IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEEL OR ROLLER SKATES."
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Thackthwaite, of Worthing, in the
County of Sussex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEEL OR ROLLER SKATES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Thackthwaite
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 31st May 1875.
I, WILLIAM THACKTHWAITE, of Worthing, in the County of Sussex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEEL OR ROLLER SKATES," to be as
follows:
:-
This Invention consists in certain improvements in the construction
of "wheel" or "roller" skates, and whereby the performance of any
desired evolutions are greatly facilitated.
The foot plate is formed of wood or of any suitable material or com-
bination of materials, and on the under surface at or near the toe and
heel thereof are formed or attached metallic rods, which are respectively

page_text: inclined towards the centre of the foot plate, and upon the lower ends
of which the axles of the wheels or rollers are mounted and secured
by means of nuts and washers and other necessary appliances but being
free to move upon the said rods as will be well understood. Between
the said rods two metallic boxes are attached to the lower surface of the
foot plate, such boxes being respectively inclined towards tho before-
mentioned rods at or about the same angle as that at which the latter
are placed. In the interior of the said boxes are placed blocks of india-
rubber or other elastic material or materials, or springs of any other
suitable nature as will be well understood; the faces of such clastic
blocks or springs being in juxtaposition to the axles of the wheels or
rollers, and a metallic plate being placed between the same capable
of moving with the elastic blocks or springs when the latter are com-
pressed.
By preference four wheels are employed, the same being respectively
arranged in pairs near the toe and heel of the skato and mounted on
transverse axles on which they are free to rotate. Upon the skater
exerting pressure upon either side of the skate, the axles of the wheels
respectively move radially and compress the elastic blocks or springs
contained in the inclined boxes (the sides of which aro slotted or cut
away so as to allow of the free action of the axles, the elastic blocks
or springs returning to their normal condition when the pressure is
removed). The performance of any desired evolutions is thus greatly
facilitated.
Instead of four wheels being used two wide rollers respectively placed
near the toe and heel of the foot plate may be employed, or two small
rollers may be placed at each end within one inch of each other. In
the latter cases the axles of the rollers are mounted in bearings in con-
nection with bars constructed of a suitable form and capable of com-
pressing the elastic blocks or springs in the manner before described, as a
will bo well understood by persons conversant with mechanism.
The wheels or rollers are formed wood, metal, or of any suitable
material or combination of materials.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said William Thackthwaite in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th November 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
THACKTHWAITE, of Worthing, in the County of Sussex, Gentleman,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty.
eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Thackthwaite, Her special
licence that I, tho said William Thackthwaite, my executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as I, tho said William
Thackthwaite, my executors, 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 THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEEL OR ROLLER
SKATES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Thackthwaite, 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
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 William Thackthwaite, 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 Drawings here-
unto annexed, and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is
to say:-
My said Invention consists in certain improvements in the con-
struction of "wheel" or "roller" skates, and whereby the performance
of any desired evolutions is greatly facilitated.

page_text: The foot plate is formed of wood or of any suitable material or com-
bination of materials, and on the under surface at or near the toe and
heel thereof are formed or attached metallic rods or pins, which are
respectively inclined towards the centre of the foot plate. Upon the
lower ends of suitable connections with the said rods or pins the axles
of the wheels or rollers are mounted and secured by means of suitable
bearings, and of nuts, washers, and other necessary appliances, the
axles and bearings being free to move upon the said rods or pins, as
well understood. In juxtaposition to each of the said rods or pins a
metallic box is attached to the lower surface of the foot plate, such
boxes being respectively inclined towards the before-mentioned rods or
pins, or if desired they may be parallel with the lower surface of the
foot plate. In the interior of the said boxes are placed blocks of india-
rubber or other elastic material or materials, or springs of any other
suitable nature, a portion of the lower surface of the foot plate being
removed for the purpose of affording a sufficient cavity, as will be well
understood. A metallic plate or projection is attached to or formed
with the bearings of the wheels, and enters an aperture or space in the
centre of the clastic block or between the springs which may be employed.
Upon the skater exerting pressure upon either side of the skate the
axles of the wheels or rollers respectively move radially and compress
the elastic blocks or springs by means of the before-mentioned metallic
plate or projection. Upon the pressure exerted by the skater being
removed, the action of the elastic blocks or springs causes the same to
return to their normal position, the performance of any desired evolu-
tions being facilitated by the radial movements which may thus bo
given to the axles of the wheels or rollers.
The wheels or rollers are formed of wood, metal, or of any suitable
material or combination of materials.
I will now proceed to refer to the annexed Drawings, from which the
nature of my said Invention will be more clearly understood.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the skate.
Figure 2, a view of the lower surface of the foot plate with the
mechanism and parts herein-before described attached and connected
thereto.
Figure 3 is a transverse view; Figure 4 shews the metallic box with

page_text: metallic projection attached to or formed with the bearings of the
wheels or rollers, and also the rod or pin, and metallic block to which
the same is attached.
The same letters of reference indicate similar parts in the several
Figures.
A is the foot plate having the necessary straps for fastening the skate
to the foot attached thereto, the mechanism herein-before described
being fixed to and connected with the lower surface of the plate; B aro
the wheels, the axles of which are carried by the metallic bearings
shown at C. The boxes containing the clastic blocks d are indicated by
the letter D, and the metallic plates or projections attached to the
wheel or roller bearings by the letter E; F is the metallic rod or pin
which is attached to the metallic block G, upon the lower surface of
which the bearings C work. The action of the mechanism will be
clearly seen by consideration of the Figures which fully shew that
upon the skater exerting pressure upon either side of the skate the
projection attached to the wheel or roller bearings compresses the elastic
block, which returns to its normal state when the pressure is removed,
the radial motion of the axles of the wheels or rollers being thus greatly
facilitated and at the same time controlled.
Having thus declared and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe in
conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim
as being the Invention secured to me by the said herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is, the combination and arrangement of parts and
mechanism whereby a radial motion of the axles of the wheels, or rollers
of wheel or roller skates is effected and controlled, substantially as and
for the purposes herein-before described and set forth, or any mere
modifications thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Thackthwaite, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.
WILLIAM THACKTHWAITE. (L.S.)