or four-wheeled skate be required.
One mode of applying it to a two-wheeled skate is as follows:-The cup is
firmly attached to the footstock the concavity downwards. The bracket carrying
the axle has a spherical top fitting into the cup. On the centre line of the skate,
and at an oblique angle with the horizontal, I drill a hole through the cup in a
direction radial to the centre of the spherical joint, in which hole freely works a
pivot screwed or firmly fitted into the ball radially. I usually make the axle of
the roller with a point at each end bearing on conical bearings in the ball bracket,
which bearing can be tightened as the axle wears. This plan is also applicable to
four-wheeled skates. I also frequently place nearly opposite the main pin, and at or
about the same distance from the footstock, a second pin working in a slot so as to
act as a stop to limit the angular deviation of the axis from the normal. Attached
to the cup and ball, or ball and footstock are springs of any convenient kind, such as
india-rubber washers for instance, so as to bring the axle back to the normal on the
removal of pressure. The simplest form of spring, perhaps, is as follows:-Attached
to the cup are two lugs and to the ball one lug, each having spherical cavities
opposite each other. Between the central lug on the ball and the two side lugs on
the cup are two stout cylinders or balls of india-rubber with spherical ends falling
into the cavities in the lugs or preferably metallic shells in the same. If metallic
shells are used pins in the centre of the exterior lugs regulate the compression of
the india-rubber, and in that way the radius of the curve described by the skater
also. The position of the swivelling pivots and the springs on the two ends of the
skate is of course reversed as regards each other, so that when actuated by a side
pressure of the footstock the two axles shall converge on the same side.
In a four-wheeled skate a somewhat similar arrangement can be used, I however,
prefer to make the spherical end of a (preferably hollow and cylindrical) bracket
attached to the footstock act as a ball, and then form the bracket carrying the
axle cup-shaped. The axles usually pass through openings in the cylindrical
bracket, the pivot as before passing through a hole in the cup and tapped into the
ball. On the axle inside the cylindrical bracket I usually thread an eye or socket
with an arm projecting upward. This arm is kept normally in the centre of the
cylindrical interior of the bracket by any convenient spring or springs, the simplest
plan being to tightly thread. over it one or more india-rubber washers of the same
diameter as, and therefore just fitting the cylindrical space aforesaid, leaving, how-
ever, an empty space above. and below. The number and size of the washers

page_text: regulate the stiffness of the skate, being aided thereby by the compression of
screw nuts on the arm. Any other form of spring in any other position, so long as
it will bring the axle back to its normal position when extraneous pressure is
removed, will do, especially if its strength can be regulated.
I oil my wheels in the following peculiar manner :-A hole is drilled into the
periphery down the centre. This can be chambered out inside by means of a one-
sided bit or otherwise. This hole I fill with oil and insert a needle twined round
with cotton wick or waste. I then fill it with oil and plug up the end with a
brass screw with a nick head, taking care that the head is just level with the
surface. Every time it requires fresh oil the plug screw is unscrewed and fresh
oil poured in. I oil the cup and ball in the same manner, the chamber in this case
being bored through the stock and the plug screw inserted in the said stock.
Among the many advantages of this form of skate are the following:-First."
The axle being above the bearings the skater's weight on the cup and ball gives
greater stability, and must purposely be canted by the skater before leaving the
vertical position. Beginners can consequently learn much faster and more easily
on this skate than on those where they have to maintain their balance on simplo
longitudinal linear vertical axes on each skate.
Second. The bearings being below the axle, and near the lower side of the wheels,
the skater has greater purchase in making a thrust and can propel himself without
canting the sole plate.
Sometimes I construct the skate stock entirely or partially of india-rubber, and
in that case rigidly fix the axle of either the toe or heel roller or rollers in a
bracket firmly secured to the under side of the stock, the roller or rollers at the
other end of the skate being canted or turned by any of the methods before
described. I prefer to connect the toe and heel brackets by a flat steel or other
spring to maintain the tension of the india-rubber stock between toe and heel as
well as to return the axles to the normal position after the side pressure is
removed. It will be found that the twisting of the rubber stock still allows the
wheel or wheels fixed to the rigid axle to bear on the ground however far the foot
is canted, while the other axle is of course canted or turned so as to cause the skater
to describe a curve.
In using the skate on real ice I use steel wheels or wheels with steel tyres
shrunk on and file cut, milled, or roughened on the periphery and rims.
The new mechanical motion of a cup and ball pivotted obliquely at one point by
a pin so as to cause an axle to change its angular direction by altering the position
of the superincumbent weight is applicable also in numerous cases in mechanics,
such, for instance, in velocipedes, invalid or other wheeled carriages, or for steering
boats, the steersman sitting on a rocking seat which communicating motion to the
bull would turn the rudder, ropes being attached from arms on the ball to the
rudder for the purpose.
The before going being the nature and purposes of my Invention, I will now
proceed to describe more in detail how the same may be carried out into operation,
and for that purpose I have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings illustrative
thereof, marked with letters and figures of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation, wherein like letters refer to like parts.
Figure 1 is a plan of a four-wheeled skate inverted with cup attached to footstock;
Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1; Figure 3, a cross section through A, B,
Fig. 1; Figure 4, a section through C, D, Figure 1.
Figure 5, plan of two-wheeled skate inverted with cup attached to footstock ;
Figure 6, a side elevation of Figure 5; Figure 7, section through E, F, Figure 5;
Figure 8, section through G, H, Figure 5.
Figure 9 is a plan of four wheeled skate inverted with ball attached to footstock;
Figure 10 is a side elevation of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a section through [, K,
Figure 9; Figure 12 is a section through L, M, Figure 9.
Figure 13 is a cross section to a larger scale showing adaptation for ice skating
with appliances for lubricating axles; Figure 14 is a side elevation of Figure 13.

page_text: Upon reference to the Drawing it will be seen that this Invention consists of a
roller skate constructed on a principle being a novel arrangement of a ball-and-
socket or cup joint.
A is the ball-and-cup joint; B is the ball, which is held to the cup C by means
of the pin D, which passes loosely through the cup C, and is screwed tightly into
the ball B; F is an india-rubber washer placed between the head of the pin D and
cup C; E is a ball, which is attached or pivoted to the cup C by the pin H.
This ball is recessed half into the cup C and half into the ball B, and forms the
centre from which the wheels K radiate. In some cases a cone jointed pin may be
substituted for the ball E, the pin being screwed into the ball B and having play
in the socket C; L is the footstock of the skate to which the socket C is attached
by means of the screws a
My method of lubricating will be understood upon reference to Figure 13; b is
a hole drilled into the wheel K. The hole is filled with oil or grease and has
inserted into it a needle twined round with cotton wick. The hole is afterwards
plugged with the screw e.
The adaptation of the skate to real ice is illustrated by Figures 13 and 14, and
consists in adding flange plates f to the outsides of the wheel K. The peripheries
of the flanges are file cut or milled for greater safety.
The method of fixing the axles of roller skates is illustrated at h, Figure 7, and
consists of cone bearings which are screwed into the ball B as illustrated at
Figure 7.
The adaptation of this Invention to velocipedes is illustrated by Figures 15 to 18
inclusive. Figure 15 is a plan of a tricycle; Figure 16, elevation; Figure 17,
longitudinal section; and Figure 18, cross section of same. This tricycle is steered
by the inclination of the body of the rider, and works on the principle of the cup
and ball as described for skates. The hands and feet of the rider are both free for
driving. The seat is arranged as a cup C, and works on the ball B; this can be
reversed. The cup and ball are arranged to touch only on the bearing parts. The
seat or cup C works on the pin E, as shown at Figures 15 and 17. T, antifriction
rollers between the cup C and the ball B. The pin E is firmly secured to the
ball B. The ball B is fixed by any suitable framing to the axles of the main wheels.
The framing is free from contact with the small wheel, except at joint S of the
connecting rod H, which is provided with suitable stops. The machine is driven by
any suitable arrangement of treadles, connecting rods, and cranks. The connecting
rods are fitted to the treadles by open slots or pins so that they can be detached
from the pins in making curves by the action of a fork on each side fixed to the
seat, thereby giving free motion to either wheel in going round a quick circle. The
rider to describe a curve inclines his body towards the point intended, the cup or
seat C swivelling on the pin E¹ conveys the main wheel to the point of inclina-
tion, as in the cup-and-ball skates, the seat returning to its normal position by
india-rubber and pin, as in cup-and-ball skates. The connecting rod of the small
wheel being a portion of the framework follows the same direction, and converges
the small wheel in the contrary direction.
The accompanying Drawing shows the machine driven by the foot, but it is
intended to be adapted to work also by hand, either with cog wheels from the main
axle or by belts and pulleys fixed at the best point of action for the arms when the
rider is in position.
In the case of invalid chairs and other vehicles driven from the back by the hand
the direction and seat would be reversed. The cup and ball are in this case attached
to the small wheel, and are converged by rods from cross bars attached in the centre
to the ordinary transverse bar. In passing round curves the hand is applied to the
cross bar of the converging rods, and when the pressure is removed, as in velocipedes
and skates, the normal position is regained.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and shown how the same
may be carried out into practical operation, I would have it understood that I do

page_text: not confine myself to the exact proportions or dimensions of the respective parts as
shown in the Drawings, as it will be evident the same are capable of considerable
variation.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Glaister, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-first day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
THOMAS GLAISTER. (L.S.)