IMPROVEMENTS IN SKATES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Leonard Plimpton, of the City and State
of New York, United States of America, at present residing at
Bedford Place, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SKATES."
Sealed the 25th March 1875, and dated the 2nd December 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Leonard Plimpton
•
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 2nd December 1874.
I, JAMES LEONARD PLIMPTON, of the City and State of New York,
United States of America, at present residing at Bedford Place, in tho
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN SKATES," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to provide improved facilities for skating
upon guidable rollers and runner skates and to facilitate the change from
one. to the other by providing the runner skate with some of the ad-
vantages afforded by the guidable roller skate invented by me and
Patented on my behalf by Alfred Vincent Newton, the Twenty-fifth day

page_text: ->
of August 1865, as well as other advantages afforded by my present
improved roller skate.
My Invention consists, firstly, in lubricating and wiping the wheels of
a roller skate by the natural movements of the skate when in use, and
in a means for protecting the lubricating and rubbing parts of the
skate from dust and grit while the oil is prevented from wasting or
escaping to soil the skater's hands or clothing.
Also in adjusting the end play of the wheels upon the axle, and regu-
lating the circulation of the lubricating material, and retaining such
adjustments while preventing the axle from rotating.
Also in attaching and supporting the wheel axles firmly upon the
outside of the skate wheels by a new construction of rocking wheel,
frame, and binding strip, by which a smaller axle than formerly used in
this class of roller skates may be employed without any central bearing
or support, by which method the friction is reduced and the wear of the
skate wheel may be greatly. economized without requiring a larger axle
than those used in my former construction of skate, while such mode of
attaching also serves to tie and brace the arms of the wheel frame and
furnish a convenient means of loosening and detaching the parts.
And further, in constructing the wheel frame hanger of the skate so
that it may be reversed when required, and in attaching it to the sole
plate, so that it may be adjusted and the skate made to produce a large
or a small curve with a given inclination of the sole plate transversly,
while the said hanger is provided with a graduated scale or series of
identifying marks, so that the adjustment of the skate may be readily
known and the same skate be made to answer the various requirements
of the learner or proficient skater, as the case may be.
And lastly, in constructing for and in attaching to an ordinary ice
skate of suitable construction an improved device having two short
runners, which being properly constructed and applied to such runner
skate adds to the length and breadth of its bearing upon the ice, and
renders it less liable to be forced from its position or twisted from
its course, while in its bearing points under the skater's foot, and in its
mode of being guided, and in its adjustments to the requirements of
learners and proficient skaters it affords similar advantages to those
afforded by my original and improved roller skate, while the long central

page_text: runner serves to protect the short runners from injury and prevents them
from dropping into small holes in the ice.
In carrying my improvements into effect I adopt, by preference, the
following contrivances :-Suitable hubs are formed upon the wheels, over
which metal caps arranged to contain lubricating material fit loosely
and serve to protect the rubbing surface and lubricating part from dust
and grit.
Within the caps or between them and the hubs, metal or
other hard washers or collars, and collars of cloth, felt, or other spongy
and conducting material are placed.
The cloth washers are made larger in diameter than the wheel hubs
in order that when in place they may fold around the hubs and serve to
take up the oil as it escapes from the wheels when in motion, and return
it (filtered) to the friction surfaces when the skate is pressed sideways by
the natural movement of the skater.
The oil caps are threaded and fitted so as to screw in and out a short
distance upon the threaded ends of the wheel axle, and serve to adjust
the end play of the wheels upon the axle and to regulate the lubrication
of the skate. This adjustment is fixed or retained and the wheel axle
is prevented from rotating by means of binding nuts threaded and
screwed upon the axle outside of the oil caps. A hole is pierced in these
nuts corresponding to a hole made in the end of their respective oil
caps for the supply of oil to the caps, and when turned forward or back
the nuts will open or close the hole in the caps as desired. Formed on
the periphery of the caps is a series of grooves or ridges which fit into
corresponding threads or grooves and ridges made in bearings in the
lower ends of the downwardly projecting arms of the wheel frame. The
axle and caps are attached or secured to a wheel frame, having an
excentric segment shaped top, by a binding strap of metal which passes
transversely across the top of the wheel frame and is bent down to fit the
sides of the same. Suitable holes or eyes in the ends of the binding strap
spring easily over and fit around the end of the caps when the binding
strip is loose, but when it is tightened up by being pressed or driven partly
around upon the excentric or cam-shaped top of the wheel frame it serves
to bind the whole firmly together, so that any side strain in either
direction is resisted by both arms of the wheel frame, which being thus
tied and braced may be made thin and light.

page_text: The new construction of wheel frame, and the improved mode of
attaching the parts thereto, supports the axle firmly at or near its ex-
tremities, and consequently an axle of much smaller diameter than here-
tofore may be used without liability of breaking or bending.
By mounting the wheels upon a small axle they may; when the holes
and rims have become worn so as to impair the running of the skate, be
fitted to and used upon a larger axle, thereby greatly economizing the
wear of the skate wheels without requiring a larger axle than that used
in my former construction of skates, and by dispensing with a fixed
bearing, as formerly used between the wheels, the friction and wear upon
the inner ends of the wheel hubs will be greatly reduced..
The wheel frame is fitted to a semicircular or segmental-shaped hanger
so as to rock thereon from side to side, and is secured thereto and brought
back to place by screws having springs or clastic washers placed under
their heads, the tension of such springs being adjusted by the screws, so
as to give more or less support to the skater's foot.
.
The semicircular hanger, with the wheel frame and other parts secured
thereon, is attached to the sole plate of the skate by a clamping piece
and tightening screw, the latter of which passes through the sole plate.
When the clamping piece is loosened the hanger will be free to slide for
adjustment, so as to cause the wheel frame to rock or oscillate from side
to side in a plane, more or less oblique, to a line drawn lengthwise
through the centre of the sole plate. By adjusting the hanger so as to
cause the wheel frame and wheels to rock more obliquely a smaller
curve is produced, and when caused to rock less obliquely a larger curve
will be produced, with a given inclination of the skater's foot transversely.
A graduated scale is properly marked upon the sides of the semicircular
hanger to indicate its different adjustments, so that the adjustments of
the skate may be readily known, and the same skate may be made to
answer the various requirements of the learners or proficient skaters.
The wheel frame may be reversed upon the hangers, or the hanger with
wheel frame attached may be reversed upon the sole plate whenever the
end which takes the most weight has become worn.
My improved device to be used in connection with an ordinary ice skate
is by preference constructed with two short oval shaped steel plates or
runners, with rounded ends and rectangular edges. These runners are

page_text: attached to a small casting or runner frame having bevilled ends, so that
the lower edges of the runners will be further apart than their upper
edges. The runners are set parallel and kept in position by projections
cast upon the upper part of the bevilled ends of the runner frame, and
are firmly secured thereto by screws, which pass loosely through holes
made in the centre of the runner, and screw firmly into the ends of the
runner frame, so that the runner may be quickly reversed or inverted
as their different edges become dull.
The runner frame has two suitable tapering oblong holes or openings
made in it, through which the forked end of a guide or hangor passes, so
as to allow the frame with runner attached to rock lengthwise in passing
over uneven surfaces, and also to rock a limited distance from side to
side. The forked end of the hanger passes down at each side of the
centre runner, and serves as a brace or lateral support, while the upper
portion of the hanger is of segmental shape, and is graduated, fitted,
and attached so as to be adjusted at different inclinations to produco
different curves, in a similar manner to the hanger of the roller skate,
as before described; or the hanger may be fixed and set perfectly upright,
and yet this device will answer a good purpose of supporting the foot
and holding the skate upon its course.
When this improved device is constructed for attachment to any
ordinary ice skate of suitable construction a plate of metal is placed
under the adjustable hangers, or such plate may form a part of the
hanger itself if it is not desired to have the hanger made adjustable.
The rocking frame with the runner attached is secured upon the
hanger so as to be brought back to place after being rocked in either
direction by a spring, the tension of which is adjusted by a screw, so as
to give more or less support to the skater's foot. But when such device
is applied to new skates manufactured expressly for the purpose it may
be found more convenient to dispense with this plate and spring, and
cause the central runner to press upon the rocking frame, so as to
regulate the support and to bring the parts back to place after being
rocked

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Leonard Plimpton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 2nd June 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
LEONARD PLIMPTON, of the City and State of New York, United States
of America, at present residing at Bedford Place, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Second day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-eighth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said James Leonard Plimpton, Her special licence that
I, the said James Leonard Plimpton my exccutors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said James Leonard Plimpton; my exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SKATES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said James |
Leonard Plimpton, my executors or administrators, 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 saine
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 James Leonard Plimpton, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing here-
unto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say) :-

page_text: of the advantages afforded by the guidable roller skate invented by me,
and Patented on my behalf by Alfred Vincent Newton the Twenty-fifth
day of August, One thousand eight hundred and stixy-five, as well as
other advantages afforded by my present improved roller skate.
I will first describe my improvements on the guidable roller skate and
afterwards my improvements in runner or ice skates. In constructing
and arranging the guidable roller skates according to my Invention I
introduce the following improvements:―
First. I provide for lubricating and wiping the hubs of the rollers
through the ordinary movements of the skate when in use, and I protect
the lubricating and rubbing parts from grit and dust, while the oil is
prevented from wasting or running out to soil the skater's hands or
clothing when the skate is being used or handled.
Secondly. I provide for the adjustment of the end play of the rollers
upon their axles, and the maintenance of such adjustment while pre-
venting the axle from rotating.
Thirdly. I so construct and arrange the parts as to support the roller
axle firmly at or near its ends, instead of as heretofore at or near the
middle of its length, and I am thus enabled to use an axle smaller in
diameter than the axles formerly used in this class of skatės, and to
avoid the use of the bearing between the rollers or wheels, by which
arrangement of parts and by the employment of suitable washers the
friction and wear upon the ends of the wheel hubs is greatly reduced.
The advantage of thus mounting the wheels or rollers upon axles of
small diameter is that when the rollers are worn so as to impair the
running of the skate the holes for the axle may be reamed out and the
peripheries made truc, and the partly worn roller may thus be utilized
without increasing the friction by requiring an axle larger in diameter
than the axle formerly used by me in this class of skates.
Fourthly. I so construct and arrange the parts in connection with the
rollers as to insure the proper bracing of the roller frame, and enable it
to resist side strains in either direction. This arrangement of parts pro-
vides a convenient means for loosening and detaching the roller axle and
other parts from the frame.
Fifthly. The roller, frame hanger is made with segmental shaped sides

page_text: to that portion of the washer which is made more elastic and spongy
by the addition of a smaller spongy washer X placed between the heads
of the protecting caps and metallic washers a, b, c, which are fitted
loosely upon the axle F just opposite the wheel hubs. The central
metal washer b is made smaller in diameter than the washers a and c
to prevent them from rubbing and wearing the cloth or the ends of the
wheel hubs.
The spongy washer is provided with oil through oil holes d, d, and e;
Figures 1 and 5, made in the binding nut G and cap B. When therefore
the skate is pressed sideways by the natural movement of the skater
the oil will be pressed through the loosely fitting washers to the rubbing
portion of the skate wheels, and as the oil escapes from the washers or
ends of the wheel hubs while in motion it will be wiped or taken up
by the cloth washer D and filtered on its return to the rubbing surfaces
to be used again. Thus the skate will be automatically wiped and
lubricated by the ordinary movement of the skate when in use. The
protecting caps B, B, are threaded and fitted so as to screw in and out
a short distance upon the threaded ends of their respective wheel
axles F, and they thereby servo to adjust the end play of the wheels
upon the axle. Such adjustments are fixed or retained and the wheel
axle is prevented from rotating by means of the binding nuts G, G,
which enter the chambered ends of the protecting caps and screw upon
the axle. These nuts are pierced with an excentric hole e corresponding
to the hole d made in the protecting caps B, B. By this arrangement
of parts the oil holes may be opened or closed as required by properly

page_text: When the binding strap is loose it is readily fitted into its place, and
it is tightened up by being pressed or driven partly around upon the
excentric or cam shaped sides of the frame H. It thus serves to bind
the whole firmly together, so that any side strain in either direction is
resisted by both sides of the roller frame, in consequence of which the
frame may be made thin and light. By this improved mode of con-
necting the parts together the wheel axle is firmly held at its extremities,
and I am thus enabled to use a much smaller axle than heretofore, and
to dispense with a fixed bearing between the wheels, which I now keep
apart simply by the interposition of the central portion of a double
cap C, which cap envelopes the inner ends of the wheel hubs and
protects them from grit and dust. The cap O may, like the cap B,
be fitted with suitable parts for lubricating. The friction and wear
upon the inner ends of the wheel hubs will thus be greatly reduced.
The wheel frame H is formed with lugs or projections, which extend
in front and rear thereof, and are provided with two raised ribs, which
constitute fulcrums for the frame to rock upon from right to left. These
ribs enter parallel grooves formed in the under side of the wheel frame
hanger J, as shewn in the Drawings. To this hanger the wheel frame H
is attached, so as to allow of its rocking thereon from side to side.
The connection is effected by coupling screws K, K, and to bring the
parts back to place; after being rocked, springs or elastic washers of
india-rubber L, L, are placed under the heads of the screws. The elas-
ticity of these springs may be adjusted by the screws K, K, so as to give
more or less elastic support to the skater's foot. The hanger J is fitted
into suitable grooves made in the under side of the sole plate S, S, and
with the wheel frame and other parts secured thereto; it is attached to
the sole plate by a clamping piece M and tightening screw N. The stem
of the screw N passes loosely through the sole plate and a circular
washer O, and is fitted so as to screw in and out of the clamping
piece M. This mode of attachment is best shewn in Fig. 4. When the
clamping piece is loosened by turning the screw the hanger will be free
to slide endwise for adjustment, so as to provide for the wheel frame
moving into a plane more or less oblique to a line drawn lengthwise
through the centre of the sole plate. By adjusting the hanger, so as to
cause the wheel frame and axle to oscillato in a plane more oblique to
this line, the skate will when moved produce sharper curves, and in
proportion as the obliquity is less the skate will produce larger curves

page_text: with the same inclination of the sole plate transversely. A graduated
scale is marked upon the hanger, or similar identifying marks may be
otherwise made, and so arranged that any adjustment given or required
may be readily identified, remembered, and specified, so that the adjust-
ment of such skate may be readily made to correspond with the known
adjustments of any other skate of like construction.
I would remark that the hanger J admits of being reversed upon the
sole plate, and that the wheel frame H may also be reversed upon the
hanger. By this means the wearing parts of the hanger and frame may
be utilized to the utmost.
My improved roller skate thus formed may be attached to the skater's
boot or shoe in any convenient manner by means of straps or other-
wise.
My improvements on runner or ice skates refer, first, to an improved
guiding, holding, and supporting device to be attached to ice skates;
and, secondly, to an improved ice skate formed by attaching or applying
such device to an ice skate having a suitable central runner or blade and
other proper parts to which such device may be attached, the objects being
to add length and breadth to the bearing of the skate upon the ice, and
thereby render it less liable than the ordinary ice skate to be forced from
its position, or twisted from its course to provide a novel mode of guiding
the skate, and adjusting its guiding parts.
In Sheet III. of the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 represents a side
elevation of my improved guiding, holding, and supporting attachment
or device; Fig. 2 is an end view of the same; Fig. 3 is a side elevation
of my ice skate with the improved device attached; Fig. 4 is an inverted
plan view of the same; Fig. 5 is a back view with the central runner
set upright; Fig. 6 is a similar view of the skate with the central runner
inclined to one side, and the short runners turned obliquely to the
central runner as when describing curves.
In Sheet IV. I have shewn a modification for adjusting the guiding
parts so that a larger or a smaller curve may be produced with the same
inclination of the skater's foot, said parts being provided with a series of
marks to identify such adjustment. In this Sheet I have also shewn in
detail the chief parts of which the improved ice skate is composed;
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several
Figures.

page_text: .
My improved guiding, holding, and supporting device, as constructed
for attachment to any ordinary ice skate of suitable construction, is
formed in the following manner :-A, A, in the several.Drawings repre-
sent short oval shaped thin steel plates or runners having ground and
finished sides with rounded ends and rectangular edges. These runners
are made more or less light and ornamental by being suitably perforated,
and have also elongated holes made through their centres, as seen in the
Drawings. The edges of those runners are preferably ground to about
the same curve as that of the bearing part of the central runner, as
shewn. These short runners are attached to the bevilled ends of a small
casting or metal frame B, four different full sized views of which are
shewn in the Drawing. Upon the upper part of the bevilled ends of the
frame there are small projections a, a, which form stops for placing and
keeping the runners parallel with one another. Each runner is secured
to the frame B by means of a screw C having a circular plate or washer
under its head. The stems of the screws pass loosely through their
respective runners, and screw into a threaded hole made through the
bevilled ends of the frame B. By means of these screws the runners arc
held firmly in place, and on slackening the scrows they may be easily
and quickly reversed or inverted as their different edges become dull.
The runner frame B has two tapering oblong holes made in it in the
direction of its length, as shown in the Drawing, through which the
forked ends of a guide or hanger D pass, and is fitted so as to allow the
frame B with the runners attached to rock freely, so that said runners
when attached to the skate may pass readily over uneven surfaces, and
likewise so that said hanger D will rock upon the frame B from side to
side, such rocking being limited by the shoulders or projections b, b, of
the hanger D. The hanger D, if not intended to be adjustable, may be
rivetted or otherwise firmly secured to the plate E, or the parts D and E
may be cast or made in one piece, as shewn in its most simple form in
the Drawings.
To the under side of the plate E is attached a bent spring F, the free
end of which underlies the frame B, and enters the fork of the hanger D,
which fork projects through the frame B a sufficient distance for that
purpose, and also for receiving the central runners when the guiding and
supporting device is attached to the skate.
The upper end of the spring F is fitted into a hole made in the plate E
to prevent it from moving sideways while the tension of the spring is

page_text: adjusted by a screw G, the stem of which passes loosely through the
spring, and screws into a threaded hole made through the plate E, below
which upon the screw G is fitted a binding nut H for the purpose of
fixing or retaining the adjustment given to the spring. When the
hanger D is to be adjustable its upper end is made of a segmental form,
and it is fitted and attached to a plate E by the binding screw I and
clamping nut K, as shewn in Sheet II. of the Drawings. When the nut
is loosened the hanger will be free to slide for adjustment, and when the
nut is tightened the adjustment given will be retained. Suitable marks
are made upon the parks D and E², as shewn in the Drawings for the
purpose of identifying such adjustment.
My improved ice skate is formed by properly attaching a device, con-
structed substantially as above described, to an ice skate having a
suitable central blade or runner and other proper parts to which such
devices may be applied, as shewn in Sheet I. of the Drawings, where L
represents the central blade or runner, preferably made of a square bar
of steel bent upwards at its ends, and terminating in flattened eyes,
which fit into the sole plato M. This blade or runner is firmly secured
to the sole plate at the forward end of the skate by means of a screw N,
which screws into a metal nut n, Fig. 3, let into the face of the sole
plate, while the rear end of the runner is allowed a limited amount of
play in the fork of the hanger D, as the frame B is rocked in either
direction. This I provido for by placing a washer of rubber O under
the head of the screw P, which connects the rear end of the runner to
the sole plate. The pressure of the runner upon the frame may be
wholly substituted for that performed by the spring F, or may be used
in connection with the same. The screw P is made square near its head
to fit a square hole in a chambered collar Q, which has a milled edge to
afford a good holding for turning the screw P for adjustment of the
elasticity of the washer. The screw P is attached to the sole plate by a
nut R, which fits into a chambered nut S used for retaining the adjust-
ment given. The improved ice skate thus formed may be attached to
the skaters' boot or shoe in any convenient manner by means of straps
or otherwise.
The operation of my improved ice skate, as above constructed, is as
follows:When set upright upon the ice, as seen in the Drawing,
Fig. 5, the bearing of the skate upon the ice will be nearly under the
heel and ball of the foot. This prevents the skate from rocking too

page_text: and applied to a roller skate in connection with the protecting caps B, B,
substantially in the manner and for the purposes specified.
Fifth. The wiping, conducting, and spongy washers D and X, and the
metal washers a, b, and c, arranged and applied to a roller skate, in the
manner and for the purposes substantially as herein described.
Sixth. The circular channelled skate wheels or rollers A, constructed
substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.
Seventh. Providing the parts by which the inclination of the roller
frame of the skate is adjusted with a series of identifying marks, sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
Eighth. The improved guiding, holding, and supporting device,
constructed substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein set
forth.
Ninth. The improved ice skate formed by properly attaching such
guiding, holding, and supporting device to an ice skate having a suitable
central blade or runner and other proper parts to which such device may
be attached, so as to operate substantially in the manner and for tho
purposes set forth.
In witness whercof, I, the said James Leonard Plimpton, have
hereunto set my hand and scal, the Second day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.